Present time

"Johnson, what are you doing with that scalpel?"

"Uhm..Dr. Crawford..I wanted to treat Mr. Harrison's edema by cutting it to let the liquids drain.." He nervously answered while shifting his eyes back and forth between me and the patient.

I continued to sternly look at him, observing how he flinched under my gaze. Humans, even though not able to discern the power a werewolf hold, are unwillingly subject to it.
I decided to put him out of his misery by slowly nodding in his direction, causing him to visibly relax. Good boy. He was a great student, efficient and precise, but he was slightly insecure, not believing enough in himself and in his capabilities.

"Very well Jonhson, you may proceed. Remember to do a clear cut, keep your hand steady."

He nodded and, turning to address the patient, he began explaining to him what he was going to do. I crossed my arms on my chest watching his every move to be sure he would proceed correctly in every step of the way. He was starting to cut the skin when my pager began to ring. Groaning slightly in annoyance, I reached to grab it from my belt to check who needed me.

Dr. Crawford is required in Oncology

"Well Jonhson, I'll leave you to it. Mr. Harrison, have a good day."

Listening to their greetings, I departed from the E.R to head to the Oncology Department. My wolf was pacefully sleeping in the back of my mind with her head rested on her front paws and her eyes covered by her tail. She wasn't particulary interested on my days at the hospital, especially on a day like this where the E.R was strangely calm. She craved for action, she fested on the adrenaline flowing in my veins when I was operating on a patient in a life or death situation.

Once there I searched for Dr. Long, who was the head chief of this departement. I found him talking to a nurse, so I patiently waited for their conversation to finish. When I saw that the woman was getting ready to leave I started to approach him, standing behind him.

"Dr. Long, were you looking for me?"

At the sound of my voice he turned, smiling broadly once he recognized me.
Dr. Long was an excellent doctor and his competence brought him where he was today, leading the Oncology Department of the Saint Mary Seattle Hospital. He was not only a very skilled physician, but also a delightful person. Without forgetting that he took quite a liking in me and in my abilities, so he was without doubt one of my favorite person in the hospital.

"Lara, please, how many time do I have to tell you to drop that Dr.Long act? Call me David."

"Well, Dr. I mean..David, as you wish".

I genuinely returned his smile.

"Good. Yes, actually I was searching for you because I wanted to discuss a few things." He began pacing towards the vending machines situated at the end of the hallway and I followed suit. "First of all, how is your research on stem cells coming along? You know, I'm quite proud of you for the accomplishments you already reached with this study."

I leaned against the wall while he busied himself with the machines, pushing buttons and waiting for his coffee to be ready.

While working first line in the hospital, I did a bit of research too. Stem cells had always been a passion of mine. It was magnificent and exceptionally interesting how a single non-specializing cell, a minuscule, microscopic part of us, held the power to transform itself in whatever it wanted to. They were life. They held the secret of life.
This project of mine was very important to me and I was giving my best to let it flourish, but at the same time I didn't want to be associated to it. It was the reason why the research held Dr. Long's name on it instead of mine. If this study would bring results, they would absolutely be presented to the medical word; I didn't want to be under the spotlight, it wouldn't be safe to expose myself and my wolf to the human world.

Dr. Long and I had argued long about it, him denying my request of using his name for it a lot of times, until he had fortunately surrendered and granted my wishes, even if he found the fact "absolutely immoral". On paper I was merely his assistant, scouting possible sponsors and supporting him by bringing him coffee.
I didn't want the fame, I only craved knowledge.

"Thank you David, I'm honored. I must say it's going quite well, but I would really like to have more time to dedicate to it... I'm trying my best there but with the shifts at the E.R and the fundings running out, it's proceding slowly.."

He took his coffe from the machine, turning towards me and readjusting his glasses on the tip of his nose.
"Don't worry Lara, the results of your research will be worth waiting for. Anyway, about the funds, in two weeks time a charity Gala will be held to raise founds for the research on Breast Cancer. I think it would be a great occasion to promove your research too...Very important lenders will be attending...If you manage to catch their attention I'm sure they would invest on you too. So, I count on your attendance as well."

I didn't miss the way he emphasized the word "yours", but I was too focused on the meaning of his words.
The possibility of finding more fundings was like a blessing from above.

"God, David yes! Umh..I mean yes, I would love to partecipate to scout new investitors.."

He started laughing and I found myself following him a second later. God, I was such an impulsive person sometimes that I tended to forget manners. I guessed impulsivity was a perk of being a werewolf.

"...for your research." I concluded.

He scoffed and rolled his eyes, while swatting his left hand in the air as to dismiss my words.

"Very well, I'll add you on the list..and Lara?"

"Yes David?"

I didn't like the way he was looking at me now, he had a glint in his eyes that made me uncomfortable. My wolf raised her head from her paws, eyeing the man in front of us with sharp eyes.

"I really would like for you to attend with a date. Better yet, I command you to bring a date. When was the last time I saw you with a guy? Yes, well it was...never. You deserve some fun Lara, enjoy your life out of the hospital. You are young, beautiful and extemely talented, you are a catch! Every man would dream of snatch you up and marry you..If I were 20 years younger and were not married I would do that myself".

I rolled my eyes in irritation.
Steady relationships were the last thing on my mind, random hook ups were more my style.
I couldn't let myself be romantically involved with someone in fear of him discovering my secret. Humans were a big no no as possible steady partners, male werewolves even more. Werewolves were only allowed between my teeth and claws, not between my legs.
My wolf wasn't particulary fond of my hook ups with humans, but she understood that we had needs, and needs needed to be satisfied.

" David.." I sighed.

"No Lara, you can't back out on this. I expect you on presenting yourself on the arm of a dashing man."

I groaned and closed my eyes.
He wasn't going to back down, I knew. It was easier to accommodate his request than to fight him on that. It was only for an evening after all.

"Fine, but I can't assure you I will see him after the event."

He smiled brightly, more that pleased at his apparent success.
Damned male.
"That's more then enough. Anyway, if you would follow me there is a patient I need your help with." He finished and started walking towards a patient's room.

Damn. I had two weeks to find someone to be my date.

--

I was walking down the hallway to reach the canteen for lunch when suddently a hand grabbed my wrist and began to pull me towards a closed door.

I instantly tensed up, more than ready to fight my assailant. My wolf woke up from her torpor and began growling in my head, the bloodlust already humming in our body. I was ready to kick my opponent on his right knee when a familiar scent reached my nose and I istantly relaxed, dropping the fighting stance. When the realisation reached my wolf she scoffed, kicking her back legs on the ground as to throw dirt in the person's direction, then she retreated herself in the back of my mind once again.

She didn't like the company of this man, she didn't like this man at all. She thought he wasn't worthy of us, hell she never approved any of the men I went out with. She craved for a leader, a fighter, someone worth of our power. That picky female.

" Will.." I smiled.

Chocolate brown eyes stared right at me.

"Lara.." he breathed " I missed you."

At his words I cringed internally, but I didn't let my smile falter. Will was a collegue of mine and occasionaly we hooked-up to relive the stress of work, but there was nothing more than casual sex between us, or at least on my behalf there wasn't.

"I'm on a break right now, how much time do you have?" he added.

"Well, I'm on break too..I was headed to the canteen to.."

"Great."

Before I had the chance to complete my sentence his lips were on mine. His demanding lips molded with mine in a heated kiss, tugging, pulling, biting, teasing me; I pushed myself forward to wrap my arms around his neck, letting my hand wander in his messy blond curly hair, tugging at them lightly. A groan escaped his lips and he moved his hands to cup my ass to support me while I wrapped my legs around his waist. His right hand began to reach the hem of my scrubs when a phone ringing brought us out of our fenzy state.

"Fuck!" he cursed "Is it yours or mine ringing?"

"I think it's mine"

I hopped back on the ground and started to search my pocket for my phone. It was an unknown number. I frowned. I casted Will an apologetic glance and I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Am I talking with Dr. Lara Crawford?"
A male voice answered from the other side of the phone. It seemed like a middle aged man.

" Who needs her?"

" Oh pardon my manners, Dr. Crawford. I'm Dr. Dixon."

The name didn't ring a bell.

"No offence, but I have never heard such name. Why are you calling me Dr. Dixon?"

I could feel him chuckle on the other side of the phone. I refrained myself from snarling in response, we didn't take disrespect kindly.

"None taken, Dr. Crawford. And well, it is quite plausible you never heard of me before. I'm a pack doctor."

I stiffened.

"What did you just say?"

" I'm a pack doctor, I work in a pack. I am a werewolf, just like you."

At his words I froze. I could feel my heartbeat increase its speading in my chest. How could he know my secret? How did he find me? I secretly threw a glance back at Will, scared he would probably be eversdropping on my conversation, but I found him lost in his phone. I let out the breath I was holding.

"I can't really talk right now. " I whispered in the phone.

" Oh that's fine. When will I be able to find you?"

I threw a glance at my watch: it was 1.30 pm and my shift would end in 5 hours.

"Call me back a 7.00 pm tonight if that's right with you Dr. Dixon."

"That's perfect. Well, I look forward to talk to you, Dr. Crawford. Have a nice day."

"Goodbye, Dr. Dixon."

When I ended the call, I supported myself on the wall. I was incredule: how could this man know that I was a werewolf? I always paid extremely attention, my guard was never down. My wolf was pacing back and forth in my mind. This call bristled her, she was as nervous as me, but she was also curious to find out what this male could possibly want from us. After all he was the first werewolf who tried voluntary to approch me, I was curious as well.

I had momentanealy forgotten the presence of Will in the room until he approched me and put an hand on my shoulder.

" You all right?"
He asked with a bit of concern etched on his face.

I nodded.

" Yes, it was only a doctor asking for advice."

"Oh that's great. But he could have chosen a better moment to call."
He smiled at me, but I could see the disappointment swirling in his eyes.

I forcefully smiled back.

"Yes, that's great."

Just great.

--

By the time it was 6.30 pm I was already at home, throwing continual glances at my phone that rested on my kitchen counter. While wainting for Dr. Dixon call I took a fast shower to brush away the smell of disinfectant of the hospital and, once done, I put on more confortable clothes, such as a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

I was drinking a glass of water when the phone began ringing. Patting my wet hands on my sweatpants I grabbed the phone, ready to discover the motives behind this call.

"Dr. Crawford speaking."

"Ah good evening Dr. Crawford, it's Dixon here. I hope you had a pleasant day at work. Anyway, I also hope that now you would be able to talk more freely.."

" I am." I cutted short pleasantries, I just wanted him to reach to the main point of the call.

He sighed, but resumed talking immediately after.
"Very good...well, I'll march straight into it.
We need you."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and tucked a strand of still limp hair behind my ear. What was he talking about?

"Excuse me, but who is 'We'?"

"My pack. My pack needs you. I have a case I'm not able to treat and I believe that you instead would be able to bring the patient back to recovery."

Shocked. I was shocked. Not only did he know that I was a werewolf, but now he was asking for my help too?

"Dr. Dixon, I'm honored that you think that, but you have to know that I don't treat werewolves, I am only specialized in human medicine. I may be a werewolf, but I don't know the first thing about werewolves' health."

"But that's exactly the point doctor. The disease that hit my patients isn't a werewolf one."

My eyes widened at his words. Werewolves weren't subjected to diseases, their advanced immunity system prevented them to develop illnesses.

" What do you mean by that?"

" Listen...I can't say much right now on the phone.. I really would prefer to meet you in person to explain this situation better and to present you the case.. You won't be forced to accept my proposal, but I would be eternally grateful if you would."

I pondered on his words for a while.
I was weary of this situation, getting involved in one including werewolves wasn't on the top of my priority list. Ever. At least not when it didn't include my jaw closed on their neck.
At the same time, however, I was damn curious about this mistery disease.
The craving for knowledge won my weariness over.

"I'll meet you on one condition."

" Everything."

"Tell me how you found out about me."

His raspy laugh reverberated through the line and, just like this morning, I found myself restraining a snarl to erupt from me, even if I now knew about my interlocutor's supernatural nature.

"That's it? Well, the lone wolves who roam the city are quite the talkers you know? I met few of them and they couldn't stop talking about an Alpha Female who lived in the city by herself and who happened to be a doctor. I actually got curious on your case. I wanted to know what could have lead a powerful female to live between humans by herself..so I started digging around and a few theories reached my ears..someone says that you are the last survivor of an european pack, someone else says that you were forced in marriage to an old Alpha of the West, so you escaped your pack..."

I was pretty amused by the theories he was presenting me and my wolf was amused too..but the amusement died when Dr. Dixon continued to speak.

"...and lastly, someone says that you were bitten and turned by a rouge, but I personally find this theory quite absurd and exilerating..
the human body can't bear the pain of the transformation, especially a female one. You should be dead..or at least an omega ranking. The pathetic weak human body.."

I snarled before he could finish the sentence. I was beyond mad, but if I was mad, my beast was beyond furious. The thirst for this male's blood who dared disrespect us grew stronger and stronger in my body, burning through my veins like fire. I was seeing red. I could feel my teeth elongate from my gums and my claws digging on the wood of the counter.
I snarled again, snapping my jaw at the phone.

" I dare you, Dixon. I dare you to disrespect me one more time and I'll rip your head off your shoulders. The last theory happens to be the truth and I and my wolf can't wait to show you our power and see you cower in submission of a 'pathetic weak human'."

My tone was sharp, deadly, powerful.
Silence settled on the line until he started coughing in discomfort.

"I'm sorry I didn't want to disrespect you.."

"Save your pathetic excuses for who cares, I don't give a damn. You wanted to know why I chose to live among humans? You have your answer now. I'll meet you tomorrow at 6.30 pm sharp at The Coffee House. Be on time or I won't wait for you. I have better things to do than being disrespected again by a wolf. Have a good evening."

I cut off the line. How dare he?! My wolf was pissed as hell and she was clawing at my mind to be freed: if she couldn't have that male blood coating her claws she at least wanted to hunt some mooses to placate her thirst. A run and some hunt would benefit the both of us.

--

It was 6.30 pm sharp when I entered The Coffee House the day after. The prominent scent of coffee drifted right to my nose, followed by the scents of the humans sitting in the shop, but I could smell a different smell in the place too.

Non human.
Werewolf.

I moved my gaze towards the direction of the wild scent until it reached a burly looking man who was sitting alone in a corner of the shop.
When he felt my gaze on him he lifted his eyes from the folder in his hands to look straight at me. The moment our eyes met I could definetly see him flinch. I smirked. The aura of power my wolf was emitting was unmistakable: we were an Alpha female. I began my path towards him and took a seat at his table, crossing my legs.

"I belive you are Dr. Dixon" I stated.

He gulped.

"Indeed I am, Dr. Crawford. Listen, I would like to propelly apologize.."

I cut him off by raising my hand in front of his face.

"Please don't. I'm not here to listen to your meaningless apologies. I'm here because you called me for my help, so now I would like to know in what I could be useful."

He closed his eyes momentaneally before letting out a breath.

"Very well..so, as you probably know werewolves are not used to develop illnesses. We have an enanched immunity sistem that prevent us from becoming ill or developing patologies. In fact the majority of my work consists in helping our werewolf healing heal faster our injuries or helping pregnant mothers giving birth to their pups. A werewolf who catches fever is a very rare situation, so imagine my surprise when I found out this in one of my pack members."

He gave me the folder he was holding in his hands and I opened it. First of all I read the basic informations regarding the patient.

Name: Sarah Reid

Age:26

Status: mated with Jonathan Richards

Before I could carry on reading Dr. Dixon interrupted me.

"She is the daughter of the previous Beta of the pack and sister to the current one. She was on a mission in the North to scout informations about a group of rouges that tried to attack our pack. When she came back she didn't feel the same, so I run up a few check-up exams on her and I discovered this."

He handed me a CT scan of her addomen and I started to study it carefully. At first sight everything seemed normal, but with a second glance my trained eyes catched a small mass in the right part of the addomen, which seemed much like a...

I glanced up at Dr. Dixon who was already staring at me, his pale green eyes waiting for my reaction.

"Impossible." I told him.

"I thought that too, but I'm afraid that's real" he sighed "That's the reason why I need your help."

"But werewolves can't possibly have tumor, Dr. Dixon." I concluded.

"I know, or at least I knew that too. But look at it. What could possibly be if it's not a tumor? I know you have a master research degree in Oncology... please I need your help, my pack needs your help. I don't know the first thing on how to handle a disease like this. Please, I beg you."

"Does she know?"

He looked away as he was ashamed of the answer.

"Not yet, I wanted to be sure first before dropping the bomb."

I nodded, that was an understandable behavior, the same I would have adopted.

I wasn't good at werewolf shit. Hell, the few times I had interacted with them in the last few years always ended in spilled blood, and it wasn't definitely mine. I was one, but that didn't mean I was one of them. I was a lone wolf and I was happy this way. Accepting this offer meant inevitably interacting with others like me, a thing that would throw me out of the equilibrium I lived in since the acceptance of my wild.
In order to ponder on my decision, I needed to receive a few answers.

"Which pack are you from?"

"The Silverblood pack, it takes about an hour by car going north to reach the pack's border."

Despite the situation I found myself chuckling at the name, oh the irony. Silver was lethal to werewolves, so having a pack named like this it was quite funny.

"Why are you chuckling miss Crawford?"

I regained my posture, looking him straight in the eyes.

"I find quite funny that your pack is named after silver...It's an uncommon name seen as shifters fear it."

He smiled lightly at me.

"There is always a reason miss. It is said that the Moon Goddess herself gifted the Alpha family with immunity to silver. Speaking of my Alpha, Alpha Thorne would have liked to attend this meeting too but unfortunatly he was loaded with paperworks, so I had to come here by myself."

The situation was getting extremely interesting: first, a she-wolf possibly afflicted by cancer and then an Alpha immune to the touch of silver. My wolf was agreeing with me, the situation was interesting indeed, and her istinct was telling her to accept this offer, was pushing her towards this pack.
I deeply trusted my beast's instinct, so I decided to accept it, but on my own conditions.

I leaned back on the chair, recrossing my legs under the table.  Dr. Dixon was eyeing me expectantly, his pale greens focused on my body's behavior.
"Tell your Alpha that I have some conditions for me to accept this offer."

Dixon's eyes glimmered in hope, focusing on my face but avoiding my eyes, not capable to sustain my gaze.

"Are you accepting this case?" He asked me, his tone laced with surprise and hidden joy.

"I am only if your Alpha can grant me my wishes."

He exhaled a breath and then leaned on the table with his elbows.
"Please enlight me, I will report to him soon after I come back home."

I smiled coldly.
Good dog.
My wolf snickered in my mind and began licking her paws in satisfaction.

"First of all, my devotion goes first to my work at the hospital. I will have to work at least three shifts a week, I can't leave my patients like that, they count on me. During the other time I will work on that she-wolf's case and you will have to provide me everything that I will require necessaire to cure her."
I stopped to see if he was paying attention to me and when I saw that he was, I resumed talking. 
"I don't want to live in the pack house or whenever your pack do, so put me somewhere isolated, a cabin in the middle of the woods would be actually perfect. I will live in your territory for the time being, but after late night shifts I will be able to decide to rest in my house in Seattle. Lastly, but not least, I am not forced to attend any of your pack gatherings and shit like that. I mean it, the less contact I have with other werewolves the better for everyone."

I didn't want to risk ripping throats out if someone tried to disrespect me in any way.
Me and my wolf were quite prideful creatures.  Already been there, already done that.

He gulped.

"Well miss Crawford, those are a lot of requests, but I'm sure my Alpha will happily provide for each of them. I will call you soon after I talk with Alpha Hercules... he will be pleased to hear you accepted our offer."

"Well, Mr. Dixton, we have a deal. I will be waiting for your call. Tell Alpha Thorne or Hercules or whatever his name is that I will be very disappointed if he won't grant my wishes. Goodbye."

With these words I stared at him in the eyes one last time, enjoying how he flinched under my gaze, before getting up and exiting the cafè, well aware of his gaze fixed on my retrating back.
—————

Here we go!
Here is where our adventure starts... I hope I caught your attention enough to let you stay a little more!!
If you enjoyed, please vote, comment and share!
xx
Kate