Ella

I stumble through the doors of the clinic with immense difficulty, Cora leaning heavily and moaning on my one side, Rafe’s carrier bouncing against my other.

People’s eyes go wide when they see us, but they quickly scatter out of our way to make room, shouting for nurses and doctors to come and help. I hold my breath, my eyes fastened on the clinic’s familiar front counter as I pray to heaven and back that Hank is here, that he’s on duty tonight.

I exhale a that huge breath in a sob of relief when I see him come, wide-eyed, around the corner, trying to figure out what the big fuss is about. Hank gasps when he sees us, dropping his clipboard and dashing into the waiting room to get to our side.

To my immense relief, Hank recovers quickly from his surprise and is, quite suddenly, the calm and efficient surgeon I’ve come to know and trust.

“What’s wrong,” he snaps as he gets his shoulder under Cora’s other arm. Where is she hurt?”

“Her lower back,” I say, my words coming slowly as I try to get my frantic mind in order. “She was stabbed – we were attacked, Hank – I’m so sorry – ”

“Enough,” he says harshly, dismissing my apology with a glare as he helps me basically carry Cora into the back, to where we can help her. “A stab wound?! Why the fuck didn’t you get her to a hospital, Ella!”

“It’s not bad,” Cora mumbles, and Hank’s head snaps up, as if he didn’t really realize that she’s conscious enough to talk.

into the first room. Then, as Cora talks to him in some kind of medical jargon I don’t understand, Hank and I help her up onto an examination table where she lays on her belly. Hank hisses when he sees the amount of blood soaking her shirt

glance down at my son. He’s fussing unhappily, wanting to be held and comforted, but I’m so, so grateful to see that he’s essentially unharmed. My whole heart breaks as I watch him cry – but I resist,

he can see the wound. I

ready to spring into action.

fatal, Ella,” he says, turning back to his work. “I mean, it’s critical – we have to

– and the doctor I know can save

almost see the thoughts passing through his head Cora, pregnant Roger she left him for

see him come to the logical conclusion, the same

instant, my hand on his arm. “Hank,” I say again, drawing his attention back to me as I shake my head,

me, confused – “That’s impossible,

head, willing him to believe me. “We have no explanation,” I say, holding his

together. Then he turns away from me, barking something out to the nurses about getting an ultrasound

he asks, stern, and I see him tucking his emotions about

shaking my head, “um, not long? Maybe – maybe a week after her missed period?” I shrug, confused, “I

satisfied. “With a wolf pregnancy…” but then he turns to

my head – honestly, we don’t know. Hank sighs and stares at her, at my sister who I think maybe has

arms, “then it would be long enough, now, to detect a heartbeat. But if the baby is…human? I don’t know, Ella.” Then he turns to me. “Either way,” he says, “the knife wouldn’t have itself harmed the child. But her

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