7. Ava

I gaspas pain shoots through my leg. Dr. Walker is back at my side in an instant, his large, warm hands gently placing my foot back on the bed. He glares at me, his eyes full of frustration and concern. Hello, I'm the victim here—the innocent sufferer in this whole drama.

"Ava," he says, his voice now a gruff whisper. "Stay."

I widen my eyes, realizing the absurdity of what just happened. He just used my dog training methods…on me. I'm so flabbergasted that all I can do is open and close my mouth, looking like a fish out of water.

Slowly, he leans down into my personal space, his presence overwhelming. I lean back as far as I can go into the pillows. He inhales deeply, as if trying to detect something beyond the clinical smell of the room. "Rest, luna, because tomorrow, your journey to recovery begins."

"That sounds ominous," I say through clenched teeth, the pain in my leg now a dull throb. It's slowly dissipating, as the drugs kick in more. Wait, did he just call me luna?

That has to be a trick of my drug addled brain.

"It should," Dr. Brody Walker says, standing tall and imposing like a tower of strength and concern. "You have a visitor."

"All this buildup just to tell me I have a visitor?" I roll my eyes, sinking back into the stiff hospital bed that creaks under my weight.

I also need to use the bathroom. But the thought of just attempting to have to use the restroom is making me wonder how long I can hold my bladder.

"Knock, knock, boss bitch." Eloise strides into the room, her black gothic dress flowing behind her like a dark wave against the sterile ambiance of the hospital. She sashays to the chair Brody just vacated, her eyes drinking in his retreating form with an admiration that's both bold and unapologetic. "I hope I'm interrupting something juicy."

"Not at all," Brody replies, his voice holding a note of amusement that contradicts the seriousness of his doctorly demeanor. He takes a step back, his tall figure casting a long shadow across the dull linoleum floor. "I'll see you in the morning, Ms. Martinez." He nods at Eloise, a gesture of respectful acknowledgment, before leaving.

"Well, well, well, you tramp," Eloise teases as she scoots the chair closer, the wheels squeaking slightly. Her bright green eyes, lined with thick black eyeliner, sparkle with mischief. "Really, Ava, injuring yourself for a date? Even for your dramatic standards, that's next level."

"Bean," I grumble, lying back against the thin hospital pillow. A flicker of worry crosses my mind as I consider Brody's advice about taking time off. Six to eight weeks feels like an eternity in pet clinic time. "She decided to explore the highest bookshelf."

"That snake is a menace," Eloise hisses, her dark lipstick standing out starkly against her pale skin, giving her a vampiric allure…which was probably the point.

"How was your date?" I ask, attempting to divert the conversation from my snake induced injuries.

"You're not wriggling out of this that easily," she chides, leaning back in the chair with a dramatic flair, "but I'll let it slide for now because I am dying to talk about me, myself, and I." She lounges back, letting out a theatrical sigh before suddenly sitting up, her eyes alight with excitement. "I lost count of the number of orgasms I had. Ever heard of a vampire's kiss?"

"I think I'm too pure and innocent for such tales," I joke, my curiosity piqued, despite my cluelessness. I'd give my best Dracula impression, but it's more likely to induce laughter than fear.

"It's when a vampire goes down on you and bites either side of your kitty nub," she whispers with a hint of scandal and a lot of excitement.

I wave a finger in the air, my mouth agape in mock horror and amusement. "Hold up, rewind that story."

Eloise shakes her head at me, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. "Oh yes. The bean. Nature's fruit snack. The devil's doorbell. He bit the sides, Ava, and oh my gosh…" She trails off, then dramatically collapses onto the floor like a fallen starlet. "I'm a slave for them," she sings.

"Just make sure you stay hydrated," I advise, leaning over the side of the bed to see her lying there in melodramatic bliss. "So how many drinks did you have?"

"Just a few." She winks, springing back up onto the chair with a dancer's grace. "Now, about that ambulance call…"

"Quick to change the subject, aren't we?" I shake my head, amused and intrigued by her stories. "You really can't let me live vicariously through you for a moment, can you?"

"No secrets until I get the full scoop, boss babe," she declares, leaning forward on the edge of her seat, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"I ended up with wolves for paramedics," I start, ready to dive into my own bizarre tale.

She squeals, cutting me off before I can get another word in. "Did they scent you and decide you're theirs forever and ever? Tell me everything!"

"Well, no," I respond, surprised that hadn't even crossed my mind until now. "Is that actually a thing?"

"Don't you know anything?" Eloise giggles, clearly thrilled to be the one to inform me. "Wolf packs often choose human mates, just like vampires, but it's all kept on the down-low, you know—politics and all."

She's spot on. Spiritkins and humans coexist, but it's like we live in parallel worlds. We've moved past the days of outright segregation, but the divide still lingers. Some humans are cool with spiritkins, while others would rather see them stripped of their rights and treated like glorified pets. No wonder their romances are hush-hush.

"Sparky told me," Eloise says, her voice a soft murmur. She's draped in her usual gothic attire, with her platinum hair cascading like a dark waterfall over her pale, almost luminescent skin. "I know it's a ridiculous name, and although our night together was like a scene from a steamy novel, I doubt it's going to last."

"Oh no, you were so amped up about him. Or them." I try to infuse my voice with sympathy, but deep down, I'm relieved. Vampires are risky—a fact that echoes in the depths of my mind, resonating with an old fear. I mentally flinch, feeling like I'm mirroring the same paranoia that plagued my mama. She had this gentle, loving soul, always trying to see the good in everyone, but her caution around spiritkins is something I'll never forget. She avoided them but fought for them, and I'll never understand why now. Not to mention her violent end, something so brutal, it could never have been human, left me with a deep-seated caution that I can't shake off.

Eloise hums, her green eyes shimmering with a mix of mischief and understanding. There's an unspoken agreement between us, an acknowledgment of the darker edges of our world—the hidden dangers and silent fears. She knows I worry, and I know she does her best to stay safe.

Is it enough?

"I'm working on it," I whisper more to myself than to her, a vow to overcome my own fears.

"Listen, just because the sex was out of this world doesn't mean it's a forever thing, you know," Eloise muses, a distant look in her eyes, as if she's already dreaming about her next escapade. "These guys are practically ancient, which isn't all bad, since choosing to be a vampire bride means eternal youth, but," she adds with a dramatic pause, a playful smile dancing on her lips, "I want to play the field and sample all the flavors of the world, if you catch my drift."

"Be careful," I warn, the protective instinct in my voice genuine, despite my internal struggle.

"Ava, relax," she says, brushing off my concerns with a flick of her wrist, her bracelets creating a soft, musical sound. "Sure, there are bad eggs everywhere—humans, wolves, vampires, and witches—but don't worry, I'll be safe. I'll even wear a tracking bracelet when I go out on my nocturnal adventures," she says with a roll of her eyes.

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Okay, that's a plan."

"Now, let's get back to you. Tell me everything about those wolves," she urges, leaning in close, her eyes glittering with curiosity and excitement.

"I think they are planning to bench me from work, and that's just not going to happen," I confess, feeling the walls of the hospital room closing in on me. Eloise's presence is a welcome distraction. "I need your help to sneak out of here."

"You do realize you're not exactly in tip-top shape, right?" she points out, her gaze scanning my bandaged form with a mix of concern and disbelief.

I dismiss her observation with a wave of my hand. "Minor details. What's crucial is finding where those wolves live, because they have my precious snake baby." I gnaw on my lip, lost in thought, trying to devise a plan to reclaim my pet from a trio of wolves whose address is a mystery to me. "If I had spiritkin sniffing abilities, I could find her." Maybe. "I'll figure it out, I just need you to get me out of here. Now."

"You're dead serious, aren't you?" Eloise leans over to check the hallway outside before turning back to me, her face etched with incredulity. "Can't you just chill here for the night?"

"No way," I hiss, feeling a surge of urgency. "I'm getting discharged tomorrow, and this is our window of opportunity. He's gone, right? Get me out of here."

"You've completely lost it, Ava. The pets at the clinic will be fine without you for a bit," she reasons, but my mind is already racing with plans and possibilities.

If I don't act now, my life is going to shift in ways I'm not ready for. My comfortable routines, my patients, and my serene apartment filled with plants and familiar scents…all of it feels threatened. Those men, with their effortless charm, and Dr. Walker, who looks at me as if he wants to shield me from the world, are a complication I'm not sure I want.

"I need to get out of here," I plead with Eloise, my voice trembling with fear and determination.

She frowns, her expression softening as she sees the earnest panic in my eyes. "Fine, but if we get caught, I'm bailing. I have another date tonight, and I can't afford to be late," Eloise replies, her eyes flashing with the thrill of our adventure. She stands up, her dress swishing around her legs, and grabs the wheelchair from the corner of the room.

"Perfect, I'll just camp out in the car while you enjoy your date," I suggest, injecting a bit of humor into my voice, despite the butterflies in my stomach. "Bring me food, and I'll be good."

"What?" Eloise gasps, her face a perfect picture of shock and disbelief. "Absolutely not. Are you out of your mind? Actually, don't answer that. It's obvious."

"Just think about it," I counter, pushing myself up in bed, ignoring the protest from my aching muscles. "If I'm with you, they won't find me. They'll probably start by tearing apart my apartment, then the clinic."

"You really think they'd come looking for you?" she asks, skepticism dripping from every word. Her question briefly snaps me out of my panic. "I mean, no offense, Ava, but you're not exactly on their most wanted list."

"Good point," I admit, letting out a shaky breath. I scoot slowly to the side of the bed, grimacing as I slide down onto my good foot. With a grace that feels like a clumsy ballerina, I twirl and land in the wheelchair, trying to breathe through the jolt of pain.

"Smooth," Eloise lies, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she wheels me backward. "All right, escape artist, how exactly are we breaking out of this joint?"

"That's a great question. Wish I had a great answer," I say, my mind racing as I realize I'm about to attempt a hospital escape in nothing but a flimsy gown. My clothing is probably ruined. "Pretend you're a nurse taking me for an X-ray. We're going to have to improvise."

"All right," she replies with a determined nod. I glance over my shoulder and see her slipping into character, her posture changing to one of professional efficiency. To my surprise, she pulls a name tag from under her shirt, and her readiness impresses me. "I had a hunch."

"What would I ever do without you?" I whisper.

"Never have any fun." She presses the button to open the door, and Eloise rolls me into the hallway. As we pass a bathroom, she swiftly grabs a bag and tosses it into my lap. I dive into it, finding my phone and a shirt, but no pants—a casualty of the hospital's efficiency by cutting off my clothing. At least they were just scrubs.

"Ma'am," a nurse calls out, approaching us swiftly. I jerk my head up, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. Lying has never been my forte. My mom could always tell when I was fibbing. Her knowing gaze was enough to unravel any half-baked tale.

I bite my cheek, trying to look nonchalant.

"Where are you taking that patient? Dr. Walker said she wasn't getting discharged until tomorrow morning," the nurse inquires, her brow furrowed with concern.

"The patient, Ava, needs an X-ray. Didn't he tell you?" Eloise's tone is sharp, and her expression stern, as if she's dealing with an annoying interruption. I almost feel bad for our unsuspecting nurse, but desperation fuels our deceit.

"Oh, no, he didn't. I can double-check if you'll wait here," the nurse offers, her dedication to her duty evident in her earnest expression.

"Don't bother," Eloise retorts, pushing me past her and down the hall, out of sight. She lets out a nervous giggle as she hits the elevator button.

We're heading in the complete opposite direction of radiology too.

"So close," I mutter under my breath, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling inside me.

"Shush," Eloise whispers, ushering me into the elevator. "By the time they realize we're not where we're supposed to be, we'll be far away, getting takeout and prepping for my date." The elevator doors close, sealing our fate.

"Did you scout out our escape route?" I ask in awe and disbelief.

"Of course," Eloise scoffs, as if she's a seasoned pro at hospital heists. "This elevator leads to the basement. I parked my car where there are no cameras."

"I guarantee there are cameras, Eloise," I counter, my anxiety bubbling up again. My eyes swing all over wildly.

"I disabled them with bubble gum," she retorts confidently, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You sly fox," I exclaim, a mix of admiration and relief in my voice.

"Of course I am," she replies, leaning down to give me an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "You're my chocolate chip. I have to make sure you're well taken care of."

"Cookies for life." I sigh, a wave of relief washing over me as the elevator doors open to the dimly lit garage. Her little purple car sits directly in front of us—our ticket to freedom. She dashes ahead to get the car ready.

"She's free!" Eloise yells, nearly tipping me over in her haste as she maneuvers around the car. "That was surprisingly uneventful."

"Don't jinx us," I warn, laughing as I hop into the passenger seat and manage to pull myself in without wincing too much. "But I have a feeling this isn't the last I'll see of Brody, Tyler, or Ethan."

Why does the thought of seeing them again send a thrill through me?