8. Jasper

CHAPTER EIGHT

JASPER

I got to the clinic early today. I tried not to work on weekends to spend time with Leo and Hawthorne, but another doctor called out, and I didn't like leaving them short-staffed. Saturday was walk-in day, and many people waited for it instead of making a regular appointment.

I'd seen a few people already, one woman who sprained her ankle at work the night before and a man who was having trouble shifting. It was all pretty basic stuff, which was normal for walk-ins.

My mind drifted back to Harper. We hadn't seen her much this week. Leo brought her lunch on Wednesday, but she'd been a bit quiet since then, and there seemed to be something wrong. Leo said she seemed happy when he saw her last, but no one was sure how to check in on her since everything was so new.

"Doctor Keaton," Abby, one of the nurses, said as she approached me.

"Yes?"

"We have a bit of a strange case with this walk-in."

"How so?" I asked, taking the chart from her and skimming over it.

"There's a human woman here with her daughter. She says she's presenting with symptoms of shifting."

I read over the information. Aria Maloy, age four, hyperactive then tired, reported an ear shift at her daycare. My eyes caught on the last name. Though it was a fairly common one, it was odd to see all the same.

"Did she come with a father? Perhaps the shifter?" I asked.

"No," she said. "And the mom looks like she had no idea."

"I see. I'll talk with her." I couldn't imagine being a human and finding out my daughter could be a shifter. I wouldn't know anything until I tested her, but her symptoms were all correct. And if she didn't know, I was sure she would be frightened.

I stepped out into the lobby and called out, "Aria Maloy."

When I looked up, I stopped dead in my tracks. Sitting there was Harper, her round eyes staring back at me. And when I looked beside her, a small child had walked up to join her. Her hair was blonder, but she had the same hazel eyes and slightly upturned nose.

Harper had a daughter.

We both sat there in stunned silence. I was sure people were looking by now, but I couldn't move. It was like I was frozen in place. I had so many questions, but I brought my mind to the issue at hand. Harper was probably scared for her daughter, and she needed help.

I cleared my throat. "Why don't you both follow me back?"

That seemed to snap her out of it. She stood with Aria and brought her towards me. Her pumpkin spice scent hit my nostrils, and I wanted to pull her to me, but I resisted as we walked toward the exam room.

When we got there, I had her help Aria up onto the exam table. "Could you explain to me what's going on?" I asked Harper.

She looked shy for a moment but nodded. She explained the symptoms Aria had been experiencing and what they told her at the daycare.

I took notes and listened the way I always would, trying to go into professional mode.

"Aria also said something to me the other day," she continued. "Aria," she spoke to her daughter, "will you tell Dr. Keaton what you told me the other day? About your body?"

She nodded. "It feels like my body wants to explode, but then doesn't," she said. Her voice was so small and cute. My protective instincts kicked in threefold, needing to fix whatever was going on, though that feeling she described in her own words was a common way young children described shifting.

"I need to run a few tests, but I'm pretty sure you're correct. Aria is a shifter."

Harper's stress was written all over her face. I peeked my head out and called for Abby, who came quickly. "Can you take Aria's vitals while I ask a few more questions?"

"Of course."

"Harper, if you don't mind, I need to ask a few things."

She nodded as she turned to Aria. "I'm gonna step out and talk to the doctor for one minute, okay? Stay with the nurse and I'll be right back."

"Kay," she said, turning her attention to Abby. It seemed she was excited to have someone new to talk to as I led Harper out and down the hall to another room I was sure we wouldn't be heard in.

I clicked the door shut and turned to her. All my professionalism went out the door, and I hugged her. She wrapped around me as she started sobbing. I rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," I said, and she didn't. Though I would have liked to know she had a kid, things were still new, and I understood her reluctance to bring it up.

She pulled back a bit and took a few deep breaths as I wiped her tears away. "You're being too nice," she said.

"I'm not just being nice," I said earnestly. "I care about you and want to help."

She smiled lightly, another tear falling. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm not a shifter. I don't know how to teach her anything. And don't shifters need a pack? I don't have one."

"Breathe," I said. She started getting worked up, and I didn't want her to have a panic attack. "It's okay, we'll help you figure it out."

"I can't put that all on you," she said. "We just started going out."

"Don't worry about that right now. Let's just focus on Aria."

She nodded.

"I hate to ask you this, but can you tell me about her father?" If she didn't have any wolf shifter in her, someone had to.

She groaned. "I didn't know him well. He was some guy who knocked me up during spring break. I barely spoke to him, much less got his number. But I didn't know he was a shifter."

"Don't worry, Harper," I said. "I promise we'll help. You won't have to do this alone."

"You don't mind that I have a kid?" she asked. "You still want to…date? Or is it over and this is just an offer from one shifter to another?"

"I speak for all of us when I say we still want to date. This isn't a deterrent for any of us."

She let out a deep breath, as if she was genuinely worried. "Okay."

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to tell Hawthorne and Leo. I think they'll know how to help. I can do that while you take a moment, and when we're done, I need a couple of blood samples from Aria so I can find out for sure."

"That sounds good. Thank you."

I dropped a kiss to her lips without even thinking, and when I pulled away, she smiled.

I went to another room and called Leo first.

"Hey!" he said. "Are you getting out early? I could use some help moving the couch."

I paused. "Why are you moving the couch?"

"I'm trying to clean under it. Duh."

I couldn't help but laugh. "No, I'm not getting out early, but I do have something to tell you."

He paused for a moment. "What?"

I told him everything that had happened over the past half an hour. The only thing I left out was what Harper had told me about Aria's father. I asked her that in a professional capacity, and when she wanted to share with the others, she would.

When I was finished, he was silent on the other end. "Harper has a daughter who's also a shifter?"

"It seems so."

"So, what now?" he asked.

"Aria is four. Ideally, she's around other shifters who can teach her to control the changes. This is a pretty pivotal time, and she needs the support."

"I agree," he said.

"I think we need to discuss that all together." I was inclined to say she should stay with us, but I didn't want to push her into it or assume the other two would want that.

He sighed on the other end. "You're right, but I'm sure she'll come stay with us."

I huffed. "How are you so sure?"

"Cause who could say no to me?"

I barked out a laugh. "Do you mind telling Hawthorne? I don't want to leave Harper alone for too long."

"Of course. We'll meet you there."

"Perfect. I'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

I hung up and went back to Harper, who was now calm.

"Ready?" I asked her.

She took a steadying breath. "I guess so."