Mated To An Enemy

It had already been several hours since Galen had been put under observation, and yet Bell was nowhere in sight.

He had been told that she was called away for an emergency in the afternoon, but that was hours ago.

‘I thought she would at least stop in for a chat,’ he sighed to himself sadly.

The door to his room opened, and he sat up with anticipation, only to feel a great sense of disappointment when Peter entered the room.

Galen let out a deep sigh.

“Good to see you too,” laughed Peter.

“Sorry,” Galen replied.

“I know, I’m not who you are hoping to see,” Peter smiled, “I’m sorry to tell you, though, Bell has already gone home for the day. Didn’t she come to see you earlier? I told her which room you were in.”

“Guess she must have been busy,” Galen answered, wondering to himself if something had happened.

“Oh, wow, you got it bad, don’t you?” Peter said, noting Galen’s sad expression.

“What?” Galen asked tensely, “What do you mean? I just needed to talk with her about something… something medical.”

“What?” Peter asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. “You got complaints?”

Galen looked at Peter, not understanding his meaning at first, too distracted by his own thoughts. Then, however, Peter’s irritated expression finally registered, and Galen laughed.

“No, no, nothing about my treatments,” Galen said quickly, “I asked for her help with something, and I just had a couple questions, that was all.”

“Uh-huh,” Peter replied, not convinced, “and what was that?”

He continued his original task, washing his hands and preparing to check the wound for improvement.

Galen thought about it for a moment, wondering if there was any real risk in asking Peter about the wolfsbane. It seemed unlikely that the person responsible for the reports being withheld was from the hospital.

“I had asked her about the wolfsbane patients from the attack,” Galen said, testing the waters to see how Peter responded.

Peter lifted Galen’s shirt to see the wound. His response to Galen’s comment was a brief pause and a glance in Galen’s direction.

“Didn’t you get a copy of those records when it happened?” Peter asked before turning back to the wound.

“With the exchange program, I didn’t have the time to properly absorb the material,” Galen replied.

“I see,” Peter said.

Satisfied with the wound care, he put Galen’s shirt down and removed his gloves. He washed his hands and turned to face Galen once more. Leaning back against the counter, he crossed his arms.

“Ok, shoot,” Peter said.

“Huh?” Galen asked, confused by his meaning.

“Bell saw all the patients in the field, but when they were brought back here, I was the one who took over their care,” Peter replied. “Other than the two that died in the field, I can probably tell you anything she could.”

“Oh,” Galen said, “I didn’t realize.”

Peter smiled and tipped his head with a raised eyebrow showing that he was still waiting to be asked a question.

“Oh right!” Galen said.

Galen asked Peter several fundamental questions about the treatment of each patient and the hospital's preparedness for cases of wolfsbane. Peter answered all the questions, nothing new. Galen already knew all the answers to his questions. Still, he needed to start slowly before asking what he really wanted to know.

“Do you remember how many patients were actually treated for injuries that day?” Galen asked, adding, “Specifically, those who were injured by weapon rather than claws or teeth.”

“Not the exact number, no, but there was a lot. Obviously, those we treated for the poison, but I think there were at least twice as many that we saw for injuries. Most weren’t very serious.”

“And what about Ashleigh?” Galen asked.

“What about her?” Peter replied.

“I know she was treated for wolfsbane, she told me that, but I didn’t see her record with the others that Bell gave me,” Galen said.

“Bell gave you the records? You didn’t receive them after the attack?” Peter asked, a serious expression on his face as he pushed off the counter.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Galen replied quickly, “as I said, I didn’t have time to review them. So I asked Bell for copies while I was here since I knew I had a little freedom in my schedule to review them.”

“Oh,” Peter replied, relaxing back against the counter.

‘His reaction to the records not being sent to Summer showed concern rather than suspicion,” Galen noted to himself.

“Well, yea,” Peter began, “The records you received in Summer would have been a complete record. But if Bell pulled copies for you, they would have only been the ones she treated. So even though I treated them at the hospital, she began treatment in the field and was able to chart on that.”

“So, she didn’t treat Ashleigh? I heard she did,” Galen asked.

“No, not officially,” Peter replied.

“What does that mean?” Galen asked.

“So, from what I understand, Bell was taking care of a group of patients on the field. They had just realized that wolfsbane had been used. She heard someone say they saw Ashleigh come in covered in blood. Bell got worried and went after her. She was directed to the showers, and there she found Ashleigh, passed out from the effects of the poison,”

Galen gasped, he knew about the poisoning, but he was shocked to hear how close it had been to killing Ashleigh.

“Bell reacted immediately. She called for help but knew it wouldn’t arrive in time,” Peter paused. He looked carefully at Galen before continuing as though he were deciding. “So, she performed an emergency blood transfusion.”

Galen was impressed. He already felt that she was special, but hearing about her quick thinking, she was excellent.

“Once help arrived, they were stabilized and brought back to the hospital. At which point I took over care.”

Galen glanced up at Peter. Once Caleb was informed of this, Peter would receive a gift. Whether Caleb admitted to it or not, he would thank the man who helped not only his Beta but his mate.

“It was touch and go with Ashleigh for a while after that. Hers was the most advanced poisoning case after those that didn’t survive. But, honestly, if not for Bell, she wouldn’t have made it. For hours Ashleigh fought fevers and an infection near her heart. But in the end, she was able to pull through,” Peter sighed at the memory. It had been rough, and he felt exhausted thinking about it.

Galen remembered the way Caleb had been that afternoon, his sudden shakes, and the way he broke into a fever. He had looked close to death, suffering for hours without any aid. He wouldn’t let Galen send for help, insisting it would pass. When it finally did, he was exhausted. He looked haggard. The surprise attack happened twenty minutes later. Somehow Caleb had pulled himself together and led his wolves against the assault.

“That’s remarkable,” Galen sighed.

“It was a hard day for all of us. As it was for all the packs,” Peter sighed.

“What do you mean?” Galen asked.

Peter gave Galen a confused look before answering.

“I mean exactly what I said. Although it was a hard day for all of us,” Peter said, “we don’t think we are special simply because we lost the most.”

Galen tried his best to conceal his shock at what Peter said.

“The losses from Spring and Autumn may have only been two and three, but even the loss of one is hard. I understand that Summer didn’t lose anyone to the wolfsbane, but now you have lost more than any other. I am truly sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” Galen nodded.

Peter nodded in return.

After a silent moment, Peter pushed off from the counter.

“I need to get back to work,” he said.

“Thank you for all your help,” Galen said.

Peter reached for the door and hesitated. Then, he turned back to face Galen.

“Based on the piece of technology I pulled from your wound this afternoon. It’s clear that your pack puts a lot of thought into advanced medical techniques,” Peter said quietly.

“Yes,” Galen replied, “it is something we take great pride in.”

“Can I assume the reason for your questions on this topic is to try to find a way to lessen the damage of wolfsbane in the future?” Peter asked.

“That is one reason, yes,” Galen answered, as honestly as he could.

“In the future, should you find an answer,” Peter looked back at the door as though he were checking for anyone listening. “Please contact me directly.”

Galen furrowed his brows, expressing his confusion.

“I honor and respect my pack and my Alpha, but I also honor my own beliefs as a doctor. So, therefore, if there is a way to save my patient, I will use it.”

Peter smiled at Galen before exiting the room.