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Just as I had with vampires.

“Exactly,” Ha-joon agreed. “They are then enrolled in afreeseminar about what to expect and how to handle it. Not the pack, pride, sloth—any of that bollocks. Parents won’t pay for it, but we know they’ll accept free. We all know female shifters who would gladly come in and help if they had a way.”

Carla snorted, clearly meaning she would do it for every female shifter if she could.

“Males are enrolled in a different one about their aggression and need to hunt.” He sighed when most of the women in the room flinched or went tense. “Men are more aggressive. We alsodon’t handle it as well. My sisters are very strong wolves—could take my older brothers if they worked harder, but I’ve never, noteverheard them say they were itching to hunt.”

“I want to defend them that maybe they don’t feel comfortable saying such things, but that seems like a slight against your parents,” Carla admitted, glancing at me when I snorted.

“I’ve spent enough time with his mother that if her daughters wanted to hunt, she’d set up outings and source the best animals for them. She’s a doll like that. They would accept it.” I gestured to Ha-joon. “They have a special child and pushed him to thrive. Daughters hunting would be fine.”

“Yes, thank you,” Ha-joon whispered, seeming touched I thought so highly about his family.

Or his parents at least. I had choice words for his siblings.

“Fair.” Carla studied him. “Off the record, how often do you truly get the urge to hunt? I have it maybe once every six months.”

“Weekly,” Ha-joon answered immediately, nodding when even Sean seemed shocked. “My wolf gets anxious and acts out if I don’t have a large takedown weekly. A real hunt, not just a lamb left out that can satisfy some. He needs tohunt.”

“That’s not normal,” Sean muttered.

“No, it’s not, but again, would most shifters know that they’re not alone if they felt that, or do they self-destruct because they hide it?” Ha-joon pushed, proving his point. We all agreed, and he continued.

We were all stunned when he was done, but I recovered first. “You’re not suggesting a medical spa, but a whole way to revolutionize how we handle a sector of medicine—createnew specialties and programs to certify. You want there to be a new board-certified doctor who specializes in first shifts and transitions.”

Ha-joon slowly nodded. “Yes, I guess I do.” He kept nodding. “Yes, you’re right, that is what I want.” He tapped a few keys. “And I have more.”

Yes, yes, he most certainly did.

12

Ha-joon

I was thrilled the board was truly listening and heard the true idea on the merits and intent instead of brushing it off as I’d worried… Or looking at the dollar signs like my last hospital had.

“But I also want there to be a bit of subterfuge or—ASH has so much to offer, but itssizemakes certain aspects available that—”

Ellie immediately caught on. “People are embarrassed to be seen going to certain doctors. Yes, we know that well and have ways around it.”

“Yes, yes, ASH does,” I agreed. “I want to use that. Specifically, for—a doctor I worked with—she’s amazing and…” I stifled a snort when I immediately scented annoyance from Ellie.

“Move on,” Ellie said firmly when people started looking at her.

“Professionally, she’s amazing,” I clarified. “She’s a shifter OB-GYN and specializes with those who have a hard time carrying to term. My previous hospital was so busy bragging about how great she was that she barely had any patients. People who needed her were too ashamed to see her—too embarrassed to be seen needing that help—”

“Or admitting they failed as a woman that they couldn’t give their partner a child,” Dr. Greer said sadly. “Yes, we are more sexist as shifters than we like to say. Poor women. So you want to steal her?” She waited until I nodded. “Forgive me, but this sounds like a shifter addition, Clark.”

“Not at all,” I said firmly. “This is just what I know. This is the starting point. I do know that some new vampire mothers have problems because not only are they breastfeeding but giving their babies blood and—”

“Our society still treats female vampires like broodmares too often and who cares if they suffer,” Dr. Carpenter grumbled. “Yes, we’ve seen it many,manytimes and how it can basically strip the vampire of their immortality.” He nodded when I couldn’t hide my shock. “Every species has such dirty secrets.”

“Yes, yes, we do,” I agreed sadly. “But with ASH’s reputation, even the most sexist father would want their children to come here to be checked over by the most advancednewaddition and doctors. That’s when we can help these mothers. That’s how we change things, and those mothers tell sisters and cousins—we change the mindset and stop the shame and insanity.”

“So you’re saying this new addition would focus on those who fall through the cracks most,” Ellie muttered before looking at Dr. James. “And that’s why you thought of Renee. There’s still too much stigma against mental health, but this could be the lead-in or even excuse someone used to be at ASH.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Dr. James said the same time I did, but he continued. “You’re saying instead of a weekly session, they could say they’re helping teach a free teenage group counseling.”

Ellie shrugged. “Why not? Or that could be the price of help if they’re worried about their mate finding out with insurance. We could have all kinds of free education that people could sign up for. Hell, work with schools and get it on community servicepoints. Make them as a bonus for college applications that they took seminars here learning about magics as shifters.”