Page 19

Ha-joon

Nothing was sexier than watching Ellie Reed command a room and lay down the law. I was honestly so damn turned on that I had a hard time focusing on what she was saying.

“No relationship will be disclosed unless both parties agree to make their relationship public,” she continued.

“The party who discloses will be immediately terminated.” She shot the HR people standing off to the side a warning look.

“And we will use potions to find who leaked the information, so I suggest the lax attitude of confidential information around here change.”

She was perfection.

I raised my hand and stood, meeting her pretty eyes when she focused on me. “What about if we have intentions to engage in a sexual relationship? Should we report it to HR that we’re pursuing someone who also works at ASH so there’s no misunderstanding?”

Yes, I was making it clear that I was talking about her and staking my claim to everyone there.

She could beat me later. I might not be a typical douche Alpha… But I was still an Alpha, and I didn’t play fair always either.

“Wow, way to not be subtle,” someone chuckled.

Ellie gave me a look of death. “No, only sexual encounters should be reported, Dr. Clark. However , I suggest you know your audience and if someone is open to such advances because we will also be changing the sexual harassment reporting policy.”

Yeah, time to back down what I’d done or I was going to end up tossed back to London. “I apologize if my question seemed pointed. I didn’t mean me specifically, but it was the policy of my last hospital. Any intentions had to be reported as well.”

It worked and she seemed a little less hostile… Even if every shifter in the room knew I was full of shit.

Ellie would have normally too, but I wondered if I was too far away and the lights on the stage of the lecture hall messed with what she normally saw or sensed?

She gave a firm nod and focused back on what was in front of her.

“Good question then. No, we’re not to that point, but I suggest people start listening to the word ‘no’ and taking hints better.

I’ve heard more than once that some of you are cocks with all the hens you could ever want access to.

That’s not actually what my hospital is, so enough.

“Control yourselves and learn to be professional or you’ll be out of a job.

That’s the bottom line and how things will be now.

Don’t touch people you aren’t sexually active with.

Don’t make people uncomfortable. Ask for consent.

Only engage when clear communication is had and both parties know what is happening or expected. This isn’t a frat. Grow up.”

She outlined a bit more, and all of it was so reasonable it was disappointing that it wasn’t already in place. She seemed more than relieved when it was all over.

“Code 32 level yellow,” the PA system announced. “All trauma and shifter department personnel to meet at the emergency services conference room immediately. Code 32 level yellow.”

“Ellie?” Dr. Carpenter asked as he was already heading for the door.

“Code 32?” I asked the people around me.

“Crash. More than ten,” Dr. Tai hurried to answer, waving me to come with her.

“New York had a major accident because of a bridge malfunctioning,” Ellie announced. “Permission was given to reroute as many as they can here because a warlock is on site who can open a portal and has to here. It’s one shot and too many will come. We need all hands on deck to help as they can.”

“Got it. Clark, you’re taking point with the shifters again,” Dr. Carpenter yelled over.

“Yes, sir,” I accepted, rushing after Tai. I was impressed that those not involved quickly moved out of our way and knew when to behave as a team even if we were all just disagreeing.

“I want orthopedics and pediatrics on standby since we don’t know what’s coming in,” Ellie instructed everyone as I was already walking out of the door. “Get our warlocks to the portal area. One goes through and can reopen if we can take more later. Assume one shot, but we’ll do what we can.”

That was the last I heard as we reached the stairs.

Five minutes later, I was in trauma gear and ready outside for where the portal would be opened. I nodded to EMS personnel that had arrived. I didn’t know if they were helping on this side or if some were going through the portal.

“Hear me now that all shifters do not enter this hospital unless assessed by Dr. Clark,” Dr. Carpentered said loudly as he came out with dozens of people.

“I know he’s new and this is different. Adjust. We were going to already fill everyone in and have a lecture, but other issues came up.

For those of you who don’t know him yet, learn him now. ”

I waved and made a show of letting people know where I was.

“Okay, then we triage vamps, magics, and shifters to three paths,” Dr. Fitz said, getting teams in place a few feet from where the portal would open. “Dr. Clark isn’t trauma, but he’s the gatekeeper. Don’t argue, and assess who he clears.”

I was glad for the backup, but I knew it was because he was backing Dr. Carpenter. Still, I accepted it and was glad we could get on the same page.

Then we were out of time. The portal opened and immediately people started coming through. I called for any shifters and the third one was, so I quickly assessed and passed the guy off to the waiting trauma team.

Next came a wave of people who could manage through the portal with help. They were situated on wheelchairs and NYC’s EMS went right back through the portal with hopefully the warlocks Ellie had mentioned.

It wasn’t until about the fifth shifter I checked out that we had a problem. I signaled a member of Dr. Tai’s staff that I recognized. “This patient can’t go in the hospital. She’s not stable enough. I’ll be right with her.”

“Yes, sir,” one agreed, taking over the gurney and moving off to the side while the others couldn’t hide their shock.

I cleared who else had come through but then went for that patient. It took a minute, but then I got the woman to focus on me. “This is going to hurt, but you’re not stable enough to go in the hospital. I need you to work with me and I’m going to force your shift.”

Her eyes went too wide. “No. No, you can’t—you’ll kill my cheetah.”

“I won’t. I promise you,” I told her firmly. “I’m Dr. Ha-joon Clark. Have you heard of me?” I mentally swore when she shook her head. “I promise you that I will get you through this. Just listen to what I say and you’ll be okay. Ready?”

No. No, she wasn’t ready and she wouldn’t be.

So I started anyways, pushing my power into her and letting my wolf lure out her cat.

“Don’t fight,” I told her. “Your cheetah needs to come out. Let her. Let our animals do what they need to.”

It took another minute, but then she sort of shivered and the change happened. It wasn’t seamless or easy, but it was far from what most thought of when forcing someone to change forms.

“Good job,” I praised the cheetah when she was in front of me. “You’re still hurt, and your person needs to you behave. Tune out all of the noise and go hide around the corner with this nice lady, okay? Take a nap and I’ll come find you when it’s time to change back and treat your person.”

The cheetah nodded and looked to the woman who had taken over the gurney from me with big pleading eyes to help.

I gave instructions on what to do, and basically all of this was too overwhelming for an injured animal, so to get her out of there. Just not in the hospital because that would be a disaster too.

“Okay, I’m starting to be a believer,” Dr. Tai said as I came back to my position. “That was nuts, bro.”

“I don’t like to do it when someone is so injured like that, but such a disorienting injury hurts the bond and it’s like they can’t communicate,” I explained.

“Yeah, I saw the blood on her ears,” she muttered. “Nicely done.”

I thanked her and focused back on the ones waiting for me.

The portal closed and that worried me, but twenty minutes later it opened back up for a bit and our warlocks came through saying that was it. NYC’s EMS handled the rest and a lot of the injuries were more superficial than originally believed.

Awesome.

I cleared the rest of the shifters and went looking for the cheetah to help her get back to her human form and then treated. I thanked the nurse who had stayed with her and helped, glad she even thought ahead to grab something for the patient to wear since her clothes were toast.

The cheetah was feeling better and affectionate since she knew I would be the one who would help her. She rubbed her face against my hand and her tail along my body.

And that was what Ellie walked up on.

Fuck.

She took in the scene and probably the way I froze. “We need you back inside when you’re done here doing whatever you’re doing, Dr. Clark.”

I did my best to keep my voice even. “I’ll be there as soon as I get this patient to shift back, Ms. Reed.”

She looked like she had some choice words for me before turning away and heading back inside.

Fuck.

I did what I needed to, glad that it was as painless as possible for the woman. Then the nurse helped me get her inside and took over so the patient was all checked in.

“Dr. Clark, wait,” the woman said as I turned to leave, reaching and grabbing my wrist.

I focused on her but gently detangled myself from her. “I have to jump back in.”

“I know. I just wanted to say thank you and I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you,” she said sheepishly.

I gave her a kind smile. “I more than understand. Most can’t do what I can. Forcing a shift is dangerous and painful if not done correctly.” I patted her arm. “I’m glad you’ll be just fine.” I thanked the nurse again and hurried off.

Things were already being cleaned up and shifting to move past the crisis. I jumped in to help on surgeries since I didn’t have patients like other doctors.