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“I saw what you did with that patient,” Dr. James said as we were scrubbing out. “It was impressive. Hopefully, now that this HR nightmare will be handled, we can make a time for you to lecture and get everyone on the same page.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said, not having seen him a few sinks down. “Yes, sharing the change and what I’ve found is important but also the parameters.”

“What do you mean?” Dr. Carpenter asked from the sink next to him… And Fitz was next to him.

I ignored that and answered the department head.

“Part of the problem with forcing a shift is it was one trick the Alphas had, and when holding a hammer, all they saw were nails. So it’s not only teaching people it can be done safely but when to do it.

It’s definitely not every injury or a cure for any problem like even some at my last hospital assumed. ”

“No, nothing is that perfect or—we might have magic but never miracles,” he agreed. “We didn’t have one injury from a shifter changing forms in two different crises. That’s the first time, and it’s all because of you, pup. Keep up the good work. You’re definitely the right fit for ASH.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Just in case my parents heard about the problem in NYC or that ASH was involved, I texted them both that I didn’t go to the scene and our part was wrapping up. Then I jumped into another surgery and was dead on my feet after that.

“I appreciate the help,” Dr. Carpenter said as he saw me coming out with the others. “I know you’re not taking patients yet, but I’m pretty sure you had a full day planned. What did this mess up?”

My eyes went huge. “Oh shit. Mum.” I ripped off the surgical mask and fumbled with my phone.

“I wish my kids were so respectful of my time and cared to communicate with me,” Dr. Carpenter joked. “You were having dinner with her or something?”

“No, she talked Ms. Reed into letting her set up the offices I’m taking over,” I muttered. “She was coming here from London.” I felt everyone there wince and practically pray for me.

“I’m here and finishing up, my youngest,” Mum said as the call connected. “You were saving lives. Come and see what has been done and do not yell at me for moving forward.”

I sighed in relief. “Never, Mum. Thanks. You’re the best. I’ll be right there.”

“Take your time and whatever you need,” she said before hanging up.

“You’re really close with your mum ,” Dr. Fitz chuckled, shooting me a mocking look.

Normally, I might have brushed it off or ignored it but not from him.

I met his gaze and raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry that your parents don’t love you enough to jump in and want to always help you.

But I’m the youngest and first to leave the UK and their protection when I’m a target and I move halfway across the world. Yeah, they’re worried.”

“I’d be losing my damn mind,” Dr. Capenter agreed, shooting Fitz a look to back off.

He took it in stride. “Fair enough. It was normal in our family to spread our wings, encouraged. They would feel it’s overbearing and intrusive, but every family’s different. Glad they’re supportive.”

Oh, he was good. Wanker.

I hurried over to the area that would be mine the week after next and found my mum and some of the staff from the house—including security—there with her. She was making happy noises as I approached her.

She turned with a huge smile on her face. “Ha-joon, you must mate someone as kind and generous as Ms. Reed. I insist.”

I almost tripped over my feet. “Mum!”

She laughed and then waved her plate at me.

“I didn’t say to seduce your boss. I just won’t accept any less than someone so wonderful now.

She not only allowed us to continue getting things set up and move forward, but she ordered us Southern spread—all of us—in thanks for the food.

Oh, and two catering trays of crab cakes for our cooks later. So generous.”

“She is,” I agreed. I smiled when I glanced around. “The color is perfect, Mum.”

“It is,” she agreed. “I was nervous, but it dried the right tone and not too dark.”

She was exactly right. The main waiting room was a rich but lighter blue that complimented the neutral gray.

The palette was that blue, a blue-green, a green, and two grays.

All complimentary colors that worked in any combination.

Mum was worried it gave too cliché of a seaport vibe, but I’d been able to see it working.

Blue was perfect for a doctor’s office because it was calming and it always worked with neutrals like gray. But for shifters, green and outside was life, so adding that element into the offices was key.

“Well, this looks great,” Dr. James said as he came in with a few people, glancing all around. “Really brings life into this area, Clark.” He did a double take when he saw my mother. “I apologize, Alpha Mate. I heard help was here but not who.”

She waved him off. “I am here as Ha-joon’s mother, and I’m truly appreciative that your hospital department is letting me be so overbearing for my nerves. I heard of the crisis today. I am glad so many were saved.”

Dr. James nodded. “We only lost one here and four in New York from what I was updated. It could have been much worse given the gravity of the accident.” He smiled and walked over to her.

“And I think it’s fantastic that you’re so involved and supportive of your son’s transition.

Our families jump in often, and it’s a good community we have here like that. ”

“Ms. Reed has said the same several times and forgiven me,” she agreed.

They had already met, so she knew he was my boss, so it wasn’t awkward.

Then again, people loved Mum and how kind she was.

She immediately shared food and gave us a tour of what had been done.

It wasn’t just painting but a complete top-to-bottom cleaning from scuffs on the floor to someone touching up the damn ceilings.

“Oh, these chairs are nice,” Dr. James said as we sat in the waiting room after the tour was done. “Ellie is planning to start working out a schedule to replace them throughout the hospital, so you’re lucky you got bumped up now, Clark.”

“She is truly a gem,” Mum praised. “This place is lucky to have her.”

Dr. James snorted. “There’s no ASH without Ellie Reed.

She is the heart and soul of this place.

We joke that it’s her blood that flows through this place, not the blood we buy and sell to fund everything.

But it’s true. She gives all of herself to medicine and saving people.

I hope more start to truly understand that and appreciate it about her. ”

And he stared at me the whole time he said it.

So clearly , he knew I had real intentions towards her. I gave a slight nod and moved on.

“Well, we need to head home since it’s late our time and your father will worry soon,” Mum said after we finished eating. “I just wanted to catch a glance of you and check you approved.”

“I more than approve and can’t thank you enough, Mum. Really. It means the world to me.”

She preened at the praise and kissed both of my cheeks before hurrying to get everything together. Dr. James walked her out with me and we watched as the warlock opened a portal and took them home.

He let out a slow breath and stared at the sky.

“I don’t know what your intentions are with Ellie, but don’t fuck around with her, Clark.

I like you and I’d hate to have to break you.

I should never have let everything go with that rat bastard Fitz, but I was caught up in my own bullshit.

I blinked and it’s years later and he’s broken her down even more than this place. ”

“With all due respect, sir, it’s—” I started to say, glad there weren’t any ears around us to hear this.

“It’s not my place,” he agreed, letting out a slow breath and meeting my gaze.

“But I love that woman like a younger sister, and I won’t stand by to watch another man emotionally abuse her so she thinks he’s good enough for her.

I won’t. Not again. This time, I’ll just slit your throat and dump you somewhere, so never forget that. ”

And then my boss walked off as if he hadn’t just threatened my life and gone so far over the line it was ridiculous.

Then again, I had no intention of hurting Ellie and I was nothing like Fitz, so… There really wasn’t any concern. Still, it was shocking that calm and reserved Dr. James had just behaved that way.

What a strange, strange day.

And even stranger place?

Rain hitting my cheek snapped me out of my thoughts… And gave me an idea. Rain hadn’t been in the forecast, and now I understood part of Dr. James’s attitude as he looked up.

Even more than that, I was from the UK. We were always prepared for our frequent rains even if they were light or we had mostly moderate weather. The rain always, always came at the most inopportune time, so I’d learned always to be prepared.

Hell, Mum had smacked it into us to never leave home without an umbrella.

And I knew a certain woman who liked to walk across the campus of the hospital to the parking garage to get some air instead of going through the building. She enjoyed the night that way because she always worked too late.

Meaning it was an opportunity for me.

I had to wait about twenty minutes, but Ellie came out of the administration building like normal and ready to walk across the parking lot only to slow down when she saw the rain. She sighed and glanced up as if asking if someone was testing her patience.

I moved up next to her and opened my large umbrella. “You’re parked a few spots down from me.”

She let out a soft gasp, letting me know that she hadn’t seen me and I’d startled her.

I didn’t give her a chance to come up with an excuse or get away from me, moving my other hand to her lower back. “Let’s go.”

I bit back a smile when she followed my lead, but then a couple minutes into our walk snapped out of it and realized what had just happened. She cleared her throat and went to move away so my hand wasn’t on her.

But my reflexes were faster.

I slid my hand to her hip instead and pulled her closer as I leaned in. “You’re getting wet, Ms. Reed. You don’t want to get all wet here, right?”

The look of retribution she shot me was delicious and I wanted her to retaliate, smack me even. To my utter disappointment, she didn’t, simply pushed my hand off of her hip.

She cleared her throat and focused straight ahead. “I like the color palette for your offices. Your mother did a great job getting it completely refreshed so fast. The maintenance staff said she was the best general they’ve ever had for that normally annoying task.”

Part of me wanted to pout that she’d brought up my mum so I couldn’t flirt, but I did like how much she and my mum were getting along. My mum was important to me after all. “I totally forgot with the accident and jumping into surgeries when I’m rusty.”

“And your new cheetah friend,” she mumbled, shooting me a side glance.

I loved that she was jealous even if she didn’t realize it. “We both know exactly what that was.”

“Yes, I heard all about how impressive you were from that nurse as she gushed about you to other staff,” she said with a fake sweet tone.

We’d reached the parking garage by then and I stopped to shake out the umbrella… But she kept walking towards the elevator.

I caught up to her just as the elevator opened. We rode it up in silence and then I escorted her to her vehicle even if I’d walked past mine to do so. “I’ll see you at home.”

She turned to probably blast me, but I was already walking back towards my car… With a smile on my face. I had hope again. She might not be ready to be with someone or open to it, but she was just as affected by me as I was by her.

That gave me hope.