Page 3

Ha-joon

What happened flustered me. I wasn’t sure if I was really hurt or pissed or… I didn’t know.

I was overwhelmed. I was feeling too much.

I needed to figure out what was in my head and recenter.

Which was why I texted Mum saying I was coming home for the weekend to visit and see my London friends. Luckily, they were all going out Saturday night because of Matt’s promotion. I invited myself and was glad they sounded happy to have me.

I was out the door after the last patient, shocking my staff since I was normally the last to leave.

I’d already told the office manager that I was going to London for the weekend, so she knew at least. She’d probably tell the others and that was fine.

It wasn’t like I was going to hide it, and I didn’t want anyone to worry that there was an emergency.

I went home and grabbed the basics. I still had a full room at my parents’ London estate, and Mum would definitely have it stocked and ready for me.

Relief filled me when she was waiting for me even. She’d set it up so their warlock opened a portal from the front of my condo building when I was ready, but it was late in London and my parents were home from their evening’s events already.

“What has happened, my youngest?” she asked gently after we hugged.

“A lot and not too much and I’m being sensitive,” I admitted, glad it was just us.

“Tell me while we eat.”

“It’s too late for your dinner, Mum,” I hedged.

She chuckled. “We are wolves. We can always eat. I will pick, and I’m sure your father will sneak into the kitchen soon for food.”

I nodded and let her baby me. “The condo is perfect. Thank you so much, Mum. It’s—it’s been such a comfort while adjusting. You have no idea how much. It was exactly what I needed, and I appreciate the time and touches you put into the updating.”

“Good, good,” she accepted.

“You did always have a smooth tongue,” my sister, Seo-yeon, mocked as she walked into the kitchen. Her name meant “prosperous omen,” and she never let anyone forget it as if telling them that she lived up to the name.

I never found that she did. Fine, she was graceful, which her name meant too… But we all were as wolves.

“Because I mean what I say,” I told her, giving her a look of warning. Right then was not the time for the normal bullshit and bullying.

It really wasn’t.

I focused back on Mum who was surprised at how I acted as well. “You work for everything at ASH unlike all of the bluster and promo of my last place. I’m taking over male patients that were a problem for a female doctor—”

“Dr. Joyce Tai,” Mum interjected. “Brilliant but quirky, and that can have problems.”

I snorted. “Being a genius as a woman can be one. We both know that. And she’s careful—some men are just stupid.

I’ve heard several ramble at all the green lights she gave that she was interested and not one was valid.

Good patient care? Not flirting. Fitting them in when there was an issue that couldn’t wait? Not flirting. ”

“Not unless my doctor has recently become a lesbian,” Seo-yeon snickered as she moved over by us. “Can I partake in this feast or is it for the baby only?”

“Do not pick a fight when I do the same when you have issues and need your family,” Mum warned her, her tone cold.

And that was the time not to push Mum… If you liked breathing.

I nodded for Seo-yeon to go ahead. “It’s nothing confidential. Though I would prefer you not use it as ammunition later.”

She probably wanted to say something shitty but shot a glance at Mum and thought better of it. Then she seemed to bite back a smirk. “I wish you the best in Atlanta, Brother. Whatever we can do as your family to make it work.”

And get me out of London—the UK or Europe even. I wasn’t stupid. I knew exactly what she meant.

Which was why I had wanted to leave and have my own life out from under them.

“There was a major shake-up in dermatology and two doctors were out,” I told Mum, not caring if Seo-yeon listened. It wasn’t like people couldn’t find the information out. “I’ve been helping—”

“Because you’re suddenly a dermatologist?” Seo-yeon snarked.

“Yes, I am,” I sighed. I nodded when she froze in eating. “For shifters—yes, I am. I did a fellowship that gave me the credentials and I’ve kept them up.”

Mum tapped the counter in front of me. “How is that department head? Are they grateful or the problem?”

“Grateful and a great doctor,” I told her honestly. “Dr. Carla Greer is one of the best and dedicated.” I explained what happened, both of them shocked at the drama and wanting to hear the tea.

“Good that she immediately stepped up and smacked people into line,” Mum praised. “And that she stood with Ms. Reed.”

“Oh, Doctor Reed has a lot of allies,” I snarked but froze in what I was going to say next. I met Mum’s gaze and couldn’t hide my shock as I dropped my chopsticks. “You knew.”

“Yes, I knew,” she confirmed, searching my eyes. “And you are a bit too upset that she kept it from you.”

“He likes her,” Seo-yeon purred.

There was no point in denying it. “I’ve been her ally and we’ve become friends—I helped her get away from Dr. Fitz who was abusing her.

I just…” I shook my head. “I told you that I think I’m being sensitive.

It’s just all balled up together, and how I found out…

” I sighed and sat back, rubbing my hands over my head.

“She knew about Mandy already. I don’t know how. Or when.”

“It couldn’t have been long,” Mum muttered. “She is one to act.”

That was fair and I nodded. I wasn’t going to say it was upsetting because I’d been with Ellie last night before it all happened and that was something we should have probably discussed. Hell, I’d gone to her right away when I’d found out.

I told them what Mandy had pulled with the board and how it had all blown up.

The scene it was right in the lobby of the main building by security—the mess it all was.

Even what I learned later about the department heads thinking Ellie was involved in the meeting they were called for. That had been so petty and childish.

Also, how scared I’d been coming in late and thinking Dr. Carpenter was going to stab Ellie in the back.

“Your hospital needs to be a reality show,” Seo-yeon muttered, looking shocked and a bit disgusted. “Does any healing actually happen there?”

“Yes, lots, but—we’ve seen how quickly toxicity can bloom in even a good group like our pack,” I reminded her. Ten years ago it had happened to Da when a group wanting to take over got to some of his Betas—it had been a mess.

And he’d had to clean house.

“Yes, we do, but also—I remember ASH before the board,” Mum defended.

“No one took it seriously because it was a hospital started by ‘idealistic fool doctors’ who had no knowledge of how to run a business. Half the department heads were women and Ms. Reed ran it for the founder—a woman. A hundred years ago?”

“Sexism at its finest,” Seo-yeon chuckled darkly. “And clearly a PR campaign against the leadership of the hospital in an attempt to take power. People with big names and bad intentions wanting in on the money and prestige. I wonder how many of those board members were the original ones?”

“That’s a very good point,” I admitted. “I have no idea. I know Dr. James said two were being too bold for only being on the board ten years. I don’t know if the seats were passed down or—that’s something to think about.”

“So what worries you?” Mum asked. She searched me a moment and I realized she probably misread what she was getting off of me. Probably embarrassment. “You are upset for Mandy.”

“No,” I immediately answered but then frowned. “I’m sad that’s where she ended up. Even if I hated her and all she’d done.”

“You knew the girl she was and hoped things turned out differently for that girl,” Mum surmised.

“Yes.” I blinked at her. “ Yes, that’s exactly what I’m feeling. Thank you, Mum. I couldn’t put a name to—I was just overwhelmed with the crazy.”

Seo-yeon snorted. “So you ran home to—”

Our father walked in and cleared his throat, Seo-yeon instantly shutting her mouth and reaching for more food.

“Hey, Da,” I greeted as I wiped my mouth.

He preferred “Father” when people could hear us or with others present, but in our home like this…

He was just our da, not the Alpha. I stood and gave him a real hug.

“I wish you would let me pay for the condo. Seriously, I made a good sale on the last place.”

“That place you bought without coming to us,” Mum complained. “Luckily, you have learned from being too independent. Your siblings were bought similar places.”

I sighed and nodded. “I mean no offense, Mum. I make good money and have for a while. I don’t need to eat into your funds.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Da told me. “Your mum says your big boss has a successful company on her own too. We might ask for a meeting for your sister. She’s looking to branch out.” He chuckled when I flinched. “Not Atlanta. But North America. They have a good market.”

I nodded, trying to swallow my annoyance. Both my parents immediately sensed it, and Seo-yeon was amused, so she did too. “I’m sure that can happen but not right now.”

“No, not right now,” Mum agreed, giving my da a look. “The board tried to throw a coup on the woman. She just kicked them all out and will be restructuring.”

Da winced. “Yes, not now. I understand your reaction. You don’t want to be the one to add to her life personally. However, now is the time to float some ideas professionally. She’ll need wins and you have good ideas, lad. You really do.”

I felt seen and loved that he immediately had faith in me like that. I nodded. “She agreed to have the physical therapist in my practice. We have one from the ortho department right now and the feedback is good.”

“She approved converting an unused lounge to be added to Ha-joon’s practice,” Mum added. “It’s a bit small, but it will work.”