He would have made a good doctor. He didn’t flinch at my question, remaining calm and level as he listed off all the things that made the blood turn to ice in my veins.
“Without blood tests, you won’t know for sure right away. Symptoms don’t usually appear until seven to ten days before the next full moon. You’ll crave rare or uncooked meat. You’ll find your temper snapping at things that at any other time would be insignificant. Some environmental triggers, mostly scents, may make you feel nauseous or uncomfortable. As it gets closer to the full moon, you’ll develop a sensitivity to loud noises and may run a fever. Bright lights will hurt your eyes. The first change is painful and disorienting, so don’t wait to contact me if you start showing symptoms. Too much stress, and you might change before it’s time. Do you still have my number?”
Unable to speak around the lump lodged in my throat, I nodded.
“Good. There’s no reason to be alarmed. We’ll be here to help you. It’s better this way, I think. You’ll see what it’s like to be in a normal pack. The Sunstrikers are an unstable bunch, so I can’t say I’m terribly surprised at what’s happened. You do have my sympathies. If there was a way for me to keep you on as one of us, I’d do it. Perhaps once you are strong enough, you can even start your own pack. We’ll support you if that’s what you choose to do.”
Calling the Sunstrikers unstable was like calling Chernobyl an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence. Words were insufficient for expressing how screwed up it all was. I could appreciate Rohrik’s attempt at politeness, but it wasn’t enough to calm the sudden rage I felt at his carefully worded consolations. The Sunstrikers would pay for this. Every last one of them.
“Thank you, Rohrik,” I said, extending a hand across the table. “I appreciate the offer, and I’ll think about what you’ve said. I’ll call you once I know for sure.”
He clasped my hand in both of his own, warm, calloused fingers engulfing mine in a reassuring grip. “Don’t be afraid to call on me if you need someone to talk to. I know this must be stressful for you. If the wait becomes too much, let me know, and I’ll see if I can arrange for some tests to be done by someone who won’t betray you to the authorities.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, slowly drawing away. He let me go, pushing back from the table and rising with a deep sigh.
“I’m sorry there isn’t more I can do. Get some rest. Contact me when you’ve had a chance to think things over, and I’ll brief you on some of your legal options for how to deal with the Sunstrikers. I’ve met a few decent attorneys who would likely love to take on your case.”
My lips peeled back in something that might have been a smile. The lack of expression on Rohrik’s face led me to believe it wasn’t as cordial as I’d meant it to be. “Thank you again. I’ll be in touch.”
He nodded, giving me one last look that spoke of calculation as much as concern, before seeing himself out. I remained at the table for a few minutes after he was gone, mulling over what he had told me and the offers he had made.
Waiting three weeks to find out if I was infected was going to drive me around the bend. Until then, I’d somehow have to keep it a secret from my family, Sara, and the media. I’d have to consult Arnold while making it crystal clear that he was not allowed to tell anyone. I’d have to contact Royce, too. Not only to find out how the hell he’d known that I would face trouble while on vacation, but to find out if and how my new “condition” might change things between us.
Whether this altered or voided my contract with Royce was a question I wasn’t terribly eager to have answered, but was something I needed to know. Certain aspects of those papers gave him rights to all of my stuff, including my interest in H&W. I needed to make sure I wasn’t putting Sara at risk. If she needed to buy me out to escape him, I’d need to let her do it before any of this went public. Before Royce could do anything to stop me.