didn’t work here. Of course she worked at this hospital. Of all the doctor’s offices and all the hospitals in the world, she worked here. She could’ve gotten a job at a nursing home, pediatrician’s office, telehealth, even.
But no. She worked at the one place I wanted to work now that I’d be in Bluewater indefinitely. As of the next new moon, I couldn’t move away from the cove without moving the entire clan with me.
They’d go if I ordered it. But I’d never do that to them. This was their home, our home, and had been for a couple of centuries now, though the clan had grown exponentially in the last hundred years or so. So much that the townsfolk had decided years ago we were some weird cult.
I had no idea how to remedy that situation. I didn’t even know what to do about my fated freaking mate sitting right in front of me, pretending she didn’t know me.
Starting something up with Skye would mean directly disobeying my alpha. But he wouldn’t be alpha for long. Soon, it would be me. That changed things a lot.
Focusing on the job, I tried my damndest to pretend the love of my life wasn’t sitting in front of me, her shiny brown hair still full of red highlights. If I breathed deep, I would’ve been able to smell her. I had no idea what that would do to my blazing arm.
Focusing on work was easy, but ignoring my arm wasn’t. I rubbed it self-consciously as I introduced myself. “Hello, everyone. I’m really looking forward to being back home and working in the town I grew up in. I can’t wait to get to know all of you.” I smiled encouragingly, meeting everyone’s gaze—except Skye’s. Her, I glanced over. If I looked again, I was liable to ask her to excuse herself and come talk to me in the hall. After all these years, seeing her again was like a ray of sunshine warming my face…and burning my arm.
Sucking in a deep breath against the pain, I continued introducing myself. “As I said, I grew up here and went to Bluewater High until my junior year. Then, I was accepted to the Regents’ School for the Gifted in London, where I finished my junior and senior years. After that, I attended Harvard University, then Harvard Medical School. I accepted a position at Boston General until a family matter brought me back here.”
I hadn’t said it to impress anyone, though if I managed to impress Skye in the process, I wouldn’t have been upset. I’d dated a few shifter women over the years, but my dragon and I had known what we were missing. Though the pain on the mark had faded the farther away I got from Skye, nothing was ever the same after kissing her. “So, that’s me. I hope to get to know all of you very soon.”
The hospital CEO, Dr. Smith, beamed at the table. “Why don’t you all tell Dr. Mason your names and specialties, at least, before we go face the day?” He looked at his wristwatch. “We just have enough time.”
Looking to his right, he pointed at the woman who had walked in with Skye. I tried to pay attention to her, but my gaze kept slipping to her left, to Skye.
“I’m Camilla. Just Cam.” I forced myself to listen and look at her. I was overwhelmed with being in the same room as my mate again, but that didn’t mean I could ignore these other people. I’d be working with them day in and day out. “I’m the primary care office manager, and the only full-time receptionist, though we have several part-timers.”
I nodded at her and smiled, then counted to three before looking at Skye. She narrowed her eyes at me.
What was I supposed to say? Anything? I hadn’t said anything to Cam. Panic scratched at my throat.
When I was about to open my mouth and say her name, Skye spoke. “My name is Skylar Wills, APRN, CPNP-PC, FAANP, FAAN. I’m the only nurse practitioner in primary care, so I float out of peds frequently.” She arched one eyebrow, challenging me. I ducked my head and smiled. She’d get no challenge from me. I was impressed by her credentials.
As I continued down the table, missing everyone’s names and references completely, I thought about what she’d said. By the letters she’d rattled off after her name, I knew she was a nurse practitioner with the pediatric