Chapter 5. Become A Doctor
Bella’s POV.
Five years later.
“The operation was a success,” I said to the woman who stood before me, her face pale and drawn.
“Thank you so much,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. I waved off her thanks, but she insisted.
“No, really, you have no idea what this means to me,” she said, her voice breaking.
I nodded, and she turned to follow me to the recovery room. I led her down the hall, my heart heavy with the knowledge of what she had been through. She was so brave, and I admired her strength.
I sank into my chair, my body aching from the long surgery. I had been operating for six hours straight, and my eyes were bleary from exhaustion. I reached for the soda on my desk, and gulped it down greedily.
The cold, sweet liquid hit my tongue, and I could feel it perking me up. I closed my eyes and leaned back in my chair, trying to re-energize myself. But it was no use.
Five years had passed, and my life had taken a dramatic turn for the better. The truck driver who had almost hit me with his vehicle that fateful night had taken me home with him, where I stayed for the night.
I had to hide the fact that I was a wolf from him, but it had all worked out in the end. He had been kind and generous, and I had been grateful for his help. I had never forgotten the night he had saved my life, and I often thought of him with gratitude.
After that day, I decided. I would never again let myself become so dependent on someone else. I would never again build my life around another person. I would find my own way, and I would find my happiness.
I would become useful to myself and others. I still felt the pain of that day, of course. The scars of my past would never fully heal. But I was determined to move on, to find a way to be happy and fulfilled, even in the face of all that had happened.
The human who had taken me in was a married man, and his wife had been kind and welcoming to me. I stayed with them for several months, and they helped me find a job. I saved up as much money as I could, and I decided to go to medical school.
I wanted to be able to help people, to save lives, like the truck driver's wife had helped save mine. It was a dream that had been born out of tragedy, but it was a dream that gave me purpose and hope. I began to study hard, determined to make my dream a reality.
It had been years since the night I had almost died, and I was now one of the most respected doctors in the human realm. But my personal life was a mess. I had become closed off and distrustful of others, and I struggled to form meaningful relationships.
I constantly questioned people's motives, wondering if they were only interested in me for my status or my money.
I could never be sure if a man truly loved me, or if he was just trying to get into my bed. And no matter how hard I tried, I could not shake the anger and resentment I felt towards Devon.
I often found myself thinking about Ariana, and I wondered how she was doing. Was she happy? Had she found her mate? Did she think about me as much as I thought about her?
I knew it was unlikely that we would ever see each other again, but I couldn't help but miss her. I wondered what Devon must have told the pack about me. What reasons would he give to them for banishing me? I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of my office door bursting open.
“Good evening, Bella,” Drake said, his voice smooth and easy. He smiled, his dimples flashing as he spoke. I forced a smile in return, trying to hide my unease.
“Are you ready for the date?” He asked, his teeth shining.
I had forgotten about our date — how could I? I had just been lost in my thoughts, and I had been unprepared for his arrival. I fumbled for an excuse, my mind racing.
“I'm so sorry,” I blurted out. “I've just been so busy.” Drake looked at me, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“It's been the tenth time you've forgotten our date,” he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.
I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I couldn't deny the truth of his words, and I knew I needed to make it up to him.
“I know, and I'm deeply sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you,” I said, my voice trembling slightly.
Drake regarded me for a moment, his expression inscrutable.
“Fine,” he said, sounding resigned. “But can I at least give you a ride home?” I shook my head quickly.
“No, don't worry about it,” I said, a bit too forcefully. He looked at me, his expression confused.
“You don't like anyone visiting you at home,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “In fact, no one knows where you live. Are you married ?” I sputtered, taken aback by his question.
“What? No! I'm not married,” I said, my voice rising in protest. "I just… I'm not comfortable having people over.”
“Why not?” he asked, sounding genuinely perplexed. “Come on, Bella. We're not going to bite. Let me drop you off.” I shook my head again.
“No, really, it's fine,” I insisted. “Please, don't worry about it.” He frowned, and I could see him working through the puzzle of my behavior.
“You've been working here for years, and no one knows anything about you,” he said, his voice thoughtful.
“I think it's best if you keep your personal life your own business.” I said, my voice unintentionally high. I could feel my anger rising again, and I stood up, my things scattered on the floor.
“I'm sorry,” he said, his voice full of contrition. “I didn't mean to upset you.”
I swallowed, trying to push down the rage that was threatening to bubble over.
“It's fine,” I said, trying to sound calm. I gathered my things, taking a deep breath. I couldn't stay here any longer. “I have to go,” I said, heading for the door. I could feel his eyes on me as I left, and I wondered what he must be thinking.
My phone rang, and I picked it up, a smile on my face when I saw who was calling. But that smile quickly disappeared when I heard the voice on the other end.
“Mummy, please come home fast,” my son said, his voice high-pitched and strained. “Something's wrong!”
I could feel my heart start to race, and I gripped the phone tighter.
“What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
“Mummy, please, please, you have to come home. Mummmmmmmmmmy,” he pleaded.
"Kaden! Kaden! Hello?” I screamed, but I couldn’t hear anything.