Page 45 of Monster. Me.

The omega raises his eyebrows, looking surprised and mildly amused.

"Of course not. What are you talking about? We're saying goodbye to our veterinarian, Doctor Kazan."

My eyes widen.

Well, another unexpected thing.

"Wow," I mutter. "Funny. I'm a veterinarian too."

Then, trying to politely end the conversation, I add, "Events like this definitely make a person reflect on their own life."

The older man purses his lips and scratches his chin.

"A vet? Really? Because I've been trying to figure out what to do about my Peaches. I think she's pregnant, and something seems wrong. Doctor Kazan never got the chance to see her, and I have a feeling something isn't right. She's acting differently than she did during her previous litters. I can't decide whether I should drive her somewhere or if I'm just worrying too much. The nearest veterinarian is forty miles away."

I bite my lip. I didn't come here to fulfill my dream of being a veterinarian. I came here chasing a very different dream. Still, it's not like I don't want to practice someday. That's part of my dream too, even if it's been pushed into the background lately.

The omega shifts slightly closer. "I didn't know there was another veterinarian around here."

I clear my throat. "I live about seven miles from Rainbow Spring."

"Oh, that's practically next door. Listen…" He lowers his voice. "I'll pay you. A lot. Could you come by tomorrow? I’m Davos, and I live at Raspberry Hill."

I stay silent, chewing on my lip.

He leans in a little more. "Please. I'd really like someone to take a look at Peaches."

I take a breath. "Okay," I say before I've fully thought it through. "Doctor Kazan really didn't have anyone covering for him?"

"No. For forty years he was the only veterinarian in town. I don't think anybody ever imagined he'd need a replacement. Everyone's getting ready to make long trips to Franklin now."

Well, I've really gotten myself into something.

"If I can help, I'll come tomorrow."

"Thank you! Seriously, thank you!"

His gaze drifts across my face.

"I was feeling hopeless about finding help for Peaches, and then you showed up out of nowhere. Like a little miracle. Isn't life surprising?"

He says it with a strange sense of reverence.

I cautiously glance around and notice several pairs of eyes fixed on me. Some of them have unusual colors, like pink, white, or… am I really seeing vertical pupils on one of the teenagers?

I blink a couple of times. They're all smiling at me kindly, but I've never liked being the center of attention. It always makes me feel overwhelmed. I clear my throat, glance over at Mr. Davos, and find him watching me with a subtle smile.

Are these people magical AOs? I'd rather not ask. That's a very slippery subject.

I turn away, deliberately avoiding Mr. Davos's outstretched hand. I get the feeling he'd like me to continue walking with him toward the cemetery, where most of the mourners are already moving between the gravestones. Instead, I simply nod and step back.

There's something a bit hypnotizing about the way these people are looking at me, something… that seems to be affecting me. A quiet, unexpected sense of hope stirs somewhere deep in my soul. A rare feeling for the usually depressed me. Are these people somehow influencing me through their energy?

And yes, my mood has changed. Suddenly, staring at tombstones and listening to a funeral service doesn’t appeal to me anymore.

I’m willing to give life one more chance. Who knows, maybe a small miracle will happen for me too.

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