Page 33 of Bite for Sore Eyes

Each failure had been a knife twist, each false hope a cruel reminder that her body had betrayed her in ways medical science couldn't explain or fix. She'd traveled thousands of miles, endured procedures that left her weak and nauseated, submitted to experimental treatments that made her feel like a laboratory specimen—all for nothing.

The machine's clicking intensified, and Lana felt that familiar surge of medical trauma washing over her like a riptide. The antiseptic smell, the cold metal against her skin, the helpless sensation of being at the mercy of technology that might reveal more bad news. Her chest tightened with the memory of sitting in waiting rooms with her father, both of them clinging to optimism that gradually eroded with each disappointing consultation.

How many times had she done this exact thing? How many scans had she endured, each one promising clarity that never came?

But today felt different. Today, she wasn't the desperate woman who'd exhausted every medical option on Earth. She was someone who'd stepped through a wormhole portal, met two incredible bear shifters who'd promised her adventure, and discovered that maybe—just maybe—she could choose how to spend her remaining time instead of letting her illness dictate every decision.

The realization crystallized as the machine continued its methodical examination of her brain. She could lie here and fall back into old patterns—the endless cycle of hope and disappointment that had defined the last two years. She could wait anxiously for test results, analyze every facial expression from Kelly and Emry, try to be strong for Rath and Torren while they processed whatever was found.

Or I could choose differently.

She realized in this moment that she had a choice about which version of herself walked out of this room. The old Lana could obsess over every detail, pray for miraculous answers, and spend hours researching whatever anomalies the scan might reveal. The old Lana could make her entire world revolve around medical appointments and treatment possibilities, shrink her existence down to the size of hospital rooms and diagnostic reports.

But this new Lana—the woman who'd found courage to leave Earth, who'd discovered what it felt like to be cherished by two powerful Alphas, who'd remembered what excitement tasted like—didn't want to wait around for potentially devastating news. This new Lana wanted to explore Nova Aurora's purple forests, learn more about Rath and Torren's fascinating world, and live boldly instead of merely surviving.

I didn't come here to be a patient. I came here to be alive.

The scanning table began its slow retreat from the machine's chamber, pulling her back into the treatment room's softer lighting. As her body emerged from the enclosed space, Lana felt something shift inside her chest—a strange sensation that had nothing to do with her neurological condition. It felt almost like... possibility. Not the desperate kind of hope that had repeatedly crushed her, but something steadier. Something that whispered maybe these test results would provide answers Earth's physicians had missed, or maybe Kelly and Emry would notice patterns that had eluded countless specialists.

Either way, she wasn't going to spend today waiting around to find out.

The machine powered down with a final mechanical sigh, and Lana sat up on the examination table, her decision crystallizing with perfect clarity. She reached up to touch the bandage on her forehead, the tender spot where she'd collided with the bathroom sink serving as a reminder that her illness wasn't disappearing just because she'd found paradise. But it also didn't have to define every moment of her remaining time.

The treatment room door opened, and Kelly entered with her characteristic warmth, followed by Emry whose hazel eyes sparkled with the same intellectual curiosity Lana recognized in herself. Both women approached with the kind of professional competence that somehow managed to feel genuinely caring rather than clinically detached.

"So, you can go back to the treatment room with Rath and Torren," Kelly said, her voice carrying gentle reassurance. "We'll have the results as soon as we can process everything."

"No." The word came out more firmly than Lana had intended, surprising all three of them. She softened her tone but maintained her resolve. "I don't want to wait around for the results. Could you give them to me tomorrow instead?"

Kelly exchanged a quick glance with Emry, both women clearly processing this unexpected request. Most patients, especially those with serious conditions, demanded immediate answers. But something in Lana's expression must have conveyed her determination because Kelly nodded slowly.

"Sure, I don't see why not. The comprehensive analysis will take several hours anyway."

Emry stepped closer, her medical training evident in the way she automatically began assessing Lana's condition. "Just take it easy today, okay?" She approached with a small penlight, gently examining Lana's eyes. "How are you feeling right now? Any dizziness, nausea, or vision changes?"

"I feel great, actually." The admission surprised Lana with its honesty. Despite the morning's episode and subsequent head injury, she did feel remarkably good. Energized, even.

Emry's examination was thorough but gentle, checking pupil response and tracking movements with an attention to detail that spoke of genuine expertise. "Well, your coloring looks excellent and your eyes are tracking normally. I really don't suspect you have a concussion or any internal bleeding from the fall."

Lana reached up to the bandage near her hairline, her fingers tracing the edges of the medical tape. "I think I just gave everyone a big scare. But thank you for everything—both of you."

Both women smiled, their expressions reflecting a mixture of professional satisfaction and personal warmth that made Lana feel genuinely cared for rather than simply processed through a medical system.

"Of course," Kelly said, moving to help Lana down from the examination table. "That's what we're here for."

Emry positioned herself on Lana's other side, ensuring her balance was steady as she stood. "And remember, if you experience any symptoms that concern you—headache, dizziness, anything unusual—don't hesitate to come back immediately."

Lana nodded, appreciating their concern while also feeling relieved to be moving away from medical discussions and back toward the life she wanted to embrace. Together, the three women made their way toward the treatment room where she knew Rath and Torren would be waiting, probably pacing with worry and protective instincts running high.

As they approached the door, Lana felt her heart rate spike with anticipation. Not from anxiety about her condition, but from eagerness to see her mates again, to reassure them she was fine, and to continue the adventure that had been so rudely interrupted by her episode at the security center.

Time to get back to living, she thought, her hand reaching for the treatment room door handle.

The treatment room door swung open with a soft whoosh, and Lana stepped across the threshold to find two men prowling the confined space like caged predators. Rath's powerful frame moved from the window to the chairs and back again, his hands clenched at his sides, while Torren paced a parallel path near the examination bed, his jaw set in a hard line. Both men's heads snapped toward her the instant she appeared, their eyes blazing with barely contained worry and protective fury.

"I decided not to wait around for the test results," Lana announced before either could speak, her voice carrying more confidence than she felt. "Kelly and Emry will reach out tomorrow with everything."

Rath closed the distance between them in three quick strides, his green eyes searching her face with the intensity of a man who'd been imagining worst-case scenarios for the past hour. "How are you feeling?"