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“What about unusual bruising?” he asks, and she shakes her head. I shove my aura out. She growls and jolts in her seat.
“Yes,” she spits through gritted teeth before glaring at me.
“Any at the moment?”
I raise an eyebrow at her, about to use my aura, but she blurts out an answer before I have to.
“Yes, my ribs.”
“Can I see?”
“I would rather you didn’t.”
“Everly, remove your shirt, or I will do it for you,” I warn her.
“Can't you make him leave? What about confidentiality? Or is that not practiced in this pack?” she spits at the doctor.
“You are his mate. He has every right to be here, being the Alpha. I am sorry, Luna.”
“I am not your damn Luna,” she says, and I growl at her. Everly rolls her eyes before tugging her shirt off. I was not expecting to see her so purple and blue. Her skin across her ribs looks like she’s been beaten. Red and purple blotches cover her ribs and back.
“See? Must be low iron. See? Just my ribs,” she says before she starts to pull her shirt on. I snatch it from her, standing up and spinning her to the doctor, who also gasps.
“What are you doing?”
“Your back is worse than your ribs,” I snap at her, and she looks under her arms, twisting, trying to see.
“This bruising comes and goes?”
She doesn't answer, as she’s too busy inspecting herself.
“What?” she asks, looking up at the doctor.
“Does the bruising remain, or come and go?”
She chews her lip nervously.
“Everly?” I ask. She scowls, and her tongue pokes the side of her cheek as she looks at the ceiling for a second.
“It stays,” she murmurs before looking at the doctor, who is actually looking at me. I’m confused.
“What?” I ask, and Everly hastily tugs her top on, covering herself.
“It's infidelity markings; the more people the mate is with, the more it affects the bond,” the doctor says.
“I haven't been with anyone since finding her!” I tell him, horrified.
“That may be so, but how many have you been with since Everly knew you were her mate?” He looks at Everly in question.
“I’ve known he was my mate for just over four years now,” she answers, and my stomach drops. I knew that, but to count how many times I had sex in that time?
I swallow, looking at the doctor. “Those are from me?” I ask, and he nods.
“They’re called a ‘taint’ or infidelity marks. Every time you are with someone, it taints the bond. Everly is your bond. Therefore, it taints her. They are apparently quite painful, but if it has been four years, she probably has a good pain threshold of it now; be more like a normal bruise, except it scars the bond.”
“But it will go away, right?” I ask, not wanting to be the blame for her remaining permanently disfigured like that.
“Yes, after a while; quicker if you mark her. As long as you remain only with her, of course.” He leans forward and pauses, bracing his hands on his knees and sighs.
