Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

So I finally had my wish. I lived my days as Dr. Angel. I had met my wolf and I was a full, true healer at long last.
Ethan took Dr. Lee’s lecture about letting me work without pay with a solemn nod, and then apologized to me. He insisted on giving me a generous salary, as well as a “signing bonus” and back pay.
When I suggested using that money to pay for a place to stay, both Ethan and Lee objected.
“You can’t stay by yourself,” Ethan said, “You’ve never lived on your own.”
“We can’t leave you alone after everything that happened,” Lee added. “You can stay with me.”
Ethan shook his head. “No, I mean, unless that’s what you want, Tessa, but I should have told you. I alreay had a room set up in my pack’s manor.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Well, for one thing I’ve taken responsibility for you as an alpha,” Ethan said. “For another, you’re a strong healer and you need the security of a full pack around you.”
Lee nodded slowly. “Yes, he’s right about that part. I think my apartment is safe enough for me, but if the Rogues learn we have a full healer, they’ll stop at nothing to hurt you.”
I felt sick at the thought of Lee being hurt because the Rogues wanted me. I hoped they’d never learn about “Dr. Angel” but there were already rumors about me spreading among the packs. It couldn’t stay a secret for long.
“I’ll stay with you, Ethan,” I said. “I don’t want to risk Lee or her neighbors.”
“I’m only agreeing because I’ve seen Ethan’s security set up,” Lee said. She gave me another hug. “And you will visit if it gets to be too much over there. We’ll have a girls’ night soon.”
That sounded amazing. I didn’t know what you were supposed to do on a girls’ night, but I figured Lee would show me. It was nice to finally have a friend.
I’d kind of hoped to take a shift at the hospital. I wanted to get started right away, and put everything else behind me. But neither Ethan nor Lee would hear of me working until I’d had a good night’s sleep and some food.
I was hungry. I decided not to mention to either one of them that the last thing I’d eaten was some small animal my wolf had caught. They’d only get upset.
Ethan promised me a good home cooked meal at his manor. Lee insisted I at least have some juice and cookies from the nurses break room. The cookies were good; one of the orderlies baked them on his off shift. He promised to share the recipe when I complimented them.
I changed into one of the outfits Ethan had purchased for me, so that I wouldn’t meet my new pack wearing nothing but one of their alpha’s shirts. I was nervous what his family would think of me. What had he told them?
Ethan drove through a gate in their security fence. The guard stationed there greeted Ethan cheerfully, asked for my ID, and accepted the one I used as Dr. Angel in the hospital. It was the only one I had. He also checked the backseat and trunk.
“I know we seem a little paranoid,” Ethan said, “but my little brothers and sisters live here. Our elders live here. I have to keep them safe.”
I thought about how easily Zane had gotten a half dozen Rogues into Leo’s office. I didn’t think he was paranoid at all, and told him so.
Ethan parked in the garage, and insisted on carrying my backpack for me.
“What, um, who do they think I am?” I whispered.
“They know your name is Tessa, that you’re a healer, and that I’ve been dating you. You can decide for yourself what else you want to tell them and when,” Ethan said. Then he added, “About the dating thing…”
I braced myself. He’d only done that to protect me. I knew no one would want to seriously court a half blood, and it had never been real. But it had been nice to pretend.
“I’m not going to pressure you,” Ethan said. “but I’d like to continue. For real, I mean. I’d like to really date you.”
“Ethan… I…” Why was I hesitant? Hadn’t I been afraid of ending the pretend courtship just a minute before?
“No, don’t answer me. You’ve been through too much today. And you have a place here whether you say yes or no. Don’t doubt that. I’ll ask you again.” Ethan promised. “I should do it properly, anyway, or my sisters will throttle me.”
“You, you don’t have to,” I whispered.
“I want to. Now, let me show you to your new room. I hope it’s okay, we had to find something quick. I’m sure one of my sisters will want to help you decorate,” Ethan said. Why did he sound so nervous?
The room was amazing. It was actually a little suite of rooms, with a cozy bedroom, a full bathroom complete with an actual tub and a vanity sink large enough for all my make up, and an office with a bookshelf and desk. There was a computer set up on the desk and several books on the shelves.
“My siblings thought an empty shelf wasn’t very welcoming,” Ethan said, motioning to the books. “So they donated some of theirr collection. We have a library, of course, and you’re welcome to any books there. Oh, and we have the cutest little used book store in town. I’ll take you. I just know you’ll love it.”
I smiled at that. I realized, thanks to Ethan’s generosity, that I’d actually be able to buy myself something at that bookstore. I couldn’t wait, and told Ethan so.
“So the room is okay?” he asked.
“It’s too much,” I said. “It’s twice the size of my old room.”
“It’s the smallest room in the family wing,” Ethan said. “I wanted something nicer but we didn’t have time to plan.”
“We’re in the family wing?” I whispered.
“Yeah. I hope that’s okay? I wanted you to feel at home. The guest wing felt too impersonal.”
“Will your family be okay with that?” I asked.
“Just wait until you meet them,” Ethan said. “Don’t worry. They’ll love you.” He paused. “They can be a lot. All at once. I get it. So, um, I arranged a small dinner. Just me and my siblings. No elders, no nieces and nephews. I didn’t want to drop you right in the deep end.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. I knew I’d have to meet the whole family, the whole pack, soon, but I thought I’d handle it better if I could maybe do so in small groups at first.
Before Ethan or I could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.
“Ethan, I know you’re hiding the new girl in there and it’s not fair! We wanna meet her!” a young, high pitched voice declared. “Bring out my new sister!”
“Sister?” I mouthed at Ethan.
He shrugged. “They may have decided to adopt you,” he said. He grinned. “Come on, she’ll keep knocking until you come out.”
I nodded, took a deep breath, and went to meet my new pack.