Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Leo
Leo was surprised to find a message from Ethan in his office. After days of blunt refusals, Dr. Angel had agreed to a “family consultation” with Eva, Annette, and Arthur. Leo was offered an invitation as well, even though he had not asked Dr. Angel for any help for himself. Perhaps she had something to tell him about his pup after the meeting with his wife and her parents.
Leo decided to accept the invitation. He wanted an excuse to visit with the doctor and talk about his daughter's care. He also hoped that he could act as a mediator and keep Eva and her parents from upsetting or offending the healer.
Dr. Angel had been working diligently to save little Sable, on top of all the work she did for Ethan's pack. She treated everyone the Rogues attacked and sent them back stronger and ready to fight. Leo owed her a lot.
Eva, Annette, and Arthur were all smugly excited that Dr. Angel had finally agreed to their demands. Leo was not so sure. She'd agreed to a consultation, nothing else.
When they arrived at Ethan's hospital, the family was greeted with distant courtesy. Leo was shocked. The staff was always kind and friendly towards him when he visited Sable.
They were escorted to a small conference room. There was a small table with enough seats for all of them on one side, and two empty seats across from them. Leo took the seat closest to the door. Eva sat next to him, then her father and mother.
Dr. Angel left them waiting for several minutes. The nurse who had escorted them shrugged and informed them that the healer was very busy. The implication that other patients were more important clearly pricked Arthur’s ego.
When Dr. Angel finally appeared, she was wearing her usual mask. Ethan came in with her and took the last empty seat.
“Why is he here?” Eva demanded. “This is a private matter.”
“I am not comfortable being alone in a room with you,” Dr. Angel stated blandly.
“And why not?” Arthur demanded.
“I have my reasons,” Dr. Angel said. “Now. Tell me why you’ve been harassing me. What is it you want from me, exactly?”
Leo had the feeling from her tone of voice that she knew exactly what they wanted. She just wanted them to ask. He didn’t know why, though.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Eva sneered. “We want what you’ve given all those lesser wolves.”
Lesser wolves? Leo frowned at his wife. Did she really think of the guards and warriors who’d been hurt defending the packs as lesser?
“And what is that?” Dr. Angel asked. “I healed them. None of you are injured.”
“We know your healing powers do more than repair injuries,” Arthur said. “We have reports that your patients leave your care stronger, more powerful than they ever were before. It is your duty to provide that service to us, to strengthen the alphas and lunas who guide and protect the packs.”
“Guide and protect, hm?” Dr. Angel asked, “Is that what you call it?”
“What do you mean?” Leo asked.
Dr. Angel glanced at him, and winced back as though his question had hurt her somehow.
She shook her head, and turned back to Arthur.
“Tell me, Alpha Arthur, why I should do a single thing to help you, your wife, or your viper of a daughter?” Dr. Angel demanded.
“How dare you?” Arthur yelled, standing up and knocking over his chair.
“How dare you?” Dr. Angel's voice was quiet and calm, in direct contrast to the alpha's.
She stood up, moving carefully so that her chair only slid back. She reached up, and pulled away her mask to reveal her true face.
Leo stared, jaw dropping in astonishment. He heard the clatter of another chair and realized he'd sent his flying, too.
Dr. Angel was Tessa.
How was that possible? How was his former maid the most powerful healer either pack had ever seen? How had he never recognized her?
“How dare you treat your true mate like trash, discarding her for another woman?” Tessa demanded. “How dare you let her be neglected by your own hospitals, and used as a hostage?”
“Hostage?” Leo whispered.
Tessa nodded, and explained. “Did you ever wonder why I never just left? Before I shifted, I could have made a life in the human territories. But I stayed. Don't you want to know why?”
Leo nodded mutely, glancing at Ethan. Did he know? The other alpha looked grave. He must know.
“They forced me to work as a servant in my own home,” Tessa said. “You asked about my mother, once, but you never asked who my father was. Aren't you curious?”
Leo nodded again. He had a pretty good idea, from her talk of Arthur's 'true mate'.
“My mother is Arthur's true fated mate. The one his wolf chose. And the mother of his first-born child. Me.” Tessa crossed her arms. “But she's human, so she's not good enough and neither am I.”
“Tessa...” Leo trailed off, wishing he had any idea what to say.
“He married a proper wolf woman. Her,” Tessa motioned to Annette. “And they had a proper Alpha Daughter. Eva. Your doting wife.”
Leo nodded slowly. Eva was his wife. But, was she his mate?
“My mother and I spent years as Arthur's dirty little secret. But then the Rogues attacked, and Mom was injured. He sent her away,” Tessa motioned to Arthur, “and they made me work day and night, to earn her care. They made it clear she'd be turned out on the street, or worse, if I didn't obey. So I did.”
Leo stared at the older alpha. How could he treat his own flesh and blood like that?
“And then things got worse,” Tessa said. “You came along, injured, blind, and wolf-less. And Eva couldn't stand the thought of giving a man like that a pup.”
Leo turned from Tessa to Eva. Was it true?
“So, she had me take her place. We switched. You never noticed the difference.” Tessa frowned. “I am sorry, for lying to you like that. Tricking you was wrong and I never should have cooperated.”
Leo remembered all those nights when “Eva” would show a gentler, caring side. All the times his wolf calmed in her presence. It had never been Eva. It had always been Tessa.
Tessa was his fated mate.
“I...” Leo tried to say he understood, because he did. She had to cooperate, or her mother would have been hurt or killed. But the words wouldn't come.
“You'll pay for this!” Eva shrieked.
“These accusations are ridiculous,” Arthur huffed. “Your mother has had the best of care! Why, right now she is-”
“In my manor,” Ethan spoke up for the first time. “Recovering from the coma, and years of neglect. We found her, and Tessa healed her. And now you can't use her to make Tessa do a damn thing.”
Leo looked at Ethan. “The project you've been working so hard on?”
“Finding Tessa's mother, yeah,” Ethan said, then added, “A lot of our 'dates' were actually searching for her, too.”
Leo nodded. Then a horrible thought struck him. “Sable?”
“Mine,” Tessa said. “Sable is mine. Eva was never pregnant. She imprisoned me, induced labor, stole my baby, and then framed me as a Rogue collaborator.”
Leo looked from Tessa, to Eva, and back. In his mind, his wolf growled. There was no question who he should believe.
“Leo, why are you listening to this? I'm your wife!” Eva whined.
Leo suddenly knew exactly what to say.
“I want a divorce,” he declared.