Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 414 - Do Everything Herself Style Parenting

"I am thankfully not qualified to professionally address some of these concerns, but I’m willing to privately refer you to a counselor that I know. He’s human - but considering that this matter has something to do with your relationship with our Alpha, it is likely better that way."

Really, I can only nod in agreement with that. The potential for overscrutiny or even malfeasance if another werewolf of the Rimecoat was trying to instruct me is high.

While I’ve trusted most of them I’ve met, I could just be paranoid about relying on my Intuition or letting my guard down around-

"...Setting that aside, may I examine your son now?"

The jarring shift in topic made me bristle and withdraw. My hands wrapped entirely around to cover the black fur on my lap as I felt myself give her a *look*.

"I’m afraid now is when I’ll have to be the kind of mother that questions your credentials to do such a thing. He is not exactly what you are used to examining."

Smiling without being offended, she hummed a sound as if thinking of a way to convince me.

"Perhaps it has been a few years, but you should know that my first degree was in Theriogenology. Which is essentially what I do now - obstetrics, gynecology, and andrology... but from a veterinary perspective."

A likely story... I’d probably want to say, if I was feeling any hint of lying out of her.

"You went to secondary schools long enough for two different fields?"

"Citra, I’m a doctor. Undergrad, veterinary, and medical degrees - and we can count residency. Sixteen years just there. Then with CME and MOC, that is to say... continuing medical education and maintenance of certification... I’ve practically been in ’school’ since kindergarten."

A part of me is tempted to let her handle the pup just to feel better about herself. Because while I consider myself a curious enough fox willing to put in the research if I have to, the thought of being forever a scholar makes me want to scream loudly.

"What exactly are you going to look for?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"General health assessment. By the date, his eyes should be open so I’d want to check for signs of infection. His ears also should have opened around the second week, so I’d test the startle reflex and make sure deafness is not a concern."

I hadn’t really thought about any sort of defects, but that was really because | Matron’s Monitor | has been reassuring me that he is fine. But now...

"Can your pup roll off its back on its own? Can he walk or crawl without excessive dragging that implies nerve damage? Cleft palate, umbilical hernia, hydrocephalus check on the fontanel, heart murmur, aspiration pneumonia."

Now she is rattling off so many concerning things while counting on her fingers, that I did not think to learn about, that I’m not sure why I ever trusted the system’s ability!

"You said you’ve been nursing him, and just at a glance I can tell he has been eating well and kept clean. But I’d still like to verify his gastrointestinal tract is working as expected. I would also take basic vitals, though I’m sensing you won’t allow me to do a blood test-"

"That wouldn’t cause him distress, right?"

I know it was a silly question to ask in such a naive voice. Of course a needle is going to hurt! But it allowed me to watch as she froze.

As she realized I was more open to the idea than she expected. The speed at which her eyes ticked over toward the rolling container of medical goods... where I imagine the collection needles she will need are waiting...

> Too eager. <

"It’s... like a pinch. A quick sting, probably a whimper, but no worse than any vaccinations which we’ll have to be on the lookout to do in... actually, I’ll have to keep up regular weekly titer tests to see how the antibodies you have been passing him in your milk are holding."

"You want to take blood weekly?"

"I want your son to not die from parvo. It’s a horrific disease for canids. This lovely winter weather we are dealing with doesn’t get rid of viruses, Citra."

Frowning at her words, I realize it’s surely true... from what little I know of this world’s science. Even in mine, people certainly did get sick in deep winter, so it would be remiss of me not to take her concern seriously.

However, as her feet took her to retrieve some vials and other goods...

"You may take my blood first."

"That will help. A direct comparison to his after your changes will give me a lot of information."

"I’ll also allow you to do the other checks you mentioned on him. However, as rude as you may find it, I must insist that you teach me the process. You will allow me to be the one who handles doing anything at all to him."

She clearly hadn’t expected me to say that, either. Her hand stilled on a sealed package as she turns her front to me. I am glad I am not all so predictable to everyone.

> Just... to Kyrie, apparently. For the most part, she seems to be aware of the way I think. <

Dr. Lang’s face did not grow red. She does not seem especially angered. But the look in her eyes were as clear as the words that started to come from her mouth. My request is out of the norm.

"Unacceptable. You will hurt him more than I will, no matter how good of a first time you perform this procedure. And the jugular is not the place to-"

"See. You expected to take that to his little throat in front of me."

I really do like her. She’s a good person, for a werewolf.

I can even admit that everything tells me I should just allow her to do her job. The one she’s been doing... well, I’d imagine longer than I’ve been alive.

"That is... unacceptable was a good word, so I shall steal it. I will *need* to be in direct control of that. Otherwise, if he screams out because of you... because of anyone... I probably will not be in control."

Orange glows in her eyes, in retaliation to the lilac that has been shining from mine. Overpowering the bluer tinge of the lighting’s fluorescence on the nearest white surfaces. The fact that she doesn’t flinch gives me more reasons to understand why Kyrie trusts her.

"I really am not trying to be difficult here. But as we discussed, I’ve found that what I try to do and what my body tells me to do are different matters."

"Ms. Lomdi. You have to listen to me when I insist letting you do it would be dangerous. You don’t learn starting from a jugular stick. This isn’t a diabetic cat I’m teaching you to use a subcutaneous injection on. You miss here, you risk puncturing the trachea or the carotid artery."

Her voice had dropped lower, but I’m sure mine could not drop further for a while now. Not without turning into my hybrid form.

> Which I don’t think I will need to do, but haven’t entirely discounted as necessity to escape from this room. <

"Mrs. Lang. You must listen to me when I say that, if you want blood which you intend to use for researching the differences between my child and traditional werewolves... then you had best teach me so that I don’t miss."