The VNTRs and STRs. The genetic material of another species hiding in plain sight. “Mosaics.”
“You remember.” She smiled.
“Yeah, some. But I don’t remember…” He looked at the wolf. “That.”
“I don’t think you saw it before.”
“Was it there?”
Seung laughed a little. “The Fenrir is always there.”
“Then no, I guess I… Why didn’t I? See it, I mean? If it was there?”
“We’re not sure. Most who see the Fenrir from a very young age are raised knowing to look for them. Others don’t become aware of the wolves until after they’ve been around us for a while.” Seung shifted her weight, and the wolf vanished.
“Where did it go?”
“My shadow.” She moved again, unblocking the faint glow from the bathroom, and the wolf reappeared.
“That’s…” He waved a hand at it, and the sleeve of his flannel shirt flopped. “Can I touch it?”
Seung raised her eyebrows.
“Sorry, I… that was…” He folded and unfolded his arm, momentarily tangling up the long sleeves of the flannel shirt.
He hadn’t been wearing a flannel shirt. He tugged at the cuff.
“You needed a shower. It was the quickest way to bring down your fever, plus you were pretty dirty.”
“You washed me?”
“No.”
Oh, god, did that mean…
“Daniel, one of my Omegas, has worked as a nursing assistant in a few places, so he’s used to bathing people when they’re ill.”
Reese nodded.
“I would have asked, but you weren’t very coherent.”
“I understand.” He was grateful there’d been someone there to do it.
“Have you ever had a fever like that before?” Why did Seung sound like she expected a certain answer?
“You tell me.”
She picked up the bowl off the tray. “Here, it’s oatmeal. It will sit easy on your stomach.”
He took it and held it. “Well?”
“After Paul bit you.” A clear statement.
“Maybe. I don’t remember much until I woke up at the hospital.”
“Go on, eat.” She encouraged him with a nod.
“Sorry, I… I’m not really hungry right now.”