Adam’s eyes fluttered, and he quickly drifted off to sleep.
Something was wrong. Joy felt it in her gut. The worst part was that she suspected it had to do with his move to Florida and how it was affecting his polar bear nature.
There was one person she could turn to. She stepped out of the room and found a private room to make the call.
“Gerri, I need your advice. It’s about Adam. He’s in the hospital.”
“Oh my God! Is he okay? Was there an accident?”
“He’s fine, at least that’s what the doctors keep telling us. But he’s been getting weak and passing out. It’s happened twice in the past week. They’re keeping him here while they run some tests on him. But when he told me he wanted to stay here, he said it was because it would put his shifter nature in remission. Do you know if this fatigue is a normal side effect of that?”
Gerri audibly sighed. “I was worried about something like this happening. He was right when he told you about his bear powers becoming subdued, eventually disappearing. But everything comes at a cost.”
“A cost? He never mentioned anything else.”
“He probably wouldn’t have wanted you to know. In the few cases of polar bear shifters who have left the arctic regions for a very lengthy period of time, it can cause extreme fatigue and weakness, and if left untreated, even death. I suppose he imagined if he ever felt sick in the future, he would make a trip north to recharge and heal.”
“Did you say death? My God. What was he thinking? This is nothing to fool around with.”
“I agree. But men, you know how damn stubborn they can be.”
“Are you sure this is what is happening? You said it affects polar bears who have been away from their home region for long periods of time. He’s only been in Florida for two weeks!”
“There have been so few cases that I’m familiar with. It very well could be making him sick already. If you really want to help him, take him back to Alaska. He needs to reunite with his clan.”
“His what?”
“His clan, the North Slope Clan of polar bear shifters. That is where he came from. They have a shaman who is their leader. She can heal him. And give you the answers you need.”
“A clan. He never mentioned anything about them. Now I have to wonder why. Why wouldn’t he have told me about any of this?” she asked.
“I’m not sure, honey. That’s a question you are going to have to ask him.”
“Thanks, Gerri.” Joy disconnected the call and trudged back to Adam’s room. She wanted to rip him a new one for not saying a word about what would happen if he stayed away from Alaska too long. But she held her tongue, not wanting to wake him. If what Gerri said was true, which she was damn certain it was, she had no idea how long they had before he deteriorated even further. She couldn’t allow her big, strong, proud, dumbass bear to keep this ruse up. She’d have to save his impossible ass.
The following morning, the doctor could only shrug. He was well and truly stumped. Not a single test came back with any abnormalities. His heart and lungs were perfect, as were all of his blood tests. His MRI was perfect as well. Adam was sent home with a clean bill of health and no other answers, and the doctors were left scratching their heads.
As soon as she got him in the car, she spilled her guts.
“Adam, I talked to Gerri. She told me about the risk you took when you decided to stay here. I wish I knew why it was so important for you to stay here, that you were willing to risk your life. But we don’t need to talk about that now. All I want is for you to get well. I’ve already talked to Vicki, and she has arranged for a charter flight to take us back to Alaska this morning. Gerri packed up our bags, and she is at the airport waiting for us. She wants to see us off.”
“I have my reasons for wanting to stay here. Just know it is all about protecting you. I just don’t know why my body is deteriorating so quickly. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’ll always appreciate your concerns and protection, but please don’t think you need to shield me. I’m a little tougher than I might look.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, looking out the window as they drove straight to the airport.
By evening, they had arrived in Polar Point.
Adam took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp air. “It does feel good to be home. I’ll need a night to rest because tomorrow I have to fly somewhere. You’ll be happy to know I already have a king-size bed waiting for us.”
“You mean we are going to fly somewhere. I’m not letting you go to the North Slope Clan without me.”
“Gerri told you a lot,” he grumbled.
He didn’t seem to be happy that she knew the score. Joy really didn’t care if he liked it or not.
“Not a lot. She told me just enough. Remember, I’m with you all the way.” There was no way in hell she was letting him off the hook like that. She was going to see with her own eyes and for her own damn self that he was healed. She wasn’t taking any more chances when it came to his health. History had proven he would do whatever the hell he wanted, consequences be damned.