5. Serena
5
SERENA
S erena's old Honda Civic crunched over gravel as she pulled up to the sanctuary's entrance the following morning. Her hand trembled slightly on the steering wheel as she parked.
"Just a job," she muttered, adjusting her glasses and checking her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her messy bun had somehow gotten messier during the drive. "Like any other patient visit. Except the owner is your ex. No big deal."
The sanctuary sprawled before her, a maze of enclosures and natural habitats bordered by tall metal fencing. The scent of pine needles and fresh earth drifted through her open window, along with the distant calls of various animals.
Her veterinary kit felt heavier than usual as she lifted it from the passenger seat. The gravel shifted under her sensible flats as she made her way to the gate, each step feeling like she was walking through molasses.
Logan stood waiting at the entrance, and Serena's breath caught. The years had been kind to him - more than kind. His dark hair was tousled by the morning breeze, and his worn jeans and flannel shirt somehow made him look more rugged than she remembered. His eyes, those familiar gold-flecked brown eyes, tracked her approach with an intensity that made her cheeks warm.
"Get it together," she whispered to herself, gripping her kit tighter. "You're a professional. You've handled scarier things than an attractive ex. Like that time with the angry cockatoo." But the cockatoo hadn't looked at her the way Logan was looking at her now - like he was seeing something he'd lost and found again.
A strand of hair escaped her bun and tickled her neck. She resisted the urge to fidget with it, instead focusing on maintaining her professional demeanor.
The distance to the gate felt like miles, though it was only a few yards. Each step brought her closer to those searching eyes, and she found herself wishing she'd worn something other than her old clinic scrubs.
Logan swung open the heavy gate as she approached. "Thanks for coming out. The animals are this way."
Serena followed him down a winding path, her medical kit bumping against her leg. The sanctuary was larger than she'd expected, with natural-looking enclosures nestled among the trees. Under different circumstances, she might have appreciated the thoughtful layout.
"How many animals are showing symptoms?" she asked, pulling out her notepad.
"Seven so far. Started with the deer, then spread to the foxes and raccoons." Logan's shoulders tensed as they approached the first enclosure. "Lost two already."
A young deer lay curled in the shade, its breathing labored. Serena knelt beside it, running her hands along its flanks. The fur felt normal, with no signs of parasites or skin conditions.
"When did the symptoms first appear?"
"About three weeks ago. First it was just lethargy, then they stopped eating."
She checked the deer's gums - pale but not alarming - and took its temperature. Everything pointed to illness, but nothing specific jumped out at her. Just like the other vets had said.
"Mind if I check the others?"
They moved from enclosure to enclosure. Each animal displayed similar symptoms: lethargy, loss of appetite, and slight fever. It was like watching the same movie with different actors.
"The raccoon there," Logan pointed to a particularly listless creature, "he used to steal my lunch if I wasn't careful. Now he won't even touch fresh fish."
Serena couldn't help but smile. "Sounds like quite the character."
"They all are." His voice softened. "That's why it's killing me not being able to help them."
The genuine concern in his voice tugged at something in her chest. This was a different Logan than she remembered - still intense, but gentler somehow.
She closed her kit with a snap. "Well, medically speaking, I'm as stumped as the others. But..." She adjusted her glasses, a habit when she was thinking. "I might have another approach we could try."
"Your potions?"
"If you're comfortable with that. It's not exactly standard veterinary practice."
Logan's eyes lit up. "At this point, I'd try dancing naked under a full moon if it would help."
"Let's save that for plan B," Serena said, fighting back a grin. "Though I'd pay good money to see it." The words slipped out.
Logan's startled laugh made her cheeks burn, but she couldn't bring herself to regret it.
Serena cleared her throat and quickly dug into her kit, pulling out several small vials.
"I'll need to check their magical signatures first," she said, focusing on the task at hand. She uncorked a crystal vial filled with shimmering blue liquid. "This will show any magical interference."
She administered drops to each animal's tongue, watching as the liquid created a soft glow around them. The deer's aura pulsed a sickly green.
"That's not normal," she muttered, jotting notes. "Their natural magical signatures should be earth-toned."
Logan leaned close to observe, his shoulder brushing hers. The contact sent tingles down her spine. "What does the green mean?"
"Someone's been tampering with their life force." She shifted away slightly, trying to ignore how his woodsy scent made her head spin. "Hand me the brown vial from my kit?"
Their fingers touched as he passed it to her. Serena nearly dropped the vial, her hands suddenly clumsy.
"Careful there," Logan said, steadying her grip. "These little guys need steady hands."
"Right." She took a deep breath and began mixing ingredients in a small bowl. "This should counteract whatever's affecting them."
Working quickly, she combined herbs and magical elements, the mixture turning a warm golden color. As she worked, Logan helped hold the animals still, his gentle touch with them making her heart do strange flips.
"There we go." She administered the potion to each sick animal. "Now we wait."
They didn't have to wait long. Within minutes, the deer lifted its head, eyes brightening. The raccoon Logan had mentioned earlier immediately tried to investigate her kit for snacks.
"Hey, you little thief!" Logan laughed, gently shooing it away. His laugh made her stomach flutter. "Looks like someone's feeling better."
"The potion's working," Serena said, relief flooding through her.
She started to pack her supplies back into her kit, watching the now-energetic raccoon trying to sneak peeks inside. "This wasn't a natural illness. Someone targeted these animals specifically with magic. Any idea who might want to harm them?"
Logan's jaw tightened as he shooed away the curious raccoon again. "Remember Silas Regan?"
"The bear shifter you turned in? Julie told me about that when it happened." Serena's fingers stilled on her kit. "He's out now?"
"Got released last month. Since then, my fence keeps getting destroyed, and now this." He gestured to the recovering animals. "Can't prove it's him, but..."
"But who else would have motive?" Serena finished his sentence. The morning sun caught Logan's eyes, turning them almost golden, and she quickly looked away. "I should come back tomorrow, make sure the counter-spell is holding."
"You don't have to-"
"I want to," Serena insisted. "I mean, professionally speaking, I should monitor their recovery."
Logan's smile did funny things to her insides, like her organs were playing musical chairs. Some things hadn't changed - he still had that effect on her, like gravity pulling her in. But she couldn't afford to fall into his orbit again. She had a life to rebuild, and he had his hands full with Silas.
They walked to her car in silence, broken only by the sounds of the sanctuary coming alive around them - birds calling and the distinct sound of that raccoon probably getting into something it shouldn't.
"Thanks again for coming out," Logan said as they reached her car. "It means a lot."
"Just doing my job." Serena fumbled with her keys, trying to ignore how the morning light caught his dark hair, how his flannel shirt stretched across his shoulders. "Same time tomorrow?"
"I'll be here." He stepped back, hands in his pockets. "Try not to miss me too much until then."
Serena laughed despite herself. "I think I'll manage somehow." She slid into her car before she could say anything else, before the pull between them could grow any stronger.
Serena steered her Honda through the tree-lined roads leading away from the sanctuary. She smiled as she remembered how quickly the animals had perked up after her potion.
"First time I've felt useful in months," she said to herself, adjusting her glasses. The familiar sight of her veterinary kit in the passenger seat felt right, like reuniting with an old friend.
Her phone buzzed. Julie's name flashed on the screen.
"So?" Julie's voice crackled through the car's speakers. "How'd it go with the animal whisperer?"
"The animals are responding well to my treatment." Serena caught herself smiling again. "And Logan was... professional."
"Uh-huh. Professional enough to make you blush?"
"I did not blush!" Her cheeks warmed at the memory of his shoulder brushing hers. "Besides, there are more important things to worry about."
"Like what?"
Serena's grip tightened on the wheel. "Like Silas Regan being out of prison and apparently targeting Logan's sanctuary."
"Wait, what? That psycho bear who hates non-shifters?"
"The same." Serena's stomach churned. "He's been destroying property, and now this magical attack on the animals..." She remembered the sickly green aura surrounding the creatures. "Julie, these weren't just pranks. The magic used was dark, meant to drain life force."
"Okay, now I'm worried about you going back there."
"I have to. The animals need monitoring, and Logan..." Serena bit her lip. "He's dealing with this alone."
"And you're not at all interested in playing hero for your ex?"
"This isn't about Logan." Serena pulled into her driveway, killing the engine. "It's about protecting innocent creatures. And maybe putting my skills to good use again."
"Sure, keep telling yourself that." Julie's laugh echoed through the speakers. "Just be careful, okay? Both with the crazy bear shifter and with your heart."
"My heart is nowhere near involved," Serena protested, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice. "I'm just doing my job."
"Whatever you say, honey. Whatever you say."