Page 33 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Bride

“It’s Reiner,” I say. “I have to go. I have to see him.”

She reaches for me, and I lean in, letting her wrap me in a tight hug. “It’s going to be okay, Jane. Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.”

I nod, but I’m not sure I believe her. She keeps asking me what’s wrong, but I can’t say it out loud. Part of me knows it’s absurd to get so worked up over a fake boyfriend, but the other part of me can’t help it. Even if I’m not in love with the guy, even if this is just a silly arrangement, I still care about him. And I can’t stand the thought of him getting hurt.

When I see Piper’s car roll to a stop, I run to it, flinging open the door and sliding inside. Aunt Gwen hurries to the driver’s side and taps on the window. Her daughter rolls it down and says, “Hey, Mom.”

“What’s happened? Is everything okay?”

“The scouts were attacked,” Piper says. “The boys are at the infirmary.”

“Oh, dear,” she gasps. “That’s awful. Jane, honey, Uncle Richard and I will meet you there, okay? Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

I don’t reply. I can’t. I’m too busy panicking. I need to get to Reiner. I need to see him. I need to know that he’s okay.

The drive to the infirmary seems to take forever, and I’m antsy the entire time. My leg is bouncing, and I’m picking at my fingernails, and I can’t seem to sit still.

“Calm down,” Piper says. “I’m sure he’s fine. He’s a shifter. He’ll heal.”

“But what if he’s not fine? What if he’s badly hurt? What if he’s dying?”

“He’s not dying,” she tells me. “I promise.”

“How do you know? Rogues killed his parents, Piper. Did you know that? They were murdered. By rogues.”

She draws in a shaky breath and nods. “Rafe told me that, yes. But listen, Rafe is there, too, and you don’t see me freaking out.”

“Rafe is your mate,” I remind her. “Of course you’re not freaking out. If something horrible had happened to him, you would feel it. Reiner and I haven’t… we’re not…” I almost let the truth slip, but I pull it back.

Piper glances over at me, and I’m just praying she’s too distracted by the situation to notice. Thankfully, she doesn’t press the issue.

“You’ll see,” she tells me. “Reiner is fine. Just wait.”

When we arrive at the infirmary, I’m out of the car before it even fully stops moving. I race to the building and burstthrough the doors, looking around frantically. There are people everywhere, and I can’t find him.

“Jane!”

I hear my name and turn to see Rafe striding toward me. I rush to him, and he wraps me in a hug.

“Are you okay?” I ask him. “Where’s Reiner?”

“I’m fine, but we were ambushed. Reiner got attacked, but he’s okay. He’s back there with the healer.”

“Where?”

“Down the hall and to the left,” he says, pointing.

I don’t waste any time. I hurry down the hallway, following his instructions until I spot a sign that reads “Healer’s Office.” I push through the door and freeze.

There’s a young, beautiful blond woman standing over Reiner as he lies on a bed. She’s leaning over him with her hands pressed to his chest, and he’s shirtless.

I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks, and I’m suddenly not sure what I’m doing here. I’m not his girlfriend. I’m not his mate. I’m not his anything. What if he doesn’t want me here? What if this is a mistake?

“Jane?”

I snap out of my trance and look up. Reiner is staring at me, and the woman is watching me curiously.

“Hi,” I say softly. “I heard what happened, and I was worried. I came to see how you were.”

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