Page 34 of Love, A Curvy Girl's Guide

Haley wiped the drool from her lip and glanced at her dad, who was sleeping peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a comforting rhythm. Relief and heartbreak warred inside her. He looked so frail, so unlike the man who had been her rock for her entire life. She hated leaving him, even for a moment.

The nurse’s expression softened as she followed Haley’s gaze. “I’ll take good care of him, miss. My name is Aggie, and I’ll be here all night. I’m working a double.”

“Thank you, Aggie,” Haley replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper so she wouldn’t wake him. “I’m Haley. I appreciate everything you and the other hospital staff have done for my dad. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to worka double shift. Nurses are really the unsung heroes. Your care, well… It means the world to us.”

Aggie’s smile widened. “It’s my pleasure, sugar. He’s a good man. Now, you go home and get some rest. You can’t take care of him if you’re running on fumes.”

Haley nodded reluctantly. The truth was, she hadn’t slept properly in days, and every bone in her body ached from the makeshift cot of the chair. But the thought of leaving him filled her with guilt. She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“I’ll be back first thing in the morning, Dad,” she whispered, her voice cracking. She lingered for a moment, watching him, before finally gathering her things and stepping out of the room.

The hospital halls were quieter now, the chaotic energy of the day replaced with a more subdued stillness. Machines hummed, and the faint murmur of voices drifted from the nurses’ station. Haley’s footsteps echoed as she walked through the dimly lit corridor, her thoughts a tangle of worry and exhaustion.

Just as she approached the sliding glass doors at the hospital entrance, a voice called out behind her.

“Haley!”

She turned, startled, to see Frank Johnson striding toward her. His broad shoulders and weathered face gave him an air of quiet authority, but tonight, his expression was grim, his mouth set in a hard line.

“Mr. J,” Haley said automatically, concern tightening her throat. “Is Ian okay?”

Frank shook his head, his jaw clenched. “There’s a situation,” he said. “I don’t understand all this social media nonsense, but it’s causing a mess. It’s your friend Verity.”

Haley frowned, dread creeping up her spine. “Verity? What did she do?”

Frank pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “You better see for yourself.”

Haley’s stomach churned as she watched the short clip. At first, it seemed harmless—artsy shots of the moon paired with a cryptic caption. Typical Verity. But then the video cut to an image of a wolf howling at the moon, set to a popular song about keeping secrets. The caption read:

“What would you do if you discovered your best friend was hiding a beast of a secret? #wolfwhisperer #howlinggoodtime”

Haley’s breath caught in her throat. Her fingers trembled as she scrolled through the comments, each one hitting like a punch to the gut.

“Omg, is this for real?”

“You can’t drop something like that without tea! SPILL!”

“I heard she paid a fortune for a date with that hot firefighter. What a loser!”

“Anyone who has to pay for a date must be butt-fugly. Is that the secret?”

“This isn’t about Ian Johnson, is it? He’s so hot!”

Haley stared at the screen in horror, her mind racing. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Why would she do something like that?”

Frank shook his head, his expression dark. “I don’t know. Maybe she thought it was funny. Maybe she didn’t realize how serious it was. But whatever her reason, it’s caused a whole heap of trouble with the pack.”

Haley’s stomach twisted painfully. “What kind of trouble?” she asked, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

“The shifter world has strict rules about keeping their existence a secret,” Frank explained, his voice grim. “What Verity did... It's considered a betrayal. At best, Ian could be ostracized—cut off from the pack entirely.”

Haley’s brow furrowed. “Is that so bad?”

Frank’s gaze hardened. “Wolves aren’t meant to be alone, Haley. A lone wolf loses their humanity over time. They’re vulnerable to attacks from other paranormal creatures, and would spend the rest of their lives always waiting for the next blow. It’s not just bad—it’s a death sentence.”

Haley felt the blood drain from her face. Her voice was barely a whisper. “What’s the worst-case scenario?”

Frank hesitated, the weight of his next words hanging heavy in the air. “If the Alpha decides Ian’s actions have put the pack in danger, he could demand a fight to the death.”

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