Page 13 of A Wolf's Wound
“Which wolf?”
“The councilman,” I say, and he looks concerned.
“Really?Are you sure?”
“Positive.I pulled him off Hannah and beat him unconscious, tossed him onto the walkway outside her apartment.Then I found him outside her building in some bushes.He was dead, Gavin.Someone destroyed him.”I describe the state of his body, and Gavin’s expression changes from concern to worry.
“And you didn’t see anyone else around?”he questions me after I’ve finished talking.
“No.I sensed the danger, but I didn’t find anyone.I searched all over, but whoever it was had vanished.”
“Where is the body now?”
“I told the pack members to take it to the compound.”
Gavin nods soberly.“I’ll make some calls and begin investigating.But first I’ll examine the body.”He stands up, and I rise too.
“I’d like to handle this,” I tell him.
“Ryder, I’m the alpha.I should be the head of any investigation, especially when it concerns the death of one of my wolves.”
“I understand that,” I reply.“But it’s because you’re the alpha that you should let me take this.”He doesn’t look convinced, so I continue.“Gavin, we don’t know what we’re dealing with here.But it could be really bad.You need to be protected.”
“I can protect myself better than anyone,” he says, offended.
“I don’t mean to imply that you can’t,” I say in a soothing tone.“But you’re too important to the pack to come to any harm.I’m the beta,” I add.“It’s my job to put your safety ahead of anything else, even my own life.”
Gavin softens at my words.“I appreciate that, Ryder.”
“I’ll keep you apprised every step of the way,” I promise.“Just let me lead this.”I think about Hannah.Protecting her is just as important to me as protecting my brother.If I head up the investigation, I can keep track of Hannah and ensure she’s safe.
“All right,” Gavin agrees.“But I want every update.No detail is too small.And, Ryder, if I learn that you’re keeping anything from me…” His voice trails off, but he doesn’t have to finish that sentence.I know how much trouble I’ll be in if I keep anything from the alpha of our pack, brother or not.
But I don’t tell him how I feel about Hannah.These feelings are too new and tentative to share with anyone.If I tell Gavin, he’ll have more questions that I can’t answer.And with a dead councilman on our hands, we already have enough unanswered questions.
“Promise me something,” Gavin says.
“Anything.”
“If anyone else turns up dead, I need to be notified immediately.”
“I understand.”
“And if that happens, I’ll take over the investigation,” he adds.
I nod reluctantly.There’s no way I’d be able to talk him out of that if we find another body.
Gavin moves toward the door, and I follow him.“I’d like to be present at the examination,” my brother says.“It’ll help give me an idea of what you’re up against… what we’re all up against.Is that all right?”
I nod, pleased he’s asking permission.“Of course.I value your opinion.”I reach for the doorknob but hesitate.I look at Gavin.“What do you think this could be?”
Gavin shakes his head.“I don’t know.I can’t think of any enemies the councilman had, much less why he’d want to attack a stranger.”
“I can’t either,” I say.
“I do know one thing, though,” my brother says.
“What?”I ask, taking in the troubled expression in his eyes.
