Page 14 of A Wolf's Wound
“Whoever did this…” he trails off again, but this time I don’t know what he means.I wait and after a few seconds Gavin shakes his head.“The scent that you described, that was on him?”
“Yes?”
“It’s not safe for shifters,” Gavin says darkly.His words spark a fear inside me.And looking at my brother, I see the same fear reflected back.
What was it?
Chapter 7
Hannah
WhenIwakeupthe next morning, the first thought in my mind is,Today’s my first day!The second thought is,Did last night really happen?
I close my eyes again and run through the events of last night.The attack… Ryder… Ryder insisting that he could somehow “feel” me… April… I still can’t make sense of it all.Especially not today, when I’m finally starting the job I’ve wanted for so long.
“Enough,” I say firmly to Shadow as I get out of bed.“Today is all about work.I’ll worry about the rest later.”
Shadow gives me a knowing chuckle.The little snot.
“I mean it!”I tell him firmly.“See, I’m getting ready right now.”With that I quickly make my bed—we did eventually get my mattress into my room—take a shower, and get dressed for work.
I arrive at the veterinary clinic fifteen minutes early.But the doors are already open, and a tall, well-dressed woman is behind the reception desk.“Hello,” I greet her brightly.“I’m Dr.Hannah Kelly.Today’s my first day.”
“Wonderful,” the woman says, standing up and reaching out her hand.As she gives me a surprisingly firm handshake, she adds, “I’m Lori.Welcome.”
Lori shows me around the clinic, a tour that concludes with us back at the front desk.“You’ll have a pretty busy first day, I’m afraid,” she says, showing me the appointment book.
“That’s great,” I assure her.“I’d like to jump right in and get started.That’s the best way for me to learn.”
The door opens, and a tall, dark-haired man comes in.He doesn’t have an animal with him, and I wonder if he’s here to pick up one of the animals that had to be kept overnight.He looks slightly familiar, but I’m not sure why.
The man walks straight over to me, his hand outstretched.“You must be Dr.Kelly,” he says, his voice deep and rough, as if he hadn’t slept.
“I am.”
“You’re the healer,” he states boldly.
“Yes.”I nod, convinced I must be talking to a wolf for him to use that title.
“I’m Gavin Stone.”Stone?I wonder.As if reading my mind, Gavin adds, “I’m the alpha of the Stone pack.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, my polite tone masking my racing thoughts.I knew I’d meet members of the Stone pack sooner or later, of course.But for some reason, I didn’t expect it to be so soon.I remember what my stepfather has told me about the pack, about all the negotiations that were involved in brokering the agreement between the Stone and Blackwood packs.
From the look in Gavin’s eyes, he remembers the negotiations well too.I wonder what’s behind his polite but gruff facade, and how he really feels about my stepfather.
Gavin just gives me a courteous nod.“Welcome to Stonehaven,” he says and leaves.
Huh.Weird.
I don’t have any time to dwell on our encounter, though.No sooner has the door closed behind Gavin than the first patient of the day, a cat scheduled for surgery, comes in with its owner.
After the surgery is successfully completed and the cat’s resting in the post-op wing, I catch myself thinking about Ryder.I remember the way he moved last night, how quickly he pulled that man off me and subdued him.
I’m grateful to him.He saved my life, after all, but that doesn’t mean I want to see him again.It’s not just because I still feel unsettled about the attack.It’s also for a much simpler reason.He went out with my friend and was rude to her.Why would I want to be around anyone like that?
“Dr.Kelly!”Melinda, the receptionist, calls.“We have an owl here that needs urgent care!”
After I devise a splint that will strap up the owl’s sprained wing, the rest of the day passes quickly.I move from room to room and patient to patient.Most of them have appointments, but a few other animals also need emergency care.
