Page 23 of A Wolf's Wound
“I will,” I say earnestly, ready to promise anything so she’ll stop yelling at me.But April continues like she hasn’t heard a word I’ve said.“It’s like every time I turn around you guys are mooning at each other or swapping spit!For heaven’s sake, Hannah, you know what a jerk he was to me.You’re supposed to be one of my closest friends!”
“I am,” I whisper.“Please, April, I’m so sorry,” I say, my own tears rolling down my face now.“Please… please believe me.I never want to hurt you.”
“Yeah, well, you did,” she says angrily.“Figure out your shit, Hannah.”She turns and stomps out.
I look at Shadow, who gazes back sympathetically.“I really didn’t mean for that to happen,” I tell him.
I see the understanding and patience in his dark eyes.But that just makes me cry harder, and I turn and run into my office before Lori comes back in.The rest of the clinic is empty but I close my door anyway.After a few minutes, I’m able to stop crying.I wipe my face with my sleeve, not caring that it’s now covered in snot and tears.
I lean back in my chair and close my eyes, trying to make sense of the last twenty minutes.I meant what I said to April.Idon’tlike Ryder, not in a romantic sense.I grant that he’s not a bad guy.I can even see how he and April would have just not hit it off on their date.And I’d be willing to bet that if April hadn’t walked in when she did—if she’d just seen him when we were out at a bar—she’d make one or two snide comments but otherwise be over the whole bad date thing.
Still, walking in on us making out must have hurt.I can’t blame her for being angry.My cheeks flame at the memory of that kiss.Of how he felt against me…
“No!”I say out loud.“Get those thoughts out of your mind.He’s off limits for all the reasons.Okay?”Even as I say those words, I hear how hollow they sound.I don’t want Ryder to be off limits for any reason.I want to kiss him again.I want to feel him again.Allof him.
I groan in frustration and drop my head into my hands.Why does all of my resolve melt away like an ice cube in the summer heat whenever I see him?Why can’t I just interact with Ryder as a person, like I do with everyone else?What about him causes me to lose control even though the stakes are so high?I think about what April said and feel sick.
I want to promise myself right now that I’ll stay away from Ryder.That my lips will never meet his again.That I’ll stop thinking about how good his chest felt pressed against mine.
But I’d be lying.
And it makes me wonder.
Whatisit with me and this guy?Because whatever is between us doesn’t feel normal.
Chapter 13
Ryder
I’mwokenfromdreamsof Hannah by Evan shaking me.Asshole.
“What?”My voice is rough with sleep, and my dick aches something fierce.
“Gavin needs us all in the study right away,” my youngest brother tells me.
I shake my head to chase away the image of Hannah, naked in my arms.Then I move to sit up before pausing to make sure the blankets are bunched over my morning wood.“Why?”
Evan shrugs, looking uncharacteristically somber.“I don’t know.But one of the wolves who was patrolling the forest last night came in about an hour ago and looked really shaken up.”
That news is enough to drive all thoughts of Hannah out of my head—and body.I jump out of bed and pull on the jeans and shirt I wore yesterday.Then I follow Evan to the study, where my other brothers are already gathered.Our mom stands beside Gavin as he sits behind his desk.
“Okay,” Gavin says as soon as I close the door, shrouding us from other ears.I take a seat next to Michael, and Evan sits down in the other empty chair.“Here’s the situation.A body was found in the woods early this morning.”
At his words I remember I never told him about the body I found.I meant to, but that scene with Hannah at the veterinary clinic drove all other thoughts from my mind.
“It was smashed up,” Gavin goes on.“All of the bones broken.”
“All of them?”Thomas interrupts.
“Yes,” Gavin answers.“The muscles were torn too.Whatever happened was bad.”
I clear my throat and everyone looks at me.Goody.“I found a body in the woods yesterday.By the big clearing in the southern section of the forest.Could it be the same one?”
“No.”Gavin shakes his head.“This was found on the western edge.Why didn’t you tell us about the other body?”
“With everything going on, I forgot.”I grimace.Gavin’s brow furrows, but he doesn’t say anything.Epitome of the disappointed alpha.“I was going to.I know this means you’re in charge of all the investigations now,” I add, hoping to mollify him.It seems to work as Gavin’s face relaxes, and he nods.
“We’re glad you told us now,” my mother says.“And I don’t think this delay would have made a difference.From what we can tell, the body discovered this morning had been dead for over twenty-four hours.”
