Page 3 of A Wolf's Wound
I scramble to regain my balance and clamber to my feet, wincing when I stumble against the hard edge of a side table.My movements seem to have spurred him into action as the man dives for me, his hands outstretched and fingers curled, and I get a clear view of his face.
I struggle for air when the stranger’s hand wraps around my throat.I scratch at his hardened arms and steellike fingers, twisting and turning in an attempt to break free.But only when he speaks—screams—do I realize he isn’t a stranger at all.
He’s a local councilman—a plant for the Stone pack in local government—and his hand tightens around my throat as he snarls.“You made a big fucking mistake coming here!”
As my vision blackens, I realize he might be right.
Dammit.
Chapter 2
Ryder
“It’sagreatwayto spend my day off.”She takes a sip of her fruity drink and nods.“Not that I don’t love my work at the vet clinic, because I do.”
I dip my head as she tells her story, leaning against a barstool as she continues to babble, but I stop listening.
Maybe I should try looking less bored.I nurse the golden liquid in my glass.Nah.
My date is beautiful.Fucking stunning, actually.She’d look good on my arm.
Or in my bed beneath me.
But the thought doesn’t warm my blood as it should—as Iwantit to.It’s like I have no… interest in her.The fuck?This unusual feeling has been growing more and more bothersome in the past weeks.
What does it matter, though?I can just find another one.
I nearly groan aloud, unsure which path to take.Because she really is gorgeous.She has long wavy blonde hair and bright gray eyes.She has the body of a supermodel and is only a few inches shorter than me.She’s the entire package.Beautiful, intelligent, charming, and successful.
And fuck me sideways—I can’t bring myself to care.
You don’t even know where you are.Maybe get your head on straight first.I swallow my drink and stop before I roll my eyes at my reproachful inner voice.
Not that my inner voice is wrong, per se.Idon’tknow where I am.We’re at a pub in downtown Stonehaven that she suggested, but I’ve never been here before.
Not sober anyway.
Knocking back my glass, I set the empty on the counter and order another for us both, though she can’t seem to keep up with me like she did in the bar where we met.At least, I think that was her that met me drink for drink.
“Ready to eat?”I try to give her a bright smile, but it feels forced.
I lead my date from the bar over to a booth close to the front door and signal to the bartender that we’re moving.Being close to the door means an easy escape for me if necessary.It also means that if we hit it off, we can leave easily enough too.
Eh, I don’t think that’s going to happen tonight, though.
“Your drinks, sir.”I look up at the waitress, offer her a fierce smile, and take my glass.
When I look back at my date, she’s still speaking.Thank God.I couldn’t talk even if she’d let me get a word in edgewise.It lets my mind wander instead, and that’s something I’m more inclined toward right now.
Do I even know her name?
Amber?
Ashley?
No.Ashley was last night.
I know her name starts with an A.I try to quiet the voice in my head.
