Page 43 of A Wolf's Wound
It doesn’t make sense, and that’s what’s most frightening of all.What if there isn’t a why?What if whoever’s doing this is simply unhinged?They might try to bite all the humans in town just because they can.
“Ryder wants you to stay with me until he wraps things up.”
I try not to think about what “wrapping things up” entails when it comes to dealing with a dead body in the woods or how experienced Ryder might be with these kinds of things.I also try not to dwell on how guilty he must feel over everything, but a traitorous lump in my throat forms anyway.If he saw the shift go wrong, that means he was with the man while he died horrifically.I can’t even imagine what he must be feeling right now.
Both Ryder and Gavin are taking these deaths extremely personally.He must be a wreck, and he has to deal with a dead body on his own.
“I’m fine,” I say automatically, even though I know he’s about to overrule me.“Neither of you have to look out for me.I can handle myself.”
Shadow, currently splayed on my lap, makes a sound that mimics a snort.
Unlike our mystery shifter, I am almost depressingly predictable.But I have to stake out my claim to independence.If Gavin or Ryder are watching over me, it’s because I’ve made a decision on my own to let them.Not because they’re ordering me around.
“Ryder wants you safe,” Gavin counters, right on cue.“He needs to know you’re not in harm’s way, or he won’t be able to focus.The bond between—”
And definitely not because of whatever Gavin’s implying.
Gavin keeps talking, but I turn up the radio.I don’t want to hear about Gavin’s theories as to any bonds between me and Ryder.
Gavin shakes his head.“Not talking about it doesn’t make it not true.”
“I have no idea what you’re even talking about.”I turn the radio up higher.An impromptu classic rock session wasn’t how I was planning on spending this car ride, but it beats facing harsh truths.“I just love this song.And I appreciate the protection.I’m just saying it’s not necessary.”
I’m not my mother.I’m not going to lose myself in a pack that isn’t even mine.I have value as a veterinarian and a healer, and I’m not going to throw away my entire identity just because some guy’s animal instincts think we’re fated to be together forever.Even if he is really hot.
Not to mention the creeping suspicion that all of these attacks might have a nasty underlying motive.None of this rogue shifter’s motives make sense—unless he’s after the Stone pack.
And if he’s after the Stones?
The girl that the beta is interested in would make one hell of a target.
Chapter 25
Ryder
Ibackawayfromthe corpse.There’s nothing more I can do now.That knowledge fills me with sadness and resignation but also a strong desire to prevent this from happening again.
As I walk back through the trees, I put my hands in my pockets and feel my phone.Shit!I forgot I set it to silent last night, afraid its ring could have distracted me from keeping watch.I pull it out and turn it on to see all of the missed calls from Hannah and Gavin.
I listen anxiously to their messages, slowly relaxing the more I hear.Good, Hannah got a hold of Gavin.And he’s still at the clinic, it sounds like.That probably means Hannah is still there too.As long as she’s with Gavin, she’ll be safe.
But just to make sure, I call Gavin as I emerge from the trees.As the phone rings I pace back and forth, impatient for him to pick up.
“Ryder,” he says in greeting.“Glad you’re finally checking your messages.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.Hannah said a deer was brought in?And a wolf attacked it?”
“We’re not sure about that part,” my brother says.“I caught the scent of human blood on the deer.”
“You think a person did this?”I ask incredulously.Hannah had described the wounds; they sounded worse than what a person could inflict.
“Maybe someone mid-shift,” Gavin says.“I don’t know, Ryder.But we have to consider all of the possibilities.”
“I know.Is Hannah still there?”
“She is.I’m trying to convince her to go home, but she doesn’t want to leave the deer unattended.”
“Could you get a team over to keep an eye on the deer?They could call her if the poor thing’s condition gets worse.”
