Page 84 of A Wolf's Wound
If she had, maybe I could have talked her out of going to the clinic.Told her that we’d find another vet, someone who could perform the operations these animals need.Or told her to take a couple of guards with her, at least.
And then I would have heard her voice, I think, as a wave of fear crashes over me.What if the stalker is waiting for her?What if this time the Creepy Man doesn’t run away?What if I’ve already heard her voice for the last time?
“Stop it,” I tell myself sternly.“She’s at the clinic.She’ll keep the doors locked and come back as soon as she can.”But I can’t calm myself down.
I pick up the phone and call the clinic.Maybe Melinda’s at the desk and can at least tell me how much longer Hannah will be.But the phone just rings and rings.Finally, I hang up.
Unable to stay still, I pace around the cottage, ending up in the bedroom.Hannah made the bed this morning, like she always does.I smile despite myself, at how neat and organized she is.She even straightened up Shadow’s nest on the floor, a Sisyphean task if there ever was one.
I sit down and stare at her bag lying empty in the corner.At least I know she’s planning on coming back.That’s something, right?
But it’s not enough.I know that.I should have told Hannah how I felt days ago.I should have done it the night we made love.I should have told her how I really feel about her.She deserves to know.
What if it’s too late?The thought that I might have missed my chance makes me feel physically sick.All this time I’ve been afraid that she doesn’t feel the same way.I let that fear keep me quiet.I convinced myself that I could wait and get a better idea of how she felt.I told myself not to go out on a limb, not to risk the humiliation of her saying she didn’t feel the same way.
I see now how foolish and cowardly I was.So what if she doesn’t feel the same way?I can live with that.It will hurt and I’ll be wrecked, but I can live with it.As long as I know Hannah is alive and safe, I can withstand any humiliation and pain that might come my way.
I wish I’d gotten over myself sooner.That I’d just sucked it up and confessed how in love with her I am.
The idea that I might not ever get that chance cuts me deeper than any pain I’ve ever felt before.
Chapter 48
Hannah
It’slateafternoonbythe time I get into Stonehaven, and the city looks busier than when I was here a few days ago.Traffic is backed up as I try to make my way to the clinic.
“What is going on?”I say and Shadow shrugs.I slow down and crane my head out of the window.All I can see is a line of cars stretching out for blocks.
We inch forward, one agonizingly slow minute at a time.Frustrated, I pull over to a side street and park.“We’re walking from here,” I tell Shadow.He jumps into my bag and smiles at me.“Okay, I’ll walk, and you’ll ride,” I say, rolling my eyes.“Sometimes you’re so lazy it’s actually impressive.”
I set off quickly.Now that I’m out of the car I can see that there is some sort of accident ahead.That must be what’s causing the slowdown.
Then I see what caused the accident.In the middle of an intersection a few blocks ahead, a large deer is lying on the road.“Oh no!”I cry and break into a run.
“What happened?”I gasp as I approach the animal.I can see how frightened the deer is.
“It ran into traffic,” a young woman standing near the deer says.“A car hit it.”She gestures to the other side of the intersection, where a car with a crumpled front end is being lifted up onto a tow truck.
“I’m a vet,” I tell her, moving closer to the animal.
“Someone called animal control,” she says.“But they’re taking forever to get through the traffic jam.”
“Hopefully they’ll be here soon,” I murmur, putting a hand carefully on the deer’s neck.I can feel its heart beating wildly.Its eyes are open and staring around at the scene.
“How badly is it hurt?”she asks.
“I won’t be able to tell for sure until it gets to the clinic,” I tell her, moving my hand up to the deer’s head.“No bruising here, though, which is good.”
“Can you call them?”she asks.“Find out what’s taking so long?”
I shake my head as she offers me her phone.“No, they’re already on their way.Me calling again won’t do any good.Once they’re here, they’ll be able to transport the deer to the clinic.”
I begin to examine the rest of the deer.He flinches when I touch his back left leg, and again when I put my hand on his stomach.“I think he broke a leg and might have some internal bleeding,” I conclude.
“That doesn’t sound good,” the woman says worriedly.
“It’s painful but not fatal,” I assure her.I open my bag, and Shadow pops out so I can rummage through my supplies.I pull out a needle and quickly fill the syringe with a clear liquid.Then I give the deer a shot.
