44. Shay

FORTY-FOUR

Shay

" B rielle?" My head snapped up from my spinach salad at the unfamiliar voice. The she-wolf who'd approached our table seemed timid, almost afraid of us. She was a petite redhead, wearing jeans and a light hoodie that said Run Wild on the front.

"Yes?" Brielle's tone was kind, not an ounce of worry evident as she addressed the small female.

"Excuse me, I'm so sorry to bother you. But you've been in your rooms since you've been back, and, well—" She picked at her thumbnail with her pointer finger, and I noticed that the digit was red and agitated, as if she'd been picking at the cuticle for a while. Very nervous, then. But why? I took as unobtrusive a drag of her scent as I could, and it suddenly made sense.

Anxiety . My own shoulders loosened as soon as I pegged it. She could probably feel the dominance rolling off these four males from a mile off, and as far as I could tell she was maybe a nu in the pack hierarchy. Not much stronger than Bri, anyway.

"Do you have a medical concern? I was previously the pack's healer, but I've heard there's a fill-in since I was mated into another pack. "

"Er, yes. It's me. I'm the fill-in, Olivia." She pasted on a forced smile, half lifted her hand as if for a shake, then seemed to think better of it. "It's just… I'm primarily an herbalist, and I've heard that you have actual medical training, as well as the best maternal-infant survival rates of any healer in the state. I was wondering—and I know it's a big ask—but could I maybe be your apprentice? I've only been an assistant healer for a year in my old pack, and there's a lot that I don't know."

Brielle frowned over at Kane before letting the expression sweep our group. Our insular, private group of people who knew her secret. This girl—no matter how sweet—was a safety risk, and beyond that, letting her into our circle could put a target on her as well.

"I'm not sure that's?—"

"Please don't say no. Even if you're only here a few more days, I'd love anything you can share with me. I want to serve my pack well, but it's difficult when I don't know… actually, a lot of things. Your notes have been incredibly helpful, so I know I could learn a lot from you. Please." She stammered to a halt, a rampant blush creeping up her neck.

She might have been a nu or lower, but she had gumption. I instantly liked her.

"We'll probably only be here a few more days, but I don't see why I couldn't swing by the healer's clinic and show you some things." Brielle smiled warmly at Olivia, who nearly fainted in obvious relief.

"Thank you so much. I'll let you get back to your lunch," she said, already backing away.

"That's a bad idea," Gael groused as soon as the little she-wolf was out of earshot.

"Think she's undercover with the ODL?" Bri teased, then a little wrinkle formed between her eyebrows. "They don't even employ wolves, do they?"

"No, they don't," Dirge said, shooting my friend an amused look. "Even if they tried, there's not a wolf alive who'd take the job of murdering our children. Gael's just an unfriendly ass."

"It was nice of you to offer to help." Leigh said, taking an imperious sniff and a testy bite of her big, greasy cheeseburger.

"Well, she seems sincere. And I always love someone willing to talk medicine." There was an excited gleam in her eyes.

"Just don't get too close," Gael persisted, ignoring everyone's eye rolls. "We don't need any safety risks, and if she figures out"—he dropped his voice so low, even I could barely hear him from right across the table—"the truth of your nature, she could be the weak spot the ODL finds and leverages."

"Considering I've lived my entire life as a psi and we had to travel to see a centuries-old bear shifter to get confirmation, I think my secret's fairly safe." Brielle cocked an eyebrow at Gael, as if testing to see if he'd challenge her directly.

Gael ducked his head, whether in deference or resignation, it was hard to tell. But he didn't take another bite of his steak, and it wasn't lost on me that his shoulders were still tight as barbed-wire cattle fence.

Maybe I should go to the clinic with her. Just to be safe.

The clinic stank of antiseptic, which was far too sharp for my wolf's nose. Frankly, I was bored out of my skull as I sat on the paper-covered cot and watched Brielle and Olivia with their heads bent over an endless string of random tools, herbs, and notes, but after an entire morning of watching Leigh debate if she should box her shoes by color or by style, it was a welcome reprieve. We just wouldn't tell Leigh until we were back on Blackwater land that I'd stuffed all her leggings into one box instead of sorting them by season. What in the blue blazes did that even mean ?

I didn't know, and I didn't intend to find out.

Brielle's phone buzzed in her purse, which she'd dumped next to me on the cot when we'd walked in.

I ignored it, but the sound came again a moment later. The third time annoyed me enough that I spoke up.

"Bri, you want me to check that?"

"Sure," she called over her shoulder, not tearing her eyes away from whatever the two of them were studying.

"Oh, I see. But what about the moon? I mean, human medicine has a longer history of study, but we're not really a one-to-one?—"

I tuned them back out as I pulled out her phone. It was easy to spot in its bright teal case, Smart Bitch written on the back and studded with black rhinestones. Leigh's gift to her for Christmas last year. To match the one she'd made me, in purple, with Fierce Bitch , and her own Alpha Bitch in hot pink.

Leigh was special. Even if she did have an abnormally large collection of clothes to sweat in.

Bri had a text, so I swiped in her unlock pattern and checked, expecting something—hopefully not too raunchy—from Kane, but finding instead a message from Aunt Kari.

Aunt Kari: I'll be in town tomorrow.

Aunt Kari: Are you still with the Johnson City pack?

Aunt Kari: I'm glad you reached out. I've missed you.

"Bri? It's from your aunt."

"What?" She straightened, and I watched as it clicked. "Oh. Olivia, can you excuse us for a moment? I was waiting to hear from her. Family matter."

"Of course. I'll keep reading." Olivia smiled, not a hint of malice detectable on her by look or scent. The time spent watching the two of them geek out over their shared love of medicine had only underscored my impression of her as a sweet, nervous wolf. But I now had to add to that list that she idolized Brielle .

If I wasn't mistaken, she had a total girl-crush thing going on.

"What did she say?" Brielle whispered.

I held up the phone, which she took and then quickly tapped out a response.

"Thanks," she murmured, handing it back. She left it open so I could see the exchange.

Brielle: Yes, we are. I've missed you too.

Aunt Kari: Three p.m. tomorrow. My place on the lake?

Brielle: Sounds perfect.

I didn't know where her aunt's place was, but nervous anticipation already filled my belly at the thought. Would she know more about the curse, or were we about to run full speed into a dead end?

Despite her own future being up in the air, Brielle was already smiling when she crossed the small clinic back to Olivia, where they immediately jumped back into their discussion.

A familiar warm, tantalizing scent of cedar and bergamot filled the room, and I was on my feet, spinning toward the door before I consciously realized what I was doing. He was my magnet, always drawing me in, pulling me closer without meaning to do it.

Dirge grinned, wide and predatory, as I closed the distance between us.

"Everything okay?" I murmured, not wanting to disturb Bri and Olivia.

"Everything is fine, but I was wondering if I could steal you for bit? I'm itching for a run, and I'd much rather do it with you."

I cast a regretful look over my shoulder, but Brielle had turned to face me with a stern look, hands on her hips.

"Go."

"But—" I protested, even as excitement thrummed in my veins. A run with my mate sounded glorious after days of packing and waiting. My wolf was itchy too. Loyalty, though, demanded I stay with Bri.

"I mean it, go . You two have had barely any time together, so take it where you can." She stepped closer, lowering her voice as she put her hand on my shoulder. "I'm fine, and things aren't slowing down any time soon, that I can tell. Please, spend some time with your mate and stop worrying about me. You deserve it. Both of you." She looked up at Dirge, encompassing him in the demand with a smile.

"Okay, but we're going to send someone else to hang out with you guys," I insisted, even as Dirge pulled me out of the small clinic, not needing to be told twice.

"I can handle that. You two have fun!" she called cheerily after us as Dirge dragged me out the door.