Page 20 of A Wolf’s Wound

Hannah

“Ryder?” I ask uncertainly. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He runs a hand over his pale face. “Yeah, sorry about that. This note…”

I nod. “It’s alarming, to say the least.” He nods, too, but still looks discomfited. And that makes me uncomfortable too. It occurs to me that while I don’t like Ryder’s unwavering insistence that we belong together, this unsure version of himself is its own kind of disorienting.

In fact, his reaction to the note was so extreme that I’m wondering if I should stay at his place tonight. I believe Ryder doesn’t know who left this or what it means. But seeing him so rattled is making me second-guess all of my decisions this evening, including staying at my own place.

What would have I done if Ryder hadn’t insisted on walking me home? The idea of coming into an empty apartment and being greeted with that envelope makes me shudder. I’m glad I let Ryder come with me. I might not admit it to him, but he does make me feel safer.

Ryder has placed the note on the table. I pick it up and read it again, not that the words make any more sense this time. But a new thought crosses my mind as I finish reading it. I pull out a chair and sit down next to Ryder.

“Ryder, I know you think someone’s been threatening me,” I say and he nods, still looking distant. “But I have to say, reading this makes me wonder if you’re really the target.”

He looks surprised. “Why?”

“I mean, this is addressed to you, and it seems very personal.”

“You think that thing that attacked you earlier was after me?”

“I have no idea,” I admit. “But I don’t think you can just shake this off. You should tell Gavin and the rest of the pack.”

“I guess.” He sighs. Then he looks at me and smiles slightly. “Although I’d rather have you be my bodyguard than any of those guys.”

“Oh yeah,” I joke, flexing my biceps. “I’m so tough I could take on an army with one hand tied behind my back.”

“You are tough,” he says softly, his smile fading and anxiety returning to his voice. “I think a lot of people would have left town after what happened with the councilman.”

“Maybe I’m just stubborn. That’s what my parents would say.”

“No, you’re strong,” he says. “You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

“Thanks,” I say quietly. Then I grin. “But come on, you can take care of yourself. You’re the big, bad wolf, after all.”

He laughs at that, and I feel a jolt of happiness shoot through me that I was able to lift some of this weight from him. I smile, too, and we sit in companionable silence for a couple of minutes.

“If I’m the big, bad wolf,” Ryder finally says, “maybe you should reconsider not letting me protect you.”

“I thought you just said I could take care of myself.”

“You can, but more help never hurts.”

“I’ll be okay, Ryder. Really.”

“Hannah, you’ve been attacked twice in just a handful of days. Please,” he says, gazing at me. “Please let me help you.”

I feel my resolve start to weaken. What happened on the street was legitimately scary. And while I like to think I could have landed a few punches of my own, the truth is that I froze and Ryder didn’t. I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t been there.

“There’s something else to consider,” Ryder adds. “What will you do if your stepfather and mom find out what’s going on?”

“Why would they? I wasn’t planning on mentioning anything.”

“People talk. Wolves too,” he adds, and I smile. “It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Mason will hear something. You know how well-connected he is.”

“They don’t need to know about tonight,” I say. “Or the other night.”

“Maybe not. But I’m sure they’d feel better knowing that my pack was looking out for you.”

I nod; what he’s saying makes sense. And his care for what my parents might think, and how that might affect me, is touching. Ryder’s more thoughtful and perceptive than I’ve given him credit for.

Not to mention that having Ryder watching out for me means he’d be watching out for April, too, at least while she’s in our apartment. If she got hurt by whatever or whoever seems to have it out for me, I’d never forgive myself.

“Fine. I accept your offer of protection, Ryder Stone.”

“Why, thank you, Dr. Hannah Kelly,” he says, his relief evident in his newly relaxed posture. “May I start tonight?”

“You may, but not in here,” I say. I stand up and open the door. “I know you mean well, Ryder, but I was serious about having boundaries.”

He follows me to the door. “What kind of boundaries?” he asks.

I swallow, suddenly aware of how close we’re standing. “The kind that keeps you out of my apartment at night.”

“Would it be so terrible to have me here?”

“Not terrible but complicated.”

“I promise to be a perfect gentleman.”

“I believe you, but my answer is still no.”

He nods, even as he moves closer to me. “I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with gazing at your window, then.”

“I guess so.” I look up at him. We’re so close together that I can feel the heat from his body. I have to fight the urge to touch his shirt. He meets my eyes, and we look at each other. I’m torn between wanting to step closer and closing the door.

Loud voices from the stairwell break our staring contest. Two women I recognize as my neighbors enter, talking and laughing. They don’t notice us, but their presence brings me back to myself.

“See, I’ll be fine in here,” I tell Ryder, nodding at the girls. “I have neighbors, and Shadow, and April will be home soon.”

“And I’ll be outside,” he adds.

I nod. “Right. And I have the numbers you put in my phone.”

“Promise me you’ll use them, Hannah,” Ryder says, his voice rough with urgency. “Don’t be stubborn or too proud to ask for help. Even if it’s from me or another member of my pack.”

“I won’t be,” I promise. “I mean it, Ryder. I know my limits, and I know when to ask for help.”

His lips quirk up in a quick smile. “More boundaries. Why do I feel like you have a lot of them, Hannah?”

“Because I do, Ryder,” I answer. “They’ve helped me get this far, and I don’t plan on losing any of them anytime soon.”

“I respect that,” he says, and I believe him.

“Thank you. Have a good night,” I say.

“You too.” Ryder steps into the hallway and begins walking toward the stairs. He turns around halfway down the hall and looks back at me. I nod, and he does too.

Back inside, I lock the door and then make sure all of the windows are locked. I know Ryder already checked, but I can’t help myself. The sun has fully set and the night sky is clouded. I turn on every light in the apartment, even the one in the bathroom, to chase away the shadows.

I should make dinner, maybe wake up Shadow and fill him in.

But instead I sink down onto the couch and look around the quiet apartment.

Ryder’s somewhere outside. I wonder if he’s looking up at my apartment, at all the lights, and smiling.

The thought comforts me, even as the night looms ahead, feeling impossibly long and threatening.