Page 29 of A Wolf’s Wound

Ryder

I groan in frustration. But my frustration isn’t just at Hannah. It’s at myself too. There’s so much I wish I could tell her, but where would I even start?

Guess what, Hannah? I think this is all my fault. I’m not just “in on it.” I am it , the whole damn thing. Surprise!

Of course I can’t say that. So instead I say the first thing that comes to mind. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

“You’re not talking about help!” Hannah cries, seemingly just as frustrated as I am. “You’re talking about us being together twenty-four-seven!”

“No, I’m not! Just because you’d be living at the compound doesn’t mean you’d see me.”

“Right, Ryder. I’m supposed to believe that?”

“I wish you would! Why is it so hard to accept that I want you to be safe?”

“And why is it so hard to understand that I wouldn’t be comfortable at your place?”

“Because that doesn’t make any sense!” I say, my words coming out louder than I expected. Hannah looks surprised, too, and takes a step back. “It’s not my place, okay?” I continue in a quieter tone. “It’s my family’s place.”

“Somehow that doesn’t sound much better,” she replies. “I can just hear my stepdad’s reaction to my moving into the Stone pack’s stronghold. It involves a lot of four-letter words.”

“Mason wants you to be safe. I think, under the circumstances, he’d understand.” I run my hands through my hair, half-wanting to just rip it out. That’s how riled up I’m feeling right now.

“Ryder, I don’t want to keep having this fight every time I see you,” Hannah says. “I’m not leaving my apartment, and that’s that.”

“But at the compound… Look, you wouldn’t have to see me,” I plead. “You could stay with my mom, if that would make it better. But at least I’d know you were somewhere that’s protected.”

“And I would feel like a prisoner,” Hannah says.

“You’d hardly be that.” I scoff. “You could go to work, see April, do whatever you want.”

“As long as I stayed where you wanted me.”

“That’s not what—” I begin, but she cuts me off.

“That is what you’re asking. And I’m not doing it,” Hannah says firmly. “That would feel like admitting that Stonehaven isn’t safe. And if I do that, I might as well just leave.”

“So this is all about your independence and pride?”

“Not all. I also think you’re keeping something from me,” Hannah says. “And as long as you are, I don’t trust you. I’m not staying with someone I don’t trust.”

“Hannah, come on! You’re being ridiculous,” I argue. She stares at me, narrowing her eyes, and I feel a yell of frustration forming in the back of my throat.

But I don’t want to yell at her or say something that I’ll regret. We’re both too worked up to have this conversation, I belatedly realize. “I’ll see you later,” I mumble and leave, but not before registering the surprised look in her eyes.

As I push through the clinic’s front doors, I wonder if by leaving I’ve gained the upper hand. If Hannah will realize that I stopped our argument before it could escalate. If that will help her realize how seriously I take what’s going on, including the need for her to stay safe.

Those hopes are cold comfort right now, though. Sure, maybe in a few hours or a few days Hannah will want to continue this conversation. And if she does, I’ll do my damnedest to stay calm and levelheaded. That’s the only way to make her see that she can trust me.

But will it be too late by then? Will this rogue wolf have made good on his threats to me? Will he target Hannah next?

I shake my head, trying to drive away these thoughts. I can’t let myself go down this rabbit hole, or I’ll end up marching right back to the clinic and insisting that Hannah move into the compound immediately. Then we’ll be right back where we started.

Instead, I begin walking toward the woods. Maybe I’ll find something there that will help me decide what to do next.

On my way, I pass an enforcer coming out of a restaurant. “Hey!” I call, and he stops. “I need a favor.”

“Sure,” he says. “What’s up?”

“Keep an eye on this building,” I say and give him the address of Hannah’s place.

“Just for the rest of the day?” he asks and I shake my head.

“All night too. If you can’t stay, get someone to take over. I want it watched at all times. Anything looks strange, anyone looks strange, you call me.” I tell him my phone number too.

“Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” the enforcer says and shakes my hand before hurrying away.

I see more enforcers as I continue to the woods. They must be blanketing the city, I realize. Gavin’s not going to let anyone rest until this threat is contained.

A few enforcers are near the entrance to the forest, too, but once I’m inside, I don’t see anyone else. I’m sure more are spread around here, but the forest is huge, and the trees are thick with leaves.

It’s actually pretty peaceful here. I wander down the main path for a while, but the longer I go without seeing anything unusual, the calmer I feel.

I wish Hannah was with me now. Both because it would be nice to have company and because then she’d have proof that I’m not just tightly wound and frustrated all the time.

Maybe, when this is all over, we’ll come here together.

I smile at that thought, but then another thought occurs to me.

By the time this is over, Hannah will probably know my role in all of it.

And unless I’m wrong about just how much of a part I’ve played, I don’t think she’ll want anything to do with me.

I branch off the main path, onto an overgrown trail that I haven’t searched yet. But no clues are waiting for me along this path or nestled in the tree branches or bushes that I walk past slowly, my eyes scanning for…what, exactly? Bodies, hurt animals, another note?

I’m relieved at the lack of bodies, either animal or human, and glad there don’t seem to be any injured animals in the forest today. But there still really aren’t any animals around. The air is quiet and the trees are still.

I come to the end of the path, which peters out amid a small stand of trees.

I should turn around and seek out another path, choose another direction and start my search all over again.

But right now it feels pointless to continue.

The forest is huge; it’s also already been the site of so many searches over the past few days.

Even now, there enforcers walk the trails and paths too. They’re probably doing a better job than I am of actually looking for clues since I doubt any of them are tortured by the fight they just had with a stubborn, beautiful woman.

I sigh and look around. Maybe I should just go home and try to get some sleep. Or have a meal, or take a shower. Right now I can’t remember the last time I did any of those things.

Then the scent fills my nose. It’s overpowering and anxiety-inducing, just like last time. As my heart rate speeds up, I look around frantically, expecting to see another taunting note pinned to a leaf or tree root.

But there’s nothing. Just me and the same scent that permeated the notes I’ve received. Is the rogue wolf out here?

Is he lying in wait, preparing to attack?