Page 31 of A Wolf’s Wound

Ryder

I follow the scent away from the dead end in the forest. To my surprise, it seems to be coming from outside the forest entirely. I walk quickly, the scent growing stronger until I’m outside Hannah’s apartment building.

I don’t see the enforcer outside, which fills me with almost as much panic as the fact that the scent is definitely coming from inside. I race up the steps and break into a run at Hannah’s floor. But when I see the ruined door to her apartment, I stop short, my heart full of dread.

Inside I hear a scream and then a crash. I leap through the open space and see the enforcer I ordered here earlier on the floor, a huge wolf-human hybrid looming over him. Hannah is crouched on the floor, too, cradling something in her arms and crying.

I rush at the creature and punch it in the back of the head. It lets out a growl and whirls around to face me. I lunge at its neck, so full of rage I feel like I could snap its neck with my bare hands.

The creature hisses in pain as I wrap my hands around its neck but then lashes out with a punch that gets me in the ribs. I grunt in pain, my grip loosening, and stagger back. The creature lowers its head and starts to rush at me, but I smash my right fist into its face and it yowls.

I punch it once more, not as hard but this time catching it in the eye. The creature stumbles backward and trips over the enforcer, who’s still lying on the floor.

I lean over the wolf-human thing, taking in its twisted features and hate-filled eyes. It stares back at me and raises its head, but I grab it by the hair and slam its head down on the ground once, twice, three times.

When I’m sure this creature is out cold, I look around. The enforcer is shakily sitting up, looking dazed but otherwise not hurt. Hannah’s cries have slowed, and I see that she’s holding Shadow on her lap. Her hands are covered in blood, and my blood runs cold at the sight of it.

“Hannah?” I ask, reaching for her.

“It’s Shadow,” she says tearfully. “He got hurt.”

“Hey, Shadow,” I murmur. The raccoon looks around, his fur matted with blood. He crawls into my arms and I feel him shaking with fear. “It’s okay, little guy.”

“Are you okay?” I ask Hannah and the enforcer as we all stand up.

“Yeah, I’m all right,” the enforcer says, and Hannah nods.

“Hannah?” April calls, running into the room. “Oh, thank god you’re okay!”

“I am, but Shadow got hurt,” Hannah says. “Ryder, can you coax him out?”

I take off my hoodie and lay it down on the coffee table. “Come on, dude,” I say encouragingly, and Shadow pokes his head out.

“Let me take a look at you,” Hannah tells him. April, the enforcer, and I wait in silence as she quickly examines him. “Okay, this looks worse than it is,” Hannah finally says, smiling in relief. “Just a bad scratch. It’s long but not deep, which is why it bled so much.”

“Hey, brave little guy,” April murmurs, petting Shadow’s head carefully. “You’re our hero.” Then she looks at me and the enforcer. “How did you guys know to be here?” April asks.

“My question exactly.” Hannah scowls. “Not that we’re not grateful for the help,” she adds in a more pleasant tone. “But seriously, how?”

“Ryder asked me to keep an eye on you,” the enforcer says.

“I knew someone was watching me,” Hannah murmurs.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see this thing come in,” the enforcer tells me. “It must have happened when I was checking out the back of the building.”

“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I should have made sure we had a team here, not just you. From now on, we will.”

Hannah nods. “I can’t really argue with that. Can I?” she asks, and I shake my head. “I guess you had reason to be worried,” she admits ruefully.

Then Hannah turns to April. “April, I am so sorry for all this. If anything had happened to you, I—” She stops, fighting back tears.

“Hey, it’s okay,” April says and gives Hannah a hug. “I’m okay, you’re okay, and Shadow’s okay. That’s all that matters.”

“Except that now we don’t have a door,” Hannah says with a shaky smile and April shrugs, also smiling.

“Eh, we’ll put up a beaded curtain. It’ll be very chic,” she says.

“But maybe not the safest,” I say softly, and Hannah nods.

“Ryder’s right. We can’t stay here until we have a new door. Preferably one made of steel with, like, a million locks.”

“Hannah, please stay at the compound tonight,” I say. “April, you’re welcome to come too. And Shadow, of course.”

“I don’t want to leave,” Hannah says, and I’m amazed that she can still be so stubborn after what just happened.

“Hannah…” My eyes dart to April, who throws her hands up and leaves the room, seeing my need for privacy.

“Hasn’t enough happened to convince you that you’re not safe?” I ask in disbelief. “What more are you waiting for, Hannah? Another body to show up? Maybe yours?”

“That’s not fair!” she cries. “I still don’t trust you, Ryder. And you haven’t said how you happened to get here so fast tonight.”

“I was in the woods,” I explain. “Looking for any answers that might explain what the hell is going on. And I had a feeling you were in trouble.”

“Another one of your feelings,” Hannah says sarcastically.

“And I was right. Wasn’t I?” I challenge her. “You were in trouble. Think about how badly this could have ended, Hannah. Not just for you and April.”

“What do you mean?” she asks, but then the meaning of my words becomes clear. “Oh.”

He nods. “Your neighbors could be in danger,” I tell her softly.

“If one of them had encountered that creature, they could have gotten attacked.”

“Exactly.” I sigh, relieved that she’s finally taking this seriously. “Hannah, this isn’t just about you anymore. I don’t know if it ever was, honestly. But protecting yourself means also protecting your neighbors. And friends,” I add, thinking of April and Shadow.

Hannah looks stricken, and I can tell she hadn’t thought about that. “I’d feel horrible if someone got hurt because of me.”

“I know. So please stay with my family tonight. We’ll get a new door put in tomorrow and station a team of enforcers at your building twenty-four-seven. I promise it’ll just be for one night.”

I groan. “April!” She comes in, looking exasperated. “Ryder thinks we need to stay elsewhere.”

“He has a point, Hannah,” April says softly. “We can’t stay here tonight.”

“Will you come with me?” Hannah asks her.

“I’d rather stay at my parents’ place tonight. I’d invite you to stay with me, but they’re allergic to raccoons,” she says. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Hannah says. “Maybe Shadow and I will stay at the clinic. There’s a security system there, and the couch in my office is pretty comfortable.”

“Hannah, please stay with me tonight,” I say. “I won’t be anywhere near you. I promise. It’ll just be a place where you won’t be alone and where I know you’ll be protected.”

“What do you think?” Hannah asks April, looking uncertain.

“I’d feel better knowing you weren’t by yourself. And that you weren’t trying to sleep on a couch. Besides,” April says. “It’s just for one night.” She gives Hannah a hug. “I’m going to go pack.”

“I’ll do another patrol,” the enforcer says. “And call for some backup.”

After he leaves, Hannah turns back toward me, still looking unsure. I stare back at her. “Well, Hannah,” I say. “What’s it going to be?”