Page 57 of A Wolf’s Wound

Ryder

The way Brian’s staring at Hannah makes me uneasy. A quick glance at her face tells me that she feels the same way.

“Hey, Brian,” I say as casually as possible, hoping to break the intensity.

“What?” he asks, not taking his eyes off Hannah’s face.

“Maybe your plan,” I begin, not sure what I’m going to say. “Um, maybe your plan—maybe we should talk about it a little more.”

“What?” Brian stares at me. I see Hannah exhale in relief.

“Just, you know, talk it through,” I say. “Make sure it’s exactly what you want to do.”

“Are you doubting me?” he asks and I quickly shake my head.

“No, man. You’re my friend. Right?” I say in the most reassuring manner I can muster.

“I don’t know,” Brian scowls. “You haven’t always treated me like that.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I can be an ass sometimes.”

“It’s true, he can be,” Hannah chimes in and I almost smile.

“How long have you known Ryder?” Brian asks her.

“Not as long as you,” she tells him. “You know him much better than I do. Any tips on how to deal with him?”

I stare at Hannah in open admiration. I know she’s terrified, yet she seems to know just the right words to say.

And sure enough, the flattery works. Brian’s whole face relaxes as he considers her question. “Be careful when he gets drunk,” he finally tells her and she smiles.

“Thanks for the tip,” Hannah tells him.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” I add. “I don’t do any of that anymore, Brian.”

“And he can be arrogant,” Brian says, as if he hasn’t heard me. “His ego is kind of insane.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” Hannah tells him and rolls her eyes. He smiles a little.

Is it wrong that right now, I’m glad that Hannah’s here? Of course I feel guilty that she’s caught up in this. And I know it would be easier to take out Brian if I didn’t have to worry about Hannah getting caught in the crossfire.

But she’s having such a calming effect on Brian. Her presence is giving me the chance to collect my thoughts and try to figure out what Brian has planned. Because he has something bigger in mind for humans and shifters.

I run over our conversation and try to find the clues. Nothing pops out, though. I shake my head in frustration and then realize that both Hannah and Brian are looking at me.

“You okay there, buddy?” Brian asks.

“Yeah, sorry,” I say.

“Because if our conversation is boring you, we don’t have to keep talking,” he continues.

“I’m enjoying this,” I tell him. “I’ve missed talking with you.”

“Really?”

“Really,” I say as sincerely as possible. “Brian, I know I wasn’t a very good friend to you. I took you for granted, and I’m sorry.”

“You’re not just apologizing because I’m freaking you out?” Brian grins.

I force a smile. “No, man, I’m not. I mean it. You’re a good man, a good friend. I should have told you that a long time ago.”

“Yes, you should have.” He nods.

“But at least he’s saying it now,” Hannah says.

“Sure,” Brian agrees, looking at me. “He’s saying a lot of things now that he should have said a long time ago.”

“I know,” I begin, but Brian interrupts me.

“And you’re only saying it now to distract me!” he roars.

“Brian,” I say faintly, stunned at his sudden shift from calm to enraged.

“Shut up!” he yells. “Both of you, just shut the fuck up!”

I catch Hannah’s eyes. She looks panicky and scared. I probably do too.

“You think you can say all this bullshit and I’ll believe you?” Brian rants. “Why, because you’re Ryder Stone ? Fuck that!”

“I’m sorry,” I tell him.

“‘I’m sorry,’” he repeats bitterly. “You can apologize until you’re blue in the face, Ryder, but I won’t forgive you! Not just for what you did to me, but for who you are. You’re an entitled, arrogant bastard and I can’t wait to show you what I’m capable of.”

“What about me?” Hannah asks and Brian looks at her. “Why am I being punished for who Ryder is and what he did? Why not let me leave?”

“Because you’re part of this,” Brian says. “You’ve been part of this since you moved to Stonehaven. Even if you weren’t involved with Ryder, you’d be part of it.”

I shake my head again, totally confused. “Brian, you don’t even know Hannah. She’s right. There’s no reason for her to be here.”

“If I say there’s a reason, there’s a reason,” Brian growls. “So shut the fuck up about that.”

“Okay,” I say, holding up my hands. “I’ll shut up. I promise.”

“God, you can be insufferable!” Brian yells. “You always think you’re so smart and on top of everything. The truth is you can be a real idiot sometimes, Ryder.”

“I know, I can be.”

“You didn’t even notice when I basically dropped out of your life. You didn’t notice, and you didn’t care. Some fucking friend you are.”

“So what? You’re killing people to get back at me?” I ask, fed up with his yelling and evasion. “Brilliant plan, Brian. That’ll really make me want to be friends with you again!”

“Ryder,” Hannah says in a warning tone.

“No, let him show his true colors.” Brian sneers. “I can tell you like him, Hannah. Maybe this will save you some pain. Ryder Stone only cares about himself. He always has and he always will.”

“That’s not true,” I yell back. “Just because I don’t care about you, you psycho, doesn’t mean I’m some heartless asshole!”

As soon as I say those words, I want to take them back. I let Brian get under my skin; I lost control. That’s not going to help get me or Hannah out of here.

“But it does,” Brian says. “And thanks for telling me how you really feel. Psycho, huh?”

I wince. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s not true.”

“Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t,” Brian says. “The important thing is that I know exactly what you think about me, and I can proceed accordingly.”

“What does that mean?” I ask quietly.

“It means we’ve been talking long enough,” Brian says. “Question and answer time is over, kids.”

“Brian,” Hannah says pleadingly. “Whatever you’re going to do, please rethink it. Haven’t enough people been hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Brian says, shaking his head. “I actually disagree, Dr. Hannah. I know it’s your job to save lives, but I am not beholden to any such oath.”

“Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep going,” I say. “Hannah’s right, Brian. Whatever you’re trying to prove, you’ve done it.”

“Except that I haven’t,” Brian says. “Not all of it. And I haven’t spent all this time and energy to stop now.

” He chuckles, a low rasp that sends shivers up my spine.

“And then all those deaths would have been in vain. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience.

Would you?” he says, directing his words toward Hannah.

“No, I wouldn’t,” she says. “But they’re not on my conscience. I didn’t ask you to do any of this. This is all on you, Brian.”

“I can live with that,” Brian says. “Because what I’ve done, what this gift is, it’s so much bigger than just me. Or even just you two.”

“What is it?” I ask. “You’re right, Brian. We were trying to stall you, to see if we can get you to change your mind. But I’m convinced you’re not going to.”

“I’m glad you finally figured that out,” Brian says.

“So what is it?” I ask again.

Brian flashes that creepy grin again. “Don’t worry, Ryder. You’ll love it in the end.”