by Terry Spear
Holly had tried to pull the tissues away from his head when he was speaking to the cops, but the blood gushed forth as soon as she did, and she’d quickly mopped it up with a tender touch. Aidan really could get used to her touching him.
“Call the EMTs,” one of the cops said. “How did this happen?” he asked, frowning at Aidan.
“The attempted kidnapper struck me with her purse. It felt like it had a ton of bricks in it.”
One of the cops lifted the purse, and before he looked inside, he said, “It feels like she has a gun in here. Do you have a gun in the purse?”
“No,” she said defiantly.
He searched the purse, and sure enough, she had a 9 mm and several pieces of jewelry: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, all still attached to their merchandising cards. “Where’d you get these?”
“I bought them.”
“No sack for them? Have you got a receipt?” the officer asked, his dark brow raised.
“I didn’t want one. I told the clerk I didn’t need a sack or receipt.”
“Which clerk?”
She waved her hand at the jewelry counter, but she looked like she wanted to run. They took her over to the counter, where they had to ask customers to move aside while they questioned the two clerks. The two women nodded when they saw the jewelry but then shook their heads. The police officers brought the woman back to where Aidan and Holly were standing and took everyone’s statements, eyewitness accounts, and even the boy’s testimony. Then they handcuffed the woman for attempted kidnapping, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and retail theft.
The police officer told the EMTs who Aidan was and how he’d been injured when they arrived. Aidan felt foolish in front of Holly and everyone else who was standing around gawking as the medical techs took care of his forehead. “You’ll need stitches, Dr. Denali,” one of them said.
Apparently, Holly hadn’t been exaggerating.
“Thanks, I’ll have it taken care of,” Aidan said.
“You really should have your head looked at. It’s bruising, and you could have a slight skull fracture,” the EMT said, appearing as though he thought Aidan wouldn’t go to the hospital.
“All right, I’ll have it looked at,” Aidan repeated, trying not to sound annoyed. It was bad enough he had to admit the woman had gotten the better of him in front of Holly and her sister and that irritating wolf Jared.
Smiling, Holly explained to the EMT, “He’s a doctor. They make the worst patients.”
The EMT chuckled.
“Like you too, Sis,” Marianne said, smiling at her.
Aidan was amused at the family dynamics between the two sisters.
“Ally White has had felony convictions for two other attempted child abductions,” one of the police officers said to another as he got off his radio. “She’s on probation, and it’s illegal for her to possess a firearm.”
Then the officers led her out of the store, the EMTs left, and Aidan and the rest of them were free to leave. But Aidan sure wanted to speak further to Holly.
“I have a medical kit at my cabin,” she said. “I always carry one when we take trips, so I can sew up the gash.”
“I’ve got a kit in my car,” Aidan said, in case her pack wouldn’t like him showing up at their cabins.
“She’s not going to your car,” Jared said to Aidan, then switched his attention to Holly. “And if Ronald were here, he’d tell him to go to the nearest hospital. The EMT says he needs to learn if he has a fracture. You can’t take care of that at the cabin.”
Holly looked disappointed but finally agreed. “He’s probably right. About the EMT, I mean. I would feel awful if something happened to you because you didn’t get checked out thoroughly at a hospital.”
“We’ll take it from here,” Mike said and moved in to help Aidan out of the store—as if Aidan needed the aid.
“I still need something for Toby.” Aidan wasn’t about to allow his men, or anyone else, to treat him like an invalid.
“We can come back later to shop for your nephew,” Ted said, and Aidan swore he’d mentioned the relationship so Holly would know he wasn’t a mated wolf with a child.
“It’ll only take a minute. I know just what I want.” With customers swarming all over the merchandise, grabbing armfuls, and heading for the checkout counter, Aidan was afraid the items he’d picked out would be gone by the time they got back.
Mike picked up the tin of Lincoln Logs Aidan had dropped, and Aidan pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to Holly. “If you ever need my help, just let me know.” The way Jared was glaring daggers at Aidan, he was sure the guy would take the card from her and tear it up as soon as Aidan and his bodyguards were out of sight.
She smiled at Aidan and took the card, glanced at it, and said “Nice wolf” before tucking it down her shirt. “Thank you.”
Jared’s face reddened, and he looked like he was ready to blow his top.
Aidan smiled at her, even though his head now felt like it was splitting in two.
“Thank you for saving Joey,” she said ultra-seriously. To his surprise, she gave him a warm hug—her breasts pressed against his chest, her body against his groin—and smiled a little.
He was sure the smile he gave her in return was on the wolfish side.
Before he could hug her back, she quickly moved away. Then she, her sister, the boy, and the brute of a gray wolf headed toward the entrance to the mall. She was telling the guy off the whole time.
“You are such a jerk, Jared. Why can’t you be civil with others who aren’t in our…group for two seconds? He rescued Joey, more than I can say for you! He’s a real hero.”
Aidan smiled, and damn if he didn’t want to get to know the doctor better, blood sample or no. His blood was coursing like fire through his veins just from her intimate embrace. It hadn’t just been a thank-you hug, as far as he was concerned. Then again, maybe she’d only meant it in a way that told Jared he couldn’t tell her what to do.
Ted paused to see Aidan still watching Holly leave the store. “Hell, I swear the Denali brothers have all the luck in rescuing women with kids and befriending them, even if the kid isn’t the woman’s this time.”
“Do you think that jackass is going to let her keep your business card?” Mike asked. “If I had to guess, I’d say no.”
“I agree with you. Though she seems to be sticking up for herself well enough. She might hang on to it. That pack has serious issues, but it was nice seeing someone who wasn’t as antagonistic toward others of our kind as the leaders are. Which makes me wonder if more of the people in their pack would be receptive to speaking with me and giving blood if they could do it without the leaders knowing. Not that I’d want to get any of their people into trouble.” Aidan reached the table where he’d seen the science kit, the microscope, and the other toys he wanted to get, but Ted and Mike hurried to grab the items. With hands full, they went to the checkout counter and waited in the long line until Aidan could pay.
“Hey, Doc, you really don’t look well,” Ted said, frowning.
“I just need to get something for the headache, put some ice on the bruising, and lie down for a while.”
“Rafe is going to fire us,” Mike said to Ted.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”
“He’s not going to fire you. After we leave here, just take me to the nearest hospital. I’ll get checked out, and they’ll say everything’s fine. We’ll get our groceries and continue on our way to the cabin.”
The guys shared looks, and Aidan added, “There’s nothing we have to report home about.”
Both Ted and Mike were by the book when it came to reporting issues to Rafe. He insisted on it, and Aidan had given up trying to convince them they worked for him when Rafe paid their salaries, which Rafe had also insisted on. Despite Aidan having his own
wealth.
After they bought the presents, they went to the nearest hospital to have tests run. To Aidan’s annoyance, the doctor had him admitted overnight. Aidan suspected the way his head pounded, his nausea, and his earlier blurry vision meant a mild concussion. Not enough to require more than an overnight stay for observation though. Not when lupus garous healed more quickly than humans.
After the staff admitted Aidan to a room and he was settled into bed, Ted said, “Don’t worry, Doc. We’ll run out and get you your favorite ice cream or anything else you want to eat.”
Aidan closed his eyes at the suggestion. He was still nauseated, and if either of the two of them mentioned food again, he was going to throw up.
He was about to fall asleep from the pain medication when he heard Ted talking on his phone. “Hey, tell Rafe that Aidan got into a confrontation with a woman who was stealing a boy at a store and she clobbered him… Yeah, he’ll live, but he’s at the local hospital for observation… He’s sleeping right now.”
Aidan sighed. He’d really wanted to keep this a secret from his brother. He knew Rafe would be annoyed with Ted and Mike for not protecting him better from a purse-wielding kidnapper, and he didn’t want his brother giving them grief.
He smiled a little. Not when he’d had a chance to meet a pretty she-wolf from the Seattle pack, save the boy she and her sister had been watching over, and maybe, just maybe, have gotten an in with her.
He was glad that Ted hadn’t mentioned that the boy was a wolf or where the Seattle pack was staying currently. Better Rafe didn’t know the boy was with that pack or that Aidan had already riled one of its members.
Chapter 3
After spending all afternoon shopping at the mall—hoping Jared would get lost, but he didn’t—Holly refused to ride with him back to the cabins where the pack was staying. She’d driven to the mall with Marianne and Joey, but she suspected Jared wanted to air his grievances with her in private. She couldn’t quit thinking of tall, dark, and wolfish Dr. Aidan Denali. Dark-brown hair and eyes that penetrated her very soul—and gave her delicious shivers. She loved his Real Men Howl sweatshirt, indicating he had a sense of humor. And how their pheromones had come into play when she was touching him. How he had reacted to her closeness. How she had wanted to prolong that closeness. She’d never met another male wolf she was instantly attracted to. Maybe because he wasn’t with her pack and she needed to meet some new male wolves.
But she didn’t think so. Every womanly urge she had zeroed in on him, not the other men with him. Maybe because he’d saved Joey? She didn’t think that was the only reason.
“Give me Dr. Denali’s business card,” Jared demanded.
“No. I’m calling Dr. Denali in the morning to learn if he’s okay.” Holly would call him a little later today, once a doctor had time to check him out. She stalked toward her car, Marianne hurrying to keep up while carrying a worn-out Joey.
“You know what my brother will say if he learns you’ve had any contact with Denali,” Jared said, stalking behind them.
“He. Saved. Joey. What’s Ronald going to say to that? Give it a rest, Jared.” She unlocked the car doors and waited for her sister to buckle Joey in the back seat.
Jared glowered at Holly, hands on his hips. She brushed past him—bumping into him because he wouldn’t get out of her way, which only made her angrier—and climbed into the car. As soon as Marianne was buckled in, Holly started the engine, knowing Jared would tell his brother what had happened, and she was certain she’d get a lecture. She’d been getting a lot of them lately, and she was sick of it.
She drove off, and Jared headed for his truck in another area of the parking lot.
“Uh, so… Dr. Aidan is nice,” Marianne said.
“He is. And he did save Joey.”
“Like the time that wolf saved you when you were little, right?” Marianne asked.
“Yes. Just like that. And that man was my hero. He wasn’t part of our pack. Not all wolves from other packs are bad, despite what Ronald and his brother say.”
“Um, so…Jared said the reason they have such issues with other packs is that, several different times, packs from other areas have wanted our territory and fought us to take over.”
“That was a long time ago, and I feel it’s just an excuse to keep us isolated from other wolves. Ronald and his brother have control issues. His enforcers are borderline bullies.”
Marianne was twirling some of her hair around her fingers. “Yeah, but they did make a ruling not to befriend any outside wolves, because that’s how it happened. The wolves from the other packs got friendly, learning the strengths and weaknesses of our pack, and then tried to take us over, you know.”
“Right, but not all wolves are like that,” Holly reminded her sister.
“I heard a rumor that before Jared and his brother were born, their mom mated an outsider wolf.” Marianne rolled her eyes. “Like, you know, that would ever happen. I figured it was just a made-up story.”
“No, it’s true, but no one who lived during that time talks about it.”
Marianne’s mouth dropped open. “For real?”
“Yeah. Fred, the wolf their mother mated, was the leader of the last pack that tried to take over ours. He killed his own pack leader and took over. Nick was still our pack leader at the time. The other pack had only males, and Fred thought if he mated Jared and Ronald’s mother, he’d have an in. Oh, I’m sure he cared about her, but he also wanted to lead a pack that was established in the area and that had females.”
“Because there was a shortage of them.”
“Right. Except Nick fought and killed him. Nick didn’t blame Gwendolyn for mating the wolf. She was truly smitten with him, and she hadn’t known of his devious plan. It nearly destroyed her when Nick had to fight and ultimately kill Fred. But she cared about her pack too and was friends with everyone. If her mate had had his way, all the fighting-age wolves in our pack would have been slaughtered, unless they were beta enough that Fred could have controlled them. Gwendolyn felt he’d used her to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the pack.”
“That’s who Jared and Ronald’s dad was? Fred? Really for real?”
“Yeah. It’s not one of those stories that the pack likes to share. I only know about it because Nick and I had a heart-to-heart talk about what was going on with Jared and Ronald’s issue with other packs. Nick knew I wanted to be in touch with other packs. He finally told me the background. Both Jared and Ronald felt their father had betrayed their mother and her family. They felt they bore the stigma, even though those who had lived during that time didn’t share who their father was with the younger generations. But when they were older, their mother told them who their father was and what had happened. She died years ago, unable to cope with the betrayal. She felt others believed she was responsible for the deaths of the men who defended the pack from her mate and his men.”
“Oh. Well, great. That means Ronald and Jared will never change their minds about opening the pack up to others. I’d like to meet some people my age who aren’t just in our pack.” Marianne folded her arms in a huff.
“Boys?”
Marianne blushed. “And girls.”
“He has to accept change. We need fresh blood in the pack. Or we’re going to have to go outside our pack to find mates, which means leaving the pack altogether.”
“Like finding Dr. Aidan Denali?” Marianne smiled. “Jared couldn’t have gotten any redder than he did when you hugged the doctor. Literally.”
“Good.”
“We need a new pack leader,” Marianne said.
“Yeah, we do, but don’t let anyone else know you said so.”
“Hey, are you going to give up Aidan’s business card?”
Holly smiled.
“Cool. You memorized his phone number, or you put his number in your cell. You know Ronald
will want to check your cell.”
“Which is why your first assumption is correct.”
“You memorized it. I wish I had your memory, you know.” Marianne was really quiet for a while, and then she suddenly wiped away the tears trailing down her cheeks.
Holly realized how much Marianne had been trying to keep her emotions in check before this. She’d felt just as horrified, scared, and relieved when they’d caught up with Joey, but since Marianne had been responsible for him, she felt really bad.
“Like, I was so scared when Joey ran off and so mad at myself for not holding his hand when he didn’t want me to. I could have lost him for good.” Marianne sniffled. “Not that it’s as important as losing him, but I think I lost my babysitting job, for real.”
Holly reached over the console and patted her sister’s shoulder. “Joey needs a leash. Everyone says how precocious he is. Why do you think his mother wanted you to take him to see Santa? She couldn’t handle trying to keep track of him and his three siblings all at once. Not with the crowds at the shopping center this time of year.”
“So I wasn’t the only one he’s run away from?”
“Heavens no. His mother just doesn’t want to use a leash on him. It makes her think of confining a dog. But I think if anyone else takes him anywhere, he should be on one.”
They both glanced at Joey in the back seat, but he was fast asleep.
“Sounds good to me. I hope she doesn’t fire me. I like taking care of him and the other kids in the pack.” Marianne eyed Holly thoughtfully. “You like him, don’t you?”
“Aidan? Dr. Denali?” Holly quickly corrected herself.
“Yeah, Aidan. Dr. Denali.” Marianne laughed. “He’s cute. So were the men with him.” She frowned. “Do you think they were his bodyguards? They didn’t seem to be just friends. Not as protective as they were. And you should have seen the way they were both glowering at Jared. Literally. I swear, if he’d attempted to peel you off Aidan, or he’d tried to take Aidan’s business card away from you, they would have pounded on him. I was actually kinda hoping they would to knock some sense into him.”
