by Naomi Clark
I lifted Molly’s head, checking for new wounds. “No, no blood,” I said. “But she needs a doctor. God, we should have taken her straight to hospital. What was I thinking?” If Molly was permanently hurt or seriously injured, it would be my fault. I cradled her head in my lap, chewing my lip. “Can you call Shannon and tell her?” I asked Vince once he’d called for an ambulance. “She ought to know—she needs to tell Tina, too.”
He nodded and dialed again. I bent over Molly, pressing my fingers to her throat. Her pulse was strong, but her skin was icy and pale. It sent a frisson of fear through me, stirring the wolf’s protective instincts. I pulled the girl into a hug, pressing my cheek to hers as if I could force my body heat into her. She smelled of mud and blood and that unfamiliar-familiar smell I’d noticed when I first found her. It reminded me of… Lawrence. Floral and bitter at the same time.
Silver Kiss. God, that stuff was everywhere. I closed my eyes, trying to think it through. I wanted to be a police officer; this was my chance to try it out. Molly starts smoking Silver Kiss. Disappears. Then shows up beaten black and blue. Oscar starts smoking it and develops wild mood swings. There had to be a link somewhere, didn’t there? I just couldn’t see it. Especially when Lawrence hadn’t changed at all since he started smoking it.
I growled softly, frustrated. It was like trying to do bloody Sudoku: I knew the numbers had to go in the grid, I just couldn’t see where they went. I needed Shannon for this stuff.
“Shannon’s on her way,” Vince said, as if he’d read my mind. He squatted down beside me. “How is she?”
“Cold,” I said and Vince huddled close to us so he could embrace us both, adding his warmth to mine. I gave him a nervy, affectionate smile. “You lanky git.”
Joel got round on my other side to join in, the same Pack need to protect and nourish sparking in him. The three of us clung to Molly desperately; willing her to be okay, regain consciousness. I don’t know how long we sat there, but eventually I heard sirens wailing in the distance, cutting through the unsettling quiet that had cocooned us. Seconds later, a car screeched to a halt outside the house and I heard Shannon calling my name, hammering on the front door.
Squashed as I was in a Vince-Joel sandwich, I couldn’t get up to answer. Instead, Joel detached himself from our group hug to go. When I next looked up, the kitchen was swarming with paramedics. I relinquished my hold on Molly and stood, looking for Shannon through the knot of people while they fired questions at Vince. How long had Molly been unconscious? Had she taken anything? Where did we find her?
“Ayla!” Shannon elbowed aside a paramedic who was bringing a stretched into the room. “What happened?”
I caught her hands, suddenly numb all over. “I found her in the woods. I think she might be really hurt.”
“Move aside!” one of the paramedics barked. “Don’t crowd her.”
That numb feeling intensified as I watched them lift Molly onto the stretcher and attach an oxygen mask to her face. God, why didn’t we take her straight to hospital? How much more damage had we done her by wasting time bringing her back here? And Vince had given her beer, for God’s sake!
“Ayla?” Shannon cupped my cheek, blue eyes brimming with worry. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I just… I’m scared for her.” I nodded to Molly. They were taking her out now and she looked so fragile and young and suddenly I was thinking of Adam again. He hadn’t been much older than her.
Shannon turned my head, forcing me to look back at her. “Stop it. She’s not going to die, you know,” she said firmly, as if she’d read my mind.
I swallowed and nodded. “I know. I know.”
“Right. So let’s get to hospital so we can find out where she’s been.” She took my hand and glanced back at Vince and Joel. “You two coming?”
They both nodded and the four of us headed outside. The ambulance was pulling away in a blur of red lights. I pushed thoughts of Adam away and got into Shannon’s car.
***
The City and General Hospital was quiet for a Friday night. I’d expected A&E to be overflowing with drunks, girls who’d fallen off their stupidly high heels, boys who’d got into fights over perceived insults; the kind of misfits you see on TV. The very thought had upset my wolf, making me feel itchy and claustrophobic before we’d even got there. But the hospital was surprisingly peaceful. Nurses glided silently through the corridors, machines beeped softly. It all felt so surreal, dreamlike.
I held Shannon’s hand as we hurried after Molly’s stretcher. A doctor fell into step next to me, looking bone-weary and ancient despite his baby-face features. His dark hair stuck up in all directions and his face was sheened with sweat, making me realize how deceptive the calm aura of the place was.
“You found her, I understand?” he asked me briskly, eyes on Molly’s still body.
I nodded. “Out in the woods.”
“You should have brought her straight to us. You wolves think you’re bloody invincible.” He shook his head and I wanted to jump in and defend myself, but I agreed with him so I kept silent. “I’m guessing hypothermia, shock and maybe internal injuries,” he continued, no longer really talking to me. “We’ll get her in for X-rays. Do we have a next of kin?”
“I’ve called her mum,” Shannon volunteered. The doctor glanced at her, first in surprise and then with an appreciative second glance that got my hackles up. “I’m Shannon Ryan. I was investigating Molly’s disappearance. I called Tina Brady as soon as I knew Molly had been found,” Shannon added.
The doctor nodded approvingly and slowed enough to fall into step with us as the paramedics up ahead disappeared into a lift with Molly. “I’m Doctor Palmer.” He offered a hand to Shannon.
I intercepted, gripping his hand first and squeezing just a little. “Ayla Hammond,” I introduced myself tightly. “Shouldn’t we call the police as well? She’s been beaten up.”
Palmer nodded. “Been done. They should be here to take a statement from you within the hour. And the other two…” He craned his neck looking for Vince and Joel. They’d fallen back when we first arrived. Palmer beckoned them over now. Joel looked pale and queasy and Vince was rubbing his back with big, slow movements. I looked them over, pursing my lips.
“You okay?” I asked Joel.
“Fine,” he lied. I glanced at Vince.
“Joel’s got this thing…” He glanced at his partner, who looked away, suddenly flushing red. “He’s got this problem…”
“It’s a phobia,” Joel said indignantly.
“Of hospitals?” Shannon asked.
“Blood,” Joel corrected.
I stared at him, sure I’d misheard. “But you’re a werewolf. How can you be afraid of blood?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Shouldn’t we be focusing on Molly?”
“But how can you be afraid of blood?” I repeated. “I’ve seen you hunting—I’ve seen you kill plenty of rabbits and there was blood all over the place—”
Joel turned away from me, swallowing hard. Vince scowled and made a zip-up gesture at me. Palmer cleared his throat. “I was just explaining that the police will probably want statements from the pair of you.”
“Of course. We’re happy to talk to them,” Vince assured Palmer.
Palmer nodded and told us to wait in the A&E waiting room. He hurried off to X-ray. I exhaled in relief when he disappeared from sight. He’d been standing far too close to Shannon for my wolf’s liking. I snuck a glance at Joel. He still looked ready to vomit. I shook my head. A wolf with a blood phobia, I couldn’t help but smile.
The seats were orange plastic, scuffed and scratched and suspiciously stained. I got as comfortable as I could and stared out the glass doors, waiting for either Tina or the police to arrive. Vince and Joel went off in search of coffee and Shannon checked her phone every ten seconds. The click of her opening and closing the clamshell handset began to grate on me, my wolf roused again.
“Give that a rest,” I said, closing m
y hand over hers to stop her popping the phone open again. “It’s getting on my nerves.”
“Sorry.” Shannon dropped the phone in her bag. “I’m just surprised Tina isn’t here yet.”
The doors slid open on cue, Tina rushing in, a whirl of knotted hair and bleeding mascara. “Shannon!” she shrieked. “Where is she?”
Shannon rose to greet her, catching her as Tina collapsed sobbing into her arms. “Tina—”
“Is she okay? Is she hurt? Oh God, I need to see her. I’ll wring her neck. Is she okay?” she babbled. She stared at Shannon, eyes shining with tears and a touch of wolf. It was weird, seeing that amber glow to her human eyes, as if her wolf was peeking out from behind her. Tina being outcast, I’d found it hard to think of her as a real werewolf to begin with.
Except she was a wolf and she was terrified for her child, her baby. And her pain tugged at me and my wolf, woke up that deeply-ingrained Pack compulsion to protect our own, outcast or not. But once again, I didn’t know what to do, what to say to comfort her.
“Tina, stop,” Shannon said, sitting her down. “They’re taking care of Molly and I’m sure they’ll let you see her as soon as they can.”
Tina sniffled into her sleeve. “I blame myself,” she said. “All this mess…if me and her dad were still together…”
“This isn’t your fault,” I said, sitting down next to her and draping my arm round her shoulder. “You can’t think like that.”
“Ayla’s right.” Shannon took the seat on the other side. “Molly needs your strength right now, so you have to be strong, okay?”
Tina nodded, eyes closed. “She will be okay, won’t she?” she whispered.
“Of course she will,” I said, trying not to think of how cold and still Molly had been. “She’s home now.”
***
The police statements were quick and simple. I recited the story as plainly as I could. Dwelling too much on the details hurt and I just wanted it all over and done with. Tina had to speak to them too, recapping for them how Molly had run off, how it wasn’t the first time.
“They know all this,” she muttered when they were done. “I told them everything when she first ran off and they didn’t do a fucking thing then.”
They’d done the interviews in the hospital staff room on the second floor of the sprawling complex. I’d followed the officers up there blindly and now I was sure I’d never find my way back to the exit. Everywhere looked the same, one mint-green corridor after the other, walls lined with abstract art in pastel colors. It felt depressing now, rather than soothing.
I linked arms with Tina. “Let’s go find Molly,” I suggested. “There must be someone up here who knows where she is.”
Her daughter’s name drove away Tina’s anger. She bit her lip, eyes glowing again. “God yes. I need to see her.”
“Ayla.” Vince caught my arm, pulling me aside. “Me and Joel are heading home. You don’t mind, do you?” His gaze flicked back to Joel, who was staring fixedly at the floor.
“Sure.” I patted Vince’s arm. “Is Joel okay?”
Vince leaned in to whisper, despite the fact Joel was well within hearing range. “It’s the green walls. Green and red are color opposites, so…you know.”
“Okay…” I was none the wiser, but I shrugged it off and patted his hand. “Thanks for everything tonight.”
“Yes.” Tina slipped in between us, grasping his hand. “Thank you. Thank you for saving my Molly.” She had to crane her neck to meet his eyes and the gratitude in her expression made him flush and mumble.
“I didn’t do much…Ayla found her.”
“But you carried her home,” Tina countered. “I know the word of an outcast doesn’t mean much, but I won’t forget that.”
He mumbled again that it was nothing, cheeks bright red as he headed off. Tina took my arm again. I was a little surprised that she was clinging to me and not Shannon, but maybe it made sense, thinking about it. I was Pack and that would always mean something.
We headed down the corridor, looking for a sign to point us in the right direction. Shannon walked beside me. “How can a werewolf have a blood phobia?” she asked me.
“Beats me.” I mulled the idea over. “He always has his meat well-done though, now I think about it. Maybe he’s only phobic in human form?”
“It just seems so weird. It’s like a bird being afraid of heights or something.”
“Bloody posh kids,” Tina snorted. “His parents probably raised him on veggie burgers and lentils.”
After a few minutes of aimless wandering that set my wolf on edge, feeling trapped and lost, we stumbled upon a sign pointing the way to X-ray. It seemed like the best place to start. On the way we bumped into Palmer, who was ever so happy to help Shannon and take us to Molly. I ground my teeth, repressing the urge to snarl at him and warn him off. My big bad wolf routine would be out of place here.
Molly, being a werewolf, had warranted a room all to herself. An injured wolf was a potential danger to staff and other patients, especially when they first regained consciousness so all modern hospitals were equipped to deal with that. Every ward had a wolf room fitted with reinforced steel doors and bars on the windows. Every bed came with metal restraints—always a last option, but there nonetheless. Access was restricted to doctors only—no nurses, no cleaning staff. A werewolf doctor was always the first choice, so that Pack would be the first thing the injured wolf would smell on waking.
“Sadly, the wolf due on shift tonight called in sick,” Palmer explained as he unlocked Molly’s door. “I’m sure Molly won’t cause any problems though, now you’re here,” he added to Tina. “We’ve confirmed there are no internal injuries and most of the cuts should be healed by morning.” He pushed the door back to reveal the girl, tucked up under those stiff, off-white hospital sheets. Her dark hair was a sharp contrast to her chalky skin and there was a drip feeding into her arm, a sickly yellow liquid flowing through it.
“What’s that?” Tina asked, hovering in the doorway like she was afraid to get too close. “Drugs?”
“A vitamin drip,” Palmer said. “She’s dreadfully malnourished.”
That was the trigger that sent Tina scurrying to her daughter’s side, crying freely again. “Oh God, my baby, my baby. What happened to you?”
“Shouldn’t she have woken up by now?” I asked Palmer. “She hasn’t…there are no head injuries, right?”
“She’s exhausted. Natural sleep is one of the best cures for cases like this,” Palmer replied. “She needs rest and TLC first and foremost. And of course, sleep will give her body time to heal.”
“She said she couldn’t remember anything,” I persisted. “When we asked her where she’d been, she said she couldn’t remember anything. Doesn’t that mean she might have a concussion or something?”
“Shock,” he said. “I’m certain there’s nothing wrong with her that proper care won’t fix.”
Tina knelt by the bed, stroking Molly’s face. “She’ll get it,” she vowed, eyes raking the mottled bruises marring Molly’s face. “I’m not letting her out of my sight.”
“Once she feels better, we’ll talk again,” Shannon said. “Try and find out what happened. It’s obvious she was beaten—the police will pay attention now, Tina. Assault on a minor is serious.”
Tina nodded but it was clear she wasn’t really listening. Every fiber of her being was focused on Molly. Shannon and I exchanged looks and backed out of the room. We weren’t needed right now. Palmer pulled the door to and addressed us in a low voice.
“I understand from Molly’s records that she and Ms Brady are outcasts. Could this have been some kind of werewolf feud?”
I bristled at the implication. “Werewolves don’t attack little girls, Doctor Palmer. This isn’t the bloody Middle Ages.”
He held up his hands in a pacifying gesture that just riled me more. “I don’t mean any offence, but I have to ask. Adolescent werewolves are pretty tough, so for her to sustain this level
of injury suggests to me that someone even tougher dealt it out. And that most likely means another werewolf.”
“Or Alpha Humans,” I said, thinking of Adam once more. “A group of humans with a baseball bat each could easily do this to her.”
“They don’t usually starve their victims first though,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s not a possibility—of course it is—but it’s not the only possibility.”
“No way would an adult wolf hurt a cub,” I said flatly. “It’s just unheard of.”
“Which isn’t to say it doesn’t happen.”
I opened my mouth to fire off an angry retort, but Shannon cut me short. “It’s a matter for the police, not us.” She squeezed my arm, a warning to behave, and smiled sweetly at Palmer, which didn’t make me feel better. “We should go. There’s nothing else we can do here.”
I let her lead me away like a good dog, fuming inwardly. I wasn’t really sure who I was so angry with—Palmer or Molly’s unknown assailant. Either way, the urge to hunt was suddenly strong within me again, my wolf clawing at the walls of mind like a caged beast desperate for release.
I swallowed the urge, calmed the wolf. Being a wolf wouldn’t solve anything tonight. I needed to be human for that.
EIGHT
“So what’s next?” I asked Shannon once we were home. It was after midnight and all I really wanted to do was curl up in bed with her and sleep off the adrenaline rush the night had sparked in me. But my mind was on overdrive, refusing to calm down.
Shannon stretched out on the bed, brushing her hair from her eyes with a sigh. “Nothing,” she said. “Molly’s been found. Case closed.” She didn’t sound happy.
I lay down next to her, kicking off my boots with a thud. “But—”
“Molly’s home. I think that means my services are surplus to requirements.”
“Oh.” I rolled onto my back to stare at the ceiling. The paint needed retouching, I noticed distractedly. Thin cracks were snaking out from the light fitting. I gave myself a mental shake. “Tina will pay you though, won’t she? Even if you didn’t find her?”
