Page 56 of Wolf's Fate
The door opened with more force than I intended, banging off the wall. My muscles tensed as I ran down the hall. The scent grew stronger as I neared Willow’s room. Too strong.
Someone had been here.
Pushing the door open, I looked around the room, the scent of the intruder one I wouldn’t forget. My nostrils flared, and my fists clenched in anger as I searched for anything out of place.
The room was empty.
Where was she? The bed was still unmade, the cup of water with the straw was overturned on the floor, and I focused on it longer as I forced myself to remain calm. Panic could come later. I didn’t have time for that right now.
I could still smell Willow, her vanilla scent faint but here. I couldn’t scent fear. Was that a good thing?
Crossing the room to the window, I brushed the short drapes aside. There was no sign that anyone had come through, which was a relief since she was four stories up. A shifter wouldn’t blink at the drop, but Willow would.
My attention switched to the bathroom door, and I opened it. My teeth ground together when I saw it was empty. The sound of footsteps caught my attention. They were coming closer.
Poised, ready to pounce, I waited. The door pushed open, and I caught myself from attacking as the nurse from beforebacked into the room, pulling Willow with her as she sat in a wheelchair. The nurse turned them around, jumping in fright when she saw me.
“Lord above, are you trying to kill me?” she berated me, her hand on her heart.
My gaze roved over Willow, checking her, avoiding her curious stare. “Where were you?”
“X-ray,” the nurse told me, recovered from her shock. “Your wife said you left for the afternoon.” She didn’t hold back the judgment from her tone. I didn’t answer, but I did help get Willow out of the chair by simply lifting her and placing her on the bed. The nurse looked at me. “You do that twenty more times for me today, I might forgive you,” she murmured.
Willow said nothing as the nurse fussed over her, telling her she’d be back soon. I got an almost nod as she left the room.
We both spoke at the same time.
“Who else has been here?”
“Why are you back?”
“Willow, who else has been here since me?”
Her brow furrowed and she shook her head. “You and the nurse are the only two people I’ve seen since you woke me up.”
“No doctor?”
“No, the nurse said there’s been a huge pile up on the highway, and all doctors are in the ER or operating rooms.” Willow looked at me nervously. “Why? What do you know?”
“Someone’s been here.” I looked around the room. “I wasn’t gone that long. Where’s the X-ray?”
“She came for me a few minutes after you left. X-ray is just at the end of the corridor.” Willow licked her lips. “This hospital is more than my insurance will like.”
“You feel okay?” I asked as I looked out the window again, searching the parking lot, looking to see if where Cannon and I had stood could be seen from this angle. Had they seen us, had that spooked them?
“Why are you back?”
Turning to her, I raised an eyebrow. “Want me to leave?”
“Seems to be what you do.” Willow’s voice was laced with a bitterness that hit harder than I expected.
So she was still feeling feisty. I got it. I hurt her earlier. She was physically hurt because of her involvement with me, but still…hearing it laid out so plainly, so unguarded, I fought the urge to look away. My jaw clenched as she watched me. Was she waiting for an apology?
She wouldn’t get one. I’d come back.Forher.
Cannon made you come back.
I ignored the reminder. “I realized I was the best person to make sure you were safe.” Her sneer was ugly, and her body tensed. “What is it?”