Chapter Seven
Greyson
I guided the young woman inside, careful not to make her bruises any worse.
What showed on her face alarmed me and my bear, and I couldn’t know if she had other injuries hidden by her clothing.
Most of those in our neighborhood were shifters, but there were a few humans scattered about.
Still, this female’s appearance suggested more than a broken-down car bumping a mailbox.
But she seemed reticent to talk about it, and I had to respect that.
No matter how hard.
My bear really wanted to go beat the crap out of whoever hurt her that way, no matter how often I told him we didn’t know if anyone had done it or if it was some other kind of accident she didn’t want to talk about. Maybe she tripped and was embarrassed about that.
No. He hurt her.
You can’t be sure.
I know.
This was not the time to stand and argue with the beast. He’d never backed down or admitted he was wrong before, and I doubted he’d start now.
So, I returned my attention to my guest. “Come in and have a seat on the couch. I need to pop upstairs and make sure you didn’t waken my son and teach him any new words. ”
Leaving the female downstairs, I trotted up and peeked into Benji’s room. He lay on his side, looking every bit as asleep as he was when I left, but he’d been known to pretend, the little mischief-maker.
When I returned to the living room, I found Mya standing by the front window, peeking out through the curtains.
There was definitely a story here, but she was hurt and scared, and my bear wanted us to make her feel better as soon as possible.
He’d never really paid attention to Jeanine, although he did his best to comfort me in my loss.
“I’m back.”
She jumped and grabbed at the curtains. Oh hell. Someone was going to die if this was how they made her feel. Or at least, so said my bear. And I wasn’t all that opposed. “I’m sorry, I was just looking…at my car.”
Or for someone who might be following her?
“It’s not going anywhere tonight. Your face is pretty swollen. I really think we should call the healer and have him—”
“No!” Her eyes widened as she gave her head a shake. “I don’t—I mean, it’s nothing. I don’t need anyone to come.”
“All right. Don’t worry. Come into the kitchen, then, and I’ll get the first aid kit.” Stepping back, I waved her ahead of me down the short hallway. “We’ll fix you right up.”
“We?” Her brow furrowed. “Is someone else here?”
“Sorry. I will. My son is the only other person here tonight.” Jumpy much? I really wanted to make her feel safe, but it was difficult without knowing why she didn’t. “And he’s better with kissing owies than sanitizing them.”
“You’re lucky to have someone to kiss your owies.” She lifted a finger to her brow then let her hand drop. “Sometimes that’s the best medicine.”
For a moment, I thought she might be asking him to kiss her, but practicality held me back. Instead, I pulled out my chair at the table. “I’m afraid my son is in charge of that, but I have bandages and antibiotic cream.”
She flushed. “I didn’t mean you should…”
“I know. Sit here. I’ll have you patched up before you know it.” I retrieved the kit from under the sink and set it on the table. “Let me get a good look at you.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” She ducked her head, staring at her hands folded in her lap. “It’s not a pretty picture.”
Did she really think that? Mya was beautiful, and her injuries did not detract from that.
It only made me want to help her however I could.
I moved to the refrigerator and got a bottle of water, set it on the table in front of her.
“First, I want to clean up the wounds, then, I’ll get you an ice pack. ”
She fell silent while I worked on her face, learning its planes and curves.
Long lashes that fluttered down when I dabbed antiseptic on her brow.
Being so close to Mya had my hormones jumping.
Not surprising since I hadn’t laid hands or anything else on a female since my wife fell sick.
But not an excuse to try to seduce a stranded innocent either.
She never whimpered or tensed, although it had to be painful, and by the time I finished, her shoulders slumped with exhaustion. “Thank you,” she mumbled, taking the ice pack and pressing it to her face.
“You’re very welcome. In fact, why don’t you stay in our guest room overnight? You won’t be able to get anywhere else tonight.”
I watched a series of emotions flicker over her face before she nodded. I’d expected to have to argue to convince her.