4. Callum #3
No idea if it’s something we need to be concerned about or not. I don’t smell shifter on him or any other scents I recognise. Doesn’t mean it’s not connected.
“Did you notify the police?” My brother asks, gently letting go of Ash and straightening.
“Yeah. Luckily Ray Wilson came by when I was on the ground. He helped me up and told me to file a report tomorrow.”
“Good. In the meantime, we need to get that arm looked at.” He knows who Ash is.
The reason Ash doesn’t know him is because Morgan hasn’t mentioned Corey to him.
He isn’t part of the Wild Wolves, officially.
We don’t want him associated with us. Not in the eyes of the town or the police.
He glances at me again, eyebrow raised. “Did you need me for something, or can it wait?”
“It can wait.” I nod to Ash. “Get his arm sorted. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Oh no, that’s fine.” Ash gestures to the doors behind us. “I’ll just go wait my turn in there. I don’t want to interrupt anything.”
Corey laughs. “As noble as that is, the wait time is about four hours right now. Family get treated a lot quicker.” He winks at Ash, making him blush. “I’ll say you’re with me.”
“Oh. Okay.” Ash smiles at him again, that blush only getting stronger. His scent is still full of pain, but there’s also a faint hint of something else underneath it all. I’m not the only one who smells it, because when Ash looks away, Corey raises his eyebrows at me.
I want to growl at him.
What I don’t know is why.
Why do I care if Ash has a thing for my brother? He can drool over whoever he wants, fuck whoever he wants. I don’t give a shit.
Doesn’t explain the agitated wolf under my skin, or the way I want to follow them when they disappear inside, leaving me standing there without so much as a goodbye.
Well, fuck me.
I can’t even leave because I said I’d make sure Ash got home safely. But there’s no way I’m waiting out here until they’re done. I text Corey again as I turn and head back to my bike.
Callum: Text me when you’re almost done. I need to escort Ash home.
Callum: Without him knowing.
Corey: Obvs.
He adds an eye-roll emoji and I want to growl even more.
It’s almost two hours later when Corey texts to say they’re all done.
Corey: he’s ordering an uber, parents already left.
I don’t know what makes me send the next message, but my fingers have a mind of their own.
Callum: Stop him. Tell him I’ll drive him home in his car.
Corey: He said no.
Too bad. I’m already texting Flint to come pick up my bike.
Callum: Persuade him.
I pocket my phone and jog the rest of the way to the entrance to A&E. I don’t trust Ash not to slip out before I get there.
Sure enough, he and Corey are outside when I round the corner.
As soon as he sees me, Ash’s expression morphs into a scowl.
Great.
“You don’t need to drive me home,” he huffs. “I don’t need both hands to order an Uber.”
I glance down at the brace now covering his wrist. “How bad?” I direct it at Corey.
“Moderate sprain. Should be good as new in a few weeks if he takes care of it.” He hands me a small white bag. “Painkillers.”
“I’m right here, you know?” Ash scowls at me, then Corey.
“Sorry.” Corey huffs out a laugh. “I’ve been treating kids all morning.”
I don’t give the bag back though. Instead, I hold out my hand. “Keys.”
“No. I can—”
“Look. If Morgan finds out you got hurt and I didn’t drive you home and make sure you were safe, he’ll be pissed off. Which means Lynx will be pissed off, and I don’t want to deal with the pair of them being mad at me.”
“So this is for Morgan’s benefit then?”
“Yep.” If it gets him in the car. And I guess it’s probably partially true. Morgan won’t be happy when he finds out. Especially the bit about Wilson. Something I’m going to have to report back. “I’m surprised you haven’t told him already.”
“Who says I haven’t?”
“Because if you had, he’d be here offering to drive you home instead of me.”
He’s got no answer to that because it’s true. I can feel him starting to give in. “Would you rather leave your car in the carpark all night?”
He glances over at said carpark. “No.”
“Then give me your keys.”
“Fine.” He reaches across to the opposite jeans pocket from his good hand. It looks awkward as fuck, and when he hisses in pain, I’ve had enough.
“Fuck’s sake. Let me do it.” I slap his hand out of the way and slide my fingers into the front pocket of his jeans.
I really should’ve thought this through.
His sharp inhale tells me that keys weren’t the only thing I touched in there.
The hint of arousal that follows makes me want to smile, but I school my features and step back, keys held aloft like nothing happened.
“Where are you parked?” I ask, pretending I don’t already know and ignoring the way his face is on fire right now.
“Morrison’s carpark.” Ash looks anywhere but at me.
“Ice that wrist when you get home,” Corey says, already turning to go back inside. “And keep it elevated.”
“Thanks again,” Ash calls after him.
“No problem.” Corey waves back over his shoulder and then it’s just the two of us.
This should be fun.