47. Riley
Riley
Sage. Why could I smell sage? I cracked open my eyelids to find a witch standing over me. She rolled her eyes.
“Finally.”
Why was I in the healer’s room? It took a few seconds, but then I remembered. The dodgeball game, the two asshole shifters slamming into me, and the pain as my rib snapped when one of them pummeled me with his fists.
“You’re welcome,” the witch muttered when I remained silent. “Good job they brought you here as quickly as they did. You had a punctured lung. It would have killed a weakling like you.” Wow, her bedside manner could do with some work.
I gingerly touched my side, but while it felt bruised and sore, I could now breathe freely. Even better, my head no longer pounded like someone had used it as a soccer ball.
“Yep, you had a brain injury too,” the witch added. “Someone got you real good.” She handed me a small cup. “Drink that. It’ll heal the remaining bruises.”
“Two someones,” I muttered, silently vowing to punch the two assholes in the dick the next time our paths crossed. The drink smelled bitter. I grimaced in disgust but took a sip. Thankfully it didn’t taste nasty.
“So are you going to explain why you’re wearing a glamour?” the witch asked with her arms folded across her ample bosom.
The medicine went down the wrong way, triggering a coughing fit.
“Um, what?” I croaked.
“There’s a silencing spell in place, so the two idiots out there can’t hear you,” she said.
“Two idiots?” The witch rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle she didn’t fall over backward.
“Tweedle dumb and tweedle douche.” I blinked because I wasn’t sure who she meant.
My last clear memory involved mud, pain, and a terrifying roar.
After that…nothing. “Hunter Leone and the Frosthaven wolf brought you here. They’re outside waiting for an update.
Unless one’s killed the other.” The witch shrugged. “Not that I care.”
“They are?”
“Goddess save me. Yes. Now explain the glamour before I remove it.”
Stars, I couldn’t let that happen.
“Um, I have a disfiguring scar from when I was a kid,” I lied, praying she couldn’t detect lies. “I use a glamour to hide it so I don’t get bullied…well, more than usual.”
“Hmm. I suppose that’s a valid reason.”
Someone hammered on the door. “Is he awake yet?”
That provoked a mumbled curse. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit.” She yanked the door open. “If you carry on pissing me off, I’ll hex you!”
The wolf shifter filled the doorway with his broad shoulders. He sneered at the witch before he stormed over to me, dark eyes scanning every inch of my body. I shivered under his scrutiny, even though there was nothing sexual about it.
My wolf preened, happy about this unexpected show of protectiveness. I peered around him, but the chairs outside were empty. Simba must have gone already.
Knowing he’d not stuck around triggered a pang of disappointment before I buried it. Of course he’d gone. No doubt he had shit to do, which hopefully involved writing up a very detailed report on my attack and then disciplining the two assholes who’d deliberately hurt me.
“He’s all yours,” the witch told the wolf with a bored expression. “Now fuck off, I have shit to do.”
“I’m not all his,” I growled, irritated that the witch assumed the male was mine.
I belonged to no one and would always be a lone wolf thanks to my hybrid status, no matter what my inner she-wolf believed.
“Which dorm?” the wolf grunted at me, ignoring the witch.
“None of your business.” I swallowed a wince when I jarred my ribs hopping off the examination table. My ankle still ached, and if I focused too hard, my vision blurred, so the minute my feet hit the floor, I wobbled precariously.
“Take it easy for a day,” the witch advised. “I’ll add a sick note to your record.”
“Thank you,” I said, genuinely grateful she’d healed me, even if she was a grumpy old hag.
“Dorm,” the wolf mountain repeated, one thousand percent grumpier this time.
“I’m not telling you because I like my privacy.” I moved toward the door and stumbled once again. Before I could make an excuse about poor balance, the wolf scooped me up in his tree-trunk arms and carried me out of the healer’s office.
“Put me down!” I shrieked, but he ignored me.
Once outside, he strode down the gravel path toward the dorms, huffing crossly at my continued threats to disembowel him if he didn’t release me immediately.
“Why are you even here?” There was still a gaping black hole in my memory.
“You were hurt,” he grunted. “I saved you.”
I stopped struggling. “You did?”
“Yes. My beast didn’t like it when those fuckers hurt you.”
Just like the last time, in the forest.
“Your beast is…beautiful,” I said, a memory of a tawny wolf floating to the forefront of my mind. My she-wolf heartily agreed with the sentiment.
“You calmed him,” the alpha wolf replied, sounding surprised. “That’s never happened before.”
“Um. Good?”
My dorm was on the left. “I’m in this one, so put me down. Please,” I added as an afterthought.
“No.” We continued down the path, passing a pair of avian shifters who nearly fell over in shock at the sight of me being cradled like a precious baby. For a hot minute, I was stunned into silence. Was he seriously kidnapping me?
Then my sanity returned, along with a healthy dose of anger.
“Put me down, you…you…lunatic!”
“You need care,” he said, ignoring my tantrum. “So I will care for you.”
My wolf liked that. She liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it at all.
I tried punching the alpha wolf in the chest. That didn’t work. So I bit him. He grunted but otherwise took no notice. My next tactic involved screaming abuse at the top of my lungs.
“YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE PUT ME DOWN BEFORE I NAIL YOUR BALLS TO THE WALL!”
By the time we reached a building right at the back of the complex, I’d run out of steam. The witch’s healing magic had left me exhausted, as she predicted would happen. My body collapsed like a limp noodle. What I needed was a shower, food, and a long sleep.
“I just want to go to my room,” I whimpered pathetically.
“I told you I would take care of you,” my annoying captor insisted.
He opened the door and carried me inside a slick apartment with soft gray walls and polished timber floors.
I stared in awe at the luxe furnishings, high-end kitchen, and enormous wall-mounted television surrounded by gaming paraphernalia.
When I spotted the coffee machine of my dreams, my eyes bugged out of my head.
“Wow, how the other half live,” I muttered, jealous as hell.
The alpha wolf placed me gently on the sofa and pulled a thick, butter-soft blanket over my legs.
“Rest while I order food.” If I’d been feeling more myself, I would have cracked him over the head with the gaming console resting on the coffee table and then legged it, but the sofa was squishy, the blanket warm, and I liked the idea of having food delivered.
As much as it irked me to admit it, I also liked the idea of someone else taking care of me for once. So I lay back, closed my eyes, and decided I’d stick around for the food.
Some battles were not worth fighting. My she-wolf chuffed happily, more than happy to stay here with the wolf who’d saved us.
Or so he said.
As long as he fed me, I didn’t much care.
I must have nodded off, because when I next opened my eyes, somewhat confused to be lying on the world’s most comfortable couch with a blanket draped over me, the room had fallen into shadow.
The sound of an argument reached me, disturbing my peace.
“He’s mine,” Tobias hissed. A low growl followed that declaration.
“Mine,” the huge alpha grunted.
Oh my fucking goddess, were these two idiots fighting over me?
“Get over yourselves,” I huffed crossly before sitting up. The two males went deathly silent before stampeding over.
“You’re awake,” the big one rumbled.
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously. I hope you saved me some dinner, wolfie.” I was ready to gnaw my foot off at this point. He nodded and then disappeared, leaving me with Tobias, who slid down onto the couch next to me.
“How are you feeling, my little honey bunny?”
I scowled. “Goddess, please stop with the stupid nickname. I’m not anyone’s honey bunny.” Tobias broke into a smile, dimples on display.
“You’re my honey bunny, honey bunny.” Then the smile dropped and turned into a furious glare. “I’ll kill those fuckers who hurt you.”
“Eh, join the queue.” Revenge was a dish best served cold with a side of basilisk venom.
“Eat.” A plate of steaming pasta, topped with grated cheese, appeared in front of me.
I hurriedly wiped my mouth in case I’d been drooling and then dove right in.
Oh my goddess, it was good. Tomato with meatballs and a generous amount of chili to spice it up.
Combined with the cheese, I was in seventh heaven.
An appreciative moan escaped.
Tobias’s eyes turned molten. “Make that sound again and I’ll be eating you, honey bunny.”
I nearly choked on my pasta. He’d get one helluva shock if he tried eating me.
“Um, I’m recovering from a serious and life-threatening injury. Have some respect!”
He pouted. “Fine. We can do the healer and patient role-play tomorrow.”
“I’m leaving the minute this food is gone. I have assignments to finish.”
Tobias smirked. “Liar.”
“Leave my little wolf alone,” the big wolf snapped. “He needs recovery time.”
“Thank you.” I fluttered my eyelashes in gratitude before mentally hitting myself over the head. No flirting!
“Fuck off, Tank.” Tobias growled threateningly at his friend.
Goddess, please save me. If I didn’t leave soon, these two would start pissing all over me to establish their territory!