Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,44

Why?"

Letting out a groan, I sat down, dropped my head into my hands, and just gave up. "Because the woman is stalking Ian. She used to sleep with his betas, and she's convinced I ruined her life, so she plans to ruin mine. Ian is adamant that they all need to keep me safe, and Ashley's being overprotective now that I know about wolves."

That caught the woman's attention. Carrying over a pad of gauze and a bottle of something, she looked up in surprise. "You've known Ashley a while?"

"Years," I explained. "I knew her first, actually. When I separated from my husband, she offered me a job. I had no idea werewolves were a thing. I thought I was just leasing houses in an eccentric but exclusive community. She moved me next door to Ian, saying it was the best house, but I'm starting to realize there was more to it. Evidently, I was put in the corner lot to keep wolves from coming close."

"And your daughter got herself bit," Dr. Bridget finished. "Yes, I've been told about that. Seems it was intentional, and the boy who did it has been almost shunned by the rest of the pack."

I nodded. "He's also a pretty decent kid." Then I sucked in a breath when she poured the liquid on my knee. It was cold! "Roman actually lives next door to you."

"Kim's boy." Dr. Bridget paused for a second. "I've seen him driving in with your daughter, actually." Then she started dabbing at the wound.

"Yeah." I paused when she hit a tender spot. "My daughter was the instigator, and he's been keeping an eye on her at school. Seems there's a bully who's picking on the girls from Wolf's Run. Roman waits for her to finish her drama classes and brings her home - and I'm sure they take their time about it. I'm actually ok with that."

"Even after he turned her?" She seemed surprised.

I just shrugged. "This is what Gabby wanted, and she had her reasons. It was stupid, but made sense in her teenaged logic. Roman's only mistake was going directly against his alpha's orders."

"Ouch," Dr. Bridget said in sympathy for the kid. "That was a bad decision. And Ian's kicking him out when he's older?"

"Oh, no." I waved her off. "No, that wouldn't be fair. He's just a kid."

She dabbed my leg again, then leaned back. "Elena, in most packs, defying the alpha is a death sentence. For children, it usually means banishment for the entire family. It's a big deal. The kind of people who become the Pack Alpha? They aren't usually very understanding."

Right on cue, Ian's voice sounded in the other room, proving he was here. "Where is she?!"

"She's fine!" Ashley promised. "Just a scrape on her knee, but I brought her to be checked out anyway."

"Where!" This time, it was from Lane. A split second later, a fist pounded on the door. "Elena?"

"I'm fine, Lane," I called to him. "Just getting a band-aid. Ashley saved me, I got a boo-boo on my knee, and my pride's a little bruised. I'm fine. I just tripped. Now go make sure Ian doesn't kill his sister."

"Promise?" he asked through the door, sounding almost like he was moping.

Dr. Bridget stepped over and opened it, showing me sitting on the bed. "In my medical opinion she's going to come out of this with a scab."

Lane's eyes drifted down to my knee, his brow furrowed, but he didn't barge into the room. "She scared you?"

"I'm fine," I promised. "Go save Ashley. Right now, she's the one who needs your help."

He smiled and turned, letting the doctor close the door again. When it clicked, Bridget made her way back over to me smiling. "So, I expected that to be the alpha."

"Know anything about fated mates?" I asked.

Her eyes about popped out of her head. "He's fated for you? But you're human!"

All I could do was shrug. "I got lucky?"

"Yeah, you did," she mumbled under her breath, but it made me laugh.

"Tell me about it. Five gorgeous and younger men?" I fanned my face for emphasis. "I mean, I'd have to be an idiot to turn that down, right?"

She just pointed at my knee. "If I give you a bandage for that, do you think you can keep it on for the rest of the day?"

"I think I'll do anything the doctor orders," I assured her.

"Well, in that case..." She grabbed a rolling stool from the side of the room and pulled it closer