Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,9

the stories."

But this woman just couldn't keep her hands off me. This time, she grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look right into her eyes. "Well, let me make this clear. I am not the town pump for you and your betas to use and give nothing back. I rolled over for them for years. I've lost the chance at mates because no one wanted to compete against the alpha and his betas. I am almost thirty years old, and you can't just kick me to the curb because you found something shiny and new. So, here's how this is going to go. You will clean up the shit you left me with, or you will name me as your mate. I don't even care which."

"What shit are you talking about? I've only slept with you twice!" I snapped.

"You think the whole pack doesn't know that your betas have been spending time with me?" She rolled her eyes. "They look at me and see the bitch that almost made it."

"Yeah?" I sneered. "Well, tell them we broke up. Say I'm a dick. That's how it usually happens. I don't fucking care, but you never said no. I've heard you even went so far as to beg them a few times. So no, Karen, I don't feel guilty."

"You fucking will," she growled. "And - "

She didn't get the chance to finish, because Ashley rounded the corner of the building at that moment and didn't hesitate. Ignoring the woman beside her, my sister stormed over and shoved Karen away from me. Karen spun, and her eyes jumped to the other woman. Mine did as well, taking note of her yellow eyes, and then Karen tried to lunge.

I caught her before she could touch Ashley, and spun her toward her car. "Go home, pull your head out of your ass, or I will use my teeth next time," I warned her. "And stay the fuck away from my mate!"

Karen made a noise that I couldn't describe, but I'd heard a few too many irate women make it. She was pissed, and I was probably going to pay for it, but not today. Nope, she stomped to her car, got in, and pulled out - much too fast for the community regulations. I didn't even care. I was simply glad she hadn't made it to Elena.

Then the other woman laughed. It was just once, but it made me look at her again. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I just didn't expect to see pack habits shown... here."

"In Wolf's Run?" I asked. "This is a closed community. Our goal is to not have to be ashamed of who we are." Then I offered my hand. "Ian Langdon, Pack Alpha."

"Alpha," she greeted me respectfully, clasping my palm.

"This," Ashley said, gesturing to her, "is Dr. Bridget Wright, MD. She came to see the setup we're offering."

"And?" I asked her. "Is there anything else you would need? We're highly motivated. As you can see, this is a sizable pack, and we only intend to grow. A medical professional who can understand our needs would be highly respected."

The woman grinned. "Actually, there are a few things I'd need. The building would have to be completely stocked, since I'm currently working for a human in his practice. That's a lot of medicine, and while you're offering free rent on both the house and the clinic, I will need an income."

"What about cost-sharing for the medication?" I asked.

"I'll still have bills to pay, Alpha," she said.

I waved that off. "I meant in addition to an income. Would that help? Would it allow you to treat only community patients?"

Dr. Bridget's eyes jumped from me to Ashley, and then back. "Why are you so desperate for a wolf doctor?"

I sighed, reaching up to scratch at the back of my neck. "The simple truth? Because we don't live in a small town. We're not relying on an overburdened medical system. If a kid breaks his leg and is completely healed in two weeks, people will notice."

"Uh-huh..." she said, making it clear she knew there was more.

"They go to human schools, Doctor. They have jobs in town. I know what happened when my dad got hit by a car. I think we've all seen it. A wolf gets hurt. A man goes to a hospital and can't explain the injuries. Police ask questions. If we had a doctor who could help..."

"And I can," she assured me. "A simple history of a former injury to that area, a