Broken Moon by Laken Cane

Chapter Thirteen

The perplexed doctor stared at the scars on my body, even as he helped his nurse—Belinda—wipe away the blood from the new ones. I’d gotten injuries I’d ignored from my encounter with the exsoloup, but none as bad as the stab wound. Funny thing was, the smaller wounds were the ones causing me trouble.

Just as when the demon cut me, the injury from the demon blade was nearly healed. It was as though my blade could not hurt me. All that remained of the stab wound was a rapidly closing hole. It would leave a small scar, as the slash across my chest had left a thin line, but even that might go away eventually.

He wasn’t paying much attention to that scratch, though he had to wonder where all the blood was coming from. He was confused about the old scars that hadn’t healed.

“Wolves shift,” he murmured, his white brows low over his kind brown eyes, “and they heal. You should not have such scars.”

I realized then that the doctor knew nothing about me. He couldn’t know that I healed slower or that, while I was not as vulnerable as a human I was not nearly as strong as a shifter. He didn’t know who I was.

“I’m a shifter,” I said blandly, “but my alpha hobbled my wolf when I was fourteen years old. I’ve never had a chance to shift.”

Both he and the nurse stilled their hands and gaped at me in horror. Finally, Belinda busied herself smoothing bandages over cleaned scrapes and dabbing balms over bruises and angry welts, her stare flitting from me to the doctor and back again.

The doctor shook his head, his stare just a little colder. “I have known Jared since he was born. He would never sentence someone to such a shocking fate. You are obviously one of his warriors. Why are you—”

“Doc,” I interrupted, before he could work himself into loyalty-induced rage, “Jared is not my alpha.”

It seemed to take a few seconds for my words to sink in. When they did, his cheeks infused with color and he took a step back, pity and regret chasing each other across his face. “My dear,” he finally murmured. “I apologize for jumping to conclusions. I am appalled by your hobbling. Surely your advocates can speak with your alpha on your behalf and convince him to reverse such an awful sentence. Why would he do this thing to a child?”

“My name is Kait Silver,” I said evenly. “My father was Daniel Silver. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”

“Oh,” he said. “Oh, I see.” But he didn’t look at me with disgust or contempt. He patted my hand. “You were a child. What your father did had nothing to do with you and your mother. I never agreed with Adam Thorne’s tactics when it came to dealing with his pack. Awful leader, that one. Just awful.”

“Well,” I said dryly, “I did step in and try to kill him.”

He snorted. “You were a child with a blade. He was the alpha. You were never going to kill him.”

“No,” I murmured, finally. “I guess I never was. But he was enraged that I would dare try.”

His stare sharpened. “His arrogance is astounding, true, but there is more to his reaction, Kait. There would have to be.”

I only nodded.

“Because of the obvious unfairness of the punishment,” he continued, “perhaps he would be inclined to end it now that the years have passed. I would be happy to petition him on your behalf, as I’m sure Jared would.”

I curled my lip. “Jared has known about my problem for twelve years. He was never inclined to help me.” And just like that, my anger at the Gray Shadow Pack alpha returned.

Then Belinda murmured, “Adam Thorne detests our alpha, Ben. He would only be moved to hurt her further if Jared intervened.”

“Ah.” The doctor nodded. “You are right, of course. Still, there must be something we can do.”

“He can’t hurt me now,” I told them. “He banished my mother and me from the pack.”

Belinda disagreed. “It doesn’t matter if he banished you. In his mind you still belong to him, and if he decides to send wolves after you so he can bring you back and hurt you, he will definitely do so.”

She was right. Also, she seemed to know Adam Thorne pretty well. Or maybe, like most people, she simply knew his reputation.

“Jared believes he can free my wolf,” I said reluctantly. “He felt her when he came to ask for my help catching the creature attacking his wolves.”

“Amazing,” the doctor roared, seemingly as thrilled about the pending freedom as I was. “There you are, then.” Then he frowned. “But if he can feel your wolf enough to free her, wouldn’t that mean—”

“Doctor Hayes,” Belinda interrupted hastily, “let’s finish up with Ms. Silver so she can go home and get some rest.”

“Yes, of course,” he said, then smiled and patted my hand again. “You’ll be fine. I will be on standby for when you achieve your shift. I’m quite sure you’ll need me. I’ll tell Jared to let me know when the time arrives. After being hobbled for so long, your wolf will certainly be—”

“Doctor Hayes,” Belinda said, a little desperate. “Look at this contusion. Do you think we need pictures?”

I laughed, well aware of what problems I might face when my wolf was finally freed. “It’s fine,” I said. “I don’t need x-rays.” I smiled at her. “And I’m not afraid of what’s to come.”

When I finally escaped the doctor’s office, I didn’t attempt to find Jared to let him know I was leaving. We both had a lot to think about, and I was sure he and Lennon would be in contact if they found anything new about the exsoloup. I’d left all my information on the form I’d been given to complete.

In the meantime, I’d catch up on some sleep, eat enormous amounts of food, and return to the Gray Shadow Pack tomorrow night to try again to capture or kill the creature.

Jared was right. I would absolutely do my job.

But before I got into my car, something made me turn around and peer into the shadows, and I saw the alpha leaning against a tree, watching me go. Just making sure no one harassed me as I left his land, most likely.

Neither of us spoke. For a few seconds I stared at his shadowy form, motionless, unsure. I didn’t know what I was unsure about, though.

“Goodnight, Kaitlyn,” he called, finally, his deep voice wafting through the darkness.

I shivered. “Goodnight, Jared.”

And then I climbed into my car and got the hell out of there.