Page 26 of Wolves Always Bite

"Wow, thanks,"Jeremysaid as he wiggled around, lifting his shoulders and rolling his head from side to side. "IthoughtI'dneed to curl up with a heating pad for at least a week after all that."

"Youmight still need that heating pad,"Teaguesaid. "Healingisn't my specialty, butI'mgladIcould help."

Jeremytwisted around and gaped at the sharp-edged glass shards littering the floor, all of which were still coated in his blood. “Ithought glass used in vehicles needed to be shatter resistant.”

“Ismelled magic, soIthink they used a spelled bullet,”Isaid.

Jeremywhipped around and stared at me. “That’sa thing?Usinga spell to make a bullet more dangerous.Likethat’s necessary.Jesus.Theycould have really fucked us up.”Hisgaze slid over me. “Doyou need help too?WhataboutNelson?”

“Mymagic already expelled the glass and healed the wounds.IthinkNelson’sdid too.”

“Well, isn’t that handy for all you magical types,” he muttered and rubbed the back of his neck.

Icrouched in front ofJeremyand evaluated him.Hedid look better.Hischeeks were flushed, his eyes were brighter, and, as he glanced atTeague, his eyes glinted in that wayI’dcome to recognize as a sign he’d be asking questions soon.Ifigured that was as good a gauge as anything for how he was feeling.

"Doyou want a pain reliever or anything?"Iasked, just in case.

"I'mgood for now,"Jeremysaid. “Feelingpretty good, actually.”

Acoil of anxietyIhadn't known was inside me loosened.Icouldn't believe the guy had gotten so injured while under my protection.Iwasn't letting the fragile human out of my sight without me or one of my team watching over him.Sure,NelsonandIwere with him in the truck, and we’d been useless at protecting him, butIwas determined not to fail him again.

“Okay.”Iclenched my hands beforeIreached for him.Ihad a feeling ifItouched him,I’dnever want to let him go. “I’mgoing to run out to the truck and get my bag so we can change our clothes.”

“Yeah.You’vegot blood andGodonly knows what all over you.”Jeremycast his gaze down my body, taking in the bloody rip in my pants from whenBabettesliced into my calf and clawed her way up my body.AndIhad a few other splotches of blood—some of it mine, some of it not—from when we dealt with the people who’d run us off the road. “ButIdon’t need anything.”

“Youcan wear one of my shirts,”Isaid firmly.

Teaguesnorted.Bastard.Ishot him a warning glare.Thiswas not about getting the cute human into my clothes and covered in my scent, although that idea was wildly appealing.No.Ineeded to get him out of his shirt.Itstank of his blood and that was making my werewolf instincts go haywire.

Heglanced down at his shirt and pants. “Myclothes are fine.”

“Jeremy, the back of your shirt is full of blood too,”Isaid gently.

Hereached around and touched his collar. “Ah, man…Iliked this shirt.”

“Myjeans won’t fit you, but yours are mostly okay.Youshould be fine just changing into one of myT-shirts.”

“Mostlyokay?”Helooked down and found the rip. “Seriously?Notthese too.Whendid that happen?”

“Babettetook a swipe at you when you got in the truck.”

“Stupidgreen monkey lady…”Jeremymuttered. “Thenext timeIsee her,I’ll—”

“No,”Ishouted, startling us both.Heatraced over my face. “Imean, if you ever see her again, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.She’sdangerous.Don’tworry about your clothes.I’llbuy you something new, whatever you need.”

Jeremynodded slowly. “Um, okay.”

“Yeah,”Teagueagreed. “Goblinsare small, but they can be deadly, particularly when they are provoked.Thebest thing you can do is stay away from her.”

Jeremysucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ididn’t actually plan on confronting her.It’sa thing people say…”

“Sorry.Ioverreacted.”Isqueezed his leg.

“Okay, wolf boy, let’s see what you’ve got for me.”

Ireturned with my bag in less than a minute.Andeven that little bit of time was too much separation for my nerves.Myreaction to this little human wasn’t normal, butIdidn’t know what to do about it.

Idug through my duffle bag, which had been in the back of the truck with our prisoners.Theoutside of the bag stunk of them.Ialmost threw the whole thing away rather than bring it anywhere nearJeremy, but then what would he wear?Itwould be almost as bad to haveJeremyin my teammate’s clothes.Mywolf growled at the thought.