Page 28 of Broken Moon

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

Belinda disagreed. “It doesn’tmatter if he banished you. In his mind you still belong to him, and if hedecides to send wolves after you so he can bring you back and hurt you, he willdefinitely do so.”

She was right. Also, she seemedto know Adam Thorne pretty well. Or maybe, like most people, she simply knewhis reputation.

“Jared believes he can free mywolf,” I said reluctantly. “He felt her when he came to ask for my helpcatching 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,” Belindainterrupted hastily, “let’s finish up with Ms. Silver so she can go home andget some rest.”

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

“DoctorHayes,”Belindasaid, a little desperate. “Look at this contusion. Do you think we needpictures?”

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

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

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

Jared was right. I wouldabsolutely do my job.

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

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

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

I shivered. “Goodnight, Jared.”

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

ChapterFourteen

By the time I got home, mystomach was roaring at me, but a shower and change of clothing would come beforeI ate. I was a very dirty girl—in a gross and bloody way.

Even before I left my car, Icould smell food coming from inside my house, and I knew Lucille had cooked meup a feast. I would devour every morsel.

But when I lifted my kill kitfrom my car and climbed the porch steps, company was waiting. I didn’t carry agun as humans weren’t a problem for me and supernaturals didn’t care about agun. I did wish I hadn’t taken off my various belts and sheaths, as I wascurrently without holy water, stakes, or even salt.

I did, however, still have mytrusty and wonderful demon blade. I gently placed my kit on the floor againstthe wall. Without saying a word or taking my stare from the shadowy figure atthe end of the porch, and I drew my blade.

It came out with a sexy snickthat gave me goosebumps, and once again I wondered at the strange attachment Ihad for the knife. I faced my silent visitor. “What do you want?”

He said nothing but movedforward, and it was only when I saw the air sort of wrinkle and shimmer that Irealized he was only a spirit. I blew out a hard breath and slid my blade backinto its sheath. Sometimes I’d see a dozen “ghosts” a day, and sometimes Iwouldn’t see one for a week.

Some of them tried hard totalk, but some of them seemed to have lost their capacity for understandingwhat speech even was. This man seemed to be in the latter category. He simplystared, frowning ferociously, aware I could see him but upset that I didn’tknow what was wrong. I shouldfeelit, I was sure he believed, this poordead soul.

“I’m sorry,” I said gently, “Ican’t hear you. But I’ll help you. Do you know why you’re here?”

He stared at me for a fewseconds, then slowly nodded his head.

“Sometimes we get lost and needhelp to find our way. Is that what happened to you?” I didn’t wait to see ifhe’d nod, shake his head, or ignore me. I dug my keys from my jacket pocket,unlocked the door, and picked up my kit. “Come inside,” I told the dead man.

The heavenly aroma of juicymeat and spices hit me hard when I opened the door, and I groaned. I was goingto have to help this guy find his paradise soon or I honestly feared I mightstarve to death. Damn, I was hungry.

I didn’t have to turn and lookto know the spirit followed me in. I could feel him like an ice-cold handpressing against my back. I carried my kit to my bedroom closet, and he waswaiting on the bed when I got there.