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Stacy

When I wake up almost exactly four hours later (according to the digital clock on the wall), I’m alone.

I use the facilities in Jared’s camper and hurry outside, but there’s no sign of Grey. Jared sits behind the Airstream on a lawn chair, drinking coffee from a disposable cup while smoking a cigarette. He gives me a two-finger salute and looks the other way. I sense he won’t be fond of an early morning conversation, so I don’t bother to try to converse.

Several Arcana Falls people are sleeping as wolves outside the mess hall door. Linc is walking toward us, and his eyes are on me with friendliness in them.

I wave. “Mornin’.”

He smiles. “Stacy.”

“Seen Grey?” I ask.

“Should be back soon. Just over talking to Brody.”

“Oh, okay.”

His expression goes serious. “Wait here, all right, Stacy?”

“Oh,” I gesture to the mess hall. “I’m just gonna go in there and help.”

“Not a problem. Just don’t want you wandering beyond this zone unless you’re with one of us.”

I give him a small smile and go into the mess hall, passing Jase who appears to be keeping watch, sitting in a chair by the door, but looking both angry and alert.

“Mornin’,” I say to Jase.

“Mornin’,” he responds, his expression mostly tight, but a touch of warmth infuses his gaze.

I’m about to pass him when he says my name.

I turn to face him.

“Got any ideas where he’d go?”

He’s worrying about his sister.

“Wyatt doesn’t have friends. Sounds like he didn’t have a whole lot of resources, either, Jase. But if I had to guess, knowing him I’d think he might hunker down somewhere before coming back to where he sent the girls for whatever he thinks he’s owed. He got some money up front and they’d been there for several days already. Knowing him, he’s keeping a running tally in his head and mathing multiple times a day with plans to come collect.”

“Got it,” Jase says and gets up from the chair. “Thanks.” He walks out, probably to go to Grey.

I wonder how Addy’s doing, not only with what she’s endured, but also with the whole Brody situation. I know how shellshocked I was at being claimed by an alpha I didn’t know.

I see a mixture of people and wolf shapes sleeping, knowing the wolves are the Arcana Falls folks. Almost all is quiet here for the moment, though it’s after six thirty in the morning so I suspect some will start rousing soon. Seeing Eloise and Martha by the sink, I tiptoe over.

“Mornin’ Stacy,” she whispers, sanitizing her hands.

“Good, you’re up,” Martha whispers. “I’m gonna lay down.”

“No worries,” I reply softly and turn to Eloise. “What can I do?”

“I’m just into another four-hour shift. Relieved Cat about thirty minutes ago. We made up a little schedule.” She gestures to the smaller female wolf sleeping beside the medicine table.

“She should go sleep in Jared’s trailer. I’m sure it’ll get noisy in here soon as people start waking up.”

Cat was supposed to take a few hours when I went to bed. Why did she keep going? I hope there weren’t any more deaths. I survey the space and see the same number of mattresses on the floor in the ‘hospital’ area as when I went to bed.

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