Page 41 of Wolf Bane
Too close for comfort.
I could go back to the storage closet and wait.See what happened next.
Fuck that,I thought.I’ve spent way too much time in shady fake hospitals and labs to deal with this bullshit again.The only doors in the corridor led to the closet, back into the infirmary, or possibly outside.An old emergency exit sign hung from wires over the third door, green and black mildew spreading from around the edges.
Outside, I decided.It had to lead outside.One way or the other.I started moving quicker, acutely aware of the fight on the move again.I wasn’t one for prayer very often, but I really laid it on thick to whoever was listening as I shoved against the security bar.
It stuck.
“Come on, come on, motherfucker, come on!”I threw myself against it harder, the creak of the door swinging on old hinges.It scraped and screamed open just a few inches, then stuck, tearing a sob from my throat.“Fuck you!Fucking fuck you, you piece of fucking shit door!”I snarled, shoving again, digging my heels in.A wave of dizziness pulsed over me, darkening the edges of my vision.
“Where is he, Benoit?”someone shouted.“I’ll strangle you with your own fucking guts if you don’t tell me!”
Not Ethan.Not Tyler.My head swam, and I gave the door one more shove before I gave in to gravity, sliding down the disgusting thing to sit in a heap on the floor.
Footsteps, another creaking door, and then heavy black boots dappled with damp earth stood in front of me.
“For fuck’s sake,” Waltrip huffed.“I said I’d call you back.”
* * *
Benoit and Waltripargued over me in growling, low tones.The bed was far more comfortable than the ones I’d seen in the infirmary; this one had an actual mattress rather than the thin pad I’d seen on the cots.And the room smelled clean, lemony like cleaner and a hint of laundry soap.Weaving through it all was the scent of were, ofother, and fear, andrun now Landry move.There were three of them in the room with me, and I only recognized Waltrip’s presence.
“I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore,” I muttered, not opening my eyes.
“La Chance Parish, the town of Lugaru,” Benoit said with a hint of pride.“My mama’s hometown.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I groaned.“Likeloup garou.I swear to whatever God is listening, y’all really need to get out more or something.The wolf puns are getting out of hand.”
Waltrip snorted, glaring down at me from his significant height, made more imposing by my position on my back.“You have a remarkable talent for fucking around where you don’t belong, Landry.”
“Thanks.I get it from my mom’s side.”I pushed onto my good arm, wincing as the room gave a nauseating ripple.A sharp pinch in my other arm made me freeze for just a moment before I was able to focus on the sensation, following the IV tubing to the bag hanging from a tarnished hook over the bed.“Waltrip?—”
“Just saline,” he said flatly.“I watched the entire time.No one added a thing.”
My uncertainty showed because he rolled his eyes, raking his fingers back through his tangle of red hair.
“Do you really think I’d do something to hurt you, Landry?After everything?”
I eyed the IV bag with racking uneasiness.My memories of med school rummaged themselves into cooperation and enabled me to do some rough calculations based on the size of the bag, the catheter in my arm, and the drip rate.I’d been hooked up at least twenty minutes, maybe a bit less.My arm was freshly wrapped and, judging by the throbbing raw feeling, had been cleaned.
Fern gave me a tight smile when I looked up.“Now don’t get flighty with me, alright?You’re in our trailer, me an’ Del—Benoit, you know.You’re healing faster than a human, but I think I got the worst of it before your tissue could mend with debris inside,” she said briskly.“But if I were you, I’d write myself a scrip for some tetracyte.”
I nodded, eyeing that bandage again.“Daniel have his shots?”
Fern laughed softly, reaching out to check my pulse.“All of the ones we’ve been able to hold him down for.Your heart rate is high for a human.”
“If I were entirely human, I’d be worried.”
She made an agreeing sort of sound and pulled back, putting some sanitizer on her hands as she turned to Waltrip and Benoit.“Y’all don’t be dicks.More flies with honey, remember.”She headed for the door, pausing as she reached Benoit’s side.“And swear to God, you bring home another stray, you’re sleepin’ on the sofa in the office, you hear?”
I had a feeling she and Reba might get along.Benoit gave her a sheepish nod, looking anywhere but at us as Fern left us alone in the room.“Where’ve you been, Waltrip?”I asked as soon as the door closed.
“Working.”
“You lied to me.How do you know Benoit??”It came pouring out, the things I’d wanted to ask him while he was low key avoiding me, and I realized my mistake as soon as the words fell.He was going to pick and choose, ignoring the rest.
It was his M.O.
