Page 31 of Waifs And Strays
‘Do you drink a lot?’
His eyes flashed. ‘You mean do I regularly get so blind drunk that I can’t remember my own name? No, and I don’t take drugs either. Do you?’
I didn’t bother answering.
‘I take it that whoever abducted Nick used a forget-me-not spell,’ he ground out.
I nodded reluctantly. ‘On every single one of my neighbours.’
Thane ran a hand across his skull. I watched him; I still had far too many unanswered questions. ‘Why do you care so much about one teenage werewolf?’ I asked.
‘He’s a good kid.’
I sniffed. ‘And you’re a lone wolf.’ I was certain that Thane had to be the ‘friend’ Nick had mentioned. ‘Despite his uncle, Nick isn’t bound to any pack. There are plenty of reasons why you might be interested in him.’
‘I’m not trying to create my own little fiefdom, darling. I like being alone. I was trying tohelpNick, not recruit him.’ This time he ignored my scowl and stood up. He towered over me, but ifhe thought I’d be intimidated by his height he hadn’t been paying attention.
I raised a sceptical eyebrow. ‘Really?’
‘Really. Nick won’t do well as a lone wolf and I wanted to show him that he ought to bind himself to the MacTires. His uncle cares for him and that boy needs a pack by his side.’ He looked away and lowered his voice. ‘Needed a pack by his side.’
‘He’s not dead,’ I said. Probably not dead.
His gaze flashed back to me. ‘How do you know?’
‘Whoever kidnapped him could have killed him then and there. It would have been smarter and easier to slit his throat than to snatch him.’
A muscle jerked in Thane’s jaw. ‘How many hours has it been since he was taken?’
‘Seventeen.’
‘It will be a miracle if he’s still alive.’
I didn’t want to think about that so I tilted back my head and examined his face. ‘Why are you here?’ I asked softly. ‘Why were you following me, and why are you staying so close to my house? You could take an interest in Nick’s wellbeing without stalking the poor kid and bothering me.’
‘I told you already. I wanted to check you out to make sure you wouldn’t harm him.’
I lowered my voice further, trying to coax out the truth. ‘Why would I harm him? Why would anyone harm him?’
Thane didn’t answer. I abandoned my gentle attitude; it wasn’t getting me anywhere. I bared my teeth, tapped my foot and growled. I was good at growling. ‘Tell me.’
He sighed. ‘Six months ago there were four lone werewolves living in Coldstream. If you don’t include Nick, now there are only two.’
‘Where are the others?’
‘Dead.’ He met my eyes. ‘Neither as a result of natural causes.’
I didn’t react. ‘There’s a reason werewolves usually live in packs. It’s dangerous being a wolf on your own.’
‘Somebody attacked the third lone wolf four months ago. She barely escaped with her life.’
I waited.
‘And not long after Nick and his parents came to Coldstream, somebody attacked me.’ He jerked his head towards the dried bloodstains. ‘And then again two nights ago.’
‘That’s when the forget-me-not spells were used on you?’ I guessed.
He nodded. ‘During both attacks. Lorna, the lone wolf who’s still alive, had a similar experience. She knows she was attacked but she can’t remember a thing about it.’
