Page 24 of Midnight Mate
“Whatever you’re doing. The breathing thing.”
Bayne chuckled. “I have to breathe, Doc.”
“Not like that. Not all…” Clint gestured vaguely behind him where Bayne’s body pressed against his.
Before Bayne could respond with something that would make his mate blush harder, his wolf went rigid. Every instinct screamed danger, hackles rising even in human form.
Something felt wrong. The air had changed, carrying a scent that made his muscles coil tight. He petted the dog’s head when the mastiff began to whine.
“What is it?” Clint asked, immediately picking up on his tension.
Bayne tilted his head, listening. Focusing. A wolf scent drifted from the front of the clinic. Not just any wolf. Shifter. The undernotes of pine and earth…
Every muscle in Bayne’s body locked tight. His wolf surged forward, not quite breaking through but close enough to make his vision sharpen and his hearing expand. Footsteps in the front reception area. Heavy. Male. Janet’s voice, confused and questioning.
Moving on silent feet, Bayne crept down the hallway toward the front desk, keeping to the wall. The new scent grew stronger with each step.
He pressed himself against the doorframe, angled so he could see the front desk without being spotted.
A man stood at Janet’s desk. Mid-thirties, maybe. Dark hair cut short, shoulders that filled out his leather jacket. Everything about his posture screamed predator trying to look casual and failing.
Memory tried to surface but slipped away like water through his fingers.
“Like I said, I’m looking for my dog.” The stranger’s voice was all charm. “Got loose a couple nights ago during that storm.”
Janet’s fingers hovered over her keyboard. “We haven’t had any strays brought in this week. What breed did you say?”
“Didn’t say.” The man leaned forward, giving Janet a smile. “Big dog. Black fur. If he’s injured someone might’ve brought him in two nights ago.”
Two nights ago. When Bayne had shown up bleeding on Clint’s lawn.
His pulse hammered. This wolf knew something. Knew Bayne had been injured, knew approximately when, knew to check veterinary clinics. But was he a friend trying to find him? Or was he one of the ones who’d put those marks on Bayne’s body in the first place?
The blank spaces in his memory felt like missing teeth, painful gaps where answers should be.
“A dog that size would be hard to miss,” Janet said, fingers moving over her keyboard. “Let me check our overnight emergency logs. Though usually injured strays go to the animal hospital across town first.”
“Already checked there.” The stranger’s weight shifted, boots scraping linoleum. “Someone said this vet takes in strays sometimes. He lives outside town, right? Maybe someone brought my dog straight to his house.”
Ice flooded Bayne’s body. This wolf was fishing for information about Clint. About where he lived.
Janet’s expression shifted to something protective. “Dr. Sullivan doesn’t give out his home address. If your dog shows up, we’ll call you. Do you want to leave your number?”
Clint’s last name was Sullivan? Maybe Bayne should get to know his mate a little better.
“That’s fine.” The stranger’s attention shifted, head tilting slightly. Scenting the air.
Bayne pressed harder against the wall, controlling his breathing. If this wolf caught his scent, recognized him from that night…
“Actually,” the guy said slowly, “is the doctor in today? Maybe I could describe my dog to him directly. He might remember something.”
“He’s with patients.” Janet’s tone had gone from helpful to suspicious. “All booked up through the afternoon.”
The wolf’s nostrils flared. His head turned toward the hallway where Bayne hid. Recognition flickered across his features, there and gone in an instant but enough to confirm Bayne’s worst suspicion.
This was one of them. One of the ones who’d hunted him through the forest.
Bayne backed away slowly, every movement controlled. His mate stood in the exam room doorway, watching with obvious concern.
