“Get out of here, Gael!” Cameron snapped, waving the boy away. “It was nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t worry about it?” Sophia said, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Someone attacked you. We need to call the police.”
That was not a good idea. I wished Cameron hadn’t called the cops. More calls to the police meant more attention, moreeyes on the problem. If the wrong set of eyes started looking into things—especially the murders—the pack could be in for some major trouble.
And as the one who’d helped cause the issue, shit would go downhill for me. Who was lower on the hill than a lone wolf? Nobody, that’s who.
I caught Cameron’s eye, trying to convey my worries with nothing but raised eyebrows and a severe look.
She frowned.The pack?she mouthed.
I nodded quickly.
“Nate knows someone on the police force. He’s going to look into it,” Cameron said. “It’s already taken care of.”
Sophia glanced up at me. “Truly? Your friend is a cop? He’s going to find thependejowho hurt my girl? Who hurt you?”
“The guy who did this is going to pay. That’s a promise.” I flicked my gaze back to Cameron, who gave me a worried look.
It was the truth, though. Rick would pay. I’d see to that.
Sophia continued probing my side. The pain came and went with agonizing little flares, but seemed to be getting better.
“Rib isn’t broken,” she said at last. “It was close, though. You’re very lucky, Nate. Looks like the impact has caused spasming in the intercostal muscles, if I had to guess. That’s where the pain is coming from. Should subside in a couple hours.” She chewed her lip like she was considering something, then added, “I have some muscle relaxers in my medicine cabinet. I can give you one to take the edge off and get the spasms under control.”
I gritted my teeth as another wave of sharp, cramping pain rippled across my ribs. “That would be great.”
“Gael?” she shouted again.
The boy was still in the entry, watching. “Yeah, Mom?”
“Go to my cabinet in the bathroom and grab the red pill bottle. It should be easy to find. Hurry up.”
He returned a few seconds later with the little red bottle rattling in his hand.
“Thank you.” She opened the bottle, shook out a pill, and handed it over. “This is cyclobenzaprine. You’re a big boy, so a whole one should be fine. I use them for my lower back pain.”
“Thanks.” I popped the pill into my mouth and swallowed it dry.
Sophia’s eyes widened in surprise. “No water?” She grinned at Cameron. “We’ve got a really macho one here.”
She sounded impressed, which I found a little silly. It was just a pill. I stood and pulled my shirt back down.
“I need to call my cop friend. I’ll step outside.” I nodded to Cameron. “Check her again. I want to make sure she doesn’t have any more injuries.”
Leaving the small family, I headed out to the hall and dialed Ollie.
“Did you call to chew my ass out again already?” Ollie asked when he answered.
“Listen, sorry about earlier, but things have escalated.”
Ollie’s irritation vanished. “What happened?”
“Rick fucking Masters happened,” I said, keeping my voice low to keep them. “He jumped me and Cameron outside her friend’s place. Dude wentfullpsycho. Tried to slice and dice me. Cameron and I fought him off, but he’s two steps away from needing a psych ward. He’s bonded to Cameron, and he had it in his head that she was pregnant with his kid or some shit.”
“What the fuck? Are you serious?” Ollie hissed. “JC is gonna flip.”
“Yeah. She explained what happened with the feral and how she got bitten. Told him that’s why she had all these weird symptoms. Wanna hear the weirdest part?”
