Page 14 of Assisting the Alpha
Ayo’s mahogany skin turns an odd colour. “I’ll just face this wall right here.”
He turns around and starts reading the large whiteboard on the wall. Then quickly realises what he’s reading and turns to face a desk in the corner instead, which is empty except for a clipboard with paperwork attached. Points to him for not just running out of the room.
Doc P eyes him for a few moments as he washes his hands and snaps on a pair of gloves. Seemingly satisfied that Ayo isn’t about to pass out, he turns his attention to me. “Have you seen something like this before?”
“Not in this environment, but I’m former SAS.”
He gives me a tight nod. “If you need me to cover her back up at any time, tell me.”
With that, he removes the sheet. The victim’s head comes into view first, revealing a blonde woman. The rest of her body is uncovered, and I’m glad I didn’t eat breakfast this morning. I’ve seen the photos of the bodies of the previous two victims, of course, but it’s different having one right in front of you in this condition.
Frida Clemens was shredded. It’s the only way to describe what’s left of her.
Doc P leaves the sheet just next to her feet. “Ayo, would you mind putting up a silencing ward?”
I raise my eyebrows as the scent of magic fills the air. Doc P waits for Ayo’s quiet “Done” before he speaks again. “Thank you. This will allow me to speak more openly without risk of being overheard by one of my human colleagues.”
“Understood. I appreciate that.”
Doc P points to the victim’s abdomen. “As you can see, this was likely done by a shifter. The evidence points to her stomach being the location of the first lacerations. Any shifter with claws could have caused this damage.”
“Can you tell which species?”
Doc P shakes his head. “No, the damage is too extensive. There’s nowhere left with a single clean claw wound to get an indication of claw size, which was probably their intention. There are also no clear indications of defensive wounds, so she was likely taken by surprise, but with the condition of the body, defensive wounds could have been destroyed on purpose. Some of these occurred after death.”
“But this is what killed her? What we can see?” I try to word what I’m saying carefully because Ayo is starting to smell upset, and it’s distracting.
“Yes. Here.” Doc P points to the centre of her chest. “She would have died from the wounds she received prior to this point if left, but this killed her instantly.”
“What did?” Ayo’s voice is quiet but determined.
Doc P and I exchange a glance. I give him a slight nod, and he watches Ayo’s back carefully. “The murderer broke her ribs, then clawed deep enough to reach her vital organs, including her heart.”
Ayo doesn’t say a word, but his scent intensifies before he rushes from the room. I start to follow him without thinking, but Doc P’s voice stops me.
“If I may, Ethan… give him a minute.”
My wolf doesn’t like that idea at all, but the human part of me agrees with the doc. Ayo and I barely know each other, and it would be better to finish this so that when I check on Ayo, I don’t have to leave him alone again to come back in here.
It takes longer than I would like for my feet to obey me and return to the autopsy table. “Let’s get this done.”
I locate Ayo in the reception area, a cardboard cup of crappy vending machine tea cradled in his trembling hands. My wolf whines as soon as I set eyes on him, the misery in Ayo’s scent setting me on edge.
Perhaps finishing up with Doc P was the wrong decision. Fuck, I might not trust the sorcerer, but he is still my employee, and if it were one of the others I’d be over there already, scenting them and making sure they were okay.
I cross the room, take the tea from his hands to set it on the floor, then pull him up to stand. He doesn’t look at me, but it doesn’t matter; when I wrap my arms around him he buries his face in my chest. I let out a little of my alpha power, just enough that if he were a shifter, it would reassure him he’s safe. Of course, it might not do anything for a magic-user, but there’s no harm in trying.
I don’t know how long I hold him like that. Only that it’s long enough the tension starts to ease from his frame and his scent—although still a little off—mostly returns to normal.
When he eventually pulls back, I lead him outside and down the street to the coffee shop I remember passing just before we parked. I find us an empty table at the back and put a hand on his shoulder. “Sit. How do you take your coffee? Or do you want another tea?”
It takes him a moment to look up at me, and his red-rimmed eyes break my heart. I’m such an arsehole for bringing him today. There was no need.
“Umm… an iced caramel mocha, please.”
That sounds revolting, but okay. I wait until he’s sitting before going up to order. Thankfully, the queue is short, and I don’t have to leave him alone for long before returning with our drinks. I put them on the table and hesitate for a moment. The normal thing to do would be to sit opposite him in a chair.
I don’t do that. I opt for sitting on the bench seat next to him. I could argue that it’s so I have my back to the wall and can keep an eye on everyone, which is definitely true, but my wolf is very insistent that Ayo needs us close. After ignoring my instinct to rush after him earlier and regretting it, I’m going to go with the flow for now.
