Page 73 of Bad Medicine

My mother was waiting at theShadowfield Inn when I arrived, eager to talk about Huntersburg and when Imight be officially moving in.

“As soon as I get some time,” Isaid, looking up as one of the wolves brought me over a cup of coffee. “Thankyou.”

He placed a tray of cookies onthe table. “Enjoy.”

“Lucy and I will help arrangepacking and moving and everything,” my mother said, picking up one of thecookies. “I just want to get you out there.”

“Why are you so eager to get meout of the city?” I smiled to show her I was only teasing, but I was curious.

She was quiet for a littlewhile, then, “Because it’s something good I can do for my child.”

I took a long drink of hotcoffee. “You do good things for me all the time.”

“I really don’t. But when Ithought of giving you the house…” She gestured. “Boom! There it was. A perfectgift.”

“If something happens and youwant to move back out there, you’ll be more than welcome, Mom. There’s so muchspace.”

“Nah, Kaity. You don’t need tobe living with your mother.”

And once again, the shadowswafted through her eyes. Something was going on with her, but whatever it was,she didn’t want to share it with me. Not yet. Maybe it was simply boyfriendtroubles. “How are things going with Nigel?” I asked.

“Things are sweet. Very comfortable.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “You’regood with comfortable?”

She laughed, and her eyessparkled, chasing away the shadows. “For now. Go get some sleep, honey. I heardyou’re getting up bright and early and going to the office.”

I pushed my chair back, thengrabbed a cookie as I stood. “Have you seen Jared?”

“He went to Stonebridge, butfrom what I hear, he’s expected back tonight. Zach went with him. Eli remainedbehind to tend the pack. He’ll know when the alpha is due to return if you wantto find him and ask.”

“I’ll pass on that.” Eli was atough one. One minute he seemed to warm up to me and the next, he was fightingresentment. I knew Lennon—the love of his life—was part of the reason for that.Since I’d arrived, a lot of bad things had happened to the pack. I leaned overto kiss her cheek. “Goodnight, Mom.”

I walked to the alpha’s house,nodding hello to the wolves I passed, thinking about how different things werenow than even a few weeks ago. I also wondered how Jared’s housekeeper Nellwould feel about me sleeping in his bed with him gone. I rang the front belland two minutes later, she opened the door and pulled me inside.

“Kait! You don’t need to ringthe bell. The door is always open to you.”

“Thanks, Nell. I—”

“The alpha won’t be back for acouple of hours, I think?” She took hold of my arm and hurried me up thestairs. “Would you like some dinner? I have a ton of leftovers I’d be happy tobring up. Actually, my new assistant will bring it up. Jared insisted I hiresomeone tohelpme. Personally—oh, Evan, there you are. Go fetch a trayfor our guest, won’t you? There you go. Run along.”

Evan smoothed his perfectlyneat dark blond hair and straightened his tie, and then, with the tiniesttightening of his lips, he turned smartly on his heel and went to do herbidding.

Nell barely let me get a wordin. Breathless and almost frantic, she finally told me she was helping prepareShadowfield for the influx of new wolves. She wasn’t convinced at all that itwas the right thing to do, and hated to see the close, cozy community change.

At least she didn’t seem toresent me for killing their alpha and forcing the issue, as some of thewolves—namely Eli—would.

“Those wolves,” she said,showing me into Jared’s room without asking me if that was where I wanted togo, “are different. They’re not like Gray Shadow wolves. How can we trustthem?” She shook her head. “Never mind. We’ll figure it out. You go ahead andget ready for bed. I heard you’re getting up early to go to work at youroffice. Shall I wake you at seven?”

I shuddered. “Don’t bother,Nell. I have the alarm set on my phone. I wouldn’t want you to have to get upthat early.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Iget up before seven every morning.”

“Why on earth would you dothat?”

“I don’t sleep a lot and have morethan enough work to keep my days full.” She patted me on the arm. “Call for meif you need anything.”

“Thanks, Nell.”