Awakened by the Wolf by Kristal Hollis Page B

palms.
    â€œHe didn’t have a chance. I left Atlanta on Thursday as a wolf. He has no idea where I am. No one knows.”
    One of the monitors beeped louder, faster. “Brice Walker! What if something had happened to you?”
    â€œEasy, Granny.” He stroked her arm. “I can take care of myself.”
    â€œDoesn’t give you the right to be reckless. For goodness sakes, you are the Alpha-in-Waiting.”
    â€œNo, I’m the fucking screwup who got the real one killed.”
    Granny’s dry lips puckered. “I’m not too sick to scrub your tongue with soap, young man, so watch your language.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Brice dropped his gaze and bowed his head.
    â€œYou must let go of the past. Grief is eating your soul. Death is a part of life. Whether peaceful or violent, how we die is less important than how we live.” Granny’s fingers scrunched the hair at the back of his neck. “You aren’t the only one who suffered loss, my boy. Neither is your sorrow any greater than ours. You lost your brother, but the rest of us lost you both.” She lifted his chin until their eyes met. “Mason can’t come back, but you can.”
    â€œDad won’t allow it.” Brice said the words as if he didn’t care.
    â€œIs that what you believe?” Granny’s penetrating stare splintered his thin veil of indifference. Shame, humiliation and a deep-seated hurt forced Brice to turn away.
    â€œGood heavens, it is,” Granny gasped. “What has Adam done to you?”
    â€œHe gave me a place to belong.” Brice squeezed the bridge of his nose to curtail the migraine building behind his eyes. He didn’t want to waste their time arguing.
    â€œWhere you belong is in Walker’s Run.” Granny’s words held the conviction of a red-faced minister preaching hellfire and brimstone at a camp meeting revival. Brice wanted to believe. He truly did. Walker’s Run was his home.
    Had been his home, a lifetime ago. Soon the path he chose would ensure he never called Walker’s Run home again.
    The door swooshed open and closed. “The nurses are starting rounds.”
    â€œWho’s that?” Granny turned her head toward the woman in the shadows.
    â€œCassie.” Brice noticed how her presence de-escalated his tension.
    â€œSo you’ve met.” A curious smile lifted Granny’s voice.
    â€œI found her asleep in my bed.” The possessive thump in his chest wanted to erase the drop-dead smirk on Cassie’s face. Resisting her would be quite a challenge.
    He couldn’t wait.
    â€œOh, dear.” Granny’s grin ruined any worry her tone might have carried.
    â€œWe had a rough introduction, but I think she likes me.” Brice winked at Cassie. “Especially naked.”
    â€œDon’t bet on that, Benji ,” she countered, though her eyes held an unmistakable spark.
    Brice chuckled, and the mirthful sound surprised him.
    â€œOh, this does my heart good.” Granny rubbed her chest. “Cassie, my girl, come give Granny a hug.”
    Cassie’s stone face said that she didn’t want a hug. So did her ramrod-straight back.
    â€œCome, come. Don’t be shy. I don’t bite.” Granny smiled. Without her dentures, she looked as harmless as a toothless infant.
    â€œDon’t worry, Cas.” Brice walked her to his grandmother’s bedside. “Granny is human.”
    * * *
    Careful to avoid the IV lines and monitor wires, Cassie leaned in for one of Margaret Walker’s famous hugs. A hard tremble rocked Cassie’s body.
    â€œIt’s all right.” Margaret rubbed Cassie’s back. “Granny’s just a plain old granny. No need to be frightened.”
    Cassie had no fear of Margaret, though learning the woman didn’t sprout fur and bay at the moon came as a relief.
    Pure and simple, Cassie hated hospitals. They were cold and impersonal