“Anyway,” Quinn said, “Aaron’s our medic.”
“He’s a doctor?”
“He didn’t go to med school, but he got trained by the medic before him. You know how in the old days there were healers who learned stuff? And it was kind of unofficial, but they were really smart about injuries and sickness and whatever? That’s Aaron.”
“And he can perform stitches.”
“Oh yeah. He’s lanced infections and all kinds of stuff. One time he put Jeremy’s shoulder back in when it got dislocated. Not while I was here, but Jeremy told me about it.”
“Is there anything your adopted unclecan’tdo?”
Quinn sat pondering for longer than Ember had intended. At last he said, “He’s a pretty bad cook. He can only make like four things and he eats them over and over.”
“Well, that’s reassuring.”
He rolled his eyes. Then thought for another few seconds. “He can’t stand heights. He’s got a phobia.”
“And he told you about it?”
“There was a big storm here the week I came, and one of the trees near the house blew over onto the roof. The alpha came and got up on the roof and pushed the tree down. After the alpha left, I asked Aaron why he didn’t do it himself. We’re strong enough to handle one tree, you know? So he told me.”
She tried to picture the alpha doing something helpful, even kind. She could only see his amber eyes and hear his scratchy growl, but to the wolves he was their leader…and he’d sworn to preserve their lives.
Quinn got to his feet and stretched with great drama. “He might be gone awhile. Let’s make peanut butter sandwiches. We’ve got bananas too. And honey.”
He knew her guilty favorite. She gave a sigh of bliss.
“And then want to help me water the garden?”
“Sure, I’m up for that.”
“You’ve got the right shoes now.” He nodded to her boots with their mismatched laces.
“Quinn, you’re not worried for Zane. You think he’ll be okay?”
“Aaron won’t let anything happen to him. Plus, Zane might be a wolf, and we’re really sturdy against injuries.”
“How old is he?”
“Six. Come on, let’s eat fast and then I’ll show you all the vegetables we grow. Arlo and Rebecca run the farm that feeds the pack, but when Aaron got this place he didn’t feel right about getting rid of the garden. I think the person who lived here before was important to him and liked gardening for fun.” Quinn grimaced. “We eat most of the vegetables, but we’d probably eat more if Aaron knew how to do something with them besides throwing them in the oven with salt.”
She couldn’t help laughing, but a plan began to form in her mind. She shouldn’t stay as a mere guest, not when Quinn watered a dozen rows of vegetables as only one chore of many. She should pitch in. And this was an obvious way to do it.
Jeremy met Aaron as he got out of his truck. His eyes were wide, and he gripped Aaron’s forearm. The tangy odor of panic hit Aaron hard, overwhelming Jeremy’s sage-and-rosemary scent and competing with the heavy iron smell that was unmistakable even from outside the house.
“It’s—it’s really bad—really bad, I don’t know—don’t know if he—if he—”
One day someonewouldbe too badly hurt for Aaron to help. Every medic lived with the dread and the reality. Not today though. If Zane were in that kind of danger, the scent would be unmistakable.
“Jeremy, listen to me. Zane’s going to be fine.”
From the house another wolf joined them. Aaron didn’t look away, didn’t have to as the wolf’s caramel bourbon scent identified him—for a wolf, faster than even sight could do. Cassius put a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder, but Jeremy ignored him.
“Bleeding bad, Aaron, he’s bleeding bad—really bad—” His grip tightened on Aaron’s arm.
Aaron pried his fingers away, one at a time, as gently as he could. “Let go now, man. It’s okay. Zane is going to be okay.”
“Hey, man, we need to let Aaron do his job.” Cassius held an arm in front of Jeremy’s chest when he tried to follow Aaron inside. “No, better if you stay out here, right?” He nodded Aaron toward the house. “Go on. I’ve got him.”
