“They got bit, but they didn’t die?” Quinn’s voice was hushed.
“What’s that?”
“You said people who got bit might have a wolf pup in their family later or they might not. So if they had kids after they got bit, then they didn’t die. The wolf didn’t kill them.”
Aaron cleared his throat and looked away, into the fire. “That’s a different subject.”
“That’s the subject I want to talk about,” Quinn said, his voice suddenly forceful. “I want to know about wolf attacks.”
“I’m not an expert.”
“You’re an expert on all of it. You’ve been a wolf for fourteen years. You’ve been through the change one-hundred-sixty-something times.”
“Quinn,” Aaron said.
“We can talk in front of Aunt Em. She’ll want to know too, having a wolf relative now.”
“I know we can, but I don’t—”
“I want to hear about the attacks. Come on, Aaron. You said I need to know about all this stuff. I need to know how dangerous I am. I need to know if I can go home someday or not.”
Quinn’s words were a barrage that gained speed, didn’t pause. Regardless of his new enhanced senses, he was too worked up within himself to register the change in Aaron. The bulk of the man was trying to shrink. His arms pulled in close to his body as his feet tucked under the camping chair.
“Maybe now’s not the best time,” Ember said.
But Quinn’s voice was still rising as he surged to his feet. “I need to know, Aunt Em. It’s important. You don’t understand.”
At the last shrill sentence, Aaron looked up from the fire. His gaze locked on Quinn, and he got to his feet and half-circled the fire to crouch beside him.
“Hey, pup, calm down. You’re on the verge of a headache.”
“I need toknow.”
“I’ll tell you what I can, but first let’s keep that headache away. You need to close your eyes and slow your breathing.”
“I don't ever want to hurt anybody.” He doubled over and clutched his head.
“Dang it, Quinn.”
Aaron scooped him up and cradled him, and in his massive arms Quinn looked small. Ember’s breath caught as she hurried to Aaron’s side.
“Can I help?” she said.
Quinn’s arms latched around Aaron’s back, and he buried his face in Aaron’s shirt.
“He’ll be fine in a few hours,” Aaron said quietly. “Just got too worked up, and my scent isn’t helping right now.” He bent close to Quinn’s ear and whispered, “Sorry, pup.”
So Ember hadn’t read too much in his distressed body language. She put a hand on his forearm. “I’m here if there’s anything I can do.”
“Let’s get him to bed.”
She kept her hand on Aaron’s arm without knowing why as they walked to the house, only knowing he seemed to appreciate the contact. She fetched a gel eye mask from the freezer while Aaron helped Quinn into pajamas and tucked him into bed.
When she returned to the room, Quinn said, “I ruined our bonfire night.”
“No, you didn’t.” Ember sat on the edge of his bed and covered his forehead and eyes with the gel pack. “How’s that?”
He adjusted it slightly. “Thanks.”
