I all but collapse into the chair. Lyall showed up to the bar wearing this big fluffy fur cloak, and the fur is warm and soft against my shoulder. It kind of reminds me of—
“Shit. Buddy. We left him!” Who is taking care of him?
I try to stand, but Lyall forces me back down.
“Soren, listen to me. There’s something I need to tell you.” Lyall heaves a sigh, shoulders slumping. In a low voice, he says, “I… I am Buddy.”
That makes no sense. “Sorry, what?” A few other patients look at me, and I realize I practically shouted the question at him.
Lyall hisses, “I am Buddy, and he is me. I’m ulfhednar. But you call our kind wolf shifters.”
Wolf shifters. Is he for real? I can’t believe he’d joke around at a time like this. “You know, now really isn’t the time to be making jokes!” I hiss, trying to escape his grip.
Lyall pulls me back into the chair before I can get far. “I would never lie to you, Soren! Even as a jest.” Lyall’s eyes are pleading with me, and maybe I’m crazy too because I almost believe him. How can I not when he looks at me like that?
As crazy as that whole statement sounds, it almost makes sense. Lyall was nowhere to be seen until Buddy just disappeared in the split second I was distracted with Fergus.
A laugh escapes me. “You’re insane.”
“I can show you.”
I bark a laugh at the thought. Exhausted, I slump over with my face in my hands. “Just… later, I guess.”
For a long while, we’re quiet. Lyall rubs my shoulders in soothing circular motions. As strange as he can be, I’m still so grateful he’s here. I’d hate to be alone right now with my thoughts.
“Mr. Smith?”
I jump to my feet. “Here!”
A doctor approaches and shakes my hand, introducing himself, but I barely listen. All that matters is when he says, “Your grandfather is stable. He’s going to be just fine, but he’ll need to stay the night for monitoring.”
“Can I see him?”
The doctor leads us to my grandfather’s room. He’s propped up against the pillows, eyes closed. The doctor leaves us alone before I start bawling like a scared little kid.
Lyall locks the door behind us. “Soren, I—”
“No. Enough of this ‘I’m a wolf’ crap. Just… just go away, Lyall.”
I regret my harsh words when Lyall flinches. “Please, just hear me out!”
I can’t. This is all too much.
“Soren?” My throat thickens when I lay eyes on Fergus, and he gives me a tired smile.
I rush to his bedside and put my arm around him, squeezing gently. “You scared the hell out of me!” Tears sting my eyes when he laughs that rusty, warm laugh.
“I’ll be fine, my boy.”
“Soren—” Lyall begins, but I hush him and focus on my grandfather.
“What happened? You were passed out when I came in.” I can’t keep the fear out of my voice.
Fergus’s lips twist in pity. “I’m sorry I worried you. I just felt so tired all of a sudden—” He goes quiet, glaring over my shoulder at Lyall.
“Oh, this is my friend Lyall.” I motion to the man. Except he’s not a man at all. There’s a motherfucking wolf right in front of me. A second ago he was Lyall, and now he’s a wolf. A wolf that looks a lot like Buddy the wolf-dog. Because he is. It’s just like Lyall said. They’re one and the same. But… buthow?
“Can you see that?” I ask hoarsely, pointing at the wolf.
