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“What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Margo held my hands in hers and looked deep into my eyes. Her concern was genuine, and I appreciated it so much that I couldn’t stop tears from pooling in my eyes.
Diana cooed over me, touching me to ensure I had no wounds. “Do we need to get you to a doctor? You look like you’re in shock. Oh, sweetheart, you’re freezing.” She looked over her shoulder at the sheriff. “Ger her a blanket.”
I stood frozen as they inspected me with the utmost care. I wanted to rage at my wolf for causing this confusion in my head. I was afraid I’d killed the nosy deputy when I lost control of the damn wolf, and though I’d slept for an ungodly amount of time—it always felt that way when the wolf pushed me out of my own consciousness—I was spent and didn’t know what to do next.
Diana wrapped Margo and me in a hug. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re safe. You’re okay now.”
I discreetly wiped away the single tear that fell down my cheek. I could remember the last time I’d had a motherly hug, but it had been way too long.
Ridge’s hand curled at my lower back, his heat searing my skin. His alpha presence and the simple fact that he was here calmed me.
The door opened again, and it was about to be standing room only in here. A few of the other town deputies walked in, stared at the man eviscerated on the bar, and took in the rest of the scene before them. That was their friend and colleague. They held stiff jaws but went straight to work, guiding everybody outside and sealing off the area with yellow tape.
The sheriff was the last to follow us out as he helped Lola out of the building and sat her on one of the benches that lined the street. “Now, this is an active crime scene. Everybody needs to stop pointing fingers.” When Audrey opened her mouth, probably to give some sort of long-winded lock-her-up speech, the sheriff held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it.” He looked at me, then at Audrey and Mateo, then swept his gaze at the assembled crowd. “All of you, stay nearby. I’m going to question each and every one of you. It’ll take a while, and I don’t want any of you pissing and moaning about it.”
He stared straight at me. “Whether this was a murder or a wild animal, we’ll get to the bottom of it.” He eyed every person who had been in the bar, making his point across the board. “Is that clear?”
No one spoke and everyone nodded, even though Audrey and Mr. Greenthorne wanted to speak more on the subject. But the sheriff walked away before they could get another word out.
Chapter9
Ridge
I stayed by Tori’s side as we were all shuffled outside. My wolf was on high alert, even more so now at the distress exuding from Tori. We were hyper-aware of all the suspicious looks of horror and disgust the townsfolk were shooting at Tori.
It made it all the more difficult to control my wolf. He wanted to challenge everyone—wolf and human alike—and remind them exactly who was in charge and to watch what they said or did. That wasn’t reasonable, though; I was well-aware of that. I reasoned with the wolf, urging him not to lose his shit. Attacking them would only look worse on Tori and scare her even more.
Needing a moment alone with her, I grabbed Tori’s hand and guided her away from the bar, but not far enough to make Clawson think we were making a run for it. Gently, I captured her chin, turning her face away from the distrust and angst of the crowd so she’d focus on me and I could speak with her.
The crowd’s contempt for this little wolf had me frothing at the mouth like a rabid dog. I wished I’d found her sooner to avoid her being the center of this, but Tori’s status as a newcomer within a close-knit community like this would make her prime suspect number one. Plus, she’d had a very public altercation with Hill. That didn’t help her case one bit, even though Phil had been a jackass. It was easier to believe an outsider was capable of the brutal killing than one of our own.
However, I was almost sure Tori didn’t kill him. I hadn’t exactly known where she was when looking for her this morning. But after what we’d done together last night, I didn’t entertain the notion that she’d played any part in his death.
We stepped far enough away from the crowd, and I shielded her as much as I could. I wanted her away from Audrey’s accusatory shouts more than anything. That woman had a screech that drew attention, which was the last thing Tori needed right now. I could at least turn her away from the prying eyes, but I couldn’t stop the high-pitched squeals of the privileged wolf.
I released Tori’s hand and started checking her over myself. Despite having watched Margo and Diana do exactly that, I needed to do it for me and my wolf’s peace of mind. She was shaking like a leaf, hyperventilating. The second I released her hand, she clutched her head again. All signs pointed to the fact that her escalating panic was quickly overtaking her. It reminded me of her appearance the day I met her.
Anger and worry warred within me. Anger at the crowd for inducing this episode and worry that she wouldn’t come out of it. When a wolf struggled against becoming feral, one never knew when the feral psyche would completely take control and consume the wolf, who would never be brought back to humanity.
Bundling her into my arms, I held her close, comforting her and whispering in her ear, “You’re okay, Tori. I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe.” I spoke firmly, hoping my words would get through to her.
She whimpered, and the sound of her despair arrowed into my heart, shattering it. That sound was full of hopelessness and loneliness. Rocking her, I cautiously attempted to spread my scent over her. I needed her wolf to realize she wasn’t alone and another wolf was with her. I wouldn’t let the feral take her from me, not now that I’d found her.
“Shhh, Tori. You got this. You’ll calm down, just like you’ve done in the past. You’re so strong. You’re safe. Shhh.”
I kept up a stream of soothing words. I was prepared to do this for her as long as she needed, but her fight and spirit were strong. It didn’t take long for the shaking to subside, for her breathing to even out into deep inhales and exhales.
We stood still with her in my embrace. She rested her head against my chest, her hands clenched under her chin. Several sniffles escaped her, and a patch of wetness soaked through my shirt. I held her tightly and kept my chin resting on her head.
My wolf was content. Tori was calming down and letting us hold her, but I prayed nobody came toward us just yet, because then my wolf would snap. Tori was our only priority at the moment.
Slowly, Tori moved her head and wiped away the tears. I kept holding her. She wouldn’t feel alone or discarded again, not with me around.
“Ridge, please let me go. I need to go turn myself in.” Her voice was sad and throaty.
Surprise had me holding onto her tighter. “Do you remember killing the deputy?”
The tone I used was slightly sterner than it probably should’ve been. I couldn’t help it, though. After being in wolf form last night, she might not have any memories of what happened. Sometimes the wolf didn’t want their counterpart to know, so it hid the details. Hid everything, even the headlines. Her wolf had seemed somewhat feral. Not so bad that she couldn’t come out of it, but enough that Tori was not present in her wolf form.
