Dr. Wolf, the Fae Rift Series Book 1- Shockwave by Cheree Alsop Page B

suggested.
    “That’d be pretty elaborate,” Nurse Eastwick said. “Things have definitely gone too far if the news is involved.”
    Marae bit into her sandwich, then her cell phone beeped. She checked the screen.
    “Shoot. I’ve got to go. A dog was brought in mangled by something the owner didn’t see.” She looked at Aleric. “Is that okay?”
    He nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on Braum.”
    She smiled at him. “I know you will.” She grabbed her purse from the table. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Call me if you need anything.”
    “Will do,” Nurse Eastwick said. As soon as the door closed, the nurse slumped in her chair. “If we have many more days like this one, I’m going to check myself into a mental institution.”
    “Do those places exist here?” Aleric asked.
    The nurse nodded. “You guys don’t have them? Where do you put the crazy people?”
    “First of all, crazy is a harsh term. I’m sure there’s something more professional to call them, like ‘mentally deranged’ or ‘completely psychotic’.” Aleric grinned. “And secondly, in Blays everyone is pretty much crazy. I mean, it’s full of demons and vampires and such. Who’s to say who is insane?”
    Nurse Eastwick smiled. “You have a point.”
    Aleric shrugged. “It just all depends on your standards. If you set a line and say anyone beyond that is crazy, the person drawing the line had better have a very solid foundation as to why he or she deserved to do so in the first place. Aren’t we all a little bit insane?”
    “I feel insane right now,” she replied. “Has today even been real? Maybe you’re right. A sane person would have left this hospital with the first patient.”
    “Who was the first patient?” Aleric asked.
    She pointed her fork at him. “Yesterday night when the chaos hit? You.”
    That sent a tremor down Aleric’s spine. “Tell me about when I was brought in.”
    “Well, you were naked—”
    “You can skip that part,” Aleric told her.
    She laughed. “The hospital gown was flattering—”
    Aleric stood up.
    “Kidding,” Nurse Eastwick said. “Sit down and eat something before you fall over.” When he complied, she continued, “They brought you in on the ambulance, saying someone had found you unconscious in an alley. We thought maybe you had been jumped, stripped, and robbed.” At his surprised expression, she nodded. “It happens.” She gave him a curious look. “Do you know how you ended up there?”
    Aleric shook his head. “It’s foggy. I don’t remember much from before I woke up.” He rubbed the back of his head. His fingers found the knot. “Any chance you know where they found me?”
    She nodded. “I remember because it’s not far from my apartment. Second Street and Hamilton. I’ll warn you; it’s not the best part of the city.”
    “So why do you live there?” he asked.
    She gave him a wry smile. “ER nurse, remember? Putting my boy through college isn’t cheap. I had to make a few compromises to my lifestyle, but it’ll be worth it when he graduates.”
    “You’re a good mother,” Aleric told her.
    Her answering smile warmed his heart.

Chapter 7
     
    Aleric walked through the hallways of the hospital careful to avoid any nurses or patients. Luckily, it seemed the D Wing was seldom traveled, so the hallways around it had less traffic than most. He could hear the sounds of babies on the maternity level three floors up; their mewling cries and the soothing sounds of their mothers touched his ears with the whispers of new life. The Emergency Room was quiet for the moment. It seemed nightfall brought with it a sort of calm that settled over the pale building. If he was going to leave, it was the perfect chance.
    He paused by the back door. A glance at the parking lot beyond showed three cars that looked as though they hadn’t been moved in quite a while. One had a flat tire and the other two were covered in enough dirt and debris that visibility