Wolf’s Heart by Ruelle Channing, Cam Cassidy Page A

importantly, who is spooning against me? 
    Tensing, she prepared to leap from the bed, but instead groaned at the first bit of movement. The arm tightened around her waist, holding her in place.
    The voice from the past came back, husky with sleep. Yes, Ryden. “Carlee, it’s just me, Buttercup. Relax. I got you.”
    She tried to relax and lay back down in bed, but that proved to be nearly impossible. Letting out a deep breath, yesterday’s events slowly began to fill in the blank spots in her memory. 
    “Now I remember why I don’t do drugs.”
    Her attempt at a fake laugh made the suture line in her belly hurt, but there was no way she was taking another shot. Not yet. She didn’t have her wits about her, and right now, she needed all of them to figure out what the hell was going on, who was after her besides G and what they wanted. Ryden’s hand moved, resting on her hip. Answers needed to come, and they needed to start here. 
    “Ryden, how did you find me? I mean, like, it’s not that I’m not glad you got me off that balcony, but if this is a breeze through town, I think I’m gonna have to pass.”  
    It was a funny thing about getting your ass kicked by someone you know and trust, the little voices in your head kick into overdrive for all the times you ignored them in the past. The tune of the day was trust no one. There is no such thing as coincidence. She lifted his hand from her hip and started to get up. Groaning in pain, she realized sitting up was definitely out of the question. Instead, she rolled off the side of the bed to her knees and then to stood up, which worked just fine, as long as her pillow came along.
    Ryden was up in less than a heartbeat and at her side, his arm around her waist. He steadied her as the room spun. 
    “Easy, Buttercup. I really don’t want to scrape you up off the floor. You might hurt that brilliant brain of yours.” He held her tightly until the room settled.
    “Ryden, I need to pee, and I don’t think you can do that for me.” Her heart raced again as he gently picked her up and carried her to the bathroom. When he placed her feet on the cold linoleum, he stood there to make sure she didn’t face plant onto the floor before he let go. 
    “Seriously, Ryden, I think I can handle this alone.” 
    “I’m right outside the door. If you feel dizzy, call out.” Carlee rolled her eyes at him, and he scowled. “I mean it, Carlee, you fall because you’re being too stubborn to ask for help and you’ll be sorry.”
    “Alright, alright, geez, keep your pants on.” He closed the door and she took care of business while she looked around the bathroom, and wondered if she could make it out the window.
    Was Ryden one of the bad guys? How did he just show up? Why did he get her off the balcony if he intended to kill her? How did he get her off the balcony to begin with? Why take her to see a doc?  
    Leaning against the counter while washing her hands, she looked at herself in the mirror. She argued with herself about whether or not to trust Ryden; she was still pissed at him. The door opened. Ryden’s eyes meeting hers in the mirror were intense at first, and then softened as he seemed to read the thoughts that were running through her head.
    Ryden’s voice was calm when he finally spoke. “Carlee, I’m not the bad guy here. Don’t run from me. I’m trying to help.” 
    Damned if the hormones and the drug hangover didn’t decide to kick in as she looked back at him. Tears filled her eyes, clouding her vision before they began spilling slowly down her cheeks. Carlee was pushing at his chest as he stepped forward, his strong arms reaching out for her. He seemed to be bigger than she remembered, stronger. With no effort at all he gently scooped her into his arms, walked back out to the main room, and sat in a chair cradling her on his lap.
    She could only look at him in wonder. He was beautiful, over six feet tall and his years in the service did his body more