A Dangerous Moon [Tales of the Werewolf Clan] (2 page)

Rick sighed. Someone was already getting rowdy.
Yep, time to go.
He chuckled to himself, tossing a couple of crinkled bills onto the bar for Slim when a cold shiver shot down his spine.

He honed-in on the sensation.
Trouble.
Someone was behind him. Rick drew in a deep breath. Slowly, he stood up and turned around.

"Hello, Richard." The petite blonde's acidy voice didn't match her delicate features.

"Hi, Teresa." Rick managed a weak smile. "Long time, no—

Before he could finish, she'd balled up her fist and reared back. There was a blur of movement, and then red-hot pain shot through his jaw.

That's when the room tilted sideways and the floor came up to meet him.

Chapter Two

Allison was tense throughout her body. It had been a long one, but her work shift was finally over. She was ready to head home. Shrugging off her white jacket, she hung it on a hook inside her locker and reached for her bag.

"Let me guess. You're thinking about a long hot shower and a pint of Haagen-Dazs ice cream," Jeni said, poking her head around the corner of the employee locker room door.

"You know it!" Allison returned her smile, slamming the locker shut and reaching into her bag, looking for her keys. "I'll see you tomorrow."

A familiar
ding
pulled their attention to the unit intercom on the far wall. "Doctor Browne, report to ER-one STAT. Dr. Browne, ER-one STAT."

"Damn!" Allie muttered under her breath, quickly opening her locker and shoving her bag back inside. She grabbed her white jacket and shoved it on while heading through the door with Jeni at her heels.

Her heart sank as made her way into the emergency area of the unit. It was already noisy with commotion. She found Doctor Cary waiting by the doors.

"What's going on?"

"Bar fight. One semi-conscious and one injured." Doctor Cary frowned and shook his head. "I can handle the injury if you'll take care of the semi-conscious one, okay?"

Allison drew a deep breath and nodded. "I'm on it as soon as they get here."

She turned to a unit assistant. "Prep room one while I scrub up. Check vitals for me and I'll be right in." Then she headed to the sink to get prepared.

"Well, so much for my date with Haagen-Dazs," she sighed, overhearing the commotion of the new patients' arrivals. After she was scrubbed and ready, she stepped into the room. Her assistant was busy preparing the patient. And, in a near-by corner stood Bruce Taylor, a fellow
sithech
and Heather Grove police officer, with a grim expression on his face.

Allie stepped close to the table and leaned over the injured patient. She blinked, stunned as it dawned on her who her emergency patient was. Richard Shaw. Her ex-boyfriend. Drawing another deep breath, she attempted to push aside the feelings swirling in her belly. She had to stay cool and professional.

"What do we have?" Her assistant proceed to fill her in on the patient's stats. "So, he's a bit out of it, huh?" She asked while examining his jaw and the side of his face. "There may be swelling, possible bruising too, but, thank goodness, his jaw isn't broken. What did this?"

"A woman." Bruce spoke up from the corner of the room.

Allison looked over at the cop, meeting his gaze. "What did she hit him with?"

"Her fist."

Allison raised an eyebrow, but didn't say a word and proceeded to tend his injuries. When she was finished, she stepped back from the table and carefully studied his face.

The she-wolf inside her could sense his
sithech
-nature. His dark, wavy hair was long and unkempt with a streak of white hair which brushed his forehead. Yet his features were still well-defined and chiseled like the rest of his body. But what drew her attention the most were his lips. They were good for two things – sweet talking and kissing.

Allie shook off the strange sensations which stirred inside her and turned to Bruce, the police officer, waiting by the window.

"Have you contacted Rick's family yet?"

"Yes, ma'am." Bruce nodded. "I called Ray on the way over here. He should be out in the waiting room by now. Do you want me to get him?"

"Yes, please do." Allison nodded. As Bruce and the unit assistant exited the room, she leaned in a bit closer. "Richard? Rick? Can you hear me?" she asked in a gentle tone and placed a hand to his stubbled cheek.

A low groan escaped from his lips, and then his eyes fluttered open. He blinked, his lips curling at the corners into a thin smile. "Hey, what's up, doc?"

"I'd like to ask you the same question." She straightened to her full height and slid her hand into her jacket pocket.

"I'm not sure, really. Guess I was on the wrong end of a sucker punch."

"I'll say," Allison agreed with a thin smile.

Richard tried to sit up, but she laid a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Whoa, now," she cautioned. "You might want to stay there while I finish my examination." She reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a pen light. "I have to check a few more things, so just relax."

"Oh, alright," he grumbled and lay back on the table, allowing her to continue. After a few moments, he met her gaze. "So, how are you doing, Allie?"

"I'm fine. Busy, as usual. This place certainly keeps me on my toes, but I can't complain." She flashed him a quick smile then changed the topic. "I didn't know you were back in town. How long have you been back?"

"A couple of hours, I think," Richard replied with a grin. "I stopped off at
The Red Lion
for a cold beer after being on the road all day. I chatted with Slim for a while, and then got knocked out by one of the patrons."

"Yeah, if I remember correctly, that sounds like you." Allison couldn't help but chuckle. "You're back in Heather Grove for only a few hours and wind up in the urgent care unit."

He gave a low groan in response. Allison could've sworn he'd blushed, then he met her gaze once more and reached over to take hold of her hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze. "Believe me, doc, getting cold cocked isn't my idea of a warm 'welcome home'. But, I must say, it's nice to see a friendly, familiar face."

Allison felt her cheeks tingle with color. She cleared her throat, then replied, "You're going to have a nasty bruise on the side of your face and maybe swelling, but, thank goodness, nothing's broken and no signs of a concussion either." Then she leaned in and added in a low voice, "Now, why don't you close your eyes and relax while I try to speed up the healing process, okay?"

An uncertain expression crossed his face. Rick frowned, but Allison patted his hand and gave him a reassuring smile.

"There's nothing to worry about, trust me. I use my healing gifts on most of our wolf clan and with good results. It's quite harmless. It just helps your wolf DNA to accelerate your overall healing process," she explained.

He sighed. "Okay, if you insist, doc."

"Shhh," she hushed him. "You'll thank me later. Now, let's do this before anyone comes in."

Allison straightened and gently placed her hands on his chest and closed her eyes. At first, it was hard to concentrate, feeling his heart beat beneath her hands. It seemed to echo her own, making her insides quiver.

She took another breath, trying again to focus. Finally, the sounds from outside the room began to fade and she sharpened her focus as a bright ball of energy twinkled like a star in her inner vision. Her hands begin to tingle with healing energy which was the birthright of the females in her
sithech
family. Allison relaxed into the warm, familiar sensation, one which she'd experienced often with each healing session.

Rick appeared to relax too. She sensed he was breathing along with her, softly inhaling and exhaling in a gentle, steady pace, his chest rising and falling beneath her hands. The energy inside her expanded, the twinkling ball growing larger and brighter in her inner vision.

Finally, with an exhale of breath, she allowed the energy to flow from her hands to Rick's prone body. A bright flash of rainbow hues filled her senses as the connection was made.
Oh my!
Allison was surprised by the intense burst of energy as warmth spread through her body and her heart began to thump wildly in her chest.

Although she was quite experienced with transferring healing energies, this was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Brilliant streams of vivid colors swirled in her inner vision while Rick's heart pounded beneath her palms. A wave of heat rippled up her spine and, when it reached the top of her head, images flooded her mind's eye.

Allison gasped. Her eyes snapped open and broke her connection to the visions. The healing heat which had been wavering up her spine went cold. Ice cold with fear. Bewildered, she gripped the side of the examination table and drew a shaky breath.

"Allie! Are you okay?" Rick's voice sounded distant. She shook her head, attempting to clear her head. He must have leapt off the table, because Rick now stood beside her and wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders. He held her tight so she wouldn't fall to the floor.

"Uh, yeah, I think so." Inside, however, she felt like Jell-o. It was certainly an unusual experience for her to get visions during a healing session. Especially one like this one. Allison made a quick mental note to contact her aunt and ask about the visions, then returned her attention to Rick. "How about you? How do you feel?"

"I'm fine. Why don't you sit down?" he suggested, walking her over to a stool beside the table. Allison sat down and took another breath. "Wow, I've never experienced a healing session quite like that. It was pretty intense."

Rick nodded. "Yes, it was. Are you sure you're alright? Should I get someone?"

"No!" She cut him off, shaking her head. "There are only a few on the staff that know I'm a
sithech
healer. The rest wouldn't understand. Besides, I'm feeling better now. Really, I am." She reassured him with a tiny smile.

"You had me worried there for a moment. One minute I'm feeling amazing, the next minute, something happened. I don't know what, but I sensed something, Allie."

"You sensed?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean your empathic abilities, right?" She recalled how he could sense others' feelings. It had been like a thorn in his side for years. "I thought, by now, you'd learned how to control it."

"No, not quite." Rick sighed and took a step back from her. From the expression on his face, he seemed uncomfortable about the subject, so she decided not to ask any more questions.

She rose from the stool while he slid back onto the examination table. His attention was still on her, a concerned expression on his face.

"Don't worry about me. I'm okay now." She reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

The examination room doors swung open. She pulled her hand from Rick's and glanced up as Bruce walked into the room, with Ray McShaw close on his heels.

"Hey, buddy, I'm glad you're conscious," Bruce said. "If your doctor doesn't mind, I still need to ask you a few questions about what happened for my police report."

"That's fine with me. I'm done here," Allison replied. "I'll leave for now, but I'll be back in with his paperwork and release him tonight."

"You're not going to keep him for observation?" Ray McShaw raised an eyebrow. It always amazed Allison that Rick and Ray were each their own unique person, despite their brotherly bond. They were as opposite as night and day.

"He may be sore for a few days, but nothing's broken, just bruised, and I'm pleased to say there's no sign of a concession. I have a feeling he'll make a quick recovery," she smiled. "Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, there's paperwork for me to fill out."

"That's good news." She overheard Bruce say as she turned for the door. "Because we want to know why Teresa Owens attacked you tonight at
The Red Lion
."

Teresa Owens?
Allison stomach twisted into a knot as she pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway. Somehow, that revelation didn't surprise her. She'd heard a rumor he and Teresa were lovers for a short while after she and Rick had broke up.
I should've known better.

* * *

Rick's gut tightened as he watched Allison leave the examination door. It was another strong, empathic sensation – bitter with a hint of disappointment. Before he could contemplate what he was sensing, Ray cleared his throat.

"Hey, stud-muffin, Bruce is asking you a question."

"Oh, sorry," he apologized, turning his attention back to his brother and Bruce who were waiting, somewhat impatiently, for him to reply. "I guess I'm still fuzzy-headed. What was the question?"

Bruce rolled his eyes, and then poised his pen over his notepad. "I was just asking you to tell us why Teresa took a swing at you in the bar."

"I was minding my own business, having a beer and chatting with Slim. He left to take care of some rowdy patrons when I sensed someone come up behind me. I turned around, saw it was Teresa, and before I could say anything, she reared back and decked me. That's all I remember. Well, until I heard you and Allison talking, then I came to."

"So you didn't do or say anything in the bar to provoke Teresa?" Bruce asked.

"Nothing, honest. In fact, I'd only been in town for maybe an hour or so. Like I said, I was just minding my own business." Rick shrugged.

"Come on, off the record, bro, level with us," Ray folded his arms over his chest and squared his jaw. "Do you think Teresa's holding a grudge?"

Rick slowly sat up on the table and rubbed the back of his neck. "Maybe. I hadn't spoken to her since I left town last time. I don't know. She might've been pissed, but I did talk to her before I hit the road. I told her…" his voice trailed off as he recalled the anger he'd sensed radiating off the petite blonde.

"You told her what?" Bruce coaxed in a low voice.

"I told her I was heading out alone. She'd wanted to come with me, but I prefer to hit the road by myself. I got a job in Denver for a few months and didn't know when I'd be back."

"So you called off your relationship, huh?" Ray sighed.

"Well, it was more like a 'friends with benefits' deal." Rick flashed his brother a sly smile. Ray groaned and Bruce shook his head. "Hey, I'm not proud of it. To be honest, it was a big mistake after what happened between me and Allison. You know what I mean?" Rick glanced back and forth at the two men.

"Live and learn, little brother," Ray replied. "But, remember, it can be dangerous messing around with women. Especially with our pack's she-wolves."

Both brothers glanced over at Bruce who merely shrugged, then jotted down something on his notepad before he looked up. "Well, that explains a lot. Being both a
sithech
and a police officer, it doesn't surprise me when a she-wolf gets her fur all riled up when the moon phases change. And, Ray's right, it can be dangerous."