Dani Harper: First Bite

“Why would I go anywhere with you? I know what you are.” She practically spat the words at him, even as she grabbed the remote from the bed and poised her thumb over the red button for the nurses’ station. “You’re one of them .”

“Yeah, well, I know what you are, too, sister.”

Of course he would know, but it still stung. She didn’t want to be like him or any of the rest of the damned creatures under Meredith’s thumb. “Look, I know who sent you. And I can give you twice what she offered you.”

He laughed at that. “Trust me, nobody could pay me enough to come here . It stinks.”

“What about your pack leader?”

“I have no pack. I’m just here to spring you.”

Something like hope stirred inside her, and she pushed it down hard. Not only was this a werewolf she was dealing with, but he had screwed up her plans once already. She wouldn’t be fooled. “Meredith won’t like it,” she tested.

“Who?” He slid the sunglasses down his nose, revealing vivid blue eyes that studied her as intently as she was studying him. “Look, if you have a gripe with somebody, that’s your problem. I’m here to get you out of here. Period.”

From the set of his mouth, he looked like he was bracing himself for an argument. She was all set to give him one, too, then realized this was exactly the opportunity she needed. “Okay.”

“Look, we both know you can’t stay— what ?”

“I said okay . I want to go. Go ahead, get me out of here. You messed up everything the other night and you’re responsible for me being in this place, so you owe me, mister. Let’s go.”

“Wait just a damn minute.” He pulled the sunglasses off completely then and pointed them at her. “I saved your frickin’ life, lady. If anybody owes anybody, it’s—”

“Just get me out of here and we’re even.” She started struggling to her feet as he opened and closed his mouth, obviously at a loss for words. He recovered enough to offer his big hand again, and this time she took it and used it to pull herself up, finding herself standing almost nose to nose with him. Or rather, nose to chest . Neva was tall herself, but this guy was huge. She eyed him warily. “No funny stuff. Get me out of here, and we’re done.”

He hesitated, his brow furrowed. “Anyone in their right mind would be happy to get out of here, but you’re a little too keen. You thinking of trying to off yourself again?”

“That’s none of your business. Are you going to help me get out of here or not?”

The frown deepened, but he didn’t argue further, just put his sunglasses back on. “Can you walk?”

“Not fast, but yeah.” Okay, technically she’d only shuffled around her room and limped partway to the nurses’ station once. She had no idea if she’d hold up any farther than that, but she wasn’t going to say so. Instead, she pulled the ties of her bathrobe tighter and grabbed her cane.

He placed himself on her left, her arm and leg casts against him, and threw an arm around her, his big hand curled around her waist. “What’s your name?”

“Why’s it matter?”

“Well, if we’re stopped, it’ll look pretty suspicious if I don’t know my own cousin’s name.”

Cousin. Well, it was lot better than pretending to be his girlfriend—she wouldn’t have to feign affection. After all, if he was her own cousin, Alec, she would have punched him rather than hug him just out of childhood habit. Before she could say anything, however, her newly acquired cousin picked up her chart from the plastic pocket on the door.

“Geneva Rayne Ross,” he read.

“Just Neva.”

“Christ, you used your real name? I thought you were trying to hide.”

“Hey, I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly when they brought me in here. So who the hell are you , the werewolf police? Why do you keep interfering in my life?”

He was silent for a long moment. “Travis Williamson. No. And goddess only knows.”

She swung around and thumped the center of his chest with a right hook, which was all she could reach from the awkward angle. It was a point in his favor that he didn’t let her fall—she’d overbalanced and would have done a fine face-plant if he wasn’t hanging on to her.

“What the hell was that for?” he demanded.

“Luck.”

“Must be extra good luck since you already stabbed me in the same frickin’ spot,” he muttered. “Lean on me,” was all the warning she got before he abruptly propelled the pair of them sideways through the door and down the hall.

She’d been worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep up, but there was no need. Her feet barely touched the floor at all. She couldn’t be glued more tightly to Travis’s right side if he’d used duct tape to secure her. And despite the strength of that big arm and its sizeable hand, he somehow managed not to squeeze her too hard. As for the effort required of him, she might as well have been a sack of groceries as he negotiated a path through the busy halls.

To her surprise he smelled good. Her senses were so much keener now, which was a real drawback in a place like a hospital, where most smells were repellent at best. Travis’s scent was earthy and definitely male , but not in a stinky-gym-socks kind of way—instead, it reminded her of hiking trails in the mountains and summers by the lake. And it was strong. This close to him, the scent of him canceled out all the others around her, and she was oh so grateful for that little perk.

“My goodness, girl, where are you going?” It was Fern. Breaking away from a group of nurses by the elevator, she came over and looked like she was going to start examining her patient for damage. Instead she folded her arms and glared up at Travis. “This gal’s in the hospital for a reason, mister.”

“My cousin and I were just heading to the gift shop for a few minutes and then maybe the cafeteria,” Neva said quickly. “I’m all right. I feel pretty good, and I’m really not putting much weight on my leg, see? Barely had to use my cane at all.” She waved it and smiled.

Fern looked unconvinced. “You’re going to wear yourself out.”

“He promised to carry me if I got tired.”

On cue, Travis swung her up into his arms. “I’ll take good care of her, ma’am. We want her to get better.” He leaned down to Fern and whispered, “Shopaholic. Neva won’t be happy until she buys a few magazines and some knickknacks.” Neva smacked him solidly, but he ignored it.

“Don’t keep her too long,” warned Fern. The frown was still there, but it had relaxed to two furrows instead of three. “I’m off shift now, honey,” she said to Neva. “I’ve got three days off, but I’ll check in on you first thing when I get back. I don’t want to hear that they had to double your pain meds because of this little escapade.” She patted Neva’s good leg and headed back to her coworkers.

The chime of an elevator door sounded, and Travis turned and walked into the car with Neva still in his arms. Several people followed them on.

“You can put me down now,” she whispered fiercely.

“Later,” he said smugly. “The nurse was right. We don’t want to wear you out.”

“And what was that bit about me being a shopaholic?”

“You know you have trouble controlling yourself.”

“I do not!”

“You can’t be helped if you don’t admit you have a problem.” He smiled and addressed a couple who were staring at them. “She was injured at a shoe sale. Trampled when the doors opened.”

“I am so going to hurt you,” she muttered.

She repeated the phrase when they arrived in the parking garage. “A motorcycle? Are you crazy?” she said as he set her on her feet. “Nice bike, but I’m not getting on it.”