“You were supposed to be turned around. How did you know I was going to fall?” He made sure she had lain completely down before he answered. “I smelled the sudden spike in your adrenaline.”
“You move fast.” She pulled the covers up so her bare legs weren’t visible. Not that she was cold. Elizabeth felt so much heat traveling through her body she thought she might have to start fanning herself to keep her body temperature down. The doctors were bound to think there was something really wrong. “Your nose is really something.”
“The best in my pack.” He nodded, his eyes suddenly distant as if he wasn’t really present in the room with her but seeing something else, somewhere she couldn’t join him.
“I didn’t realize there was a difference between wolves in terms of their scenting ability.” Another piece of information the coven might want. She would use anything to get her family back.
“Are all witches the same? Do you all have the same powers and abilities?” He crossed his arms over his chest but he still didn’t seem to be really looking at her.
“No. I used to be very powerful but the curse dimmed my abilities for me too. So I guess it makes sense. You have a strong nose.”
“The best, unfortunately.” He walked away from her. “When the next human comes in to speak to you, I am going to temporarily steal their cell phone.” She tried to digest what he’d said. “What did you mean ‘temporarily steal?’ How do you accomplish it?”
“I’m going to steal it and then, eventually, I’m going to give it back. So, the theft is not permanent. It’s temporary.”
“Rex.” She scooted back in the bed, hating the fluorescent lights. “That doesn’t even make any sense. You could ask to borrow the phone rather than take it.”
“They might say no.”
“Yes, they might. But you won’t know unless you ask.”
Elizabeth suddenly felt like she was talking to a child. Why was she explaining morality to Rex Kane? The Westervelt Wolves were not exactly known for their ethics.
Of course, he would steal a phone and feel it was fine because eventually he would give it back. Why was she even surprised?
Still, it sat funny in her chest. He’d looked so perplexed when he’d told her the person might say no. Something was hidden in his eyes, something a part of her wanted to reach out and touch.
She closed her eyes instead. “Don’t get caught. I can’t go get you out of jail.”
“I never get caught. Not by humans, at least.” He shrugged. “I’m not a good man.
But I have a chance to prove my loyalty to my pack right now and I intend to use it.” A doctor chose that moment to enter the room. He was tall, gray-haired and wearing a white lab coat which looked like it had seen better days. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head when he looked at her appearance. Elizabeth forced herself to remain calm even as Rex started the deep growling noise telling her he was really angry at the man’s response to her looks. She glared at him. Growling wasn’t going to help this situation, even if she did appreciate the sentiment.
Rex came up behind him, and faster than Elizabeth could see with her human eyes snatched a cell phone out of his pocket. He waved it behind the man so she could see it and scooted out of the room. Her eyes tracked him until he disappeared down the hall.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she listened to the doctor who mumbled something about neurological tests and a CT exam even as he couldn’t look her in the eye. The older man seemed to be doing his best to look everywhere but at her. Elizabeth hoped she wasn’t really hurt in any way requiring help since she assumed it would be necessary to be actually examined to receive assistance.
She nodded to a question he asked about the injury. Yes, she’d fallen. No, she wasn’t pregnant. Yes, she was certain.
By the time the doctor—who she learned had the last name of Smith after she read his name tag not because he had actually introduced himself—had performed his neurological tests on her making her close her eyes and touch her nose, Rex had returned to the room. If it was possible, he looked even more remote than he had before he snuck out of the room. He made no moves toward the doctor, which meant he didn’t yet intend to return the poor man’s cell phone.
She narrowed her eyes as she stared at the wolf. Temporarily steal. Bull-crap.
Goddess help her, he was a lot to deal with.
“Is she going to be all right, Doctor?”
The older man gasped and turned around. “Have you been standing there the whole time?”
Rex nodded. “Well?”