She took Tynan’s hand. “The Elders said a Daonain can’t live long without shifting. It was partly why the female captives were dying. How did you…?”
“I trawsfurred often enough. On my days off, I visited the nearest forests or crossed the Sound to the Olympic Peninsula. I got a reputation for being a backpacker.” He smiled. “There were a couple of forested parks within Seattle that I’d run in after closing time.”
“Was it enough?” she asked.
“No. Not really.” He put his arm over her shoulder as if needing the closeness. “It’s why after I came here, I spent my first two months mostly in the forest. Donal wasn’t happy.”
“I worried you might not come back one day.” Tone grim, Donal looked away.
“I’m sorry, mo deartháir.” Tynan’s eyes filled with remorse. “I should have explained.”
It wasn’t like Tynan to hurt someone. But knowing how hard some things were to talk about, she slipped her hand into his.
Donal huffed. “Sometimes, deputy, it feels as if you’ve jailed-up your own words.”
The silence stretched between the brothers…and Margery could do nothing but wait.
“City law enforcement requires tight control over emotions.” Tynan shook his head. “It’s worse for a wolf with only humans around. Although the police are a type of a pack, I couldn’t let my guard down. It’s too easy to say something suspicious. I could never speak without thinking. And it was safer if I never shared anything personal.”
After a long moment, Donal nodded at his brother. Accepting the explanation. The effort.
Shifting the child on her lap, Margery leaned into Tynan’s side. Giving him the warmth of pack. “Maybe it’s time to unlearn those habits,” she told him firmly.
Laughter lit his blue eyes. “Bossy little wolf. I will if you will.”
Oh, now that’s just mean.
Chapter Nineteen
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - dark of the moon
The following Saturday, Tynan walked through the open door into Donal’s clinic room. His littermate and Meggie were washing the blood off the big table in the center of the room. “Looks like a war zone in here.”
“Kevin Murphy.” Donal hissed his annoyance. “Idiots shouldn’t be allowed to use sharp edged tools.”
“That’s what Mother used to say.” Tynan grinned and told Meggie, “She had a tongue sharper than a blade.”
Meggie smiled before a crease appeared between her brows. “She didn’t use that sharp weapon on her pups, did she?”
Busy cleaning, Donal said easily, “Of course she did.”
Meggie looked appalled.
Huh. Tynan had never considered how their mother’s parenting would appear to someone else. Her admirable dedication to healing had left little time or energy for her cubs. She’d also been short-tempered, critical, and sarcastic.
He tried to imagine Meggie flaying a cub with her words.
She wouldn’t.
Their mother shouldn’t have either.
Unsettled, Tynan changed the subject. “I take it that Murphy’s wounds were from a knife?”
“That’s right.” With a groan, Meggie raised her arms and stretched, the posture pulling her shirt taut over her full breasts—and stirring Tynan’s blood. She leaned against the now-clean table. “The brothers were field-dressing a deer, and Kevin got cut.”
“Nicked an artery, the dumbass,” Donal stated. “I doubt butchering would lead to a wound on the inner arm. I daresay the idiots were “sword” fighting and missed.”
“Sounds likely.” The Murphys were good males Tynan would let guard his back any day. But they were less responsible than adolescent shifters. “Did he need help getting home?”
“His brother took him.” Donal washed his hands. “He’ll be fine.”
“Physically, at least. His ego, though, might take a while to recover,” Meggie glared at Donal. “Or, I should say, both of their egos. Your manner with the people you’re caring for isn’t at all polite.”
This was like watching a pixie go after a bear. Tynan rubbed his mouth to hide his amusement
Donal held up his hands, palms out. “I’m nice to the ones who deserve it. Getting slashed from being stupid? They don’t deserve me being polite.”
“That’s not your call. Healer.” She gave him another frown and headed out.
Donal grinned. “If not for that weak ankle, she’d have stomped out.”
“She has a temper.” Tynan heard the front door slam. “Although it’s normally used to defend someone else.”
Donal had drawn a glass of water, and he paused with his hand halfway to his mouth. After a second, he lowered the glass. “You know, you’re right. I’ll try to behave.”
Because he didn’t want to upset the little banfasa.
Tynan smiled. It looked as if he and Donal were on the same trail.
“You’re back early. Did you need me for something?” Donal asked.
“Both of you, actually.” Tynan motioned toward the door. “Let’s go—"
“She’ll be back soon enough. She forgot her bag.” Donal grinned, picked up the big leather medical bag, and led the way to the kitchen.
A minute later, a tap sounded on the front door.
“Come on in,” Tynan called.
“It’s me. I left my bag here.” Her footsteps went into the clinic, stopped, then came down the hall. Meggie appeared in the kitchen.
“Donal, did you take my—” Spotting her bag on a kitchen chair, she shot Donal a quizzical frown.
“Yes, I’m holding your bag hostage.” Donal smirked, then his tone turned serious. “I wanted a chance to thank you for your help in calming the idiot down and getting the bleeding stopped. Sometimes I don’t have enough hands to control bleeding and do the healing.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “You’re welcome.”
“Since that’s done…” Donal grinned. “Tynan—”
“I’m glad I can help,” Meggie said, then frowned at Donal, “but calling your patient an idiot isn’t good.”
“Stubborn much?” Donal scowled. “If I have to deal with stupid injuries, there’s a possibility I won’t have the power to deal with someone who really needs me.”
Tynan gave his brother a sympathetic nod. It was the same with law enforcement. There were only so many hands to go around. It was frustrating to have to deal with disasters that occurred because some idiot troublemaker was dimmer than a cave at midnight.
“I understand.” Meggie pursed her lips. “But our job is to heal—not to judge. Considering some of the stories Tynan’s told me about you two when you were younger, well, I’d think you’d be more understanding.”
Tynan snorted. “She’s got us there.”
“You more than me,” Donal said in a superior voice. “Really, you were the worst—”
“No, I think you get the gnome-brain prize.” Tynan took advantage of Donal’s insulted surprise to move closer to Meggie. “Like when you heard funny mewing noises and were convinced there were kittens buried in the snow.”