“Crispy critter in room three. Male. Dead on arrival.” Nina raced toward the nurse’s station, her gaze connecting with Royce’s. It was early evening, but it may as well have been the middle of the night for the level of crazy that had ensued over the last hour and a half.

“What else?” Royce looked over the current wall chart of patients as Nina scribbled in info on some newly admitted patients.

The resident scurried by flanked by two of the younger nurses as they made their way down to the childbirth room. He would hear if there were any problems. The boy had gotten scolded earlier in the evening and would be on his best behavior. Still, keeping an eye on him would be prudent. Royce sent out a quick text to the other ER doctors and got ready for the next round.

“We also have two females. One has been bitten on the left foot. Another woman arrived with her. Life signs are weak and she’s been placed in intensive care.” She glanced at Royce and looked away.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“You need to deal with this in a private room, boss. One of those hairy problems again.” Nina met his eyes and gave him a nod. Shifter issue then. Okay.

The vampire was his best resource, there was no doubt. He wouldn’t have been able to catch half of the shifters brought in if she hadn’t been so observant. It was up to them to make sure no one got bitten, and a sick shifter made everyone around them vulnerable to attack.

“Where is she?”

“Follow me. I put her in one of the closed door suites for now.” Nina took off down the hall toward the doors. “There’s something else you should know before we get there.”

“What?” Now he was getting irritated. It wasn’t like her to be this evasive.

“The man who arrived with the ambulance said he needed to speak with you. He’s right outside.”

Royce scowled. “We don’t have time for that.”

“I know, but I think you need to hear what he has to say.” She gave him a knowing look and waded through the crowds in the waiting room, pushing out into the humid night. An athletic man wearing a dirty gray tee shirt and jeans stood next to an animal rescue truck, the glow of the parking lot light shining down on him like a dirty yellow halo.

His wolf on alert, he exited the building with a whoosh of the sliding doors, the cool of the air conditioned ER giving way to the humid Texas heat.

Preternatural awareness slid over his skin. This man was no mere human. Royce scented the air but the most he could detect was an essence of magic around him. Spent magic.

Witch.

Royce’s wolf hunched low beneath his skin, his gaze flickering over the parking lot. Nothing appeared out of place but his wolf would not be assuaged.

“If this is your idea of a trap, you’re foolish to do anything here.” His teeth clenched and he cocked his head to listen for others.

“Dr. Buchanan?”

“I am. What do you want here, witch?”

Running a hand roughly through his hair, the man shook his head, strain written over his features. “Who I am isn’t important. You have two women that just arrived by ambulance. One was bitten by the other.”

So far he wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know. Why was the scent of Royce’s pack on him?

Unease churned in his gut.

“Go on.”

The man turned to the truck and reached for a latch on one of the side cage doors.

Royce growled. “Be careful. Hospital grounds or not, if you try one of your spells or anything else, I’ll rip out your throat without thinking twice.”

“No. Wait.” The witch blanched and held up his hand, a tired expression crossing his face. “The last thing I want is any more trouble. Joanie didn’t deserve what happened to her today. If I had known…” He closed his mouth, his jaw tightening.

“Act carefully.” Royce took a step forward. If he had to attack, he didn’t want witnesses. The lot was quiet now, but that wouldn’t last for long. Nothing about the ER lent itself to peace.

“Here. This is yours. Take it.” The witch unlocked the cage and a pair of bright eyes peered out from the darkness.

What in the holy fuck?

David?

Fury bristled and his wolf slid close beneath his skin as he looked into the eyes of one of his own. He was only a pup.

“Why do you have a child in your truck?” Royce marched forward and held his arms out to the lad. He leapt from the enclosure into Royce’s embrace, a whimper sounding out as he buried his muzzle in Royce’s armpit. Royce stroked his matted fur, the sticky sweet scent of his blood filling the air. The urge to protect what was his rolled over him in waves, the moon skimming his beast dangerously close to the surface.

Clare’s child. Hurt. He closed his eyes and tried to center himself.

“He’s injured. What happened?”

“He’s alive. I had no choice but to conceal him. It was shot and I had to get it out of the way before Darius saw him and reported back. The pup, I’m not sure. Probably got mixed up in the middle.”

“It is a he.” Royce growled.

“She. The mother. It… he must have hurt himself trying to get away from whoever held him the first time.” The man winced. “I’m sorry.”

“They are part of my pack,” Royce bit out.

“I came here. Heard you were helping injured shifters. Now I know why.”

“Hexen?”

The man nodded. “They chased the mother and pup but must have lost them. We got a report of a stray in the alley behind the school. Joanie… the young woman who was bit, was trying to save them. I… didn’t connect the two. If I had I would have gone out on my own.” He swallowed and looked away. “I should have done more. Your kind and mine don’t mix. But, I don’t condone killing innocent women and children. Not now. Not ever.”

“So you admit to murdering my people.” Royce’s fangs elongated and he had to fight to keep from tearing out the man’s throat. David trembled in his arms, bringing him back to reality.

The witch considered him. “I didn’t start out hating you. Not until one of your kind murdered my mother and sister. He tore them to shreds and left their bodies for me to find. A warning.”

A pang of sorrow lit through Royce at the knowledge. His pack had known far too many losses from the battle between them.

“I’m sorry.” He bit the words out, surprised he meant them. There was too much hate and he was tired.

“I have to go.”

“Wait.”

The man shook his head. “I can't be seen here. But Joanie… keep her safe. If Hexen finds her… I don't know what Darius told Mason or anyone else in the organization. Get them out of here.”

“There are more coming?”

The witch’s lips twisted into a grimace. “Hexen took advantage of my rage.” He stepped toward the truck. “It's not over. Far from it. The movement is growing all over the country. It’s still pretty isolated here but Mason… Keep them safe.”

Royce nodded. “I will.” He glanced back toward Nina. She waved him toward the doors, a frantic expression on her face.

He turned back toward the truck to say thank you but the vehicle had already pulled out of the parking spot and into the long, winding, tree lined street to the main highway.

David fidgeted in his arms and Royce rubbed his back.

“Come on, kiddo. Let’s go find your mom.” Royce walked back inside, a plan forming in his mind. He had to get his people out of there tonight and like it or not, this Joanie had just become a member of the Cypress Pack.