Chapter 89 Chapter 89
When the door opened again, he had just enough time to slump forward without being seen doing it.
“He’s still out. Poor bastard will probably nap for the next week.” He could only see the one pair of boots. “You’ll be fine here, won’t you? I need to get over to the other side and check on the real criminals.”
“You tell that Travis if he doesn’t stop scrapping and getting locked up, his momma’s gonna skin him alive.”
Wait, that sounded like a woman. Tiny feet sticking out of a long skirt stopped beside the boots. Damn.
“Will do. Doubt it will matter, he’s got troublemaker imprinted in his bones.”
She chuckled softly.
“Are they planning to tell Shaelan?”
“Talked to her mother earlier, she’s coming after dinner tonight to fill the poor child in. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t already know some of it, she’s an observant one.”
The boots stepped back. “Just give a holler if you need me, I’ll be back around in a few minutes.”
“Will do, Earl.”
Calum watched the boots leave and the woman came in and closed the door. She stood in front of it.
“You can stop faking now, he’s gone.”
He lifted his head slowly, with a flip of it, moved the hair from his eyes. Standing in front of him was a tiny, elderly woman with a long grey braid hung over one shoulder. Well, hell, he couldn’t hurt her even if she stuck knives in him.
She stood there, a stern look on her face, clutching a brown bag. “He had no idea you were awake.” She snorted, “personally, I’m surprised you’re alive with the amount of tranquilizers they pumped into you.” She looked him up and down. “Pleased you are though.” She took a slow step in his direction. “Now, are you going to behave, or do I have to stick you with something to knock you out?”
He didn’t want anymore drugs in his system. “I’m good.”
She gave him an abrupt nod and walked over. “Let’s see what damage you’ve done to yourself.”
He gave her a hard look.
Tsking, she leaned down and looked at his shoulder. “Looks like you kept running after the first dart, you have a few gouges here, probably skidded to a stop...”
He jerked on the chain around his neck trying to see the back of his shoulder.
“Just settle down, it won’t be permanent damage once I get it cleaned up and stitched together.” She bent down and opened her bag. “Do you want me to numb it?”
He shook his head, then flinched when she poured something cold on it. Stung more than he cared for, so he grit his teeth as she dabbed at it a few times. “Why the fu…” Captive or not he still couldn’t swear in front of the granny-doctor. Some fierce cat he was. “Why am I here?”
She was silent for a few moments. “That’s a long explanation, I don’t have time to explain before Earl comes back looking for me.”
What the hell does that mean?
He winced as she put the needle into his skin and tugged on it.
“I imagine…” she pulled it through his skin again, “your rare green eyes will have bought you some time.”
He hissed out a breath as she did it again. Rare?
“They’re not sure whether to be afraid of you or what to do with you, yet, so that gives you a few days of peace.”
Calum huffed out a breath after she tugged on it again. “So I have green eyes. What the f… hell does that have to do with anything?”
She made some sort of noise, he wasn’t sure what it meant.
“Your clan all have eyes like yours?”
He heard scissors clicking and hoped that meant he was done with being stabbed. “Some.”
“Mmm.” Was her response. “Try not to rip those out. I’m going to check your head now, make sure there’s no more holes.”
He eyebrows went up at that. How bad did he look? Staying still, he let her run her fingers over his scalp. He tried inhaling with her this close, and thought he picked up the scent of cat, but couldn’t be sure with that other stench filling his nostrils.
“You alpha of your clan? Your size is a good one.”
He wasn’t much in the mood for chit-chat, but wanted information and if she could provide it… “No. That would be my uncle.”
She made another noise under her breath. “Alpha’s family…” She tsked, “I know this is some kind of thing to wake up to, but just keep your head down, don’t give them any more reason to shoot you with those damn darts.” She paused on one spot that was tender but it didn’t sting, so he hoped it wasn’t serious. “Fools don’t seem to understand every body has a limit, even a solid, fit one.” She touched his shoulder and looked down his back. “Legs and backside okay?”
“They don’t hurt.” He wanted to growl, but manners had been ingrained in his very soul, so he clenched his teeth and said nothing.
“I’ll come check that shoulder tomorrow.” She bent down and cleaned up her supplies. When she moved back over to the door, she stopped and looked at him. “Be sure to eat and drink when they offer it, keep your strength up.” Her dark, weary eyes implored him.
“Thanks.” He half meant it at least.
She gave him a small smile. “I’ll see if I can persuade them to give you more room to move.”
He nodded to her, not sure if he should thank her for that or not.
When she left, he ran everything over in his mind that she had said. None of it helped him one bit. He still had no idea why the hell he was chained up here… wherever the hell here was. What his eye color had to do with any of it, he had no clue either. His brain was sluggish, he was tired, presumably from the drugs, and just wanted to wake up and find out he was sleeping under some tree somewhere having nightmares.
All he knew was when these drugs finally wore off and he could focus longer than a goldfish, he was