SEAL Wolf In Too Deep(92)

Then again, Pepper had been the leader of the group of women at the creek, not necessarily a pack leader. The other women had fluttered around her like she was a goddess, everyone attentive to her, and when she entered the cabin, she’d definitely been the one in charge.

“Do you want me to go with you when you check the area out?” Sarandon sounded worried.

“No.”

“The wolf who attacked you could be her mate.”

“She didn’t have one. Apparently some wolf has been wanting to court her though.”

“Do you have a name for her?”

“Pepper is all I got.”

“All right. Let me know what Doc says about your injuries.”

“Sarandon…”

“All right, all right. See you tomorrow if we can get together. Otherwise, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Sounds good.” They ended the call. Despite the fact that Eric’s shoulder was hurting like crazy, he was trying to see the point of view of the wolf who had bitten him, but he was having a difficult time of it. He called Doc, hating to make this a late night call, but Dr. Weber always took calls anytime of the day or night. Not that he would be happy about it. Doc wasn’t a late-night person.

Still, Eric was damn glad they had a wolf doctor in their pack. Reporting that a wolf had bitten him to a human doctor would be bad news all the way around for wolves, his kind and otherwise. And lying and blaming a dog could cause problems too. Of course, Eric could have called their pack vet, because he didn’t mind taking care of anyone any time of day or night, but Eric really didn’t want to see the vet.

“Hate to be calling you like this,” Eric began.

“Another snakebite?” Dr. Weber asked, sounding grouchy.

Eric was still irritated with himself for not spotting a coiled-up rattler only a week ago while he had been out searching for a missing hiker. He’d been wearing heavy-duty, snake-proof boots, but the rattler had struck out at him from a stack of rocks, and had dug his fangs into his thigh.

“A couple of wolf bites this time. I probably shouldn’t even be bothering you with it.”

“Wolf bites? While you were in the national park? A regular wolf? Couldn’t have been one of our pack. If you’re calling me at this hour, it needs to be seen. How long before you get here?”

“Half hour. Yes, I was at the park. No, it wasn’t one of our people, and before you ask, it was a lupus garou.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“You don’t need to tell Darien.” Eric knew he would anyway.

“When a wolf bites one of our people, Darien needs to know about it. I take it you didn’t provoke the wolf.”

“One of them is involved in the drug business. The other bite happened in a different location, and the wolf was just being protective of his pack.” Eric didn’t want Darien sending out a hunting party to take down the “dangerous” wolf.

“All right. I’ll let Darien know.”

Fifteen minutes into the drive, Eric got a call. Darien. Eric let out his breath and explained about the woman’s injury and the subsequent events.

“It’s a national park, not a place a lupus garou pack can claim for their own,” Darien said angrily after Eric had finished. “And you didn’t act aggressively to the wolf or threaten their pack in any way.”

“I know, but it’s okay.”

“I know you, Eric. It’s not okay. You’re going to try and locate the pack.”

“Yes, as a human and in my capacity as park ranger, I am checking on the status of the woman’s injury. I won’t be running as a wolf. They have to respect the uniform.”

Darien didn’t say anything. Eric knew Darien didn’t want him going alone, not after what had already happened between him and the wolf. He was concerned about the woman’s injury, but he was also bothered by the notion that some wolf was hassling Pepper. Not that she’d appreciate Eric stepping in and chasing off the other wolf if she thought she could handle it herself, but if it worked out well for her, he was certainly willing to help her out.

“I haven’t had a chance to check in with CJ. What happened when he and the others investigated the trouble I had up on the cliffs?”

“No bodies. No marijuana plants. But all the wolf prints and trace evidence of blood, including your own, were there. The wolf pack had to be close by to clean it up as fast as they did and move out. Eric, you’re not to investigate these people on your own any further. You’re not immortal.”

“I had to take a chance. This is the first time any of us have actually encountered the wolves responsible.” Not that it did a whole lot of good, since the wolves were now dead. What if he learned Pepper and her pack were involved up to their wolf ears in this shady business?

“Take Sarandon with you,” Darien said, breaking into Eric’s thoughts. “You said you both were giving talks to Boy Scout troops in the area. Take him with you when you investigate this visiting wolf pack.”

Darien was giving a pack leader order, and Eric didn’t like it. He knew Darien was concerned for him, but that’s what irked Eric the most. “Eric? I know you’re perfectly capable of handling this on your own, but for my peace of mind, will you take him along?”

Eric was surprised Darien would change his tune. He normally wouldn’t have altered his command to a request with any other pack member—except when it came to his pack leader mate, Lelandi, and no way did he order her about.