Spike's Day Out Read Online Free Page A

the way back, taking the payment stone with her. A slight swipe against the stone to the charm that all seekers at the Crossroads wore and the funds had been logged to his account.
    The night went on in a pattern of joining and separating, talking and dancing, finally culminating with them walking out into the night with either disappointment or a potential mate.
    Watching a procedure that Addy had been considering herself, she couldn’t quite manage to get her mind around how she would feel about throwing herself at strangers and hoping for the best. Hope was important to her, but it wasn’t something that she thought of when the idea of having a mate crept into her mind. She wanted someone she could fight with, who would fight for her.
     
    At the end of the night, the men who had not found female partners began to get aggressive toward each other. Addy broke up small squabbles with ease, but the last one continued, and she had to lift her target into the air and bring him down on the barstool.
    The blood was copious.
    Addy sighed. “I think I need Lee.”
    Chuck shook his head. “Down the street, building with the Red Cross on it. Hold this bar towel to his head until she can get the stitches in.”
    Addy did as requested and hauled the man along to the medic.
    She was going to ring the bell but the door opened. “Evening, Lee.”
    “Evening Addy. Come on in.”
    She pulled her victim through the door and dropped him on the exam bed, face down.
    “The wolves were getting a little irritated by the lack of friendly females. They had a scrap and I got in the middle.”
    The wolf in question gave her an unhappy glare. “You screamed banzai and flipped me through the air.”
    Lee chortled and rubbed at her lower back. “Whatever happened, you will heal as soon as you shift. If you would like, I have a room for transformation now.”
    He winced. “I think I will leave that until the morning. Stitches for tonight?”
    Lee looked at Addy. “Would you like to do the honours?”
    “How did you know?”
    “You have a remarkable aura of calm when confronted with a head wound. I guessed that you have experience at first aid.”
    The wolf was perturbed, but he sat as Addy cleaned the wound and put the four stitches in place. He tried to scowl but he pulled the skin. “Thank you. You have a nice touch.”
    Addy patted his shoulder. “When you wake up, drink a litre of water and take a few painkillers. We don’t want to risk kidney damage, so nothing tonight.”
    His eyes went wide and he nodded, leaving the station without a look back.
    Lee rubbed her back again and sat on the edge of her desk. “I am looking for a replacement for when I go on maternity leave and possibly afterward.”
    Addy jerked. “What?”
    “You seem to have the requisite skills. I have been reading up on your council files. Your actual council files. I am nosey that way.” Lee grinned. “You also have a varied resume and that in itself would be a boon if you chose to stay here.”
    Addy ran her hand over her hair. “Wow. That is…wow.”
    She lifted her left wrist and showed off the band. “You know this isn’t real, right? Being here alone would be torture.”
    Lee chuckled. “The band thinks it is real, and sometimes, a magical object knows what your mind doesn’t.”
    “I have only known Albert for half a day, most of which I spent in the bar.”
    Lee grinned. “Doesn’t matter. The bands know. It wouldn’t have snugged up and become seamless if you two didn’t have something under your casual introduction.”
    “How far along are you?” She helped Lee into her chair and smiled at the deep sigh.
    “Nine months. I could blow at any moment. I look small but I know when I got knocked up.” Lee’s expression took on an evil cast. “It freaked James out.”
    “Why?”
    “Because he has lived a large chunk of his adult life here. He has just been handed a link to the outside world. We can’t have a baby here at the Crossroads,