Stone Predator by Kennedy Harkins (important books to read .TXT) 📖

“Yes, Mr. Melson,” I sighed. Mr. Melson had been here for a week with a gunshot wound.
I was more than use to Nathan’s rants by now. I kept telling myself that he means well and he’s a patient so he deserves my respect. Even if he looks 16.
“You heed what I’m telling you, girl. I know you young people think you’re invincible, but I’m here to tell ya you’re not.”
I smiled tentatively at him. He was probably right, pushing the waters around here is really unintelligent. Just this day I had got into a verbal fight with one of his visitors...they had it coming and I make no apologies.
Another reason to trust him is despite his looks he’s over 100 years old, he’s done a whole lot of living.
My mind went fuzzy with the realization. I was sitting there in a hospital having a conversation with a 100 year old werewolf.
You’d think I’d be use to it by now, I took a year long class on the supernatural, but it still blows my mind.
Eastmoor, North Dakota. That’s where I was, or as I like to call it; Creep-ville. Sure it looks normal on the surface. Some people live their whole lives here and never have a clue.
Eastmoor, the supernatural hot spot. Most of the nations ‘monsters’ live here. It’s a huge secret with the government involved and everything.
The only reason I’m here and I know about it is simple. I’m a doctor and very skillful one at that, or so they tell me. The supernatural need check-ups too.
Most of the population is vampires and werewolves, but occasionally you’ll see a dragon or fairy, but they disguise themselves with a simple spell so if you were looking right at one you probably wouldn’t notice .
Personally I’ve only seen the wolves... well actually besides Nathan and his guest, who I’m not on very good speaking terms with, I haven’t seen them either. Of course I am fairly new, I just moved in a couple weeks ago. The rest of the medical personal told me that they keep to themselves and that we mostly end up treating humans. The others don’t usually find themselves in need of medical attention. Of course their victims do; if they get away in time.
Werewolves have the ability to never age and live forever, but they don’t. See the wolves’ main activity is fighting. Fighting for dominance. Fighting for order. Fighting for mates. Fight, fight, fight!
That’s one of the many reasons to stay on their good side. Another is that they could snap your neck with two fingers, or is that the same thing? One of the first things they taught us was never meet a wolves eyes for more than three seconds. Any more and they take it as a challenge, then you’re dead.
“I know Nathan, but they just act like they own me. It makes me crazy,”I mumbled hotly, maybe I wasn’t just talking about the werewolves. It seemed like everyone around this hospital was riding my ass constantly.
His face softened considerably.
“You remind me of my wife, Barbra-Joe, may she rest in peace. She couldn’t stand people looking down on her,” his voice had a sad tone to it.
I opened my mouth to say more, but he cut me off.
“You best be on your way. Wouldn’t want people to think you’re pickin’ favorites,” he scolded.
I nodded my head and expressed that he can call me if he needs anything.
Walking down the deserted halls, I blissfully thought how nice it was that my shift was over. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but a fluffy bed was waiting for me at home.
Exiting through the huge electric doors I shivered. It was early October, but in North Dakota it’s like a refrigerator outside.
It’s only a 15 minutes walk to my house and I always have Ellen, my room mate, pick me up. Unfortunately the car’s in the shop.
So it’s a death march through Spooky Town for me.
I’m probably being a little dramatic about it. If I don’t run into any vampires I’ll be fine. It’s completely illegal for them to kill or feed from an unwilling victim, but if there’s no body...
Just three blocks from home and I was starting to let my guard down. A little stupid, I know, but I’m just a human.
An ear splitting cry of pain rang out cutting the peace of the night right down the middle.
I’m sure everyone knows that stupid chick in movies that runs straight towards danger. The one who looks in the closet? I’m playing her tonight.
I took off sprinting down a dark alley searching for the person in trouble. The alley was surrounded by empty apartments. Most people live in houses; vampires only need one invitation to get into every room. Even if people don’t know about the supernatural, human instincts tell them they’re not safe. Which in this Town is nothing new... I just live in a house to cut back on the risks I take, like a diet, only a little more important.
Off towards the dead end of the alley a figure was laying on the ground. I judged him to be about 6’1” and well muscled. This guy looked like a tough cookie. Someone who could take a few bullets to the Spine and get right back up.
Fear enveloped me. How was I suppose to fight off something that could take him? I try to make to the gym a couple times a week, gotta keep in shape for the random ‘run like hell for your life’ moments. But if I’m being honest; afterward I usually go for ice cream so I’m sure the point is moot. This would be the part where most people would back off, but I couldn’t just leave him there. Damn me and my doctors oath.
Now that I was closer I could see he was young no more than 18 with red-orange hair. He looked deathly pale under his tan and a knife was lodged in his stomach. He lost a lot of blood, but it didn’t look as if he’d punctured anything. The content of most girls’ stomachs would be on the ground by know, but what can I say? Guts are exciting.
I needed to get him out of here, and fast if he wanted to live. His eyes snapped open when I bent down to touch him, they were crystal blue.
“Do you have a name?” I asked in a whisper. He was more likely to respond to something that he’d heard his whole life than; ‘hey dude, can you put pressure on the wound?’
“Michael,” his voice was hoarse and broke with pain. It almost brought tears to my eyes, but I needed to be strong for him.
“Can you walk, Michael?”

“I’ll try,” he whispered unsure.
I helped him slowly to his feet and supported as much of his weight as I could, which was basically nothing, as we hobbled towards my two level Victorian style home.
His breath came out in short pants, but hell, so did mine. He was heavy.
I kept pressure on his wound and unlocked the front door. The house was empty, Ellen had a date with this weeks version of ‘Mr. Right’. Ah, Ellen. A hopeless romantic to an epic proportion. It seemed like not a minute went by without her talking about true love, a fantastic guy she met, or someone she wanted to set me up with. She wouldn’t except that I wasn’t looking for my ‘soul mate’. In her opinion, that was what everyone wanted.
I helped him lie on the couch then reached for the home phone, my cell had broken a couple of weeks ago and those things are not cheap.
“No, you can’t call 911,” he groaned crazily.
I sighed, thoroughly frustrated, “Then who the hell do I call?”
“Ace-Ace Coleman,” he choked out.
I froze, it didn’t matter if I let the fear out now, he was clearly unconscious.
Ace Coleman, Alpha and temperamental werewolf that ruled with an iron fist. I had never met him, but we were briefed on a lot of important ‘people’.
If Michael wanted Ace, it’s because he’s part of his pack. I have an injured werewolf in my living room.
The injured part brought me back to reality, I descended upon the knife and got gauze, needle, and thread out of my messenger bag.
***
Fifteen minutes later he was all patched up and besides being low on blood he was going to be fine. Werewolves can take a lot.
I got up and started pacing around my home. It was currently decorated to look like an old wooden ski lodge. The second floor was just an attic, but it was good enough for me.
It was a good thing I had found Michael when I had, anymore blood and he’d have been a dead man.
I grunted unhappily, werewolf or not he had asked me to call Coleman and as a doctor I can’t just ignore him. No matter how much easier it would make my life...
Picking up the phone book I located his number and dialed. It rang three times before an angry voice picked up.
“Hello?” Someone rumbled from the other end.
The anger woke me up enough to decide to be pissed at this guy. Who talks to a stranger like that?
“I have a wounded werewolf by the name of Michael at 610 Fox Ridge St. Perhaps, he belongs to you?” I spit at him.
“Who are you?” His voice boomed menacingly. I hung up, if nothing else he’d get over here to kick my smart ass.
A moan sounded from my now ruined couch. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes.
“Now you’ve made him mad.”
“Oh good, you’re awake,” I drawled, ignoring his comment altogether.
His eyes met mine and after three seconds I looked away like a good girl.
“You shouldn’t challenge Alpha’s,” he frowned.
I gave him a half smile, “Yes, Mother.”
Michael let out a careless laugh. “I suppose I should thank you,” he gestured to the to the wound.
A loud pounding at the door saved him the trouble.
“There’s a doorbell,” I said sarcastically. Michael shot me a warning glance and I rolled my eyes at him. Either I had a death wish or I was on a strange high.
I straightened out of my sitting position and headed for the door. I swung it open revealing a very pissed Alpha.
He looked to be about 6’2” with an impressive build, dark sun tanned skin, and coal black hair. He was very attractive with high cheek bones and a hard jaw.
His emerald green eyes glared down at me. Everything about him radiated power and dominance.
While I was busy standing there; jaw dropped and peepers wide, firm large hands gripped me around the shoulders. Before I could react Ace slammed me into the wall. It wasn’t as hard as he could have made it, but my vision still went a little blurry.
His face was so close to mine I could feel his