A Wolf's Curse (On Hold)

Chapter 11

No more than twenty-four hours later, Kay was finally discharged. She hurried toward the Uber that pulled up in front of Birch Haven Memorial and climbed in clutching a brown paper bag with pain medications.

After the run-in with her ex, she developed a concussion which was confirmed by a CT scan. Any longer in the hospital and she felt like she would've lost her mind. Nurse Jodie was kind enough to arrange transportation for Kay and even pay for her fare.

"Where to?" The driver, a middle-aged man asked her, taking in her disheveled appearance.

Before she could give her address, she realized she didn't have her keys. She shut her eyes for a moment. Remembering the struggle between her and Ryan and how she may have dropped them when he pulled her away from her car.

"Shit, shit, shit..." she threw her face in her hands, groaning at the idea of having to go all the way back to Deborah's palace after the brief encounter with her back at the hospital.

"Miss?"

Kay recited the mansion's address, earning her an incredulous eyebrow raise from the driver. "Clam Lake, huh?" he whistled turning around, grumbling about the long drive, gas prices, and how he should've stayed in the city. She rolled her eyes in protest, her legs fidgeting anxiously and praying Deborah didn't arrange a tow truck to impound her precious baby out of spite. The only thing she wanted more than anything was to crawl in her soft bed and sleep the day away.

The sky rumbled, curtaining the sun as smoky-gray clouds took its place. Rain pelted the car until it increased into a downpour and remained steady throughout the drive. She leaned her head against the window as blurs of tall green trees whizzed by over long stretches of highway 77. Kay welcomed the soothing sound as her eyes fluttered closed.

***
"Miss, we're here."

Kay was startled awake by the Uber driver as rain pounded the car, making it difficult to see through the window.

"Uhhh, this isn't it," she told him, a mask of confusion twisting her features. She glanced around, searching for the grand estate.

"This is it, miss. Through that road there," he pointed his thumb to a dirt path, trees covering either side and a large white sign that read Private Property.

"Yeah, but...that's a bit of a walk," she said, staring at the long and lonely pathway. The driver sighed heavily, rotating in his seat.

"Miss, that's pri-vate pro-per-ty," he repeated, pronouncing each syllable slowly.

"But it's rain-ing," she retorted, shooting him an irritated glare, "could you at least bring me to the gate?" The man blew out another exasperated breath as if she were inconveniencing him. As if his job wasn't to drive people around all day and sit on his ass, and get paid while doing so.

"The sign there says I can't, besides I've got a few other requests making this drive."

"You've got to be kidding me! It's pouring out here and the ground is pretty muddy looking - if you could just take me somewhat close to the gate, I can get to my car. I have money in it. I'll pay you extra, it's not a problem."

"Do you even live here?" he scanned the length of her, his eyes lingering on her chest a few seconds too long. He narrowed his eyes at her, skepticism etched all over his face—she could feel it.

"No- but my car is parked up there." Heat crept to her cheeks. She didn't appreciate his ogling and judgmental stare as she pulled her damaged sweater close together. It didn't help that she worn the tattered costume from that night stained with dirt. Cold air swept in from the outside, prickling her skin with goosebumps despite the car's heater going.