17
My head was pounding by the time Alec left me at Greta’s tent. I think I mumbled a thank you before he left, but with the hangover in full force, it was difficult to remember.
“Is it bright out there or did you have too much to drink last night?” Greta said by way of greeting as she opened her tent flap.
“Both,” I admitted.
She chuckled. “Come on in, I have something to fix that.”
I followed her into her tent and sat down in a chair next to her little table. She busied herself pouring something into a cup, then walked over to me.
“It tastes like death, but it’ll knock the hangover out.” She set a glass of brown liquid down in front of me.
I picked up the cup. “Cheers.” After a hesitant sip, I nearly spit the liquid across the room. “You were not kidding.”
She sat in the chair across from me. “It’s easier if you do it all at once.”
After a steadying breath, I knocked the drink back, fighting my gag reflex as I swallowed it all. Wincing, I set the glass on the table. “What was that?”
“You really don’t want to know,” she said.
I smacked my lips, trying to get rid of the taste. “Gross.”
“It works, though,” she said.
Already, the headache was easing. “Wow.”
She grabbed the glass and stood, then walked over to the corner of her tent. When she returned, she had a bottle of water and a box of cookies.
“You’ve got your own little stash in here, don’t you?” I asked.
“There’s perks to being the oldest and wisest shifter here. People bring you things.” She slid the box of cookies closer to me. “Have some carbs and some water. You’ll be right as rain in a few minutes.”
I followed her instructions, eager to wash the taste of the hangover concoction out of my mouth. She sat quietly watching me eat for a few minutes. Three cookies later, the taste was finally gone. I took a long drink of the water, then set the bottle down. “Thank you.”
“I was young once,” she said. “I could hold my liquor, though. You’re going to have to work on that.”
I laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me to not drink?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” she said with a grin.
“I can see why people bring you cookies,” I said.
“I also really love strawberries if you ever feel the need to suck up to me.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I made a mental note to try to send her some once I left. Was that even possible? Could you mail things here? Maybe I could come visit.
“I imagine you didn’t just come for a hangover cure,” she said.
“I’m here about my wolf,” I said.
She hummed. “Yes, it is time for you to connect. You’ve felt the stir?”
I nodded.
“Then my work here is done,” she said. “If you can feel the wolf, there’s little I can do.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I stared at her, my eyes wide.