“You should see someone, this is fucked. I mean, maybe it’s post-traumatic stress or some shit.” Even though his words were rough, there was kindness behind them.
“But you saw her,” I said.
“I don’t know what I saw.” Ned looked past me, his eyes darting from side to side. “It could have been…” He looked back at me. “What is in the woods, Pryor?”
“The day before she was taken, I bought her this damn shampoo that smelled like roses,” I said, my voice hushed. “She wanted it so badly and insisted on using it right away—I swear to God when I first saw the wolf, I could smell the rose shampoo, she’d used it the morning she was taken. I think Lily is somehow still alive.” I didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes, so I looked back at the woods.
“She isn’t a wolf. I mean, is that what you’re saying? That your daughter is a werewolf?”
I closed my eyes and swallowed. “Yes,” I said.
Ned’s sharp intake of breath and nervous laughter made me open my eyes.