Page 13 of Big Bad Mate
Tongue tied.
“I’m here.”
I nod. “You want to see the wolf?”
“Yes.”
“Come with me.”
I walk back to the cage that we keep for wolves who need a little time apart from the pack. Sometimes people… lose themselves and need a minute in the cage.
Sometimes we need to just put someone in it, like a drunk tank.
I can feel Iris at my back as we get close. I let out a huff of relief as I see Evander in there, laying on his side.
His blue eyes are narrowed in irritation at me.
“See,” I gesture, waving to the cage. “Good as new.”
She blinks. “That’s not the same wolf.”
Ah. Fuck. “No. That one was all good. Released him a few days ago.”
“And now you have another one?”
“Yeah. Um. Ranchers brought this one in. Last night.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Broken rib,” I say loudly.
On cue, Evander wheezes.
Iris steps forward. This close, I can smell the light scent of rain and pine that drifts off of her.
I shut my eyes.
She smells amazing.
“Well. I see why your wolves keep getting out,” she says with a snort.
“Um…”
She snaps the lock to the cage shut.
Evander’s eyes glimmer at me. Idiot, they seem to say.
He’s not wrong.
“Thanks,” I say. “He’s not going anywhere fast, so I wasn’t worried about it.”
“Are you always so… easygoing with your animals?”
“No,” I say, eyeing Evander. “This one is just really docile.”
She sighs. “Listen, I don’t know how to tell you this, but it’s kind of rehab 101 that wild animals are going to behave like wild animals.”
“I know.”
