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.”

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