Page 5 of Wolf's Midlife Baby

“I know. These things are much easier to handle on our own.” There was no need to ask if he was right about what he’d felt in her. That shifter vibe was strong, even if it wasn’t quite the same as his. “Fortunately, I’ve got a good connection at the local hospital. One of my packmates is a well-respected nurse in the ER. I’ll give her a ring, and she’ll make sure you’re only around people who understand.”

Holly’s shoulders relaxed visibly. “Thank you. I might’ve been able to figure out a way to ignore that Kevin guy, but not my boss.”

“Your boss?”

“That whole float trip was basically the beginning of a business meeting,” she explained. “I work for Newman Media Group.”

“Oh. Forgive me, but the Willamette doesn’t really look like a conference room to me.”

She let out a derisive snort. “Nope, not exactly. Marshall Newman has a very different outlook on things than most corporate leaders. I can respect that, especially because it means I’m mostly working remotely, but he sometimes goes a little too far outside the box.”

“I see.” Pierce slowly guided the truck out of the park, avoiding a group of children crossing toward playground equipment without bothering to check for traffic. The hospital wasn’t all that far away, but they’d have to take a little detour first. He headed southwest, winding his way out of the heart of Eugene. He certainly didn’t mind having a bit more time alone with her for now. “What exactly do you do for a living, anyway?”

“I’m a journalist,” she explained, “and don’t get me wrong about my job. I know I’m complaining a lot right now, but Newman is actually great to work for. I practically get free reign with my articles, and they don’t even care what I wear. There are some major benefits, and I can’t imagine working anywhere else, but today was a bit much for me.”

“Understandably.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing for you since you’re a firefighter. That’s got to mean danger every day.” She burrowed further into the blanket.

Pierce adjusted the air conditioning so that it wouldn’t blow on her. “Not necessarily. There are some days, sure. Other times, we’re just rescuing kittens out of trees.”

She shot him a sideways glance, and for the first time, Holly didn’t look half-drowned and miserable. There was a spark in her eye that sent a shiver across the underside of his skin. “You don’t really do that.”

“I have, actually,” he admitted. “Well, it wasn’t a kitten. It was a grumpy old cat who definitely knew how to use her claws, and she didn’t appreciate being pulled down from her tree where she could sit and watch the birds. So maybe I was in a little danger that day.”

“I sure hope they gave you a commendation of some sort,” she said with a smile.

“No, no. They saved that for when I bravely went into an elderly gentleman’s home and relit the pilot light on his water heater.”

She laughed. Though it was still weak, Pierce reveled in the beautiful sound. “Did you really?”

“Actually, yes,” he admitted, finding it incredibly easy to talk to her despite the fact they were still essentially strangers. “We don’t normally get calls like that, but it makes more sense for us to respond to a genuine request for help instead of coming out to a structure fire later. The old guy was really grateful, too, so it was worth it. Here we are.”

“Where is here?” she asked as she peered through the windshield at the woods.

“This is a small part of my pack’s land. There’s no reason for you to be uncomfortable. You can shift here, heal up, and then we’ll head to the hospital.” He got out and came around to open her door.

“Thank you.” Holly moved her head in one direction and then another, looking around cautiously. Her natural shifter talents meant her body was already repairing itself somewhat, and she seemed much more lively than she’d been half an hour earlier. A shift would be the final thing to fix her up. “Um…”

“What do you need?” He lingered next to the door of the truck, knowing he’d say yes no matter what she asked.

“I, um, I know this is kind of a weird thing to ask, but do you mind keeping an eye out for me? I’m not familiar with the area, and even if it is your pack’s land, I just…”

“Say no more. I’m right here with you.” Pierce shut the door to the truck. He walked a short way into the woods and pulled in a deep breath. His wolf had been dying to get out ever since he’d held her body against his and carried her from the water. The earth felt comforting under his paws, and the thick coat of fur that suddenly bristled against his back quickly warmed in the sun. He shook his shoulders, letting the ripple carry all the way down to his tail. His sharp hearing picked up on a grunt as he turned and found a black bear standing behind him.

It was her. Rounded ears perched on her head amongst her dark fur. The slate color of her eyes had changed to a brown that matched the deep gold of her muzzle, a contrast to the rest of her body. Her claws were long and thick where they scraped the ground. She stretched and breathed, fully taking up the space inside her animal form. She was absolutely glorious.

She turned to him. What do you think?

3

“All right, my dear.” Nurse Dawn Glenwood returned to the little curtained area in the ER that Holly had been occupying for the past hour. “You’re good to go. I’m sorry it took so long. There was an accident out on the highway, and we had some major injuries coming in. Anyway, you should have all the paperwork you need to make everyone happy.”

“Thank you.” Holly accepted Dawn's packet of papers, which included all the standard information about smoking cessation and following up with her regular physician. She’d give a copy to Marshall and Kevin and then never think of this whole drowning incident again. “And thank you for the scrubs. I’ll get them back to you.”

“Not a problem. I couldn’t have you shivering in a wet swimsuit the whole time,” Dawn replied with a smile.

Holly had instantly liked the nurse the moment Pierce introduced them. She was a smart, sassy woman who didn’t seem to take shit from anyone, much like Dahlia. Dawn, however, had the same secret Holly did. “I really do appreciate it.”

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