Page 28 of Bred By the Wolfman

“Well, uh,” I search for something to say that won’t give me away. “You were headed right to this one. I thought I’d try to help.”

She inspects me for a moment, then nods and allows me to open the back door of her sedan. As she helps Boomer up into the seat, I go around to the passenger side, even though my own car is quite close by and I could easily drive myself to the hospital.

Not that I need a hospital. It isn’t as serious as it looks, but if I get to spend even a few moments with Dee, breathing in her smell, I’ll die happy.

I awkwardly wedge myself into the little human-made car, and Dee gawps at me. “Oh, gosh, sorry. I forgot that you’re huge. And you might not fit.”

I curl my shoulders and lower my head so I don’t bump the roof, then smile at her. “It’s fine. Thanks for taking me.”

“Sure. I’m sorry again about what happened.” She starts up the old car and it coughs.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” I want nothing more than to reach out and touch her, to assure her that I’m fine and I would do anything to take care of her and my cub, but I keep my hand pressed down in my lap. “I saw a woman in need, and so I stepped in. That’s all.”

She gives me a wan smile. “I’m glad you did. I think Boomer would be a lot more injured right now if you hadn’t.”

This is probably true. My heart is still racing at how close she and my cub came to danger, and I’m immensely grateful I was there.

Then we’re off. We wind through town, Dee remaining quiet. Suddenly, though, she turns to me and asks, “Wait, what’s your name? I never got your name.”

I chuckle. “Russ.”

“What were you doing at the park? Going on a walk?”

“Yeah,” I lie. “Enjoying the sunshine before I have to go to work. I live close by.”

She hums thoughtfully as she makes her way into the parking lot of a strip mall. “Well, I’m glad you were there. Russ.”

Holy shit, my name sounds good on her tongue. A shiver crawls along every inch of my body, rippling my fur.

Dee blinks. “You okay?”

“Oh, yeah, fine.” As she gets out of the car, I push my own door open to follow her. “Here, I should come with you. In case they ask questions.”

Dee tilts her head, then nods and opens the back door to let out Boomer. The sweet dog is still whimpering as she leads him inside the vet’s office, and I think he might be hamming it up for her. Dee eats it up, crooning, “My poor baby,” and petting his head as they walk.

I stand next to her as we wait behind someone at the counter, and my nostrils are full with the delicious scent of her. I could just eat her up right here, push her against a wall and fuck her like?—

I cut myself off and shake my head to clear it. I’m only here to support her right now, that’s all. Her best friend in the world was just mauled. As we step up to the counter and Dee starts talking to the receptionist, though, an idea strikes me.

Maybe that’s the answer to all this. Be like Boomer. I can’t tell her what she means to me, how desperately I need her and her cub under my care. She already has someone, and I’d risk her shutting me out completely.

No, instead of announcing to her that I’m Bill... I’ll be there for her. I’ll become her friend, and get her to trust me.

And then I’ll convince her to fall in love with me.

thirteen

DEE

Boomer is going to be all right, the vet tells me. He won’t even need stitches or anything like that. The blood just makes it look worse than it is.

“I’m not a doctor,” the vet says when Russ tells her his story, “but let me take a look at that bite of yours.” She shaves away some of his fur, then cleans off the blood. “Oh, that’s not too bad. Much better than it looks.”

I let out a relieved breath of air. Thank goodness. I really didn’t want to have to take on the wolfman’s medical bills, when I certainly would out of guilt.

“Guess I don’t need to visit the hospital,” he says as the vet applies ointment and then bandages up the wound. He’s being a really great sport about this.

“That’s good. Then I can drop you off and take Boomer back home.”

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