Page 7 of Cursed Wolf

“Look, his tail’s wagging! He’s like a whole different wolf since she walked in.”

“Dr. E’s got the magic touch,” someone else chuckled.

It’s moon magic, not that any of you would understand.

My human tilted her head as she looked me over. She was close enough to touch me now, though she kept her hands in her lap.

“Will you let me look at your back leg without biting me?” she asked. “I don’t want to sedate you, but we might have to for our own safety.”

I let out a low growl that ended in a frustrated bark. She kept saying we to refer to the other humans. I’d never bite her to hurt her, only to leave my claiming mark when the time was right, but I didn’t want these other humans anywhere near me.

I wanted us alone. I wanted to shift into a man so we could have an actual conversation. I wanted to learn everything about this woman that fate had chosen for me; her fears, her dreams, everything she loved and hated, all her secrets and her history.

Was she purely human or a latent werewolf like Sawyer’s mate, Riley? Latent wolves were descendants of our ancestors who went into hiding in the human world, suppressing their abilities and blending in with the pure humans until their moon magic was forgotten. She smelled human, but if her shifting abilities had been suppressed enough, maybe I wouldn’t be able to tell from scent alone.

“Be a good boy for me…” my mate said.

Oh I would be good for her. So, so good.

“…and let me examine your leg. If we don’t have any problems, you’ll get a nice big bowl of food. If you growl or snap at me, I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to sedate you. What do you say, handsome?”

Handsome? Sweet moon above, was she trying to make me fall in love already?

“Why do you talk to him like he’ll answer you?” one of the other humans quipped.

My human ignored him, her dark, curious gaze latched onto me.

Because you know I understand, don’t you? I thought. Maybe not consciously, but deep inside your subconscious, you know I’m not just a wolf but part of your destiny.

All that had to be figured out later. My first priority was getting out of this cage and letting my pack know I wasn’t roadkill. Then, when the time was right, I would come back for my human mate.

I let out a soft whuff, the best I could do in this form to give my consent for the exam.

She smiled in response and made her way to the side of my cage. The other humans began closing in around her and I growled long and low. She could touch me, but I wouldn’t allow anyone else to get close.

Immediately, my human turned around to face her colleagues. “You guys should probably give us some space, maybe even leave the room while I do this.”

“What? No way, Emmaline!” Dr. Marcus argued. “We’re not leaving you alone with an unsedated wild animal.”

“The aggression he’s showing is fearful. He still feels cornered, trapped. If there are less people in the room, he might relax a bit.”

“Or he might bite you and try to escape.”

“I don’t think so.” She cast a thoughtful look down to me. “It seems he likes me.”

“No offense, but this idea is highly unprofessional,” Dr. Marcus blustered. “Not to mention against clinic policy.”

My mate stiffened, her posture almost shrinking while the other doctor puffed himself up. There was some kind of tension between them that I didn’t like.

“If you insist, then stay,” she said quietly. “But just one person, and keep to the other side of the room. No need to loom over him, he’s been through enough.”

The male doctor turned his back to slowly meander to the other side of the room, but I saw his eyes roll. Another growl rattled my throat before I could stop it. My mate was his equal, was she not? They were both doctors here. He should have more respect for her.

The other humans filed out until it was just the three of us. Dr. Douchebag leaned against a counter on the far wall, arms and ankles crossed. But Emmaline, my mate, was at my side and that was all that mattered.

“Good boy. Stay nice and calm for me.”

She unlatched a panel on the side of my cage, too small for me to get through but big enough for her arm. I stilled, only my tail thumping back and forth as she reached for me.

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