Page 20 of Betrayed By the Wolf

Moira, having finally accepted that the injured man was not a trap or an ambush, shifted. “He hasn’t been eating well either. For all that muscle, he looks emaciated. Why didn’t he at least shift to hunt?”

Suspicion was growing in the pit of Vera’s stomach, but she wasn’t ready to voice it aloud. If she did, Moira might try to stop her from taking the man home where she could care for him. She could think of one reason the man might not risk shifting into wolf form—the curse. If he had it, shifting might mean he could never shift back into human form again.

“We have to get him home where I can examine him properly. Will you help me carry him back?”

Moira hesitated. “I guess so. I’m not sure this is a good idea, but—“

“We can’t just leave him, Moira,” Vera snapped and started gathering pine boughs for a makeshift sled. He was too big for them to carry back; they’d have to drag him.

Working together, they rigged up a sled of branches and pine boughs and carefully lifted the man onto it. He didn’t stir. That worried Vera more than anything. It was an unnaturally deep sleep, the kind that bordered on unconsciousness.

Vera grabbed the handles and started the trudge back toward home, careful to avoid any rocks or roots that mightjostle him. For the first time in weeks, she felt alive. Someone needed her. Needed her expertise.

It was hard to hide her slight giddiness at that, the smile tugging up the corners of her mouth while she considered possible treatments. All she had at home was her basic veterinary kit, which would limit her diagnostic options, but she could work with that.

“Try not to look so pleased with the situation.” Moira shook her head. “There’s a sick man behind you.”

Vera shrugged, sweat dripping down her brow. Emaciated or not, the man was heavy. “I can’t help it. I love a mystery case. The more obscure, the better.”

“Trust me, I remember.” Moira nudged her aside and took over, pulling the sled. “Remember all those emergency vet shows you’d watch when we were little? They’re cutting open a cat and your face is lit up while I’m trying not to gag. If you didn’t turn out to be a vet, I would’ve been seriously concerned about you. Actually, I kind of still am.”

The blood and guts had never bothered Vera. Bodies fascinated her, and nothing was as satisfying as taking an animal from injured or sick to thriving again.

“Well, I don’t have a chance to do this much anymore.” Vera wiped the sweat off of her forehead. “Now I’m just a nanny.”

Moira bit her tongue. Vera could see she was holding back her thoughts on that particular subject. They spent the rest of the walk in silence until they could finally see the shape of the cars through the trees.

“Help me get him in the back,” she said, swinging open the car door. “I’ll take him home, and you can let the others know what we found.”

Moira grabbed the man’s legs, and Vera lifted his shoulders. With a lot of grunting and swearing, they maneuvered his bulk into the backseat, lying flat across it. They buckled him in as best they could.

“Be careful. If he wakes up and tries to grab you or something—“

“I’ll bludgeon him, don’t worry.” Vera hugged Moira goodbye and hopped into the front seat, taking off for Rami’s house.

She pulled into the drive and found Rami and Jessa in the front yard, like they’d just returned from a walk. Even the medical mystery in the backseat faded when she looked at him, and her traitorous little heart beat faster. How dare he look so good after the breakup?

“Can you give me a hand?” She jumped out of the car and waved at the backseat. “We found someone on our patrol, and they need help.”

Rami frowned, walking over to the car and shifting Jessa onto his shoulder. “A shifter?”

Vera nodded and unbuckled the seatbelts. “Moira and I were able to lift him in, but it wasn’t pretty. Maybe we can put Jessa in her carrier and get him together into the house.”

“I’ve got it.” He handed Jessa over to Vera and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the thick muscles of his forearms. Unfair. She was a sucker for those forearms, especially the way they flexed when he worked.

“He’s heavy,” she warned, nuzzling her cheek against Jessa’s. She’d missed her. The little girl smiled up at Vera.

But Rami knelt and pulled the stranger onto his shoulder, lifting him with ease. “I’ve got it. Can you get the door?”

Vera ran ahead and opened the front door, following Rami into the living room. He laid the man down on the couch and stepped back, looping his thumb through his belt loops. Concern pinched his brow together.

“Is he okay? He didn’t even move when I picked him up. I don’t even see anything wrong with him.”

Here’s where she had to tread carefully. “I’m not sure what’s wrong. He woke up for a minute in the forest, but he was really out of it. Maybe he ate something he shouldn’t have or got a blow to the head. I need to examine him.”

He glanced at her, gaze heavy with the things unsaid. Understanding passed between them. After a moment, he nodded. “What can I do?”

She blew out a sigh of relief. “I need my kit from my room, and I need you to make sure none of the other wolves come in here until I’ve had a good look at him. You know if Spencer gets spun up about it, he’ll want to barge in and take over.”

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