Page 63 of Wolf's Mark

I stumbled toward the creature, snuffling back tears. I was afraid. So very afraid.

“It’s okay, puppy. I won’t hurt you.” He was a big dog, bigger than any my mama had ever let me see. And black like the night.

He wasn’t running.

He wasn’t afraid like I was.

He was watching me. His silver eyes were beautiful.

“I’m afraid, puppy.” I slumped down in front of him, sobbing uncontrollably.

The dog waited, still watching me.

I reached out, longing to touch his fur. He was so beautiful.

The puppy finally moved toward me and the moment I wrapped my arms around his neck, I knew I would be safe.

I jerked up, taking several ragged breaths. Darkness. There was a slender stream of light, the glow almost enough for my eyes to become focused. I’d had a dream. The puppy had been a wolf. I hadn’t known it then. I’d thought the creature a big dog, yet to me he’d been just a puppy.

And he’d saved me. How was that possible?

My God.

Another sound drew my attention. It also boosted my heart rate. My phone. A few seconds and another ring later and I realized where I was.

His condo. One of his homes.

The sexiest man alive.

Finally, I was able to focus, remembering I’d insisted on placing my phone on the nightstand. I always worried about my little girl. Still half asleep, I managed to grab it as another sound permeated the darkness.

“Hello?”

“Doctor Willis. Agent Drummand.”

Hearing her name and her voice woke me up completely. It also irritated the hell out of me. “Why are you calling me now? I told you not to bother me. Your boys took hours out of my scheduleand I don’t appreciate that. If I hadn’t been there, they would have destroyed my lab and all my other work. Unacceptable.”

“I’m sorry they inconvenienced you, but it was necessary. I’m calling you because I need your help again. It’s vital we meet at your office.”

I almost laughed but resisted, the annoyance too great. “I thought I was clear in that I was not interested in helping the FBI in any continued way.”

“We need your assistance. Only you can provide the information we need. Your expertise is above reproach.”

Oh, it was, was it?

She was grasping at straws. I could feel her tension across the phone lines.

“Why in God’s name are you saying that? I’m one of a million medical examiners you could find. Secure someone else.”

I thought I’d lost her and was happy about it, but she cleared her throat. She was doing a hard-core press and the scientist and resident bad girl inside of me was ready to demand knowing why.

“Doctor Willis, the FBI is aware of your former career choice. That is an invaluable service to us and we aren’t likely to find the combination in anyone else. I was asked to convey this by the director of the FBI himself.”

Okay, the woman had me intrigued. If the director was involved, they were nervous. “What are you talking about? What former career?”

It wasn’t something I’d hidden, but why go digging?

“You were studying to become a big game veterinarian. You’ve had experience with wild animals. You did a sabbatical in Africa, which allowed you to study some interesting species.”

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