Page 55 of Wolf Reborn

It was the biggest creature he’d seen in the wild, ever. Bigger than himself easily, but also bigger than Dez. Bigger than the bear.

It didn’t growl, or even take an offensive stance, just stared at the bear, which seemed annoyed for no more than a moment before grumbling and going on its way.

Miles collapsed against the wall, trembling with relief. The pup squeezed tight against his side, whining pitifully and trying to hide behind him. It hooked its nose under his arm, as though the giant wolf wouldn’t attack through Miles.

And he wouldn’t, of course.

He’d never in his life believed that Gavin would intentionally hurt him. Without the slightest doubt, he knew that this wolf was Gavin. Those leafy eyes were a more muted hazel in this form, but Milesknewthem. He knew that look, that intensity, that concern for him.

The puppy practically crawled into his lap, cowering and whimpering, so Miles tried to comfort the kid by petting him. It felt a little odd, but he’d wanted more physical contact since being turned, so it made sense that children who’d been born werewolves wanted more contact.

Plus this one had just gone through what had to be the most terrifying experience of his life. Hell, Miles hoped it was the most terrifying experience of his life, or he’d have to find whoever had been taking care of him and have words with them.

He pulled the wolf cub tight against his chest, and the pup started licking his chin. “It’s okay,” he promised. “Everything’s gonna be just fine. Gavin found us. We’re safe.”

Suddenly Gavin was there, so enormous he blotted out the light when he stood over them, staring down at Miles and the pup. He leaned down and grabbed the pup with his teeth around the scruff of his neck, and set him carefully on his feet.

The pup looked from Miles, to Gavin, to Miles again, until Gavin nudged him with his head. Then he sagged into Gavin’s flank as though so exhausted he could barely stand.

Gavin’s concern was clear through their bond, somehow even stronger than it had been the last time they spoke. It wasn’t just the usual read of “concern,” but like he had just put on glasses for the first time in his life, it was “the pup has been on his own for a month, we need to get him home and feed him and put him to bed.”

Miles pushed himself up to his feet and tried to brush the snow off his pants, but it was a lost cause. His whole uniform was soaked through. He scooped up the pup and set him down again, splayed across Gavin’s back for the walk back to the cabin. That seemed like it would be quicker and safer than letting the kid run off again or fall behind.

He seemed calmer, now that Gavin had had the opportunity to show him a little affection.

He glanced at the kid from the corner of his eye.

I feel you, kiddo. A little Gavin love is probably what we all need.

Before they left the clearing, he grabbed his gun and holstered it. He didn’t want to think about how he was going to explain the discharged round. “I shot into the air to keep a bear from mauling a wolf” didn’t seem like it would cut it.

As they walked, Miles alternately stroked the boy’s back and Gavin’s side, reassurance for both himself and the child. He was there. Gavin was there. Everyone was safe.

They passed scraggly remnants of what Miles was pretty sure had once been Gavin’s clothes; denim and rubber and the neck of a T-shirt. Maybe he’d just lacked imagination when he’d thought he needed to strip to change, but he remembered the first time, being annoyed and trapped in his sweatpants, with no opposable thumbs to slide them off.

Maybe a giant dire wolf or whatever Gavin was could get away with it. Miles could not.

Plus who wanted to have to replace their clothes all the time?

Gavin swayed into him, bringing his attention back to the pair of wolves by his side. Was Gavin tired? Sick?

No, Gavin was trying to get his attention. There, below them, pacing the back patio of the Lloyd cabin, was Gwen Lloyd.

Miles turned to stare at Gavin, eyebrows raised. “Really? I mean, maybe you want to head home, and I can tell her—”

Gavin shook his head as best a wolf could and went back to walking down the side of the mountain. Doggedly, Miles thought, then snickered to himself like his inner teenager demanded. Gavin paused and shot him an unimpressed look, like he’d heard the terrible pun.

Thank goodness, by the time they got anywhere near the house, Miles could hear the rumble of Dez’s truck coming up the drive.

Gwen was periodically looking down at a phone in her hand, then pacing more, mumbling to herself about calling nine-one-one if they weren’t back in three more minutes. Two minutes.

“That won’t be necessary,” he called out, biting the bullet. He couldn’t explain why he was accompanied by two wolves and not any human he’d run off after, or who had gone looking for him.

Her head snapped up, her whole body turning to face him. She looked at him, Gavin, the pup, then up the side of the mountain. When they stepped out onto the patio, she didn’t shy away from the wolves. She wasn’t looking at the mountainside anymore, either.

She was staring at Gavin. “Confusing and frightening, huh?”

Gavin gave the lupine approximation of a shrug, walked up to her, and leaned his head against her arm. She had no such hesitation. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into him.

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