Page 4 of Rescued

When Adam’s hands slide down to the wolf’s belly, the reaction is immediate. The wolf tenses, his body going rigid beneath Adam’s fingers. I stiffen, alarmed, but Adam waves me off with a small shake of his head.

“It’s fine,” he says, sitting back slightly. He quirks a small smile, the tension in his face easing. “And as I just confirmed, this beautiful wolf is definitely male. That’s probably why he tensed up—I groped the poor guy.”

Despite everything, I feel a flare of irritation at his comment. I brush it off, chalking it up to the stress of the moment.

Adam chuckles softly, nodding toward me. “I need you to move around to his head. I want to check his mouth next.”

As I shift positions, I murmur quietly to the wolf, hoping my voice will keep him calm. His amber gaze follows me, sharp despite the weakness in his body.

“You’re okay,” I whisper. “It’s going to be okay.”

The wolf doesn’t react much, but his breathing slows as I settle near his head. I watch Adam as he lifts a fold of the wolf’s skin, pulling gently to check for dehydration.

“Bad, but not the worst I’ve seen,” Adam mutters to himself. He moves on, opening the wolf’s mouth and peering inside. His fingers are sure and steady, no trace of the earlier hesitation I’d seen.

It’s strange, but I realize I’m not worried anymore—about the wolf biting Adam or lashing out.

And I think Adam knows it, too.

Adam works methodically, his hands moving over the wolf’s body with practiced care. His brow furrows as he checks each limb, his touch gentle but firm. The wolf lies still, his breathing uneven but steady enough to make me hope we’ve caught him in time.

“I don’t feel any obvious breaks,” Adam finally says, sitting back on his heels. “But it wouldn’t hurt to get a series of X-rays to make sure. I’d also like to draw some blood, run a few tests, and check for internal injuries. That kind of trauma could hide under the surface.”

The thought of taking the wolf to the clinic sets me on edge immediately. Adam must see it on my face because he doesn’t move to pack up his tools just yet.

“The clinic’s in town,” I remind him, my voice forced. “There’s a law against wolves and wolf hybrids inside town limits. You can’t tell me Kaufman wouldn’t jump at the chance to use that law against us. If he gets wind of this, he’ll push for euthanasia, no questions asked.”

I grit my teeth at the thought of Kaufman, that smug bastard, finding out about this wolf. The sheriff takes pleasure in enforcing his brand of ‘justice’, which usually amounts to cruelty for cruelty’s sake. I’ve seen too much of it to take the risk lightly.

Before Adam can respond, the wolf whimpers, the sound soft but insistent. His body shifts slightly, and I feel his weight press closer against me. The movement nearly knocks me backward, and I fling out an arm to catch myself before I end up sprawled in the dirt.

I freeze, my breath catching as I realize how close he is now, leaning into me like he understands the conversation—or at least the emotions behind it.

What the hell?

A wave of protectiveness washes over me, fierce and almost overwhelming. I glance down at the wolf, his golden-brown eyes flickering open for a moment before they close again.

Mine.

The word springs to mind unbidden, sharp and clear as if it had been waiting for this exact moment. I shake my head, trying to shove the thought away. I can’t start thinking like that. This wolf isn’t mine. He’s a wild animal, not some pet I can claim.

And yet…

I swallow hard, keeping my hand on his neck as if the contact will ground both of us. “Do you think there’s internal damage, Adam?” I ask, my voice quieter now.

Adam doesn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed on the wolf as he continues his inspection. “I don’t think so,” he says eventually, his tone cautious. “But I can’t swear on it, Gabe. That’s the problem. Internal injuries aren’t always obvious during a quick exam.”

The wolf whimpers again, pushing closer until his head rests against my leg. I feel the warmth of his body against mine, his fur coarse but comforting under my fingers. It’s like he’s trying to tell me he doesn’t want me to leave, and I can’t help but feel the same.

“I don’t think taking him to the clinic is worth the risk,” I say firmly, meeting Adam’s gaze. “Kaufman’s just waiting for an excuse to show up at your place with a citation—or worse. We can’t give him that chance.”

Adam sighs, sitting back on his heels. “You’re probably right. We’ll take him to your place instead, get him on an IV to rehydrate, and clean and dress these wounds. I’ll leave you some sedatives in case you need them.”

He reaches out, his hand brushing over the wolf’s head, his fingers scratching gently behind one twitching ear. The wolf’s body relaxes slightly, his breathing slowing, and Adam lets out a soft hum of approval.

“You’ll need to keep a close eye on him,” Adam says, his voice calm but serious. “If there is internal damage, you’ll see the signs pretty quickly. He’ll go downhill fast if something’s wrong.”

I nod, but my attention lingers on Adam’s hand as it moves over the wolf’s head, stroking the dark fur with a care that seems almost…possessive.

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