Page 115 of White Wolf

Feliks said, “Maybe this is a stupid question, but what are we going to do with the wolves when we get there?”

“Take them with us, of course,” Philippe said.

“Yeah, because that won’t look suspicious,” Kolya muttered.

“I’m not leaving them behind,” Sasha said, more forcefully than intended.

Kolya’s expression softened a fraction. “No. I know.”

“We need to discuss logistics,” Nikita said. “We’ll have to hire a truck, get our hands on some tools. This isn’t going to be easy.”

“No,” Philippe agreed, “it certainly won’t.”

Another howl shivered through the hallways.

“Do you need me?” Sasha asked. “For the logistics.”

“No, you may see to your wolves,” Philippe said with a smile.

Sasha didn’t wait for anyone to make room, simply hopped over the table and was out the door in a blink.

The wolves were being kept with the considerable cargo of ammunition and guns that had been quickly and cheaply manufactured in Stalingrad. The steamer’s captain had insisted that the wolves be caged, and so they were, all of them whining and whimpering behind their bars as Sasha approached.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, babies,” he crooned as he sank down to sit on the floor in front of them. He threaded his fingers through the bars and his alpha girl licked them. “I’m so sorry you’re locked up.”

They quieted some in his presence, still distressed by being locked up, but feeling safer with their alpha there.

He was alone with them a few moments, feeling his own blood pressure ease as he visited with each, letting them lick at his fingers and scratching at the bits of fur he could reach. Footfalls announce someone’s arrival, too light and quick to be part of the crew.

Katya appeared around a stack of crates and hung back, asking permission to approach the pack with a deferential head tilt. “Are they alright?”

Sasha smiled and waved her forward. “A little upset, but otherwise okay.”

She came to sit beside him, no longer nervous, close enough to touch, her posture relaxed. “Poor things.” She reached out a hand toward the alpha girl, offering the back of it to the bars. The wolf sniffed her, then gave one wag of her tail and licked Katya.

Katya smiled. “Hi, beautiful.”

Sasha felt suffused with happiness, the pride of a parent watching someone approve of his child. “They like you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. You’re kind–”

She snorted.

“–You are! Being a soldier – a sniper,” he amended, “and being kind aren’t mutually exclusive.”

She made a face like she was startled, tried to cover it with a snort and said, “I didn’t know you were a philosopher.”

“You’re a soldier,” he pressed on, “but you’re also kind. And you’re honest, and brave. The wolves respect that. And respect is the thing that turns into love in wolf language.”

Her brows lifted, surprised but pleased. “That…might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” A blush came up along her cheeks and she turned away, looking at the wolf through the bars. “But you don’t have to flatter me.”

“Wolves don’t lie. Animals are a lot more honest than people.”

She sighed. “You’re right on that.” She reached careful fingertips through the bars, and the female licked at them. “Sasha,” her voice became careful, too. “You weren’t born like this, were you?”

“A wolf? No.” And somehow his own words surprised him. He frowned to himself. “Remember what Philippe said? But sometimes it feels like I must have been. I remember my life, what I’ve done, and who I knew. But it’s hard to remember what it was like not to feel this way.”

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