Page 13 of Collar Me Crazy
He walked away without another word, leaving Sonya alone with the carved stones and her swirling thoughts. The November wind whispered through the trees, carrying scents of woodsmoke and winter, and somewhere out there, she thought she heard the lonely howl of a wolf.
Two paths. Two possible futures. And a man so afraid of his own power that he'd rather live in isolation than risk the people he cared about.
Well, she'd never been one to back down from a challenge.
Even if this one might kill her.
8
RYKER
The scent hit him again as Ryker restocked the medical supplies, jasmine and magic carried on the November wind that rattled the cabin windows. His wolf became overly alert bombarding him with images of deep brown eyes and ebony hair.
"Knock it off," he muttered, slamming a bottle of antiseptic onto the shelf harder than necessary. "She's not coming back."
His wolf whined in disagreement. The animal had been impossible since last night, constantly testing the edges of his control and flooding him with the urge to track Sonya's scent back to town.
A car door breaking the morning quiet made his stomach tight at the unknown, but when he looked out the window, he saw a beat-up pickup truck and a woman in her thirties lifting something carefully from the passenger seat.
Ryker was outside before she could call for help, recognizing the signs of an injured shifter. The woman cradled what looked like a young deer in her arms, but the scent told him what his eyes couldn't see—shapeshifter, probably no more than sixteen.
"Please," the woman said, her voice tight with controlled panic. "Someone in town said you might be able to help. She tried to shift to human form, but something went wrong."
"Bring her inside." Ryker led the way to the medical cabin, his movements already shifting into the calm efficiency that came with emergency situations. "What's her name?"
"Fawn. She's my daughter." The woman's hands shook as she placed the deer on the examination table. "This is her first year shifting on her own, and she got spooked by some hikers. When she tried to change back..."
"She got stuck halfway." Ryker began his examination, his touch gentle despite the urgency. The young deer's breathing was rapid and shallow, her eyes wide with fear and pain. "It happens sometimes with new shifters. The human mind panics and forgets how to complete the transformation."
"Can you fix it?"
"We'll see." Ryker prepared a mild sedative, speaking in low, soothing tones. "Hey there, sweetheart. I know you're scared, but I'm going to help you, okay? Just going to give you something to help you relax."
The deer shifter's ears flicked at his voice, and some of the panic faded from her dark eyes. Ryker had always been good with frightened animals—human or otherwise. Something about his own experience with fear, maybe, or just natural instinct.
"That's it, just breathe," he murmured, administering the sedative. "Your mom's right here, and you're safe. No one's going to hurt you."
As the medication took effect, the deer shifter's form began to shimmer. Ryker placed his hands carefully on her shoulders, lending his own energy to guide the transformation. It was a delicate process, requiring patience and trust.
"Come on, Fawn," he said softly. "Remember what it feels like to have hands instead of hooves. Remember your human heartbeat."
The shift completed slowly, leaving a teenage girl with wide brown eyes and tangled brown hair on his examination table. She looked around in confusion before focusing on her mother.
"Mom?"
"Right here, baby." The woman rushed to her daughter's side, tears streaming down her face. "You're okay. You're human again."
Ryker stepped back, giving them space for their reunion. The satisfaction of a successful healing settled in his bones, but his wolf was already restless again, catching that familiar scent on the wind.
"Thank you," Fawn's mother said, clutching his hand. "I don't know how to repay you."
"Just take care of her. I’m assuming her father is the shifter?”
The woman nodded slowly. “Was.”
Ryker bit back his own regret, knowing already how hard this must be for a non-shifting parent. “Well, you did the right thing bringing her here. Maybe find her a mentor in your area, someone who can help her practice controlled shifting." Ryker handed her a card with aftercare instructions. "New shifters need guidance, especially the first few years."
After they left, Ryker tried to lose himself in routine tasks. Checking on the other patients, updating medical charts, cleaning equipment. But his wolf refused to settle, and every gust of wind brought reminders of the woman he was trying to forget.
