Page 43 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
Wolves, much faster on four paws and eager to run with the full moon rising above, sped past Gordon, who kept scanning the darkness for black fur and blue eyes, Adler-wolf.
I don’t even know what Mil-wolf looks like.Why didn’t I ask her about that?
A group of wolves and human runners overtook Gordon.They were moon runners, friends, family, or mates to wolves who enjoyed running.Just like human marathons, there was an annual Moon Run according to Adler, a tradition Gordon was completely unfamiliar with, seeing as how it involved exercise.
“Fucking hell,” Gordon said to the night in general.Seeing the moon runners and their wolves with them made him miss Adler.I told them I’d head to the park with them.How on earth did I not keep an eye on the time?
Gordon looked left and right at a crossing in the paths that ran through the park like blood vessels.He decided to go right.
Seneca Park turned into a strange and magical place during the full moon, Gordon had learned.Before Adler, he’d not realized it.Now that he did, he was grateful for the chance to see something new, explore the park at this time of the month.
The park, after all, was possibly the most welcoming place in all of New Amsterdam when the wolves ran.
Other than the moon runners, there were plenty of humans there sharing food on picnic blankets on one of the lawns or even grilling when the weather allowed.There were always musicians as well, and Gordon had come to notice one guitarist in particular.
The guitarist always changed locations, but his straight white-blond hair made him easy to notice.He had a mellow voice and usually strummed away on his guitar with four wolves around him, howling along while dreamy songs flowed from the human’s lips.
Gordon could hear the guitarist now as he headed toward the Meer, the big water reservoir in the northern corner of the park, sticking to the paths illuminated by the lamps while beyond the cones of light, shadows rushed between the trees.A small shadow detached herself and dashed toward Gordon from his right, but the wolf stopped her sprint and approached Gordon at a trot.
“Mil?”Gordon asked.Her coat was a dark copper that lightened at her legs and belly, and her ears were tipped black.She was the size of a full-grown German shepherd.
Before Mil could do anything to answer, Adler joined her, approaching faster and thanks to his near black coat, mostly unnoticed.Unlike Mil, Adler didn’t stop but bumped his head into Gordon’s hip and made a sort of guttural noise that Gordon had learned meant his mate was happy.
“Yeah, sorry, guys.I just lost track of time.I was doing some research and then started on the intern reports, you know, and time just got away from me.”
Adler-wolf just huffed, giving no indication at all that he was upset.Mil-wolf nodded her head in a human way, barking in understanding.So far as Gordon could tell, he had been forgiven.
“So did you guys want to run?I think I might just walk around a bit myself, enjoy the night.”
The Mil-wolf howled, then came up to Gordon’s side.She was big alright, considering that she was just a girl.Adler, his blue eyes incredibly pretty in the moonlight, was far larger, scary even, except of course he really wasn’t.He fell into step on Gordon’s other side, walking close so that their bodies touched.
That made heat course through Gordon’s veins.Right.He did ask me for a belly rub… and then some.The Adler-wolf looked up at Gordon, and Gordon realized he could probably scent Gordon’s lust.Or feel it through the mate bite.I wonder what he can sense.Probably not nothing, but I’m too scared to ask.
Gordon blushed.They weren’t here for that of course.They were here so the wolves could run and be their best wolf selves.
Adler-wolf huffed out a laugh, throwing a bit more of his weight against Gordon.
“Oh, stop that,” Gordon said while digging his fingers into Adler’s fur to keep his balance.On his other side, Mil watched them, and her wolfish laughter came out an octave or so higher than Adler’s.
Gordon huffed.“Great.Now there’s two.”
And that, of course, ensured Gordon was surrounded by wolfish laughter on either side.
A few moments later, when Gordon had found a park bench to sit on and wait for them, they dashed away, chasing waterfowl, milkmaids, or whatnot.Gordon relaxed, enjoyed the night and the fact that the burning ball of anger in the sky, also known as the sun, wasn’t out right now.
After enjoying the night for a few minutes, he felt something odd though, a prickling of his skin at the back of his neck as if someone were watching him.
Gordon looked around, but he saw nothing.
“Adler?Detective, is that you?Are you planning to ambush me?”
Gordon narrowed his eyes at the trees, the underbrush, the shadows his vampire eyes could penetrate, but to no avail.There didn’t seem to be anyone there.
Just your imagination.Come on, this place isn’t scary.Unless you’re a swan or a duck.
His skin still pricking slightly, Gordon pulled out his phone to read a Kawaii Demon Hunter fanfic he’d set aside for the full moon specifically.This had become his way of enjoying the night when his mate ran and howled only to then come back to Gordon and wake next to him, person-shaped once more.
Chapter 23
