Page 67 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two
It was shocking.Logically, Gordon knew the shift wasn’t painful to werewolves, but it looked as if it should be.Adler, so far, hadn’t allowed Gordon to watch when the whole pack shifted, had said he knew it could be unsettling.In this moment, Adler’s clothes tearing under his wolf’s bulk added to the sensory spectacle that had a cold shiver run down Gordon’s back.
Oh,Adler thought, almost idly, before baring his teeth at the strange wolf.Sweetheart, come on, remember to run.Down the stairs, I need room to move.
Gordon blinked.Then he reached for the banister and started down the stairs, not going too far, not wanting to let Adler out of his eyes.
“I shouldn’t be treating hurt werewolves, so you better don’t get hurt, detective.”
Hah!He’s so funny, Adler thought.Then he lunged or met the other wolf lunging at him.Gordon was too far down the stairs to really see what was happening, see the gray and black wolf clashing.All he had was Adler’s thoughts, incoherent but calm.
My alpha would swat you,he thought after a few seconds, and Gordon relaxed minutely, taking one step back up toward the top landing again—only to freeze when a tangle of paws and tails clashed into the banister up there.The wood held, but it creaked.They briefly pulled apart, snarled, but then Adler moved, ramming the other wolf into the wall.
“Yes!”
Don’t watch, get to safety!
“I’m safe, I’m safe, Adler.Go get him!”
The wolf turned to Gordon and locked eyes with him.There was a glint of something there, like cold calculation.The wolf shifted focus, and now the teeth were coming for Gordon.
Nooo!
Gordon saw hungry eyes and the wild spittle drawing lines between incisors as the wolf prepared to jump.That was his world, that was all there was, the last thing Gordon would ever see, teeth and spit and sharpness.
Except the wolf never jumped, was yowling as if he were in pain, and his massive head turned, and hestopped.
He sank to the floor, blood oozing from his side.Wolf-Adler moved to the side, his muzzle slightly wet where he’d bitten down on the wolf’s side, so foolishly exposed when he’d tried to hurt Gordon.Adler’s breaths came out like forge-fueling bellows.
Sweetheart.Are you okay?He added a wolfish whining noise, concern.
“I-I’m fine.It’s fine.I can hear your thoughts though.That’s fucked up, I know, I meant to say something, but that just happened.I’m sorry.I don’t know how to stop it.”
He—you… You have the telepathy?Wolf-Adler’s blue eyes were wide.
“Yeah.Sorry.”
You heard that.Oh, sweetheart!It’s perfect.Why would you apologize?Do I have to be shifted for it to work?
Gordon shook his head.“Nope.All the time.Maybe it’s being close, so perhaps if we stay apart for a little while—”
Adler growled, set one massive paw on the other wolf when he started moving again, but looking at Gordon.
Gordon raised his hands.“Or not.Just stay focused, okay?Bad wolf right there.”
I know, sweetheart.I’ve got him.He’s not getting near you.
The other wolf showed his teeth, but then Adler pushed his paw down harder.Gordon knew he shouldn’t find that display of strength attractive, not in the slightest.But the heart wants what the heart wants.Or maybe I’m just hungry.
Shift.Shift,Adler thought, his hard gaze now focused on the other wolf.
It took several moments, but in the end, Gordon saw fur recede and pupils shrink.Adler remained as he was, the stronger wolf, Gordon’s protector, his teeth close to the now very vulnerable skin of the naked human who was bleeding onto the landing.
He knew you, Gordon.How did he know you?
“I…I don’t know.I have no idea.”
Adler-wolf’s paw was on the naked guy’s chest, heavy, pushing down.Gordon was of two hearts about this, if only for a second.He knew Adler was angry and in a protective mode, and he knew the other werewolf did need to be checked out.Restrained as well, but he also needed medical attention, if for no other reason than he could tell them what had happened.
“Adler, stop.He can’t breathe properly.Adler.”
