Page 128 of She Wolf

“I need to leave for a second,” I whisper to her.

“Right now?” Her brow pulls together.

“Yeah, it’s one more present but I have to go pick it up today and it has to be tonight.”

“Well okay, but Gunner,” she says with a pointed look, “don’t you think he’s been spoiled enough?”

“Just one more, I promise,” I reaffirm and inwardly cringe.

“Okay but he’s got about half an hour left in him before he crashes.”

“I’ll be fifteen minutes, max.”

“Go on then.” I can pretty much guarantee Jack won’t fall sleep for a long while once he sees what I have for him.

I make my way around the block and then stop at the house where the gift is waiting.

“Mrs. Keene, how’s our little secret holding up?” I say to the sweet old lady as she opens the door to a chorus of barks and howls. Her short grey hair seems a bit disheveled, and I wonder if my surprise has been giving her trouble.

“Right on time Gunner, the package is prepared. Ten minutes max in this box, okay.”

“Trust me it is going to get opened the second I walk through the door.” I say smiling down at her.

“Did you manage to add the thing I asked for?” I ask, trying to catch a glimpse inside the box.

“I did,” She hands over the box. “Good luck and take care. You need anything come see me. Here’s all the information you’ll need for now.” I’m given what can only be described as a handwritten instruction manual and then I pick up the huge box.

“Thank you again, Mrs. Keene.”

“See you soon, Gunner.”

I take a peek inside the box as I head back to mine, pulse kicking up a notch, or twenty.I actually fucking did it. Carefully balancing the box, I call Coralie.

“Can you get the door for me? I’m just a couple minutes away.”

“Okay. Gunner what are you up to?”

“You’ll see. Just, can you get the door please?”

“Okay it’s open.”

“Great I can see you. Now go back in the living room with Jack,” I tell her as I stick my fob on the gate.

I can see her smile from where I am and go back into the house, causing me to sweat.

“Well here goes nothing,” I say aloud. Now there’s no turning back. I make it into the house and over to where everyone is seated.

“Gunner what’s in the box?” Jack asks.

“A very special present,” I lower it gently to the floor. “You can open it but be very careful.”

He nods in understanding and then kneels in front of it. Kate gets her phone out not knowing what’s inside but anticipating it’s worthy of a photo or video and my neck starts to heat up.

Jack reaches for the cardboard flaps and jumps back when two little ears poke out of the top. Then looks straight back over again. They’ve popped up since the last time I saw him when they were all squashed down and hidden in fluff.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god! It’s a Wolf,” he all but cries and I crouch down to lift the little fella out to meet Jack and then take a careful look at Coralie who is practically crying herself, Mom and June too.

The little fur ball wags his tail as I hand him over to Jack. “He’s an Alaskan Malamute and he’s going to be very big when he’s full grown.”

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