Braxton didn’t remember the walk to the house. With his blood loss and the silver slowly poisoning his body, he was surprised he’d made it to the house at all. He heard the door open and expected to see some farmer hovering above him with a shotgun aimed at his head. At least then he would be put out of his misery.
Instead, he felt the touch of gentle fingers stroking his fur. Confused, he opened his eyes. To his shock, it was the woman he’d met in the alley.
His female.
Through the blinding pain racking his body, he nuzzled her hand and inhaled her haunting scent.
He even managed a smile, as best a wolf could, when she suggested how loving he was. If only he wasn’t hurt, he’d show her just how loving he could be. With her underneath him.
Braxton watched his beautiful woman lift the cell phone to her ear.
He stiffened, lifting his head. Every instinct told him to bolt. She was probably calling the game warden right now, who would probably want to put him out of his misery. A regular bullet wouldn’t kill him; it would just hurt like hell. His main concern was the Assassins.
“Easy, boy.” She reached out and stroked his head. He leaned into her hand, not wanting her to stop. Her touch was the only thing keeping him conscious and keeping the pain bearable. “I’m calling someone who will help us. He’s a vet.”
Braxton snarled at the mention of another male.
She snatched her hand away.
He could smell her fear for the first time since she’d found him on her steps.
Lowering his head, he whimpered, hoping she’d understand that he meant her no harm. He waited an eternity until finally she reached out and touched his wound. He knew she was keeping a safe distance from his mouth. Damn, he didn’t want her to be afraid. Not of him. Never of him.
He looked up, struck by her beauty and humbled by her kindness. He didn’t know many humans who would risk their safety to try to help a wild animal. Yet, here she was, his female, sitting out here in the freezing cold, trying to comfort him.
Pain exploded through his chest, reminding him of the bullet and the reality that he was slowly being poisoned by the silver. He didn’t have much longer. The only thing that had kept him alive this long was the fact he was in wolf form.
The second he shifted back to human, he would be dead within minutes.
***
Kate gritted her teeth, irritated that she had to leave Beau a message when he didn’t answer her call. She shivered against another blast of wind, the winter air cutting through her thin cotton pajamas. She should have dressed warmer, but hadn’t planned on being outside so long.
She glanced at the wolf and frowned. She couldn’t leave him outside like this for the night; he wouldn’t make it through the night. But then again, she couldn’t exactly bring a wild animal in the house either.
“I’ll be right back.” She raced through the house, gathering blankets and old linens. Stepping out on the front porch, she spread out the old blankets and sheets into a cozy bed in a corner. “At least this will keep the wind off you.” She glanced at the wolf still lying on the steps. Her smile faded.
How was she going to get him up the steps? He didn’t look like he had the energy to walk. Even though the blood flow had slowed, he panted with every painful breath.
Taking one of the sheets, she folded it in half and spread it beside him on the stairs.
“I’m going to roll you over on to this so I can move you. Okay? It’s going to hurt, but I’ll try to be as gentle as I can.”
The wolf opened his eyes and blinked but didn’t move.
Biting her lip, she lifted his head and shoulders onto the sheet. Kate sat back and secured the towel around his wound before sliding her arms underneath his chest and lifting.
The wolf didn’t budge.
She straddled him and wrapped her arms around his torso, her cheek pressing into his fur. She pulled, using every muscle in her body. It took three lifts, but she finally managed to move his massive body onto the sheet. She tied the ends together to keep him from rolling out the bottom.
“Good grief, you weigh a ton. I imagine you crush your female partners.” She stood and arched her back.
The wolf lifted his lips over his massive teeth once again in a semblance of a smile.
Her face heated. “I didn’t mean that. I mean it’s inappropriate...you know, for me to say...well, I don’t really know you that well and...”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “So it’s come to this. I’m talking to a wolf about sex.”
She grabbed the top of the sheet and wrapped the ends around her hands. “This may hurt a little.”
Digging in her heels, she pulled.
He didn’t budge.
“Let’s try this again.” She bent her legs and pulled, yet he still didn’t budge.
Kate sat down and looked at the animal. There was no way she was going to be able to move him on her own.
“This is like moving an elephant.” It was impossible.
She frowned, remembering her mother’s words when she was a little girl and she thought something wasn’t possible. A slow smile spread across her face.
The only way to eat an elephant was one inch at a time.