Page 62

“Open up, Bunny. You have some explaining to do!”

“One minute,” I called frantically, trying to find some place big enough for Dominic to hide.

“NOW!” He rattled the doorknob threateningly and I shouted the first thing that came to mind.

“I’m naked!”

The doorknob stopped shaking and Dominic stared at me in shock.

“Two minutes and I’m coming in there, naked or not,” Dad threatened and I motioned to Dominic, like I was getting on all fours. He stared at me in confusion and I finally, whisper shouted, “Shift!”

“What is going on, young lady?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dad. I took a shower when I got home.”

“From school?”

“Yeah.”

“And when was that?”

“A little while ago,” I called back, barely registering his questions as Dominic proceeded to strip down. He caught me staring and smirked as he shimmed out of his boxer briefs. A moment later, he blurred and a massive black wolf stood in front of me.

The door burst open and Dad stood there panting, his expression furious as he stared at me, completely missing the large wolf on the other side of the room as he glared at me.

“You cut class,” he accused, his mouth tight as he stared at me in disappointment.

“I did,” I admitted, not even glancing at Dominic’s wolf form for fear of drawing Dad’s attention to him. “I had a good reason.”

“Oh, and what would that be?” He demanded to know, his arms crossed.

“I was helping a friend,” I started, scrambling to come up with something.

“A friend,” Dad echoed. “With what?”

“Dog sitting.” I said, wincing even as the words came out of my mouth. A low growl met my words and I rubbed my hands together nervously as Dad slowly turned.

“Dog?” Dad said faintly, staring down at the massiveness that was Dominic in wolf form.

“He’s a hybrid,” I chirped, trying to hide my nerves.

“A hybrid?” Dad repeated again, seeming incapable of anything else as he stared at Dominic. On a positive note, he had apparently forgotten about me cutting class. Not so good was the gently growling Dominic, who apparently didn’t care to be referred to as a dog.

“He’s really friendly,” I said loudly to cover the threatening sounds coming our way.

“Friendly?” Disbelief coated his words and I winced.

“Friendly,” I repeated firmly, giving Dominic a pointed glare. He quit growling and I smiled brightly at Dad. “See? He’s a little wary around strangers. Very protective though,” I rushed to reassure him as it looked like he might grab me and run from the room.

“How long?” Dad asked with a frown. I glanced at Dominic, uncertain how to answer. His stare said, “You got us in this mess, now you get us out.”

“Overnight,” I blurted out then bit my lip. Overnight with Dominic. I was an idiot.

“I don’t know, Bunny,” Dad said slowly and Dominic chuffed. I shot him a glare, but there was no mistaking the amusement in his yellow eyes.

“He’s a perfect gentleman, Dad,” I rushed to reassure him and then had a thought. “He’s trained.”

“Trained. He’d have to be or you’d never be able to control him.” Dad looked him over more closely and I cringed. “Where’s his collar?”

“He’s chipped,” I said, clearing my throat as it came out as a squeak.

“Hmm,” Dad hummed and then told Dominic, “Sit!”

I compressed my lips to hide the smile threatening as Dominic just stared at my dad in disbelief.

“I thought you said he was trained?” Dad turned to me at the exact same time as Dominic, and I shrugged helplessly.

“He is. Um, you just need to say his name first,” I made up, glancing pointedly at Dominic.

“What’s his name?” Dad asked, lifting his eyebrow.

“Dom –” I cut myself off as I decided it might not be the wisest idea to use his real name. “Domino.”

“Okay,” Dad said, turning back to the massive black wolf. “I think Kujo might have been a better name,” he muttered under his breath and Dominic nodded. I glared at him and swore he rolled his eyes.

“Domino, sit.”

It took a second but slowly Dominic lowered his haunches to the ground and my dad beamed as if he’d just saved Timmy’s life. “Good boy!”

“Domino, lay down.”

Slowly, so slowly I thought for a minute he wasn’t actually going to move, Dominic slid down until his body rested on the ground. “Very good!”

“Domino –”

“Dad, I think that’s enough,” I broke in hastily, afraid of what might happen if Dad continued to see what ‘tricks’ Domino knew. An angry and naked Dominic came to mind and I hurried to get Dad out of the room.

“He’s had a long day, and he’s in a strange place,” I explained and Dad allowed himself to be shoved to the door, but when I went to close it, he stopped me.

“Oh, no. Don’t think I forgot you skipped school, Bunny. This door stays open until I can trust you again.” He glanced at Dominic and then back at me. “And make sure you take him outside so he doesn’t have an accident inside.”