Page 43 of Recipe for a Curse

“I don’t know,” Sean said again. “We will have to ask him.” He glanced up as though he could see the sky from his spot in the truck. “Perhaps when full moon is over?”

Zach got in the truck. “Will he not change back until after the moon?”

“Sunrise,” Sean said. “Human in day, wolf at night.”

I felt like they were speaking a foreign language. But the wolf rested his head in my lap and the blasting heat began to really thaw me out. I sighed in relief, not realizing how cold I’d been. “I’m so not meant for winter survival training,” I mumbled.

Zach glanced back at me and then the wolf before closing his door, pulling on his seat belt, and navigating us back toward the road. He said nothing else, but kept glancing in the rearview mirror the entire ride home.

He didn’t park in the garage. I knew he had to release my car from the tow strap, but I was too tired to do more than stumble out. The wolf pressed to my side, keeping me upright.

“I will get them food,” Sean offered, and waved his hand toward my loft area, “And upstairs.”

“Is that safe?” Zach asked again, looking worried.

“Important to feed him,” Sean said staring at the wolf.

“He’s not going to eat me,” I said. “Even wolves in the wild aren’t likely to eat a person unless they are starving and find that person wounded. Science,” I said again, trying to recall all the nature documentaries I’d watched in my life. Sometimes I played videos on my tablet while cooking long meals.

“How much food do you have at your place?” Zach asked.

“Restocked when we went grocery shopping. Fridge is full. Lots of crackers and stuff in the pantry. I was prepared for Rio to stay,” I said. I thought about the wolf. “Meat in the freezer. I don’t have fresh deer or rabbit. It’s not really a grocery store staple…”

“Okay,” Zach said, but still seemed hesitant staring at the wolf. “Don’t hurt him,” Zach told the wolf. “I’m not a hunter, but I know several. There’s one surefire way to break your curse…” That sounded like a threat, but the wolf didn’t react.

Sean headed toward the door to the upstairs apartments. I followed, the wolf sticking close to me. Once I got to the door and opened it, Sean hesitated again staring at the wolf. Finally he turned and reached out to trace a symbol on my forehead. It felt a bit like those church baptisms they showed in movies. I didn’t feel any different when he was done. “Ward will last until morning. Small barrier in case he attacks.”

“He won’t,” I promised, though had no idea how I would keep him from doing anything. He was bigger than me. Probably outweighed me. Was that normal for a wolf? I’d have to look it up. Maybe he was only part wolf, and mixed with some large breed dog. I sighed and went into my apartment. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

Sean seemed to want to say something else, but instead he shook his head and closed the door. I heard his footsteps moving away. I stripped out of my gear, leaving it on the rug by the door before making my way to the bathroom. I turned the water on hot, my skin cold and brain exhausted. I stared in the mirror for a minute, searching for signs of frostbite. Everything seemed okay. The wolf came in the bathroom and stared at me for a minute. When I stepped into the shower, letting out a heavenly sigh at the heat rolling over me, he laid down on the rug beside the shower.

He seemed to keep an eye on me, and I was too tired to worry much since he was acting like a dog. When I got out of the shower, feeling warmer, I tugged on a pair of underwear, dug out a pair of warm jammies, put them on, and made my way to the bed. I’d never made it that morning. Didn’t a lot of mornings. Too excited to get to the start of the day and cooking. Right then it was a blessing because I didn’t have to unmake the bed to slide under the blankets and nestle down.

The wolf jumped up on the bed, his weight making it move a little. I popped an eye open to stare at it through the dark. “Sleep, okay?” I asked it. “I’m cold and need some sleep. I’ll make some more sticky buns tomorrow.”

He settled down, draping himself half across me, which I would have protested if his fiery heat didn’t suck me down into much needed sleep.