Page 2

Adam looks at the wolf carefully, his brow furrowed as if he’s trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn’t quite make sense.

I take a quick look over my shoulder, catching sight of Todd near the front of the barn. He’s on high alert, his eyes scanning the property like he expects Sheriff Dickwad himself to come storming in any second. Knowing Kaufman, that isn’t entirely off the table.

Adam bends closer to the wolf, his hands moving with deliberate care. He leans in, studying the wound on the wolf’s back, and a muscle jumps in his cheek. “Shit,” he mutters, prodding the area with cautious fingers. “Looks like someone creased him, probably to slow him down so they could catch him.”

His voice is calm, measured, but I can hear the disgust underneath.

“Dumb fuckers,” he mutters under his breath. The words are quiet, but they hit me like a hammer. My own anger flares, hot and immediate. Someone deliberately shot this wolf—not to kill him, but to wound him. Why? To capture him? For what purpose?

I c lench my fists, struggling to keep the heat rising in my chest under control. My thoughts spiral. If they’d been even a little less careful—or a little less lucky—they could’ve killed him outright. The fact that he’s alive at all feels like some kind of miracle.

Adam slides his hand around the wolf’s neck, his fingers brushing gently over the dark fur. His movements are calm, but the look in his eyes tells a different story. There’s a quiet fury there, one that mirrors my own. If I didn’t know him as well as I do, I’d think he wasn’t affected by any of this. But the tension in his shoulders and the curses slipping from his mouth say otherwise.

“Feel here,” Adam says, tilting his head toward the wolf’s neck. “It’s raw all the way around.”

I hesitate before reaching out, not wanting to disturb the wolf further. My fingers brush over the fur, and I wince as I feel it—the rough, raw skin beneath. A wound encircles his neck, deep and angry, like something had been tied or chained there for days.

My hands start to tremble as I brush the fur back. What the hell had been done to this animal? Who thought they had the right to do something so cruel? I clench my teeth, my anger bubbling over. If I ever find out who did this, they’re going to regret it.

I glance at Adam, catching his gaze. The same anger burns in his eyes, reflected right back at me.

“So they creased him, caught him, and chained him up,” I say, and my voice comes out clipped. “Looks like they had him for a few days, right?”

Adam nods grimly. “Yeah. I’d bet on it. Probably some dumbass who thought keeping a wolf as a pet would be cool. They must’ve realized pretty quick what a mistake that was. You can’t domesticate a wild animal, no matter how much you want to believe otherwise.”

He shakes his head, his hands moving over the wolf’s body in a practiced, efficient way. His fingers trail down the wolf’s sides, prodding his ribs, his hips, his legs. I watch the wolf carefully, noting the way his muscles twitch under Adam’s touch.

When Adam’s hands slide down to the wolf’s belly, the reaction is immediate. The wolf tenses, his body going rigid beneath Adam’s fingers. I stiffen, alarmed, but Adam waves me off with a small shake of his head.

“It’s fine,” he says, sitting back slightly. He quirks a small smile, the tension in his face easing. “And as I just confirmed, this beautiful wolf is definitely male. That’s probably why he tensed up—I groped the poor guy.”

Despite everything, I feel a flare of irritation at his comment. I brush it off, chalking it up to the stress of the moment.

Adam chuckles softly, nodding toward me. “I need you to move around to his head. I want to check his mouth next.”

As I shift positions, I murmur quietly to the wolf, hoping my voice will keep him calm. His amber gaze follows me, sharp despite the weakness in his body.

“You’re okay,” I whisper. “It’s going to be okay.”

The wolf doesn’t react much, but his breathing slows as I settle near his head. I watch Adam as he lifts a fold of the wolf’s skin, pulling gently to check for dehydration.

“Bad, but not the worst I’ve seen,” Adam mutters to himself. He moves on, opening the wolf’s mouth and peering inside. His fingers are sure and steady, no trace of the earlier hesitation I’d seen.

It’s strange, but I realize I’m not worried anymore—about the wolf biting Adam or lashing out.

And I think Adam knows it, too.

Ada m works methodically, his hands moving over the wolf’s body with practiced care. His brow furrows as he checks each limb, his touch gentle but firm. The wolf lies still, his breathing uneven but steady enough to make me hope we’ve caught him in time.

“I don’t feel any obvious breaks,” Adam finally says, sitting back on his heels. “But it wouldn’t hurt to get a series of X-rays to make sure. I’d also like to draw some blood, run a few tests, and check for internal injuries. That kind of trauma could hide under the surface.”

The thought of taking the wolf to the clinic sets me on edge immediately. Adam must see it on my face because he doesn’t move to pack up his tools just yet.

“The clinic’s in town,” I remind him, my voice forced. “There’s a law against wolves and wolf hybrids inside town limits. You can’t tell me Kaufman wouldn’t jump at the chance to use that law against us. If he gets wind of this, he’ll push for euthanasia, no questions asked.”

I grit my teeth at the thought of Kaufman, that smug bastard, finding out about this wolf. The sheriff takes pleasure in enforcing his brand of ‘justice’, which usually amounts to cruelty for cruelty’s sake. I’ve seen too much of it to take the risk lightly.

Before Adam can respond, the wolf whimpers, the sound soft but insistent. His body shifts slightly, and I feel his weight press closer against me. The movement nearly knocks me backward, and I fling out an arm to catch myself before I end up sprawled in the dirt.

I freeze, my breath catching as I realize how close he is now, leaning into me like he understands the conversation—or at least the emotions behind it.

What the hell?

A wave of protectiveness washes over me, fierce and almost overwhelming. I glance down at the wolf, his golden-brown eyes flickering open for a moment before they close again .

Mine.

The word springs to mind unbidden, sharp and clear as if it had been waiting for this exact moment. I shake my head, trying to shove the thought away. I can’t start thinking like that. This wolf isn’t mine. He’s a wild animal, not some pet I can claim.

And yet…

I swallow hard, keeping my hand on his neck as if the contact will ground both of us. “Do you think there’s internal damage, Adam?” I ask, my voice quieter now.

Adam doesn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed on the wolf as he continues his inspection. “I don’t think so,” he says eventually, his tone cautious. “But I can’t swear on it, Gabe. That’s the problem. Internal injuries aren’t always obvious during a quick exam.”

The wolf whimpers again, pushing closer until his head rests against my leg. I feel the warmth of his body against mine, his fur coarse but comforting under my fingers. It’s like he’s trying to tell me he doesn’t want me to leave, and I can’t help but feel the same.

“I don’t think taking him to the clinic is worth the risk,” I say firmly, meeting Adam’s gaze. “Kaufman’s just waiting for an excuse to show up at your place with a citation—or worse. We can’t give him that chance.”

Adam sighs, sitting back on his heels. “You’re probably right. We’ll take him to your place instead, get him on an IV to rehydrate, and clean and dress these wounds. I’ll leave you some sedatives in case you need them.”

He reaches out, his hand brushing over the wolf’s head, his fingers scratching gently behind one twitching ear. The wolf’s body relaxes slightly, his breathing slowing, and Adam lets out a soft hum of approval.

“ You’ll need to keep a close eye on him,” Adam says, his voice calm but serious. “If there is internal damage, you’ll see the signs pretty quickly. He’ll go downhill fast if something’s wrong.”

I nod, but my attention lingers on Adam’s hand as it moves over the wolf’s head, stroking the dark fur with a care that seems almost…possessive.

Something sharp and ugly twists in my chest. Jealousy.

The realization hits me like a slap, and I bite down on the wave of frustration rising in my throat. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m acting like a jealous lover, not someone trying to help a wounded animal . I force myself to look away, focusing instead on the wolf’s breathing.

Todd jogs toward us then, breaking the tension. He waves frantically, his face drawn tight with tension, as his eyes dart from us to the road.

“Y’all need to hurry it up,” Todd says, his voice low but urgent as he steps closer. He glances toward the road, his unease radiating off him in waves. “Kaufman radioed to check on what’s taking so long, and he sounded suspicious. I wouldn’t put it past the fucker to come screaming down the drive any minute.”

His gaze shifts to the wolf for a moment before flicking to Adam. “Think he’s going to be okay?”

Todd’s question lingers in the air, but I catch the way his eyes drift over Adam as he speaks. He’s not just worried about the wolf—he’s watching the vet with an intensity that tells me everything I need to know. I’ve suspected for a while now that Todd has a…thing for Adam. The stolen glances, the way he talks about him with a little too much admiration—it all adds up.

Adam, of course, doesn’t seem to notice. He’s focused entirely on the wolf, his broad shoulders hunched as he checks the animal’s position one last time. Todd’s gaze lingers a beat too long before snapping back t o the road, his cheeks flushed as if he knows I’ve caught him staring.

I bite back a sigh as Adam and I move to lift the wolf. The animal doesn’t stir much, just a soft whimper as we cradle him between us. He’s heavier than he looks, but the weight isn’t what makes the situation difficult. It’s Todd, standing there like a coiled spring, tension rolling off him in waves.

If there was any clue—any hint—that Adam might feel the same way about Todd, I wouldn’t worry so much about my friend’s situation. But Adam’s a mystery. I’ve never seen him with a woman, but I’ve never seen him with a man either. He’s a private guy, one who keeps his personal life locked down tight. Todd, on the other hand, has been hiding in plain sight for as long as I’ve known him.

It’s not hard to figure out why. Todd’s family is as old-school as they come, and in a town like Shasta, being openly gay isn’t just frowned upon—it’s dangerous. Sheriff Kaufman would find a reason to fire him in a heartbeat if he ever suspected, and Todd knows it.

Hell, I’ve tried to bring it up before, to let him know I’m here if he wants to talk, but Todd shuts it down every time. Still, I know. And Todd knows I know.

“Let’s move,” I say, adjusting my grip as Adam and I carry the wolf toward the truck. Todd jogs ahead, pulling open the door to the crew cab and holding it wide.

The wolf whimpers faintly as we slide him onto the blanket in the back seat. Adam murmurs something under his breath, soothing and steady, as he arranges the animal as gently as possible.

Todd stares at the road again, his jaw clamped shut. He’s spooked, and I don’t blame him.

“Let’s go!” His barked order is sharper than usual, cutting through the tension like a whip.

Ada m and I exchange a quick glance before sprinting to our respective vehicles. I slide into the driver’s seat of my truck, my heart thudding as I rev up the engine. Adam’s headlights flash behind me as he pulls out, following close.

I make a U-turn and press down on the gas, the truck’s tires kicking up a cloud of dust as we head back toward my place. The wolf shifts slightly in the back seat, letting out a soft whine, and I glance at him in the rearview mirror.

“We’re going to get you home,” I murmur. “Just hang on.”

Todd’s warning rings in my ears as I drive. Kaufman won’t need much of an excuse to cause trouble if he catches wind of what’s going on. For now, though, the road ahead is clear.

So far, so good.

All we have to do is make it back to my place without running into that bastard.