Werewolf in Alaska

“I could still get in big trouble for not notifying Fish and Game that I have him. I took him in the house because he’s hurt.”

“Bad?”

“I think he’ll make it.”

Lionel exhaled noisily. “Good. That’s very good. But listen, you should call Fish and Game right now and make up some story about why you didn’t contact them earlier. I’ll back you up.”

“I’m not calling them, Lionel. Last night this wolf came swooping in and attacked a grizzly that was about to chew me to bits.”

“No way!”

“That’s how he got hurt. He might be a hybrid, but I’ll bet he once belonged to someone, because he’s used to people and obviously thought he should protect me. But I think he’s on his own now. I plan to turn him loose once I’m sure he’ll be okay. That’s only fair.”

Lionel gazed at her, his dark eyes filled with concern. “What if he has rabies?”

“I’ve seen no evidence of that. Remember, I worked with a vet.”

“Okay, maybe he doesn’t have rabies. I suppose you’d recognize the signs. But he’s still a wild animal. Wild animals can seem like they’re friendly until bam! They turn on you. There was this guy in India whose pet hippopotamus ate him.”

“This wolf saved me from a bear. He’s not going to turn around and eat me.”

“You can’t know that for sure. Has he ever growled at you?”

“No.” She realized that wasn’t exactly true. “Well, once, but I think that was because I tried to shave his fur so I could dress his wounds. He’s afraid of either the scissors or the razor, or both.”

“But he did growl. You say he’s in your bedroom?”

“Yes.”

Lionel’s eyebrows rose. “Did you sleep in there last night?”

“I did. So what?”

“So what? He could have attacked while you were sleeping, that’s what!”

“Well, he didn’t, and I don’t expect him to.”

“Meaning that you’re going to sleep in the same room with him again tonight?”

“I was planning on it.”

Lionel shook his head. “Bad idea, Miss M. Maybe he was too weak to attack last night, but with another day’s rest, he might be a whole different wolf.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Well, I am. Can I see him?”

“All right, but you have to promise me you won’t tell anybody about this.”

Lionel looked genuinely offended. “Like I would.”

“I’m sorry. I know you wouldn’t. But . . . I feel protective of this wolf. I’m sure it’s the same one I saw years ago.”

“You mean the one you took a picture of? You’re absolutely sure? Because wolves can look alike, you know.”

“This one’s very distinctive. His black coat’s the same, and his green eyes are exactly like the one in the picture. Plus the hair on his forehead grows so there’s a faint diamond pattern to it. It’s the wolf I saw, no question. Every wolf I carve is basically him.”

Lionel gazed at the ground as if pondering something. Finally he looked up again. “This is starting to sound like what my grandmother studies, that tribal stuff about kindred animal spirits.”

“I remember you telling me about that.”

“She’d probably say you have some kind of special connection with this wolf.”

“I think I do. So you see why I can’t bring Fish and Game into it. I want to handle this my way.”

“I’d still like to see him.”

“I want you to. I’m curious as to how he’ll react to another person, especially a guy.” She glanced at him. “I’m making you an accomplice, though.”

“Like I care about that. I was ready to help you bury the body.”

She grinned. “You’re a good friend, Lionel.”

“So are you, Miss M. The best.”

“Ready to see my big bad wolf?”

“Lead the way.”

As they walked toward her front door, she looked over at him. “Just so you know, if I did happen to have an actual guy-type wolf in my bedroom someday, I wouldn’t tell you about it.”

He laughed. “Good. ’Cause that would be way too much information.”

•   •   •

Jake both heard and smelled them coming and decided to crawl under the bed. He could understand why Rachel wanted some support in her wolf-saving venture, but he’d rather not have Lionel get a close look at him. The fewer humans who could ID him, the better.

Rachel had the good grace to call out to him before she opened the door. “Wolf? I’m bringing Lionel in to see you. He’s a good guy. He won’t cause you any problems, I promise.”

Lionel’s voice penetrated the barrier of the door. “Miss M, you do realize the wolf doesn’t understand a word you’re saying, right?”

“I’m not so sure.”

“Oh, boy.”

“What?”

“I learned about that in school. It’s called anthropomorphizing, and it means—”

“I know what it means.” Rachel sounded irritated. “I don’t think this wolf is like a human. But if he lived with people, and he’s really smart, he could understand some basic words.”

“Yeah, like sit and stay. But you just gave him a detailed explanation of what’s going on. He’s not going to get all that.”

“Then he’ll understand my tone of voice and know you’re not a threat. Ready?”

“Guess so.”

The door opened, and from his position under the bed, Jake saw Rachel’s running shoes and a pair of work boots coming in behind her. Rachel’s scent was already familiar to him—too damned familiar, in fact. Lionel’s was not, but Jake didn’t find it unpleasant—a little human sweat, a little Ivory soap, a little mint aftershave.

“Oh, dear, he’s gone under the bed again.”

“What do you mean, again?” Lionel didn’t sound happy with the situation. “Are you saying he did that before?”

“Last night, after I got out the scissors and razor.”

Exactly, sweetheart. If you’d kept those things out of the mix, I wouldn’t have had to hide. Jake still shuddered when he thought of what might have happened if he’d been more out of it.

“You slept with this wolf under your bed all night?”

“Part of the night. Lionel, he’s not dangerous.”

“How do I know that?” Lionel got to his hands and knees and peered cautiously under the bed. “Jesus. He looks enormous.”

“He’s pretty big.”

Lionel got to his feet. “I don’t like the idea of you staying alone in the cabin with a wild animal.”

Jake’s laughter came out as a snort, which made his side ache. Wild animal, indeed.

“Did you hear that?” Lionel became more agitated. “Like a sneeze or a snort or something?”

“Probably from the dust bunnies under my bed.”

“But there could be something wrong with him. I mean, he could have fleas, or ticks. . . . What if he brought ticks into your house and you get Lyme disease? Did you think of that?”

With great effort, Jake kept himself from laughing again. It hurt his side, and strange noises coming from under the bed scared the shit out of Lionel. A self-respecting Were wouldn’t tolerate the presence of a tick, but if