A Sheep In Wolf's Clothing (Welsh Wolves) (6 page)

The puppy trembled in his arms and the big dog refused to come out. He crouched in the corner of his cage.

It took Kieve only a moment to realize what was wrong. They were afraid of the wolf.

“You’ll be fine,” he said, comforting the puppy, but the little body shook. Kieve walked toward the door. A rush of warm liquid spread across his chest and he sighed. The poor little thing had peed all over him. Kieve glared down at the wolf. “I hope you’re happy.” And dang, if the animal didn’t look like it was laughing.

He crouched down beside the big dog and introduced him to the trembling puppy in his hands. The wolf leaned over, sniffed and licked the little one on the chin as if to greet him, then backed away.

Again, Kieve couldn’t believe how aware the wolf seemed. The puppy wiggled in his arms, feet peddling to get closer.

“You want to go see him?” Neither animal seemed aggressive.

Kieve knelt down, placing the puppy near the wolf, his hands hovering over the quivering body, but the puppy seemed to know what it wanted, felt that it was safe. It flailed toward the bigger wolf, collapsing at its feet.

The wolf dipped its head down and Kieve tensed knowing the bigger animal could kill the puppy with one bite. But no aggression invaded the wolf’s body. He stroked his tongue across the puppy’s back as if cleaning him, comforting him. The puppy rolled over and batted its paws at the big, bad wolf.

Kieve chuckled. He couldn’t help it. The animal looked so tough but had turned into “Mr. Mom.”

“Okay.” He patted the head of the puppy and the wolf. “You two play nice. I’m going to see if anyone’s reported you missing.” He rubbed the wolf’s head, washed the puppy pee off his chest and moved to his computer. Surely someone had to be missing a wolf hybrid. The animal was too valuable to let go.

He scanned Craigslist then moved to the more obscure and targeted sites. Sure enough, there were ads searching for “Lost Wolves” and “Wolf Hybrids.”

A few matched the lost wolf’s description.
Missing, black wolf. I
’
m sure you
’
re lonely. I miss you. Come home.

Like the wolf can read, Kieve thought.

Still, it never hurt to get the word out.

Found: Silver and black wolf hybrid, affectionate, injured. Please call.

Kieve nodded. Simple, concise. He’d deliberately withheld the fact that the dog was blind. He could use that to identify the owner. A lot of people might want to get their hands on a pretty wolf like his.

He looked down. The wolf sat beside him. The puppy gnawed on the wolf’s paw.

Never had Kieve seen such an aggrieved look on an animal’s face. He could practically read the wolf’s mind...
can you please get him off me?

The wolf shook his paw and the puppy rolled away, turning around and pouncing on the other paw. The wolf huffed out a sigh and practically glared at Kieve as if it was all his fault.

Kieve just laughed.

He went through the rest of his morning, checking his other patients. He slipped out and cleaned up, returning to find the puppy asleep beside the wolf.

The wolf lifted his head but didn’t move too much as if he didn’t want to dislodge the puppy snoozing again his side.

“Just an old softie,” he said, rubbing his fingers across the top of the wolf’s skull.

The door opened and Katarina, Kieve’s assistant, walked in.

She pulled to a stop. “Is that a wolf?”

Kieve smiled. “He’s a hybrid. Don’t worry, he’s tame.”

Except the wolf stood up, dislodging the puppy, and placed himself in front of Kieve. The animal’s lips pulled back in a snarl.

Katarina stopped. She, like Kieve, knew the difference between the sound of a playful animal and an aggressive one.

The wolf was definitely aggressive. After a moment, Kieve realized the wolf was defending him.

“It’s okay, baby.” He knelt down beside the animal draping his arm over the wolf’s back. “She’s a friend. She won’t hurt us.” He used the sing-song voice that comforted most animals. “Would you like to meet her?”

The wolf tipped his head back and licked Kieve’s chin. He laughed. “I guess I’ll take that as a yes.

“Kat, why don’t you come here?” Kieve held out his hand. Kat hesitated and he could understand why. The wolf must have been pretty frightening when she’d walked in. But the animal was calm now. He leaned heavily against Kieve’s thigh, barely raising his head when Kat drew closer. “Go ahead. Pet him.”

Her fingers trembled a bit as she reached out but steadied when the wolf seemed almost ready to ignore her.

“See, baby?” He scratched the wolf behind the ears. The animal sighed and practically collapsed on Kieve’s lap. “She’s a friend. Be nice to her.”

Kat laughed and stepped back, hanging her coat on the hook.

“You need to get out, doc, if you’re starting to talk to the animals and expect them to understand you.”

Kieve rolled his eyes and nodded. “No kidding. I am going to get out of here.” The wolf’s head snapped up and a low growl erupted from his throat. “Just for a little while,” he assured the wolf. “I’m going to check with some people who might be able to find your owners.”

The wolf huffed his approval.

Damn, it really did seem like the animal could understand him.

Chapter Three

Kieve tried to ignore the tingling in his spine, but it just wouldn’t budge as he stepped through the door of the Red Dragon. The place was in the middle of nowhere and looked a little seedy. This wasn’t his kind of place. Folks always assumed that because he was big, he was a bad-ass.

The truth was—he was basically a bottom. He liked to be fucked and be dominated. Stepping into a place like this set his nerves on edge. He liked to be topped, not gang-banged in the bathroom. Still, he was a big guy. Few people looked at him and thought “bottom boy.”

But bad-ass biker bars just didn’t fit his life style.

He was a vet. A quiet man who lived on the edge of town because, really? He didn’t like people.

But this was the only place in the vicinity he hadn’t checked. None of the nearby homeowners recognized the wolf. They could be lying—having a wolf-hybrid was illegal—but Kieve had made it clear he wasn’t going to turn them in. He just wanted the animal to find its home.

Poor thing. Blind and now with a broken foot. And so damn sweet. The wolf had snuggled against him in bed like a lover...

He gave himself a shake. That sounded creepy, even in his own mind.

Maybe it was the dream. The gorgeous wolf turning into a man and sucking him off, making him scream. His cock twitched at the memory.

He’d be using that dream as stroke-off material for months. Damn.

He stepped inside. The bar was empty. It was still early in the day. A couple of guys stood near the counter, talking in furious whispers. Two flags hung criss-cross behind the bar—Welsh and American.

“I don’t know.” The smaller man shook his head. “His scent just disappears.”

“Damn it, Dex, he didn’t get abducted by aliens.”

“I know that but—”

Kieve hated to interrupt but...

“Excuse me?”

Their heads snapped up and the younger guy spun around, his eyes wide.

“Oh, sorry, we’re not open yet.”

“I’m not here for a drink.” He smiled as he walked across the room, trying to look friendly.

He knew his size intimidated some people. The guy behind the bar stood up to his full height and crossed his arms on his chest. He was a little taller than Kieve, a little broader in the shoulders. And clearly not intimidated.

“What can we do for you?” the big guy asked. His eyes tightened down at the edges. Suspicious guy.

“I’m wondering if anyone here recognizes this dog.” He pulled out the picture he’d taken.

Dex, the younger man, snatched it out of his hand. “Micah, oh thank God. It’s him.”

“That’s not a dog,” Micah growled. “That’s a wolf.”

Kieve nodded. “I take it you know him?”

“Yes, where did you find him?” The young guy gripped the picture like it was a lifeline.

“He was brought to my place last night. I’m a vet. He’d gotten caught in a wolf trap.”

“Fuck.” Micah’s body tensed. “Is he okay?”

“He’s got a broken foot. I don’t know how well it’s going to heal.” He shrugged. “And well, he’s blind.”

Micah nodded. “Yeah, that’s not something that’s going to heal.”

He said it matter of factly. Like it was just part of what they had to deal with. Kieve had to give these guys credit, taking care of a blind animal couldn’t be easy.

“Thank you.” Dex threw his arms around Kieve and gave him a hug. “We’ve been so worried.”

He pulled back but continued to hold onto Kieve’s arms. “I can’t tell you...” He exhaled as if he’d been holding the world on his shoulders and looked back at the other guy. “He’s okay.” The relief in Dex’s voice allowed Kieve to relax as well.

“When can we come and get him?” Micah asked.

Dex laughed. “Oh, yeah. I bet he’s been a pain in the ass. Sorry about that. He’s a bit cranky when he’s in unfamiliar places.”

“No.” Kieve shook his head. “He’s been great. I never would have expected a wolf-hybrid to be so affectionate. You’d think he was part golden retriever.”

“Really?” Dex tipped his head to the side and stared at Kieve. The considering look in the guy’s eyes made Kieve want to squirm. “He let you pet him?”

“He barely let me stop.” Kieve laughed, remembering the way he’d given in to the blatant begging.

“Really? Hmm...”

“Well, thanks for coming by,” Micah said. “We can follow you and—”

“No, we can’t,” Dex interrupted.

“What?”

“We can’t go today to pick him up.”

“Why not?”

Kieve took a step back. The tension bouncing between the two of them seemed to be a physical force and he didn’t want to get caught in it.

“Because the car is broken, plus Fido’s foot is hurt.”

“Fido?” The word popped out of Kieve’s mouth before he’d even realized he’d spoken. It almost sounded like Micah had said the same thing.

“Yes, Fido.” Dex spun around and gave Kieve a blinding smile. “Means loyal or something like that.”

“I know. I’ve just never actually met a dog named Fido.”

Dex shrugged. “And, what was your name?”

“Kieve Mattinson.”

Dex grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “So, nice to meet you. Kieve, that’s a Welsh name, did you know?”

“Uh, no.”

Using Kieve’s arm as a lever, the little guy dragged him forward. “I’m Dex and this is Micah.” He patted one of the bar stools. “Here. Sit. What can we get you to drink?”

“Uh, nothing. I’m good.”

Dex nudged him backward, a not-so-gentle push that plopped his ass down on the high chair.

“Whiskey? Soda? Water?”

“Water would be fine,” he finally said. The young man seemed determined and Kieve figured, the sooner he sat, the sooner he could leave.

“Micah, get Kieve some water.” Dex hopped onto the barstool next to him. “You’re a vet, you said?”

“Uh, yes. Thanks.” He nodded as the glass of water slid across the bar. “I have my practice about ten miles north.”

“Ooh, you’re even farther out in the boonies than we are. That’s good. You don’t mind being a little isolated then?”

Kieve shrugged and shook his head. “Not really. I get along better with animals than I do people.”

Dex laughed and Kieve could feel the sound in his chest—not a booming sensation but a tinkling flutter that made him want to smile.

“So, Fido’s behaving himself? I’m sorry if I seem surprised, but he’s never been good with strangers.”

“He’s great. Happy dog.”

“Really?” Dex sounded more confused than surprised by that.

“Is he not that way here? He’s very affectionate.”

Dex laughed. “I’ll bet he is. Has he convinced you to sleep with him yet?”

Kieve blinked. “Excuse me.”

“I mean, let him sleep with you. He whines a lot when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

Kieve chuckled. “Yes. I finally let him sleep in my bed. I couldn’t get him back in the kennel.”

Dex’s eyes got wide. “Oh, no. Don’t try to do that. He had a bad experience a few years ago and can’t stand to be in a cage.”

Kieve nodded. He’d wondered about that. The violent response to the kennel warned him the dog had been abused. He doubted Dex was the abuser. Typically the owner of an abused dog either just wanted it gone or couldn’t wait to get it back, so they could punish the animal for getting hurt.

Dex seemed too relaxed. Almost flirtatious.

“So, how long have you been in the area?” Dex asked, his tone friendly and casual, like he was settling in for a long chat.

“About six months. I bought out the previous owner and took over the practice.”

He took another sip of water, wondering when he would be allowed to leave. But Dex was having none of it. The guy seemed intent on learning Kieve’s life history.

The only thing that saved him was a text from Kat asking where he was because she needed to leave.

“I’ve got to go. My assistant is watching the shop for me, but she needs to head home.”

“Of course.” Dex hopped off his stool. “It was so good to meet you. Can you keep Fido for a few more days? We’ll get our car fixed and come pick him up. Don’t worry,” Dex assured him. “We’ll pay for boarding costs.”

Kieve nodded and inched closer to the door. Dex followed.

“Why don’t you give me your number and address?” Dex pulled out his phone. “And I’ll call you when we can come get him.” He typed Kieve’s information into his phone. “It was so nice to meet you.” He threw his arms around Kieve’s neck and squeezed him tight. “Give Fido a hug for me. And tell him to be a good boy.”

Kieve slipped out of Dex’s grip and had to stop his legs from sprinting for the door. There was something decidedly strange about that bar.

He let it stew in his mind as he rushed home. Unable to wait any longer, Kat had called and said she had to leave so she was putting the wolf in the pen with the puppy.

Kieve opened his front door and wasn’t surprised to see “Fido” bounding toward him even though Kat had left him locked in the other room.