Miracle Wolf for Christmas (3 page)

Chapter Three

She’d
left the room about ten minutes ago, but he could still hear her crying from
wherever it was she’d run to.

Normally,
a crying female irritated him, but he could tell that these weren’t tears
because her makeup didn’t look right, or because she couldn’t get her hair to
look some celebrity’s. The sobs he heard were those of a woman feeling pure
heartache.

He
knew he shouldn’t get involved, but she’d intrigued him. First time he’d been
around a human for this long and so up close, and his curiosity had gotten the
better of him. He’d even given up trying to shift back, well, just for now at
least. Even hearing her sing was better than hearing her cry.

She’d
opened one of her Christmas gifts and that had obviously set her off. She’d
thrown it across the room. It was a mug and now it lay in pieces close to where
he lay. If he could just see what was written on it, he might know what all this
crying was about.

Kent
pushed his right paw through the gap in the slots and pulled one piece toward
him. MO was written on it.

Mo—was
it part of her name. No, he thought he’d heard the guy call her Ally.

Kent
reached out of the next broken piece, forcing his nails to grip on its edge,
which enabled him to slide it to him.

BE.

The
pieces didn’t look like they went together, so maybe the last piece, the
biggest, would be the puzzle solver. He had to put his muzzle against the metal
slats so he could reach out and pull it. It spun around on the tile floor a few
times, but then he was lucky enough to get the handle to face him. With his paw,
he set the pieces in front of him.

Momma-to-be.

She
was pregnant.

No,
she didn’t look like she was having a baby, and why would seeing this upset her
so much if that was the case?

She’d
lost baby. That’s why she was crying. She maybe miscarried.

He
knew lots of the shifters had trouble having babies, and they cried a lot, too.
A few wolf shifters had even gotten pregnant but then miscarried. It was the
sort of thing that tore them apart.

Ally
had obviously been pregnant and lost her baby.

Who
had given her the mug? Some human’s idea of a sick joke at Christmas, perhaps?

But
he remembered what she’d said before opening it. That it would put her out of
her misery.

Kent
heard footsteps. She was coming back. He couldn’t let her see that he’d put all
the pieces together. He used his paw to flick all three bits in different
directions, hoping she didn’t remember exactly where they’d been at.

He
put his head down on his paws, hoping he’d just look like any other wolf.

Ally
stopped and looked down at the smashed mug. She leaned over and picked up the
pieces. Kent thought maybe she’d throw them in the bin, but instead, she placed
them on a shelf.

“It’s
past midnight, so Merry Christmas,” she said. “I don’t feel like sleeping right
now, so I think I’ll keep you company for a bit.”

She
sat back down on the blanket, put the pillow behind her, and leaned against the
enclosure.

“So
if I hadn’t run you over and you weren’t here, where would you be spending your
Christmas?” she asked him.

Right now, I’d be
having a few drinks and watching a movie. Tomorrow, I’d be heading to my
cousin’s place.

If
she only knew the irony that he did actually understand what she’d asked and
was answering her.

“I
know it’s crazy talking to you, but it helps. Animals have always helped me.”

She
put her palm up to the slats, and he knew he shouldn’t, but he put his paw up
on the other side, allowing his pad to touch her palm ever so slightly.

“You
are something else, you know that? I think I should give you a name.”

I have a name, and
it’s Kent.

“I
found you on Christmas Eve.”

No, actually, you
ran me over on Christmas Eve.

“So
Noel seems perfect.”

Hate that name,
but seeing how upset you are, I’ll let it slide just this once.

“We
were going to call her Jennifer Louise.” A tear slipped down her face.

She
must be talking about the baby, a girl. She laid her head down on the pillow
and closed her eyes.

“Is
it wrong of me to hate the man who made me lose everything I loved?”

****

Ally’s
body ached. She gradually sat up and realized that she must have fallen asleep
on the floor and been there all night. She’d thought she’d spend some time
talking to the wolf and then head off to bed, but she must have been by his
side all night. She hadn’t woken up once, which surprised her because she’d
been plagued with insomnia since the shooting.

She
glanced in the wolf enclosure. Noel was still asleep. He’d eaten the turkey
slices, but left the rest of the food untouched. He looked so peaceful and
relaxed. If she had one thing to look forward to in the New Year, it was
monitoring him. Setting him free but then using the radio collar to track him
and visit with him. He seemed different than the other wolves she’d been
around. Maybe it was because she felt so sad and alone, but Ally was sure he
understood and even empathized with what she was going through.

She
watched his powerful chest rise and fall with each breath he took. She loved
all the animals, but she’d always had a soft spot for wolves. They’d been so
vilified, so misunderstood, and they were one of the most gentle creatures on
earth.

He
moved as if he was trying to get into a more comfortable position and then
yawned. He opened one eye, almost as if he knew she was awake and observing
him.

“Morning
Noel and Merry Christmas. Sorry I don’t have a gift for you, but maybe you’d
like me to open the rest of my gifts right here so you can see what I got.”

He
stretched out while she got up and walked over to the tree. She switched on its
lights and then turned on the radio. Christmas songs rang out. Ally took the
gifts and went back over to Noel, who looked a touch grumpy this morning. Maybe
his leg was acting up.

“This
one is from my parents,” she said. She ripped off the paper and saw that it was
the backpack she’d asked for. Top of the line one that would house all her
equipment when she went out tracking.

She
placed it by the enclosure and picked up another one.

“From
my brother and sister-in-law,” said Ally. She opened the lid on the box and
pulled out a sweater and vest.
 
“And this
one is from the rest of the workers here at the Center.” Ally tore off the
paper and saw that it was a box of her favorite chocolates. “Don’t know about
you, but I’m starving. I’m going to make some bacon and eggs.” She actually saw
the wolf lick his lips. “I know I shouldn’t, but it’s Christmas Day, so I’ll
cook some bacon for you, too.”

****

Kent
almost wanted to act out that commercial where the dog got his Beggin’ Strips
when she’d mentioned the word bacon. The smoky flavor drifted his way and his
stomach rumbled. Maybe he’d be lucky and she’d throw some eggs on top of it.
Toast would be a nice addition, too. Black coffee—icing on the cake.

“Okay,
Noel, here’s your Christmas breakfast.”

She
slid a plate of chopped bacon under the grille.

He
dived into it, almost burping because he’d never eaten so fast. She slid down
next to him with her own plate of bacon, eggs, toast, and yes, a mug of black
coffee.

Damn
but at least she’d turned off the music and hadn’t tried to sing today.

“I
brought a turkey dinner with me to cook. I don’t know if there’ll be enough for
you, but I still have some of the sliced turkey. I did notice you didn’t like
our standard wolf food.”

Kent
turned up his nose while glancing at the bowl.
Canine junk.

“We’re
thinking of pairing with a venison supplier next year.”

Venison…which
reminded him of his cousin Nick, whose venison chili was to die for and, in a
few hours, he was supposed to arrive at his house. Nick would probably be angry
about him being late, try reaching him via his cell phone, ready to give him a
dressing down, and hopefully use his wolf sense to know something was wrong and
send out a search party.

As
soon as Ally was out of sight, Kent would try and shift and get out of here.

“Guess
I should go wash these plates and then I think I’ll begin filling in the information
about you. I’ll take a nice photo of you, too. In a way, I’m glad I’m getting
to spend Christmas with you.”

She
walked away out of sight. He glanced over at the broken mug and what she’d just
said about spending Christmas with him.

He
couldn’t leave her alone quite yet. He’d spend most of the day with her and
then he’d shift and split. Nick and Ava would understand that he was doing
someone a good deed in this season of miracles.

Chapter Four

Ally
had never known a wolf quite like Noel. He’d actually posed for the photo. She’d
opened his enclosure door and he walked outside, sat there, and let her take
five snaps of him.

She
smiled as she loaded them up to the site.

Noel, male wolf,
estimated age 5 years.

Found near wooded
area ten miles west of Glacier National Park entrance on December 24
^th
,
2015.

Looks like he is
lone wolf, no other pack members in the area.

Radio collar
number 8734.

Will release him
back to the area where he was found once he has recovered from a leg injury.

Will track him
same time next month for further studies.

She
turned off the screen and decided to get her Christmas dinner ready. She’d get
those turkey slices she’d promised Noel. Hopefully, he’d accept them as her way
of saying sorry for running into him.

****

Kent
ventured out of the enclosure she’d opened for him. He had her trust now and
she’d decided to let him wander around while she ate her turkey dinner. He’d
downed the sliced turkey she’d offered him. He hoped by the time he made it to
Nick’s place, there were still plenty of leftovers because he was starving. He
put his nose into the air. Her dinner didn’t look all that appetizing, but it
sure as hell smelled good. She finished the last of the mashed potatoes and
pushed the plate away. Next she opened up the box of chocolates and popped one
into her mouth.

“I’d
offer you one, but I know canines and cocoa do not mix. Well, at least not for
dogs. I won’t risk seeing if you’re the same.” She took another chocolate and
then stood. “I think I’m going to take a shower and then just relax for the
rest of the day.
 
Can I trust you not to
get up to any trouble while I’m gone?”

Oh you wouldn’t
believe what I’m going to do once your back is turned.

****

Ally
guessed she’d spend the rest of the day catching up on some of her field notes
and then do some studying. She had to begin work on the papers for her
doctorate degree soon. She was set to graduate next year. Dr. Ally Herbert. She
couldn’t believe that would soon be her title.

She
rinsed the shampoo out of her hair and then stepped out of the shower, dried
herself off, and wrapped the toweling robe around her body. They should
probably think about putting a TV in this place, but the whole idea of working
here was to get research and papers written without interruption.

Ally
heard a noise coming from the area where they brought the animals in for
initial examination. Sounded like something had been knocked over in there. The
only animal that was on the loose was Noel, and there was no why he could have
gotten in there. The door was shut, and unless he had grown human hands while
she’d been showering, he couldn’t have opened it.

Ally
turned in that direction, hoping that no one had chosen to break into this
place on Christmas Day. They had experienced the odd person thinking it morally
wrong to tag and monitor wild animals, but apart from that, they were out in
the middle of nowhere and passersby were far and few between.
 
Her heartbeat picked up and her mouth went
dry thinking about Andy and that fateful night. Had he heard the man breaking
into the surgery, or had he been taken by total surprise? She looked around for
something she could use as a weapon, but there was nothing. She guessed she’d
take her chances.

She
pushed back the door and stopped in her tracks. A man, a naked man, stood there.
His bare ass, his very nice bare ass, faced her. “Don’t move because I’ve
already called the police,” she said.

Had
Andy spoken to his killer like this? Had he tried to reason with him or even
begged for his life?

He
turned around and she immediately recognized those eyes. It was Noel. But it
couldn’t be him because this was a man and he was a wolf. She shook her head as
he moved toward her. The way he looked at her was also familiar, too.

“Don’t
be scared, okay?” He lifted his hands up to her. “I thought I’d be gone by the
time you got out of the shower. I was just looking for some clothes and
remembered seeing a pair of scrubs in here when you and that guy named Axel
examined my leg.”

No,
it couldn’t be. She was asleep and dreaming. She glanced at his leg where she’d
hit him with the car. It was black and blue and the radio collar hung around
his neck.

She
opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out but a squeak. Not only was she
in shock that a wolf had turned into a man, but his cock was the biggest and
longest she’d ever seen. She tried not to focus on it.

“I
can explain all this, but you can’t tell anyone,” he said, taking another step
toward her, his cock slowly getting more erect the closer he got.

Who
would believe her if she did tell them? They’d say the stress of her loss had
made her take to drink or go insane. They’d blame it on a nervous breakdown.

Hell,
maybe that’s what was happening here.

He
rested his hand on her shoulder. The touch and gesture was so familiar. The
wolf had touched her that way when she’d been crying outside his enclosure.

“I
don’t understand. Am I asleep, am I going insane?”

“Nope,
neither.”

“Prove
it.”

Before
she knew it, his lips were on hers, his arms around her. It felt real. He felt
real. His hand slipped inside her robe, the palm grazing against her nipples,
making them feel sensitive and in need of something that she hadn’t realized
she’d missed until now.

 
He pulled away from her, looking at her with
those beautiful wolf eyes.

“Are
you a werewolf?” she asked.

He
shook his head. “I don’t have to wait for a full moon to become a wolf. I can
do it whenever I please.”

“So
you’re not going to bite me?”

“No,
definitely not going to bite you…well, unless you want me to.”

She
shook her head. “So what are you going to do to me?”

Could
he feel her shaking? Did he notice that for the last few seconds she hadn’t
been able to take her eyes off his cock that was now rock hard and erect?

She
realized just how much she’d missed having sex. Having sex, not making love.
Big difference and only her dead husband could do that. And Andy would totally
understand her need to have sex and release the tension that ran deep in her
body. She’d have no problem with him doing the wild thing with a woman if she’d
been the one who’d been killed.

“I’d
like you to fuck me.”

She’d
shocked herself. She wasn’t known for her dirty mouth, but the need overtook
everything.

“With
pleasure, and think of it as my Christmas gift to you.”