“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 Lionel knew Rachel had a werewolf in her house, he’d go ballistic.
“I’ll watch out for ticks,” Rachel said. “But he saved my life. I owe him—”
“What? He chose to attack the bear, but it might not have had anything to do with you. They might hate each other for other reasons, and you happened to be around for the smack-down.”
“I suppose that’s always possible, but I don’t think so. I think he was saving me.”
“Miss M, don’t be a hero. Call Fish and Game.”
Jake tensed. That was all he needed.
“I’m not doing that, Lionel.”
“Seriously, let them come out. They can tranquilize the wolf, check him for ticks and other parasites, and figure out where he came from and where he belongs. Don’t you want to know that?”
“Not really. I want him to return to whatever routine he had before he rushed in to save me. I don’t need to know all the details about his life.”
Lionel blew out a breath. “I think you’re asking for trouble keeping him here, but it’s your decision.”
“It is, and I’ll deal with any consequences.”
“But you have to promise me, if this turns into a big problem, you’ll call me.”
“You’d still help? Even if I’m ignoring your advice about notifying the authorities?”
“You bet I would, Miss M. If you don’t want anybody to know about this wolf, then that’s the way it’ll be. If he turns rabid and you need me to come and shoot him for you, I’ll do that.”
Rachel gasped. “Nobody is shooting this wolf!”
“If he becomes a danger to you, or if he harms a single hair on your head, I’ll shoot him without a second thought.”
Jake didn’t relish being shot, but he was glad to hear that Lionel was so protective. That meant Jake could leave for San Francisco without worrying so much about Rachel’s safety. Before he could catch that plane, though, he had to get out of this cabin.
“The wolf’s no danger to me,” Rachel said. “But I appreciate your support.”
“Anytime.”
“I guess he’s not going to come out from under the bed, so we may as well leave. We both have work to do.”
“Yeah, how’s the triptych coming along?” Lionel moved toward the door.
“I’m making progress.” Rachel followed him. “I’d like your opinion. Oh, and I’ve created an unholy mess in the shop. Sawdust everywhere.”
“I’m sure.” Lionel chuckled. “Hey, that carving on your mantel wasn’t there last time I was in here. Where’d it come from?”
“I sold that to Jake Hunter three years ago. He didn’t want it anymore, so I have it back.”
“What is he, dumb or something?”
“Yes, I think he is.” She closed the bedroom door.
Jake felt about as dumb as Lionel thought he was. What a situation he’d created for himself. He waited several minutes before he crawled out from under the bed. If he could be sure they’d leave him alone for a while, he could shift to human form and back to wolf form to speed the healing. In fact, in human form he could crack the front door a couple of inches so that he could leave as a wolf.