“Really?” Abigail asked, holding on to him.
“Really.” The gruff honesty from James was something Abigail adored about him. He didn’t mince words; he didn’t evade anything. He was rougher around the edges, but she knew he was always honest with her. Where Thomas was distant, and Antonio would joke to avoid something, James was always right there, giving his thoughts. He was the one who chased after her and admitted how he felt over her judging them as wolves thanks to her experience with Gavin.
“We should get out of bed,” Abigail whispered, but not making any effort to.
“Later,” he growled, nuzzling his face to the side of her neck. She gave a small moan as he pressed against her, a hard, warm body that she craved. By the feel of him, he craved her as well.
It was nearly noon when they were out of bed, showered, and dressed. She ran back to her hotel room, grabbed her laptop and went back to James, who set himself to cleaning the house up for the day.
Abigail submitted her application everywhere, but saw nothing she really wanted. Private practices that were looking to expand with more in-house doctors. Hospitals hoping to open a counseling wing. She was at least selfish enough to only apply to openings in Colorado. She did drop a few emails to old colleagues, though, wondering if they had any idea how to get new trauma therapy work.
“How is it?” James asked her quietly, sitting down near three when he was done with cleaning.
“Enlightening,” Abigail groaned. “Not many people looking for a psychiatrist with a specialty in helping those who have suffered trauma.”
“It would help if you extended your searches outside of Colorado.” James gruffly mumbled, pointing at her search parameters.
“Yeah.” Abigail tapped her mouse, thinking about that. “I don’t know, James.”
“At least make sure your resume is viewable by employers nationally. You never know, your dream job might contact you,” James reminded her, shifting to put an arm over the back of her chair.
“I could stick with private clients,” Abigail murmured, chewing on her bottom lip. James reached out and pulled her lip free. She smiled over at him because of it and he shrugged.
“Do something that makes you happy,” James ordered. “Don’t forget parts of your life for others, because that will only lead to being dissatisfied with all of it. Always aim for being happy with everything. We live too long to settle.”
“What makes you happy?” she asked, leaning into him.
“I thought it was being inner circle to a large pack, helping the poorer members, and all of that.” James sighed, shaking his head. “Looking back? I could take it or leave it, really. Here, I can do all the same, but also have more of a life. Help Finn because he needs it, like I did with the South Dakota Pack’s reckless youth. Run the bar and feel a little important, like I felt important in the inner circle. Now, I also have you on top of everything. I’m happy.”
“I’m glad you have it all figured out,” Abigail teased.
“I’m a simple man. A wolf to my core and nothing more.”
“You are anything but.” Abigail leaned and kissed his cheek.
“Sure-”
His phone started to go off and she leaned away so he could pull it from his pocket. It was Thomas’ ringtone. Abigail wondered what he needed at the bar.
“What’s up, Thomas?” James answered, without even so much as a hello.
“Come to the bar, bring Abigail,” Thomas replied, sounding like he was trying not to laugh.
“Why?” James looked at her, confusion all over his face. She closed her laptop and stood up, patting his shoulder.
“Just come,” Thomas commanded, snickering afterwards. “Hurry.”
“All right,” James groaned. He hung up and stood as well. “Looks like we’re going to the bar.”
“Looks like it,” she giggled.
They got to the bar in record time, confused, theorizing over what could have Thomas demanding their presence and laughing like he was. They came to no conclusions about it, as they walked in the front door and made their way through the early crowd.
“Office,” James whispered, pulling her into the back.
She nodded and walked behind him up the stairs. She could smell it before she saw it. James opened the office door and revealed Antonio on the floor.
With a dog. Dog? She wasn’t sure.
She looked at the large, gangly thing, paws too big for it, and tilted her head as a smile overcame her face.
“No fucking way,” James laughed. “Who is this?”
“This is our trash bandit,” Antonio chuckled. “I didn’t get food in the bowl last night and he, instead of getting the trash, went to sleep next to the bowl.”
“I’m thinking a bath and vet trip, then we can keep him,” Thomas spoke up from his desk. “Antonio needs both of those as well. He’s been chasing the thing around all day.”
Abigail didn’t say anything, still looking over the dog. First, it was massive. She was guessing nearly three feet at the shoulders, close to the size of Thomas, James, and Antonio in their wolf forms. He was over five feet in length, like them in wolf form as well. Second, it looked like Thomas, James, and Antonio in their wolf forms. The head structure was spot on, except for one strange floppy ear and a curling tail that didn’t make any sense. It also wasn’t as fluffy as them, its coat shorter. Third, it smelled fairly like Thomas, James, and Antonio in their wolf forms, but not quite.
“This is not a dog,” Abigail pointed out. The big, dark grey, nearly black wolf looked at her. She took a slow step back, James laughing softly, his arm holding her from running out the door. This was a very real wolf.
“It’s a hybrid,” Thomas corrected. “It’s not a pure wolf. The curl of the tail and the ear that flops down give it away as being something not pure. I would guess it has malamute or husky in its background, but probably some other things. And we know how pure wolves smell, and this guy doesn’t smell like that.”
“Oh, that makes this better,” Abigail replied, trying to keep a laugh out of her voice. “A wolf-dog. Boy?”
“Boy,” Antonio repeated, confirming her guess. “I think he deserves a name. Since we’re keeping him.”
“Oh my God,” Abigail whispered.
“I love this.” James chuckled. “This is hilarious. We’re getting a dog.”
“Wolf-dog,” Abigail corrected. “Are you guys sure this is a good idea?”
“Probably not,” Thomas laughed out, and shrugged.
“Then why?” Abigail asked, trying not to let James move her closer. She wasn’t scared of dogs. She liked dogs. This was not a dog.
“I’ve wanted one,” Antonio whispered, scratching the massive animal behind its floppy ear. “I had a mutt growing up. Never had time for another. Thomas and I talked about it. When I saw this boy, he said if I could catch him, we could keep him. Took all damn day. Thomas let me chase him all over the damn town.”
Abigail looked from Antonio and the wolf-dog to Thomas. His light blue eyes were dancing with humor and knowledge. This was just another thing he as an Alpha could do to make his Pack happy. She felt easier at that. This was something he’d been thinking about and the wolf-dog now in the office made the decision easier. This was another piece of them settling in Wild Junction, leaving behind their old lives for something new.
“He’s like us,” Antonio mumbled. “Wolf but not. I like that.”
“Then he does need a name,” Abigail told Antonio.
He nodded. “I was thinking about Fenrir,” he admitted, grinning. “Maybe Cerberus.”
“Maybe something less…evil,” she mumbled, feeling James gently push on her back still. She took two steps forward and brought the wolf-dog’s attention to her. He jumped up and trotted over to her, sniffing around her legs while she stood completely still. When his nose went between her legs, James reached down and pushed the muzzle away gently.
“None of that,” James growled softly. “That ain’t for yo
u.”
“He’s an animal,” Abigail reminded him. She didn’t have a problem with an animal learning the new people in the room. He was just following his instincts.
“He’ll learn his manners,” James retorted as the wolf-dog turned its attention on him, sniffing around as well. Again, when the nose went to private places, James gently moved the muzzle away. “No.”
“He doesn’t seem aggressive,” Abigail noted, looking back to Antonio.
“He hasn’t growled, snarled, or snapped yet,” he informed her. “He’s been well-behaved.”
“I think it’s me,” Thomas spoke up. “Alpha in the room. He already knows he’s not the top dog.”
“Do…they recognize that?” Abigail frowned at Thomas, who nodded.
“Yeah, they do.” All her wolves responded. She could accept that. Shifters and their animal counterparts had some understanding of each other. If she ran into another doe in the woods, the doe wouldn’t run because she was one of them, but it wouldn’t let her anywhere near her fawns, knowing she was different. She knew predators often had connections with zoos to meet their own counterparts. Riley told her about a connection to Denver’s zoo that the Pride had where she got to meet two male cheetahs.
“I like Fenrir,” James mentioned, kneeling to get eye level with the wolf-dog. “You like that?” he asked the animal. Abigail watched the dog throw back its head and begin a mock howl and wag its tail as James rubbed its chest. “Yeah, you like Fenrir.”
“Fenrir it is!” Antonio laughed, walking over. He carried a rescue collar and leash, slip-ons for capturing strays. He looped it over Fenrir’s head. “Vet time, big fella.”
“Oh dear God,” Abigail mumbled, directing her small amount of ire at Thomas. “I think you have a bar mascot.”
“I think we do too,” Thomas replied, smiling patiently. “Come here.” She went and sat on his desk in front of him. “What’s wrong?” He kept his tone low as James and Antonio watched them, petting on Fenrir.
“Nothing, just got a bit spooked by a wolf being in the office,” Abigail admitted. “It’s nothing. He’s stunning, and I’m sure he’ll smell better when he’s done with the vet and a bath.”
“That’s all?” He placed his hands on either side of her.
She thought about it. They were getting a wolf-dog, seemingly on a whim. It was a lot of responsibility while they were also running the bar and had their own hobbies. But - she glanced back at Antonio grinning as Fenrir licked his face - they all seemed happy. That made her happy, made her more comfortable.
“That’s all,” she replied to Thomas honestly. “Just…when I shift, make sure he knows I’m not food. And he can’t go on runs with us.”
“Oh, definitely,” Thomas laughed. “I won’t let the mangy mutt bother you like that.”
“I’m over you on the food chain,” she turned completely and pointed at Fenrir. “Hear me? Over you in the pecking order.” It caused her wolves to laugh as Fenrir tossed his head back in another small howl, jumping on his front feet excitedly. When it was done, she smiled at Fenrir. “You are a good boy, aren’t you? You were just looking for something to eat.”
“Aren’t wolves always looking for something to eat?” Thomas asked huskily in her ear, leaning closer. She turned back to him and smiled, a blush heating her cheeks.
“Is that how this started?”
“I would say seeing you whet my appetite in a way that it hadn’t been for a long time,” Thomas growled softly, kissing her neck.
“Ours, too, but let’s get Fenrir handled before we have dinner…or rather, dessert,” Antonio called out.
Thomas groaned, nodding. “Let’s get Fenrir handled,” he mumbled.
“We’ll get him loaded up,” Antonio called, pulling Fenrir out the door.
Abigail watched James follow and looked back at Thomas. “Look at you guys,” she teased, “getting your lives in order with a business and a house and now a dog to lie at the fire.”
“Jealous?” he teased back. “We also have a great girlfriend who has no idea what she’s going to do in a month. So much drama, that one.”
“Oh, that’s just mean,” she laughed, slapping his shoulder. “True, but mean.” She would ignore that she was a little jealous. They seemed to have it figured out, even with everything against them, which gave her an idea to get Thomas back. “You have a stray brother to deal with. So much drama.”
“Oh shit,” Thomas chuckled. “She has a point.” He pulled her off his desk and held her for a moment.
“Why this dog?” Abigail asked suddenly.
“I disagree with people breeding wolf-dogs, but giving him to a shelter and most rescues would just be a death sentence,” he groaned. “Whether he was bred and escaped or was just an accident over a few generations, it doesn’t matter. When I saw him, I realized he would need to stay with us or stay a stray. I didn’t want him to be a stray.”
“Thomas?” She looked up at him, frowning. “What’s wrong with breeding them?”
“Wolf-dogs have issues,” Thomas explained. “They can be great pets, sure, but you will always be dealing with an animal that doesn’t quite know its place. Too wolf, too wild, but also with some domesticated instincts. It’s a conflict internally for them. I would rather have just a wolf or just a dog. Add to that, most people who get wolf-dogs…they don’t know how to take care of them. Don’t understand that it’s not just the family pet like a lab or even a husky. It’s also very much a wild animal with those instincts. It needs a solid pack structure. That’s my feelings on it, though. There’s a lot of wolf shifters out there with their own wolves, and wolf hybrids that are perfectly happy.”
“Sounds a bit like being a wolf shifter,” Abigail pointed out. “Or a shifter in general. Constantly balancing two different and distinct natures.”
“Yeah,” Thomas sighed. “So, Antonio and I stumbled on him this morning before anyone else got here and I made the call. We can care for him, understand him, but Antonio had to catch him. If Antonio couldn’t catch him, no one could.”
“And you don’t want Fenrir punished for what he is,” she whispered.
“Yeah,” he agreed, nodding slowly. “He wouldn’t stand a chance with the standard rescues.”
“Let’s go help the guys,” Abigail said brightly. She had so much respect for this man. It wasn’t just Antonio having a dog; it wasn’t just another way to settle. This was also for Fenrir, an animal that could be dangerous, could be wild, but Thomas still cared, in his quiet, private way.
“Have you ever had or wanted a pet?” Thomas asked as they left the office.
She shook her head. “No. Didn’t grow up with one, too busy to have one as an adult. Nothing against them. I’m certain the right animal at the right time would be great for me, but it’s never lined up.”
“The curse of adulthood.”
Abigail could agree with that.
10
Thomas
Thomas followed Abigail downstairs and out the front door of the bar, people watching them with knowing smiles. Word was traveling quickly, but no one was going to say anything. Small towns gossiped quietly, and it was probably all over town that Abigail had danced with him last night, that Antonio had kissed her at the door, that she went home with them with everyone watching. They had never been so open about what was going on, but now? Thomas was going to show the world. He leaned to kiss the top of Abigail’s head as someone passed them at the door.
“We’re news, now,” he whispered.
“I kno-”
A snarl interrupted her, and Thomas glared at the source of the noise. Fenrir was taut on his leash, Antonio holding him back, looking pissed. James was standing beside Antonio with his arms crossed.
And Chris was glaring down at Fenrir like the wolf-dog insulted him in some way.
“What the fuck?” Thomas growled, stomping up. “Antonio, get him in the truck. Now.”
Antonio went without saying anything, pulling Fenrir hard t
o his truck. Abigail crept up to Thomas’ side again and he wrapped an arm around her. He didn’t like that James was nearly vibrating in anger.
“What is going on?” he demanded.
“Nothing,” James mumbled. “Chris was getting here. We were just leaving.”
“You growled at me, you fucking low-rank mutt,” Chris snapped.
“You had a snide comment. Of course I fucking growled,” James snarled.
“Yeah, and then that beast got vicious. Tell me you’re going to do something about it, Thomas,” Chris directed over to them. Thomas didn’t like how Chris’ eyes then hit Abigail, who stiffened. “You must be Abigail.”
“Abigail Harris,” she said politely. Thomas kept his arm around her as she reached out to shake Chris’ hand. “You must be Chris Marek, Thomas’ brother.”
“Previously the Alpha of South Dakota,” he said proudly, shaking her hand.
“I know. I grew up in the Herd,” she informed him, smiling. Thomas wondered why her voice was velvety sweet. Too polite. He realized this was an act too late. “I’ve heard all about you.” Thomas nearly winced. The things she would have heard of Chris as Alpha.
James snorted, nodding appreciatively at her
Chris’ face morphed to one of disdain as he looked at Thomas. He was going to have to deal with Chris.
“You all good with dealing with Fenrir without me?” Thomas asked James, then looked down at Abigail.
“We’ll be fine,” she replied, softer than she’d been talking to Chris. Thomas pushed her gently along and waved Chris to follow him. He began walking back inside with his brother following him, only glancing back to see her blow a kiss in his direction. He grinned for a moment, feeling a little stupid but happy about.
“Stop looking like a whipped pup,” his brother groaned. That killed Thomas’ good mood immediately.
Heart of the Pack Page 9
