Miracle Wolf for Christmas

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “Okay, if you think so.”

  The man walked over to a table, slid a plate under Kent’s leg, and then bought over an X-ray machine. The woman moved away and then was back after the man had taken the snap.

  If his leg was broken, it could mean he’d be here for some time. He’d be spending Christmas in this crazy place.

  “I’ll just go develop this. Do you want to stay with him or should we put him in a pen?”

  “I think he’s fine here. I’ll stay with him. Maybe he’d like to hear me sing some Christmas tunes.”

  Fucking hell no.

  “Wow that’s strange behavior.”

  “What is?” she asked.

  “In all the years I’ve worked with wolves, I’ve never seen one stick his paws over his ears like that.”

  ****

  Axel had finally left ten minutes ago. She hoped his family wouldn’t be too angry about his late arrival home. The good news was that the X-ray he’d taken of the wolf’s leg had revealed nothing broken, but Axel suspected it was badly bruised. Ally was happy to hear that she hadn’t done anything to the wolf that wouldn’t heal in a few days or more. She still felt bad about hitting him, but with some rest at the Center, he should be able to be released in three or four days. At least he got to be inside for the holidays and out of the snow.

  Ally brought in the rest of her stuff from the car and settled down for her Christmas alone. Well, not quite alone. She had all the animals. The wolf they’d put in enclosure close to her desk and work area so she could keep an eye on him.

  She glanced over at him. Oh those beautiful eyes of his, and he seemed to look at her like he was checking her out or something. How weird was that? She unloaded the groceries and made sure she put her turkey dinner in the fridge so it was defrosted and ready for her to eat the next day.

  Next, Ally put the electric kettle on. She’d make herself some hot chocolate and she might even cover it with those mini marshmallows she loved so much. She always kept a package of them in the bottom drawer of her desk. She unloaded her Christmas gifts and placed them under the tabletop tree she, Axel, and the two interns had decorated. She fingered one of the gifts, but willed herself not to cry.

  It was too quiet in here. When it was silent, it was when she thought about him and what she’d lost. It’s why she played music. It was why she sang. It took away some of the pain.

  Music, that’s what this place needed. Christmas music so loud it rocked the walls and shook the floor.

  Chapter Two

  Kent woke from a dazed sleep. The man named Axel had injected him with something that had made him sleepy before he’d checked out his leg. He glanced down and saw it was bound and in a splint.

  Oh no, that fucking Christmas music again.

  He’d thought it had been just a bad dream, but it was echoing throughout the whole place. Even shaking the metal slats in front of him. Wait a minute, metal slats. He was in prison.

  Kent looked up. He was in an enclosure and sitting on straw. Something was hanging around his neck. Just what the hell was it?

  Straw of all things. Maybe he could shift and figure out how to open this cage and get the hell out of here.

  “Let it snow…”

  It was the human again, and she was singing at the top of her lungs.

  Damn, when would she go away?

  He watched as she poured hot water into a mug and stirred it. Next she sprinkled on marshmallows and popped a few into her mouth before putting the bag in the desk drawer.

  Gifts sat under a tree by a bookcase. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was going to spend Christmas here. He was going to be spending Christmas here, too.

  Kent tried to move to get more comfortable. The noise made her turn around and look his way.

  “Ah, you’re awake.”

  At least she had the decency to turn down the music before she walked over to him. She knelt in front of the enclosure. It was the first time he’d gotten a good look at her. Yes, she was very pretty. Well, for a human. Cute eyes that had somewhat of a sad look to them. Full pink lips. Yes, quite kissable. If you were the type who liked locking lips with humans.

  “You feeling okay? I’m so sorry I hit you with my car, but you’re going to be just fine. Axel said a couple of days rest and your leg should be as good as new and I can release you back out into the wild. Oh, and I’ve radio collared you so I’ll know where you’re at. You’re going to be my new wolf to study for my doctorate. What do you think about that? It’s almost like we met for a reason.”

  Radio collar—you take this monstrosity off me right now. Just who do you humans think you are? Part of your study, your new wolf? Over my dead body. The only reason we met was for me to strangle you and free the world of Christmas music and shitty singing.

  “I bet you’re hungry, so I’ll just go grab something for you.”

  She stood, and he was left looking at her legs. Nice curvy calves…

  Kent, do not go there. She is human, she is human. She sings horribly, she sings horribly.

  She walked away.

  The something nice better be a big, juicy steak and the key to get me out of here.

  He rested his head on his paws. He wasn’t thinking straight—probably the cute face and legs thing were getting to him. This was his opportunity to shift. Shift back to a man, get out of here, call Nick and have him come collect him.

  Kent relaxed his body, willing himself to shift, but holy shit, nothing was happening. He still had paws and fur.

  This had never happened before. Couldn’t be the injury, surely. Maybe it was the radio collar. Some weird frequency thing. Maybe it was whatever they’d given him to make him sleep.

  He heard her returning and stopped his efforts to shift. He heard another wolf howling. He was telling her he needed feeding and soon.

  “Here’s dinner,” she said, lifting the hatch up and sliding a silver bowl full of what looked like dog food at him.

  You call this dinner?

  “I’m just going to see to the other animals and then I’ll be back to spend the rest of Christmas Eve with you.”

  In your dreams, baby. By the time you get back, I’ll be outta here.

  Kent watched as she made her way through a set of swinging doors.

  He relaxed again, did everything he usually did when he wanted to shift, but nothing was happening.

  Tension and stress, that’s what was happening here. He’d never been under this sort of pressure before. He thought of pleasant things. Running like he had done earlier that day. Nope, still nothing. Female wolf shifters surrounding him during their mating cycle and looking for some loving.

  Still nothing.

  Two wolves howled. They were thanking her for their dinner.

  He heard footsteps and realized she was back. What the hell was he going to do?

  “You don’t feel like eating?” She looked down at the still full bowl. “As it’s the holidays, I do have some sliced turkey I can give you.”

  Yippee do.

  She walked over to a small fridge and opened the door, pulled out what looked like a package of deli meats, lifted up some slices, and headed back his way. She’d put them on top of the dog food before he knew it.

  “I’m going to make myself a sandwich and then shower. After that, how about I read us a Christmas story?

  How about I throw myself on something sharp?

  Kent managed to get the turkey slices off the dog food and down it in two gulps.

  Maybe it was the lack of food that was causing him problems with shifting back.

  He watched as she drank her hot chocolate, and then nibbled on a sandwich and dived into a bag of chips.

  Didn’t she have a family to spend Christmas with?

  She put her plate in a sink and then grabbed a small bag. “Just going to shower and I’ll be right back.”

  Perfect. I’ll be able to shift and then be on my way.

  Kent got into his most relaxed position—on his back, legs ou
t—and thought of steaks, women, tropical beaches. Her.

  Why was he thinking about her?

  Okay, back to the beaches…

  The sound of a phone ringing jarred him from his thoughts. He spotted her cell phone sitting on top of her desk. She ran through the door, wet and naked. Kent swallowed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her now. Those thighs, those curves…

  She leaned over and, oh wow, he had the clearest view of her pussy, and it was like going to heaven. Now he would believe in Christmas and miracles. She continued to lean over while she took the call.

  “Yes, really, I’m going to be fine. This is the way I want to spend the holidays.”

  Silence.

  “Yes, really, I’m going to be fine. This is the best thing for me. Yes, I have it under the tree.”

  Silence again.

  “I will, Mom, yes, love you too,” she said.

  Kent licked his lips. If he could shift, he wasn’t going to run. He was going to fuck her, the gorgeous beast of a woman. He’d never been attracted to a human before, but the sight of her entrance, those pink folds, and the scent of her made him…

  Yes, howl.

  She turned around.

  “That’s a wonderful noise,” she said. She smiled and walked over to him. The dark curls at the top of her thighs acted as a beacon to him.

  She kneeled in front of him with her breasts now level with his eyes. He’d almost forgotten that he had paws and not hands when he reached out to touch them.

  “You and I are going to work so well together.” She put her hand through the gap in the enclosure and touched his head.

  Just watch out because, once I shift, teasing me like this is going to cost you. You are going to have a real man make love to you. You’ll never want a human again once I get inside you.

  She shivered. “I guess I should go get dressed and then we’ll have that story.”

  Kent watched her ass and the way the water glistened on each butt cheek.

  He licked his lips again.

  ****

  Ally wasn’t going to cry. She’d told herself that a million times. She looked outside. It was still snowing. It looked exactly like the first Christmas Eve they’d spent together in Whitefish. Actually not far from where she was currently at.

  She turned off the lights as the first teardrop fell. At least there was no one around to see her in this pitiful state. Well, apart from the beautiful wolf who didn’t seem to take his eyes off her now.

  Ally lit a candle. She’d promised the wolf a Christmas story, so a Christmas tale he would get. After all, the holidays weren’t just for humans. She pulled the book from her bag, picked up a blanket and pillow, and made her way over to the enclosure. She put both items down on the floor and made herself comfortable.

  “This was his favorite holiday story,” she said, fingering the words on the front cover. “We were going to read it every Christmas Eve at ten p.m. I’m keeping the tradition and I’m just a few minutes late.” She opened the book. “It had been that sort of year…” she began.

  Ally hadn’t realized that she’d stopped reading and was now lying on her stomach crying until she felt something touching her body. It was the wolf’s paw on her shoulder. He’d slid it through the slots in the enclosure and was touching her. She looked at him. Was she giving him human qualities and emotions? No, on his face and in his eyes she read, I’m here, you’re not alone, and if you want to talk about it, I’m listening. You don’t have to face this all by yourself.

  When she’d first begun working in animal research, she’d been warned about two things. Getting emotionally attached to them—remember they’re wild creatures, not pets, and however much you love them, they have to be returned to the wild. Second no-no, giving them human qualities.

  “Maybe I should open the gift tonight instead of tomorrow. Why punish myself even more?”

  She looked at the wolf. She was sure he’d knitted his eyebrows together. Well, that was if a wolf had any.

  She got up, walked over to the tree, and pulled out the gift he’d left for her. She ripped off the paper and then saw the words. Ally should have thrown the gift away like her mother had suggested she do.

  “It’s going to bring you heartache and that’s the last thing Andy would have wanted.”

  At first, she’d thought her mother was right. But she’d assumed by the time Christmas rolled around, she might have healed from the pain and loss. She hadn’t. She never would. And now the mug with the words Momma-to-be stared back at her, mocked her even. If she’d known this was what Andy had purchased for her, she would never have kept it.

  Ally rubbed her belly. She’d always remember the movements she’d felt inside her. Some had taken her by surprise and taken her breath away. The miracle baby they’d created.

  She also remembered the pain that had awakened her in the middle of the night, turning on the light and seeing the blood-soaked sheets.

  She threw the mug across the floor. It skidded toward the wolf’s enclosure. A few pieces smashed until it finally came to rest next to the enclosure door.

  Ally hated her life, hated Christmas. Now that Andy and the baby were gone, nothing would be the same.

  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.