“Please,” Tina scoffed. “The pack doesn’t know anything about how humans live, Jericho.”
“Anyway… we can discuss that… later,” he said. He took another swig of his coffee and continued, “When Father didn’t return, I begged to come home and not just around that time but for years afterward. It didn’t matter. The Fenris elders refused. At the time, it didn’t seem like they’d done Father any favors by taking me in. Time and again, I was told that if I wanted to return I’d have to fight for the right to do it. I resented being held there, against my will, unable to do anything to help you… or Mom.”
“Mom?” Tina interrupted. “Fuck her. She’s a lost cause, Jericho.”
“I know that’s what you think, Tina, but deep down I know that isn’t true. It can’t be.”
“Well you weren’t there Jericho, living through that hell… I was.” Tina said as she took a final sip of coffee and stood from her chair. The plaster bottom of the coffee mugged clinked against the counter top as she set it down.
“She changed after Father died. She’s not the mother you remember… Anyway, what difference does any of this make? They’re dead to me now. Whether they are actually dead or not.”
“I know that, Tina,” he sighed. “But in spite of how you feel, that doesn’t change the fact that clan enforcers will be here to seek retribution, one way or another.”
Tina looked away as he stood and walked towards her. A few moments later, he approached her from behind and placed his hands on her shoulders. The first pink rays of the sun splashed against her face through the kitchen window. They warmed her cheek as Jericho’s touch soothed her angst. His grip was strong, deep and reassuring… like her Father’s.
“You have to come with me, Tina. To my pack,” he said, “the Fenris clan. You’ll be safe there.”
She spun back towards him.
“Your pack? How is the Fenris clan your pack, Jericho?”
“I told you that I had to fight, remember?” he said. “Well, I did. Every chance I got. Without a mentor, the losses piled up early on, but over time, I got better… faster… smarter. Six months ago, I challenged for alpha… and won.”
Tina’s eyes widened at her brother’s revelation.
“Like I said,” he continued. “My pack.”
Tina shook her head. “Well, I suppose I’m happy for you, Jericho. But, I’m tired of running. I don’t want to be part of any pack. Not theirs… not yours… none of them.”
Jericho reached toward his sister.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, Tina. Without a pack… you’ll die.”
Tina blocked his hand as it swung in her direction.
“So?” she said. “I’d rather die a mortal with a chance for happiness that I choose for myself than live forever in misery at the whims of the pack.”
“Why would you be miserable in the pack?” Jericho asked. “Misery is a human existence. I can think of no worse punishment, especially for my own kin, than living amongst… them. Especially by choice.”
Tina turned and started to walk away from him.
“There’s nothing but rules, limits and control in the pack,” she began. “I’m free in the human world, to be what I want, live as I want… it’s something you should try. Who knows? You might find some peace.”
Jericho scoffed.
“You’re wrong, Tina, so wrong… Those boundaries, the limits you deride, they keep us true to our nature, to what makes us who we are. Don’t you see, by turning your back on them, you are limiting what’s possible for you?”
“You know what, Jericho?” Tina said. “Right now… I don’t care about any of that and I’m done with this conversation. I have a job to go to and obligations to keep. That’s something you wouldn’t know anything about.”
She attempted to pass by her brother.
“This is not what Father would have wanted,” he muttered as she walked close to him.
Blinded by emotion, Tina froze in place and shoved her brother.
“How the fuck do you know, Jericho?” she said. “You left and Father is dead. I don’t care about any of this… okay? Look, I didn’t ask for you to come here to save me or preach to me so why don’t you just leave?”
Jericho hung his head.
“Tina, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “The enforcers will come. They will seek retribution. Like it or not, I’m going to shadow you for as long as it takes.”
“Pssht… Jericho, I can take care of myself,” she said. “I don’t need anyone to protect me from a ragtag bunch of enforcers from my clan. Hell, I know every single one of them anyway!”
“No,” Jericho said. “You don’t. They’re mercenaries, Tina. Killers hired to do one thing and one thing only.”
Tina paused for a moment as the implication of his statement sunk in.
“So?” she said after a few seconds. “I can handle them. I’m not worried.”
“Tina, don’t be an idiot,” Jericho replied. “I know you can handle yourself one-on-one but what about five, ten… twenty? You’d have no chance.”
Tina considered Jericho’s argument. Against a few, she’d stand a chance but if upwards of two dozen were on the way… well, that was a completely different scenario altogether. But almost as soon as her mind began to wander to a grim outcome, she waved her hand in the air as she regained her focus.
“I still don’t care. I am done talking about this for now,” she said. “Whether you are right or not, I’m not going anywhere with you and that’s all there is to it. Now, you are welcome to stay here but only on the condition that you do so as my brother and… my friend. Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” he said with a half-hearted tone.
“I mean it, Jericho!”
Jericho nodded. “I understand.”
***
For the next couple of days, Tina and Jericho kept an uneasy peace. Each knew exactly where the other stood, yet neither intended to give any ground. Even so, Tina knew it was a matter of time before he really began to press her about leaving with him. The truth was, that while she didn’t want to go, when, or if, the enforcers showed up, she couldn’t say with absolute conviction she wouldn’t, either.
Tina stood in the ladies room and tugged at her hair. She applied a fresh coat of lipstick and made a few other minor touchups. As she squeezed the pump of her perfume along the insides of her wrists, hints of rose and jasmine swirled around her.
After all, today was the day Bosco would be discharged. There was no reason for her to not look her best. Tina took one last look in the mirror, slipped her makeup back inside her purse and headed back to the front of the office.
As she did, Chuck appeared through the front door of the clinic. He dodged a large Bernese as he walked in and then nearly strangled a small Pekingese when he caught his foot on the leash. Tina smiled as he begged forgiveness from the owner of the small marshmallow-colored canine.
A few seconds later, he arrived at the front desk.
“Dangerous out there, eh?” Tina said as she reached for a pen.
“Yeah,” Chuck replied. “Really gotta be on your toes.”
She looked up to see his hair pulled back. For an instant, it was if she looked at Max. In spite of the dozen plus times she’d been around them, if it wasn’t for their hair, she still wasn’t one hundred percent sure who she may be talking to at any moment.
Otherwise, he looked stupid-hot as always.
A muscle-grabbing black tee hugged his spectacular V-shape. Tina stood from her chair and lingered behind it as he turned to walk and meet her around the other side of the desk. Her hesitation gave her enough time for a peek at his round, tight ass, but only just that.
“We haven’t seen you in class at all,” Chuck said as they walked down the hall to an examination room. “You’re not still worried about Kimmie are you?”
“No, it’s not that,” Tina said. “It’s just that, well, I’ve been spending time with my brother.”
“Right
, of course,” Chuck replied. “How’s that going? I mean… I can’t even imagine what that must be like… finding out he’s alive after so many years when all along you thought he was dead… what happened to him?”
For a moment, Tina considered an outright lie. After all, Jericho would leave soon enough. Maybe. Then again, maybe not.
“It’s a private matter,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh,” Chuck said with a bit of surprise in his tone. “Right, sure. Didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s fine,” Tina began. “Hey, not to change the subject but I think there’s a certain someone down the hall that would love to see you.”
Chuck smiled a mouthful of teeth. “Is he ready?”
“Yep,” Tina said as she patted Bosco’s chart in her arms.
They continued towards the examination rooms in the rear of the clinic. With the summer in full swing, the building was full of furry boarders who couldn’t sail on cruise ships or tagalong on mountain retreats with their owners. As they walked down the hall, yelps and mewls of every pitch echoed off the walls.
“Busy, eh?” Chuck said as he followed behind Tina.
“Yep,” she replied. A few steps later, Tina stopped in front of Exam Room #12 and opened the door.
“Wait inside and I’ll bring Bosco down.”
A few minutes later, Tina reappeared with a heavy-set man who carried an oversized kennel. As they entered the room, Chuck stood and peeked in through the wire mesh.
“Heeeyyyy, buddy,” he said. Bosco’s long, thick tail thumped against the hard plastic of the crate as he saw his owner for the first time since his ordeal.
“Where do you want him, Tina?” the large man groaned. His effort revealed itself in the droplets of perspiration that collected across the top of his brow.
“Just put him down right there… in the center of the room,” she said. “Thank you, Darryl.”
“Lemme give you a hand, man,” Chuck said as he grabbed hold of the kennel.
“Oh,” the man replied. “Thank you, sir.”
The two men placed the kennel on the ground and seconds later, Darryl left the room and closed the door behind him.
“Now,” Tina said as she knelt down next to the kennel. “We have to go over a few things before we can release him.”
Chuck nodded. “Like what?”
“Well, I have to show you how to change his bandage, give him his meds… stuff like that.”
Over the next few minutes, Tina explained most everything she could until it was time to teach him how to change Bosco’s bandages. Tina removed the top half of Bosco’s kennel to access the injury and placed it to the side. As the canine appeared before them, the aroma of wet dog filled the air.
“Ooohhh… someone’s been licking,” Tina said. She rubbed the dog on his head and as she did, he attempted to open his mouth and show her affection.
“Bosco… no,” Chuck said. He scratched the dog under its chin and continued, “Is that bad? Licking I mean?”
“Um, it can be… if he gets after the site of the injury,” she replied. “We’ll get you an e-collar before you go. That should prevent most of it.”
“Is that one of those cone dealies? The plastic ones?” he asked.
“Yep,” she said as she turned her attention back towards the dog. “Bosco here is one lucky boy… Doctor Hurley told me that normally he would consider amputation in cases like this… but because Bosco is young and strong… not to mention handsome… he was able to set it with several small plates and screws.”
“Wow,” Chuck said. “Well, that is good news.”
“Now he did suffer some lacerations at the site of the injury so you’ll have to change the bandages for those once a day. Also, for at least the next four weeks… and more like six… he’ll have to be confined to strict crate rest.”
Chuck nodded as she continued. As he looked on, Tina demonstrated how to change the bandages for his wounds. Aside from a slight attempt to lick the area as she worked, Bosco didn’t appear to show any discomfort.
“Okay,” she said as she passed the bandages to Chuck. “Your turn.”
“Oh… um, right now?” he asked.
“Yeah, I have to make sure you can do it before we release him.” As Tina spoke, she prepped the supplies for Chuck. He scooted close to the dog and as he did, she tore even strips of medical tape with her teeth. The flavor of glue lingered on her lips as she handed them to him.
“Go ahead,” she said with a soft smile. “I’m right here.”
Chuck leaned over and moved his hands towards the dark, bruised and cut-up hindquarters of the dog. Everything went as planned right up until the moment he touched Bosco. The dog yelped and whined right away.
“Ah shit… sorry buddy,” Chuck said as he pulled back.
“It’s okay,” Tina said. “Here, give me your hand.”
Chuck reached out and took her hand in his. It was warm and a little rough to the touch. As she began to guide it towards Bosco, Chuck closed his fingers around hers. Tina looked up at him. Chuck’s eyes were still and focused upon her… lips. Tina averted her gaze and with as much focus as she could muster, continued to guide Chuck’s hand towards Bosco’s injured rear leg. As he did, the dog lifted his head and began to lick at the area, before Chuck even reached it.
“Bosco,” Chuck warned. Impatience tinted his tone.
“No, no,” Tina whispered. She guided Bosco’s head back until he lay flat once more.
“Okay,” she began. “This time, when he lifts his head, all I want you to do is put your hand between his mouth and the injury. Just hold it there and wait. He’ll learn that when you are treating the area, he needs to lie still and not touch it.”
“What?” Chuck scoffed. “He’ll never do it.”
“Just trust me,” Tina said.
“Okay,” Chuck replied. “Here goes nothin’.”
Chuck did as instructed and just as Tina predicted, Bosco raised his head. Bosco’s pink tongue flicked in nervous anticipation as Chuck held firm.
“You’re doing great,” Tina said. “Wait ‘til he lies back down and then keep going. With dogs, the best type of communication is non-verbal.”
“Kinda like women?” Chuck said as he smiled at her.
She moved her eyes, but not her head.
“Kinda… yeah,” she replied.
After a couple more attempts, Bosco at last relaxed long enough for Chuck to touch the injury site with little more than a small whimper.
“That wasn’t so bad,” he began. “Now all I gotta do is show Max how to do that and we’re all set. Of course, I don’t think I’ll be holding his hand.”
Before Tina could reply, Chuck took her hand in his once more. He scooted around the edge of the kennel and as he did, the woodsy aroma of his cologne riveted her attention. The memory of the first time she smelled it flooded back into her consciousness. From that first instant, she wanted to be as close to him as she was right now. A hard swallow forced its way down her throat as she looked into his eyes.
“You… um… did really great,” she said. “I think you’re ready to go.”
“I am, huh?” he said as his head inched closer. The heat from his fragrant breath brushed against her lips.
“Y… Yes,” Tina nodded. As she spoke, Tina’s eyes fluttered shut in unconscious anticipation.
Her head tilted back, she sensed Chuck close in and as he did, her wolf drew her to him… eager and ready. The heat from Chuck’s approach pulled her in. But, just as their lips were about to meet, the door to the examination room groaned open and through it walked Doctor Hurley.
Like high schoolers caught in their parent’s basement, the would-be lovers distanced themselves from one another in an awkward gyration of arms and legs and climbed to their feet.
***
Doctor Hurley paused in the open doorway. Tina straightened her scrubs with fitful strokes while Chuck ran his fingers through his hair and cast a quick glance down toward
s the floor.
“Nurse… Danton,” the doctor said. “Mister Granger.”
Whether Doctor Hurley noticed anything when he walked in or not, Tina wasn’t certain. The silence lingered a fraction of moment too long for Tina’s liking however and an urge to fill it overwhelmed her. Luckily, Doctor Hurley broke the stalemate.
“Mister Granger,” Doctor Hurley began. “As I’m sure you know, we’re discharging your dog today. Uhh, humm. I wanted to drop in and see if you had any questions for me before we do that. From the looks of things, Nurse Danton has already… discussed… things with you.”
Tina nodded. “Mister Granger was… I mean, I was just going over what needed to be done with Bosco when you came in, sir.” She looked at Chuck and with a quick nod, continued, “Do you have any questions at this point or do you think you’ve got all that?”
As she spoke, Doctor Hurley’s eyes remained locked on her.
“Yep.” Chuck replied. “You were quite thorough. I don’t think they’ll be any problems at all.”
“Good,” Tina nodded. “Very good. Well, let me help you get everything together. We’ll get Bosco’s meds and check you out at the front desk.”
Doctor Hurley narrowed his eyes at Tina for a moment longer before he clicked his pen closed and slipped inside the pocket of his lab coat. He walked towards Chuck and produced a business card.
“Should there be any problems with Bosco, please feel free to call me,” he said. “In the meantime, I’ll expect to see Bosco back here in about ten days for his checkup.”
“Thanks Doc.” Chuck nodded. “I can’t tell you how much my brother and I appreciate what you did for him.”
“No trouble,” Doctor Hurley replied. “That’s what we’re here for. Uhh, humm.”
Chuck slipped the business card in the front pocket of his jeans as Doctor Hurley turned and walked towards the door of the examination room. As he did, he leaned down and stroked Bosco on the head.
“Great dog you’ve got there, Mister Granger,” he said. “Great dog.”
She Howled, They Came Page 8
