CLAIRE DAVON

Excerpt

A fresh howl pierced the night and she pivoted. Addison hurried to the area. A tiny clearing with a slice of moonbeam illuminating it revealed a shaggy grey wolf with silver in its coat, lying on its side. It didn’t have the flatness of death, but the ragged movements of its breathing illustrated its pain.

The beast bared its teeth at her when she entered, but didn’t otherwise stir. She kept her distance while she checked it over. By her estimation, it was about a hundred and eighty pounds. Its size and powerful body told her that the creature was male.

She advanced forward a step, keeping her attention on the panting wolf. Her senses didn’t scream danger at her, and she eased into the clearing. He snarled, saliva dropping from his heavy jaws.

“You have nothing to be frightened of. I’m here to help you. My powers tell me you are a shifter. I have dealt with those like you before, but always in human form. Stay as is, until I can get you to safety. Do you understand me?”

The wolf rocked to the side and got to its feet. By the way it panted, it had cost the beast a great deal to do that. Her senses told her he was fading. No wonder she had woken. Its front leg was bloody with a gaping wound that had to be from a gun. It gazed at her and a shiver went through her. Addison shook herself for her visceral response.

“I hoped to tend to you here, but this needs stitches and more medical care than I have in this kit. I’ve got to get you back to my place. You’re going to have to trust me.”

The wolf whined and bowed its head. Its fur was dirty in places and matted from the blood. He tried to move forward but his bad leg buckled. Addison went to him and slid her arms around its front, half-carrying the animal to her pickup. When they got there, she gestured to the back of the pickup. It nosed the gate as though in understanding. She could load most into the cab, but in its current form, the wolf wouldn’t fit without effort. Faster to put it in the bed and get them back to her place. She didn’t like being out here in the woods. The way he had howled, he could have drawn the local shifters to the area—and she doubted they would be helpful to a stranger.

Addison pushed the wolf into the back and shut the liftgate before cutting through the field, wincing with every bounce of the vehicle.

She had no idea what she had just gotten herself into.