Viktor gave him a curt look. “Hunter is in the kitchen with Kira. Go fetch him.”
Shepherd pivoted and did as instructed.
Viktor folded his arms over the back of the chair and smiled. “Shepherd is a Sensor. Forgive his boorish behavior. Your wolf must meet the boy, but not when you are in control. I must see how your animal behaves without your influence. I’ll supervise you for fifteen minutes. That should be long enough.”
Switch sat back and gripped the armrest. “You wanna do this now?”
“If we have an agreement, your duties begin immediately. I would advise you not to make any drastic decisions like breaking a lease or spending money. I will know more about your abilities when we return from our trip. But you may hurry home to retrieve clothes and additional items you require. No pets allowed.”
Switch snorted. “What kind of idiot do you take me for?”
Viktor turned his palms up. “The newer generations these days are not like the old. They do not see the insult behind owning an animal. They call it love, and they dress their animals like people. But they have not experienced slavery firsthand to recognize that animals are meant to be free.”
I mentally laughed at the idea of wild poodles.
“I have integrity. You got nothing to worry about, old man. My former pack taught me well.” Switch stood up and stripped out of his T-shirt, his muscles flexing. “In here or outside?”
Viktor glanced at the windows over his shoulder and then back. “In here is acceptable. The courtyard is much too dark.”
I stepped inside the room. “Is this a good idea? It might scare the kid.”
“We have no choice,” Viktor said. “If there is trouble and Switch changes to a wolf, I need assurance that his animal will not turn on the child.” His eyes darted over to Switch. “And do not do anything foolish. I may look like a polite old man, but my wolf is anything but civilized.”
The idea of their wolves tearing each other apart made my stomach do a flip. “Maybe there’s some other way—”
Switch winked at me. “Don’t worry, Raven. I do this all the time.” In a fluid movement, Switch morphed into a wolf. He lumbered forward and raised his snout, his nostrils widening as he took in the scent of his new surroundings. Unlike Viktor, who was a grey wolf, Switch was an earthy brown. The chestnut color was darkest on his ears and neck, his coat silken and incredibly soft to the touch from what I remembered.
He caught my scent, and his tail wagged. But the moment he spied Viktor, a low growl settled in his throat. His toenails clicked against the floor as he weaved around furniture to approach Viktor.
When he bared his teeth, I rounded the chair.
“Stay out of this, Raven,” Viktor commanded, his tone calm and collected as he slowly turned to face the wolf.
When the two were close enough to kill each other, Viktor stared down at him. He spoke softly in Russian and extended his hand.
I flinched, thinking Switch might bite off his fingers. Instead, his wolf sniffed Viktor’s palm and then licked it. Switch could have still been in control, but I had doubts that he would lick another man’s fingers.
Viktor spoke in a soothing but dominant voice, and after a moment he knelt down and ran his fingers over the wolf’s ear.
“I guess he likes you,” I said in utter relief.
“One must establish who is the stronger wolf. I am not an alpha, but I am his superior. He will not touch me.”
Shepherd brushed past me. “I’m having second thoughts.”
Viktor stood up and wiped his wet palm against his trousers. “I will not let the wolf harm the boy, if that is your concern. I’m quite skilled at reading the body language of wolves. If he behaves aggressively, I will throw him out on his haunches.”
Shepherd ran his hands over his buzz cut and swung his gaze to one of the archways where Hunter was peering through. “Come on, little man. There’s someone you need to meet.”
Hunter tiptoed into the room in his blue pajama bottoms and white shirt. He didn’t have his Sensor gloves on since it was bedtime.
Switch’s wolf gave Shepherd a cursory glance. Unable to see Hunter, who was standing behind a chair, he lifted his nose and drew in a scent. A different kind of growl settled on his tongue.
Hunter clung to Shepherd.
“I’m not letting anything hurt you,” Shepherd promised him. “We’ll go together.”
Viktor shook his head. “Nyet. The boy must come in alone.”
