“Maybe Christian.”
“He might accidentally kill Viktor trying to subdue him. You want that stain on your conscience? And what if Viktor tears off his arm?” I sighed and went for the lock again. “Time to go home!” I said as if I were talking to a regular dog. “Let’s go, boy! What agood boy.”
He snarled viciously and slobbered all over the cage doors, promising to draw blood if we got too close.
“This is the room where they do it.” Shepherd touched a metal table with his fingertips. “I wonder how long he’s been in this room.”
I looked at the supply cabinet and thought about how many animals had spent their final moments in here. This cold, sterile room was their last view, the chaotic sounds from the kennel the last thing they heard. No one cradling them, telling them what a sweet baby they were—how loved. Some of these unwanted animals might have once known a family but were lost, abandoned, or their owner died. Some had probably never known love at all. My heart broke for them. At least Harley had gotten a second chance, and I was glad that I rescued him. This room could have been his fate, and he was such a good boy.
“Why don’t you give him a little zap?” Shepherd suggested.
“Fuck you. It took forever to get him to warm up to me. If I shock him, I’ll never be able to get near him again without him trying to rip my head off.”
“Maybe I can push some emotions into him and calm him down.” When Shepherd slid his fingers through the cage, the wolf bit him. Shepherd snapped his arm back and hissed. “We’re in a tight spot.”
“Christian, we can’t get him out of the cage,” I said, loud enough for him to hear me. “He’s practically feral. If you have any ideas, now’s the time.”
“Maybe he can’t hear you over all those damn dogs.”
“You’re right.” I moved swiftly down the hall toward the kennels. Before I reached the doors, I bumped into Blue. “What are you doing in here?”
“Christian just called me in from the back door.” She clutched my arm, her voice bending like the branches on a weeping willow. “Is he alive?”
“Yeah, he’s alive. Maybe you can help.” I led her back to the thrashing wolf.
Blue strutted into the room, and her eyes took everything in before settling on the caged beast.
“He won’t let us near the door,” I explained.
“Bit me,” Shepherd added.
Blue gave him a chastising look. “Is that so?” She knelt in front of the cage. “Our animals know what goes on in places like this. He’s protecting Viktor. He senses danger, so he won’t shift, and he’s certainly not going to let anyone touch him while he’s in this state.”
“We need him to shift.” I glanced at the doorway when I heard peculiar clicking sounds. “Not because he’ll rip us apart, but the hotel manager won’t let us bring him back in. He’ll call the cops.”
Blue tilted her head to the side, her blue cape spread across the floor behind her. “I’m so sorry they put you here. I’m so sorry for everything you’ve seen and heard.” She wiped her face. Was she crying? “You know I would never harm you.” After blowing a steady breath in his direction, Blue bravely put the flat of her hand against the cage for him to smell. “Please come with us. We need Viktor. I know you can tell something’s wrong with your energy. Maybe that’s what’s scaring you. Let me take you away. I trust you with every bone in my body,” she said, carefully opening the door. “You’re not a wolf who acts out of fear. We need your protection.”
I froze. Nothing about that wolf’s face looked docile, and with the cage door wide open, I sharpened my light in case I had to knock him out as a last resort.
As he stepped out, Blue lowered her head and submissively leaned into his large body. When she whispered something inaudible, her fingers stroking his grey fur, he stopped baring his teeth.
Shepherd shook his head. “Honey, you got a big set of balls on you.”
Blue stood and scratched Viktor’s ear. “He only trusts his own kind right now. Of course, if I were a larger predator, it might be a different story. Give him some space.”
When the clicking on the floor sounded again, I poked my head out the door. “What the heck?”
“This way, fellas.” Christian was holding the kennel door open as dogs flew out.
To my left, a terrier and a Labrador were pissing on the floor. The clicking sounds were their toenails against the tile.
I marched toward Christian. “Is this part of the distraction?”
He let go of the door, and it automatically closed. “I’m not overly impressed with the accommodations here.”
“What did you do to that guy?”
“He’ll be sleeping for a good while. Worry not, lass. I left him plenty of food in his bowl.”
