Perhaps it was Pavlovian at the sight of Ruth, or perhaps it was because Leon was no longer touching him, but as Ruth washed her hands, Karl’s body remembered it was in pain. His leg throbbed, ribs twinging as he shifted to sit upright, bracing himself andglad Leon had turned away to comb his hair. He didn’t want an audience for whatever Ruth was about to do.
A sudden, high-pitched sound made him tense as he scanned for the new threat. A small blur of dark fur skittered through the open door, yipping with uncontainable excitement as it launched itself toward the bed.
“Ohshit,” Leon muttered.
Before Karl could do more than blink, the pup was up on his hind legs, pawing desperately at the mattress. Leon picked him up with a sigh and dropped him on the bed beside Karl like a tiny sack of potatoes.
Immediately, the pup turned into a squirming mess of joy—licking, yipping, wriggling into the crook of Karl’s arm like he had every right to be there.
Leon stared at him. “That pup is ridiculous.” Any other time, he’d probably have addedand you’re not much better.But not today, when his eyes were still soft and filled with warmth each time he looked at Karl, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
The pup sneezed, and then curled up next to Karl with a sigh, one paw draped possessively over his chest. Karl rested a hand lightly on the pup’s side, stroking soft fur.
“If he wets the bed, you’re cleaning it up,” Ruth warned, pinning Leon with a threatening look.
“What didIdo?” Leon demanded. “Karl’s the one he adopted.”
“Well, that would explain why he’s been under my feet more than usual these last couple of days. He could probably scent Karl,” Ruth said, pouring water into a basin that looked ominously familiar to Karl. Although he wasn’t looking forward to having his wound messed with again, it would be good to get a look at it and see how the healing was coming along. He’d slept soundly last night, the whole night through, and he was definitely feeling stronger.
“Jo’s beside herself over what happened, you know,” Ruth continued, more talkative this morning than she’d ever been. Karl hoped that might be a sign the pack was coming to view them as accidental visitors rather than intruders.
“She only took her eyes off him for two minutes, but he’s an absolute terror. God knows what he’ll be like as a teen.”
“Ruth, have you seen—oh, thankGod.” The young woman from the riverbank—Jo, presumably—stood in the doorway, the anxiety on her face morphing swiftly to relief. And then to something else as her eyes rested on Karl, until he wanted to move away from her gaze. It seemed as if the pup wasn’t the only one who wanted to curl up in bed next to him.
“Charlie obviously likes you,” she said, and she didn’t have to say the rest for Karl to hear it.He’s not the only one.
Thank God Leon stepped in. Literally, putting himself between them. “Diving into a flooded river to rescue him will do that.”
His tone was an unmistakable rebuke. As well, maybe, as a reminder that he was still in the room, because there was a tension to him. If he were in cat form, he’d be lashing his tail.
“What?” Jo stared at him, horror on her face. “He didwhat?”
“Dove into a flooded river to rescue your pup,” Leon said. “Don’t you know? That’s how he got hurt.”
“What was that?” Ruth’s voice was sharp, cracking like ice.
Karl winced. “It wasn’t—”
But Ruth was already moving. “You didn’t think to mention that part?” she demanded, voice tight with something he couldn’t identify. “We assumed you found him nearby—”
She stopped, turned sharply, and walked out thedoor.
Karl caught Leon’s gaze, to find he was equally uncertain what that was about. The pup yawned and licked Karl’s jaw.
Jo crossed the room, knelt at his side and, to Karl’s utter horror, took his hand in both of hers and kissed it.
He froze. Absolutely, completely froze. He’d been shot at, blown up, clawed—butthiswas what made him want to crawl under the covers and die.
Leon’s voice, dry and cutting, saved him.
“Well, he’s home now,” he said, plucking the pup from the bed by his scruff. He thrust him toward Jo, then stalked toward the door, holding it open with exaggerated politeness.
Jo hesitated, but could hardly ignore Leon’s less-than-subtle messaging. She turned to Karl one last time. “Thank you,” she whispered.
On her way out of the door, to Karl’s further horror, she kissedLeon’scheek.
He blinked as she finally left. From across the room, Leon said, deadpan, “You’re welcome.”
