Canyon only stared at him, his lip curling. Sage thought maybe he was replying inruhi.
“What’re you waiting for, permission?” Wade snarled. He extended one hand toward Canyon’s face, fingers pressed in a hard, bladed line, and said, “Permission. Not. Granted.”
“I don't need your permission, Chief,” Canyon replied, his voice a mirror of Wade’s. “I only need my wolf’s.”
Wade nodded. “And you don’t have it. Your wolf is showing sense because she'sfoxen.”
Sage gasped.
Canyon growled and advanced on Wade until they were nose to nose. “Out of line.”
“Insolent pup,” Wade growled back, “She was sent here by the witch and you’re too blinded by tail to know it.”
“She wasn’t,” Canyon growled, “And you’re too blinded by your own bullshit to know it.”
“Is she your mate?” the older male growled.
“Seems like it,” Canyon drawled, bumping his chest against Wade’s.
“Seems like it?” Trevor asked, stepping forward. “That meansno.”
Sage panicked, not wanting Canyon to get in trouble because of her. There hadn’t even been a discussion! Before she could do anything, Timber moved in front of her, and thenthe robot rolled in between Wade and Canyon, right over their boots.
:Time for Timber's bandage change—
Wade took a step back and so did Canyon. Trevor moved between them. “Bandage,” he said, his hands out toward Wade and Canyon, but his eyes on Timber. “What bandage?”
Timber rolled up his sleeve and showed his bandaged arm. “The report’s on its way, but right now, we gotta go. I could die if we don’t change this quick.”
He pushed Canyon and Sage between the rows of cabins, and they ran for it, the robot wheeling quickly behind.
83—Up ARQ Bluff
Canyon grabbed Sage’s hand and they sprinted between two cabins, with Timber and Wulf following fast. He dug his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the truck, then took a look over his shoulder. No one was following. He opened Sage’s door; she gave him a strained smile and got in. He closed her door and climbed into the driver’s seat, starting the truck while Timber strapped Wulf in next to Sage.
Canyon revved his engine and pounded on the steering wheel. “Wade’s outta line!” he growled.
Timber climbed in the passenger seat, saying, “He’s been outta line.”
Sage didn’t say a word. Canyon adjusted the rearview to look at her. She was twisted in her seat, looking out the back window, watching for anyone following.
Canyon eased out of the parking spot into the driveway, then stepped on the gas, saying, “Good job getting us out of there, Wulf.”
“Hold on,” Sage said, her head snapping forward to check the time on the clock. “It’s still two hours till the bandage change!”
Canyon reached the end of the driveway and turned right on a farm road that would spill them out on the main road.
“You… you…” Sage breathed, pointing at Wulf, then Timber. “You didn’t tell it—tell him to do that?”
Timber shook his head, grinning.
“Wulf, did you…lie?” Sage asked.
:Canyon and Wade should not fight. I ended the fight with the lie; therefore, it is a beneficial lie—
The road ended, T-boning into the main road. Canyon stopped and checked all directions. There were no other cars in sight. He put the truck in park and watched Sage in the rearview mirror. The changing expressions on her face matched his feelings when he finally accepted that Wulf was alive.
“All in all, that went pretty well,” Timber said.
