He gasped when he saw the tiny rabbit inside.Its fur was white, but it was streaked with bright red, and one of the rabbit’s legs was obviously broken.The rabbit was alive, though, and it cowered in a corner, clearly trying to put more space between itself and Thomas.
The rabbit reminded Thomas of himself.He wanted to reach inside the box to soothe it, but he knew better.He shouldn’t touch any of the animals before the vet had a chance to look them over.It could be dangerous, both for Thomas and the animal.
“Everything okay?”Rowan asked as he reached for the box.It was as if he expected Thomas to drop it, and Thomas didn’t like that.
He hugged the box closer and glared.“I’m fine,” he snapped.“There’s no need for you to help me.”
Rowan blinked and raised his hands.“Sorry about that.I wasn’t trying to say that you didn’t know how to do your job or anything like that.I just wanted to be sure you were okay.”
“Well, I am.”
Thomas was okay and slightly embarrassed.Of course Rowan was just trying to help.He wasn’t going to grab the rabbit and eat it or anything like that.He might be a wolf shifter, but that meant he was also human.He was here to help the animals, and he wanted to save the rabbit as much as Thomas did.
Thomas would apologize later.For now, he needed to focus on getting the rabbit help.
He moved quickly down the hallway, careful not to jostle the box too much.The rabbit was already terrified and in pain.The last thing Thomas wanted to do was make it worse.Behind him, he could hear Rowan’s footsteps.The wolf shifter wasn’t rushing him or crowding him, but he was staying close enough to help if needed.
Maybe Thomas had been too harsh.It wasn’t Rowan’s fault that Thomas’s instincts were going haywire, first because Rowan was a predator, and now because there was an injured rabbit in his hands.
An injured rabbit that looked so small and fragile that Thomas’s chest ached.
“Is the vet in today?”Rowan asked quietly.
Thomas nodded.“Dr.Reeves should be in the exam room.She’s usually here on Tuesdays.”
“Good.That’s good.”Rowan’s voice was soothing.“The little guy is going to be okay.”
Thomas wanted to believe him.He glanced down at the rabbit again.The blood on its white fur made Thomas’s stomach turn.How could someone let this happen?How could they not notice an injured rabbit in their yard until their dog nearly killed it?
They reached the exam room, and Thomas pushed through the door with his shoulder.Dr.Reeves looked up from her desk, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern the moment she saw the box in Thomas’s hands.
“What do we have?”she asked, already moving toward the examination table.
“Rabbit.Injured.Someone just dropped it off,” Thomas said, his words coming out clipped.He set the box on the table, stepping back to give Dr.Reeves room to work.
Dr.Reeves peered into the box, her lips pressing into a thin line.“Poor thing.Looks like a broken leg and some lacerations.”
Thomas nodded, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the rabbit.It was still trying to make itself smaller.Thomas knew that feeling.
“Thomas?”Dr.Reeves’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.“I need you to step back now.I’m going to sedate it so I can examine the injuries.”
Thomas forced himself to take another step back.Dr.Reeves was the expert.She knew what she was doing, and he didn’t.
A hand touched his shoulder.Thomas flinched before realizing it was Rowan.The wolf shifter withdrew his hand immediately.
“Sorry,” Rowan murmured.“I just...”He trailed off.
Thomas swallowed.“It’s fine.I’m fine.”But his voice was shaky, and he knew Rowan could tell.
Dr.Reeves worked quickly but gently.She carefully lifted the rabbit from the box, speaking to it in a soft, soothing voice as she prepared the sedative.The rabbit struggled, but it was too injured and exhausted to put up much of a fight.
“There we go,” Dr.Reeves whispered as the rabbit finally went still.“That’s better.You’re safe now, baby.”
Thomas’s throat tightened.He wanted to believe that the rabbit would be okay, but he’d seen too many animals come through these doors.He knew that not all of them made it.
“I can stay,” he found himself saying.“If you need help.”
Dr.Reeves looked up at him, her expression kind.“I appreciate the offer, Thomas, but I’ve got this.Why don’t you finish your rounds?I’ll update you as soon as I know more.”
