Free Werewolf in Alaska: A Wild About You Novel by VickiLewis Thompson Page B

the hair on his forehead grows so there’s a faint diamond pattern to it. It’s the wolf I saw, no question. Every wolf I carve is basically him.”
    Lionel gazed at the ground as if pondering something. Finally he looked up again. “This is starting to sound like what my grandmother studies, that tribal stuff about kindred animal spirits.”
    “I remember you telling me about that.”
    “She’d probably say you have some kind of special connection with this wolf.”
    “I think I do. So you see why I can’t bring Fish and Game into it. I want to handle this my way.”
    “I’d still like to see him.”
    “I want you to. I’m curious as to how he’ll react to another person, especially a guy.” She glanced at him. “I’m making you an accomplice, though.”
    “Like I care about that. I was ready to help you bury the body.”
    She grinned. “You’re a good friend, Lionel.”
    “So are you, Miss M. The best.”
    “Ready to see my big bad wolf?”
    “Lead the way.”
    As they walked toward her front door, she looked over at him. “Just so you know, if I did happen to have an actual guy-type wolf in my bedroom someday, I wouldn’t tell you about it.”
    He laughed. “Good. ’Cause that would be way too much information.”
    •   •   •
    Jake both heard and smelled them coming and decided to crawl under the bed. He could understand why Rachel wanted some support in her wolf-saving venture, but he’d rather not have Lionel get a close look at him. The fewer humans who could ID him, the better.
    Rachel had the good grace to call out to him before she opened the door. “Wolf? I’m bringing Lionel in to see you. He’s a good guy. He won’t cause you any problems, I promise.”
    Lionel’s voice penetrated the barrier of the door. “Miss M, you do realize the wolf doesn’t understand a word you’re saying, right?”
    “I’m not so sure.”
    “Oh, boy.”
    “What?”
    “I learned about that in school. It’s called anthropomorphizing, and it means—”
    “I know what it means.” Rachel sounded irritated. “I don’t think this wolf is like a human. But if he lived with people, and he’s really smart, he could understand some basic words.”
    “Yeah, like
sit
and
stay.
But you just gave him a detailed explanation of what’s going on. He’s not going to get all that.”
    “Then he’ll understand my tone of voice and know you’re not a threat. Ready?”
    “Guess so.”
    The door opened, and from his position under the bed, Jake saw Rachel’s running shoes and a pair of work boots coming in behind her. Rachel’s scent was already familiar to him—too damned familiar, in fact. Lionel’s was not, but Jake didn’t find it unpleasant—a little human sweat, a little Ivory soap, a little mint aftershave.
    “Oh, dear, he’s gone under the bed again.”
    “What do you mean,
again
?” Lionel didn’t sound happy with the situation. “Are you saying he did that before?”
    “Last night, after I got out the scissors and razor.”
    Exactly, sweetheart. If you’d kept those things out of the mix, I wouldn’t have had to hide.
Jake still shuddered when he thought of what might have happened if he’d been more out of it.
    “You slept with this wolf under your bed all night?”
    “Part of the night. Lionel, he’s not dangerous.”
    “How do I know that?” Lionel got to his hands and knees and peered cautiously under the bed. “Jesus. He looks
enormous
.”
    “He’s pretty big.”
    Lionel got to his feet. “I don’t like the idea of you staying alone in the cabin with a wild animal.”
    Jake’s laughter came out as a snort, which made his side ache.
Wild animal, indeed.
    “Did you hear that?” Lionel became more agitated. “Like a sneeze or a snort or something?”
    “Probably from the dust bunnies under my bed.”
    “But there could be something wrong with him. I mean, he could have fleas, or ticks. . . . What if he brought ticks into your house and you get Lyme