“Neither.” Kate paused in front of her bedroom, her hand on the doorknob, and looked up at her oldest friend. “It’s a wolf.”
She opened the door to find her patient laying unnaturally still. Her heart slammed into her chest, and she took a step to see if he was even breathing. Beau grabbed her elbow and jerked her back.
“Are you crazy? That’s a wild animal, Kate.”
She wiggled free of his grasp and shot him a glare. “I know that.”
“Have you forgotten what happened when you were little?” Beau’s gaze bore into her making her feel like a ten-year-old.
“No, I haven’t.” She gritted her teeth. “He hasn’t hurt me or even growled at me once.” She glanced at the wolf lying in her bed like a very large pet. She sighed when she saw his chest rise and fall. “If he was going to hurt me, he would have done so by now.”
“It’s a wolf.” Beau ran his hand through his hair.
“It’s still an animal.” She cut her eyes at him. “I don’t know how to help him; that’s why I called you. You’re the vet, can’t you do something?”
Beau narrowed his gaze and shook his head. For a second she thought he was going to turn around and leave. Instead, he walked over to her bathroom and pulled out some towels.
“Do you have a leash?”
“For what? I don’t have a dog.”
“And yet you bring a wolf inside your house,” he muttered. “Look, I’m going to have to muzzle him before I start working.”
Kate walked up to the wolf and held out her hand under his nose. She let out a breath when his hot breath tickled her skin.
Beau grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the bed. “Are you crazy?”
“He won’t hurt you.”
“Either find something I can use as a muzzle or I’m not touching him.” Beau glared long enough at her that she knew there was no way she was winning this conversation.
“Fine.” She came back a few minutes later with some rope she’d found under the kitchen sink.
Beau took a step toward the wolf with the rope in hand.
The wolf opened his eyes, lifted his head, and let out a growl between his teeth. Beau froze.
“You need to let him muzzle you so he can look at your wound. He’s only trying to help.” She propped her hands on her hips and gave the animal a stern look to know she wasn’t kidding.
The wolf fell back against the pillow and closed his eyes.
“What are you, the wolf whisperer?” Beau murmured as he slipped on the muzzle. Even with the muzzle secure, the wolf gave a low belly growl. “Easy, boy.” Beau stepped back.
“Stop. He’s the doctor,” she jerked her thumb at Beau, “and you’re just going to have to let him look at you if you want to get better.”
“I don’t think he understands you.” Beau slid her a look.
“Stop growling and let him help.” Ignoring Beau, she narrowed her gaze at the wolf.
The wolf whimpered and laid his head back down.
Beau’s mouth dropped open.
“He’ll be good,” she said.
Beau’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he cautiously eased onto the bed.
She held her breath and said a silent prayer as Beau ran his hands across the wolf’s chest, assessing the wound.
“He doesn’t look like he’s been run over. He looks like he’s been shot.”
The blood in Kate’s face pooled in her stomach. “What makes you think he’s been shot?”
“There’s a bullet-size hole in his fur.” Beau frowned. “Maybe someone caught him in their garbage or around their livestock?” He leaned closer. “I think I can see the bullet.” He glanced at her. “Do you have any forceps?”
“You’re the vet; I thought you were supposed to bring your supplies with you.”
“You didn’t exactly specify when you called why you needed me. Your message just said for me to get my ass over here ASAP. I tried calling on my way over, but you didn’t pick up.”
“My cell phone’s probably dead.” She tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “I have some tweezers in the bathroom, would that work?”
“Go get them.”
She returned with the tweezers, a first aid kit, and more towels. Easing down beside the wolf, she rested her hand on his head. “He’s got to take the bullet out, okay? It might hurt a little.”
“A lot. It’s going to hurt a lot. No need to sugarcoat it.” Beau looked up at her as he positioned the tweezers over the bloodied wound.
She shot him a glare.
Beau worked the tweezers in the wound as the wolf let out a whimper. Blood spilled out and pooled on the towels that had been positioned beneath the wound. She leaned over and buried her nose in his fur as she rubbed the soft area under his mouth. She kept her hand on the wolf’s head to keep the animal calm while Beau worked. There was so much blood. She held her breath, trying to make sure she could feel the wolf’s chest rise and fall against her hand.
“Got it.” Beau held up the tweezers. Under the lighting, the metal glittered, looking different from any bullet she’d ever seen.