Page 8 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Wolf

Harold simply shrugged. “What? It’s a compliment. She is a beautiful woman, and if you don’t ask her out soon, some other guy just might. I keep telling you: you’re not the only one with eyes.”

Bryon frowned at his cup, his friend’s words replaying themselves in his mind. He and Harold had known each other for the best part of the last decade. If he was being honest, he’d lucked out when it came to friendship. Over the years, he and Harold had become almost inseparable. They’d spent plenty of time together over beers, steak, and the occasional conversation about either man’s latest squeeze. Heck, they practically knew each other’s every secret.

Well, not every secret. For all his redeeming qualities, Harold was still human, which meant there were limits to the things Bryon could reveal about himself.

“Right,” he replied, unsure whether his friend could hear him over the music.

“Then again,” Harold went on, “you’re not so bad-looking.”

Bryon couldn’t help rolling his eyes. “’preciate the compliment, buddy.”

“No, I’m serious. There are at least six different women looking in our direction right now, and I’m sure it’s not me they’re ogling.”

Bryon looked around the room again. Sure enough, half a dozen women dancing or standing by the walls were glancing in his direction, hopeful expressions on their faces. They were pretty, just not his type.

“At least half of them look like they’re DTF,” Harold said, leaning in close and speaking right into his ear, like a devil on his shoulder. “I think you should go for it.”

“Not interested.” Bryon shook his head. “I think I need to go get some fresh air.”

Harold lifted an eyebrow, flashing his friend a look of mock suspicion. “You’re not going to try to run off, are you?”

Actually, he could use a good run tonight. Just the thought of it made Bryon’s inner wolf growl with excitement. He shook his head again. “Of course not. I just need a short break. I’ll take a walk or something. Be back in twenty minutes.”

He handed Harold his drink, leaving the living room before the other man could say another word. He made his way to the back door of the house, relishing the cool night air that immediately hit him as he stepped outside. It was quieter now, the party music muffled.

Bryon glanced around, searching for signs of life. From the back porch, he could make out a cluster of trees silhouetted against the moonlit sky. Thirty feet away, a lone swing squeaked softly in the gentle breeze. No sign of anybody. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying the party. Good for them. Right now, what he needed was to move around for a bit.

He made for the trees, pausing at the tree line to peel off his clothes. Then he started to shift, summoning the wolf from within. Fur sprouted onto his skin, claws extending from his fingertips.

“Hey!” called a voice from behind him. “Bryon, you’re never going to believe who just showed up. It’s Ravishing—what the hell?”

He spun around then, mid-transformation, and his heart nearly dropped into his stomach. Standing on the porch steps, staring open-mouthed at him, was the last person in the world who should be there.

“Bryon?” Harold said.

***

“Are we almost out of the woods yet?”

Miranda’s voice dragged him out of his memories. When he turned to look at her, he could tell she was uncomfortable. As they walked, she gripped his bicep to support him, although Bryon was starting to wonder whether it was she who needed supporting. Every time they heard a sound, whether it was a twig snapping or a creature scampering across their path, her grip tightened, and she looked like she might jump into his arms.

“Not quite,” he replied, his gaze lingering on her darker blue eye for a second before returning to the path winding between the trees ahead of them.

She gave a soft groan that tickled his insides. “How much longer?”

“Hard to tell. We’re going to rescue the foal first.”

“Wait, what? You’re kidding, right?”

Just then, a sharp pain shot up his foot, and he suppressed a wince. Bryon clenched his jaw. He and Miranda had been on the move for what felt like half an hour, although it could be longer. He’d done all he could to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on his injury, but it still hurt like hell.

“Finding it shouldn’t take long.” He needed to get out of Paradise Woods as badly as she did, and to at least see to his injury properly before it worsened. But the foal was still somewhere around here. He couldn’t just leave it to die.

She stopped and turned to face him, blinking at him in disbelief. “Are you insane?”

“No, I’m an animal rescuer. That’s what I do; I rescue animals.”

She didn’t object further, but she shot him a look that suggested he belonged in a loony bin. His heart slammed against his ribcage. There was, of course, the other reason he was hesitant to leave the woods so soon. What were the odds that she wouldn’t try to reveal his secret him the second they were back in town?