Page 10 of The Enforcers: NOAH

Brock was plastered to the front of the wolf’s cage. He’d slipped his little hand inside the wire mesh, and was cupping the side of the wolf’s head.

They were just standing there, perfectly still, staring into each other’s eyes as if they were communicating silently.

Chills blasted up Mina’s arms, leaving goose bumps in their wake.

It’s okay, she told herself. It’s probably a hybrid, not a wild wolf. It’s used to people.

But the sight of that giant muzzle with its huge teeth so close to her baby’s chubby little hand made the breath catch in her chest. It was all she could do not to yell at him to get away from the wolf right freaking now.

Instead, she walked up to the cage. Slowly. Carefully. Holding her breath. Neither of them even glanced at her.

She squeezed her hand through the mesh and cupped it around the other side of the wolf’s muzzle, hoping like hell she could hold it closed if he tried to bite Brock.

She took a deep breath and said quietly, “Brock, baby, come away from the cage now.”

He started, ever so slightly. So did the wolf. As if they’d both been in some kind of a trance.

Holy heck, was her son some kind of wolf whisperer?

Brock looked up at her. “I’m petting the woof,” he said. “It’s a nice woof.”

A nice wolf with huge teeth.

“I’m sure it is,” she said. “But remember, wolves are wild animals. We’ve talked about how we have to be careful with wild animals, right? Especially when they’re hurt.”

Brock stroked the wolf’s face, and then his ear. “He’s not so very hurt anymore. Not in his leg. But he’s hurt in his head.” The wolf was still standing completely still. “He’s sad,” Brock said softly.

Okay, a wolf whisperer and an animal psychic. Awesome. He could have a TV career.

“Well, hurt animals can get startled and scared, and they can hurt us without meaning to.”

“He’s not scared,” the boy said. “He likes me.”

“Brock.” Mina tried to put more authority in her voice without her tone freaking the wolf out. “Please take your hand out of the cage now.”

The wolf focused on Mina for the first time. His tongue shot out and he licked her hand with a quick slurp. Then he backed up, hopping a bit to keep from putting weight on the splinted leg. He lay down and put his head on his paws with a sigh.

Almost like he knew… No. This had just been a very weird day.

Brock said, “See you later, Mr. Gray Woof.” He turned to Mina and said. “I’m kind of hungry-ish. Is there snacks?”

Like nothing had happened.

She looked at the wolf again, but he just gave her that deep golden gaze, like he was seeing into her soul.

She got Brock a snack, and then she let him help her fix a bowl of kibble and warm meat broth for the wolf. She slid it through the food slot in the cage door, and the wolf sniffed at it and gave her a look. She could have sworn he raised an eyebrow in disdain.

“I know, I know,” she said. “Not what you’re used to, Mr. Gray Wolf. But it’s what I’ve got.”

He sighed and then started chowing down unenthusiastically, like a hospital patient told they needed to keep their strength up.

Odd how some dogs could be almost human in their reactions.

She set up Brock to watch TV on his tablet while she worked at her computer.

“Can Mr. Gray Woof watch too?” he asked.

“He doesn’t care about TV, Brock,” she said, amused.