What This Wolf Wants(5)

When Dean had become Alpha he’d created a council of eight individuals that represented his pack. Each of the eight had their own, smaller tribe to watch over, protect and guide. The eight, along with Dean, voted on issues that affected the whole pack. While majority ruled, Dean was still the alpha of the pack and could veto any suggestion at any time. His final word was law. If a pack member didn’t like it, they could leave the pack and the town, or challenge Dean for alpha position. However, in the nearly four years Dean had been Alpha, no one had challenged him and it was doubtful anyone would. The man was well-liked, respected by both shifters and humans, and oozed strength and power from his pores. He could hold a room from his very presence alone.

Dean created Woodcliff into a haven for wolves and had become the example that other pack alphas were anxious to follow. After all, while only a handful of wolves could be strong enough to be an Alpha, they couldn’t hold the position of one if he didn’t have a pack.

“There’s something weird going on.” Ben’s voice broke into Jackie’s thoughts and she followed the man’s gaze to land on Dean. Whatever it was that he held wrapped up in a blanket in his arms was very large, and limp. She could scent the blood and see the flop of furry legs.

“A wolf?” she whispered to Ben in a quizzical tone.

“Shifter.”

“Strong one if he can shift outside the full moon.” Her mind raced, flipping through a mental log of shifters she knew who were capable of such a feat. “Who is it?”

“Don’t know.” Ben shook his head, the bright porch light turning his streaked-blond hair into spun gold.

Jackie frowned. An unknown shifter that had the ability to fully change from man to beast outside of the pull of the full moon could mean serious trouble.

“What happened?” she asked as Dean walked over the threshold, adding, “Down the hall to your right.”

It was Ben that answered her. “Dean and I were at the Haven,” he said referring to the wolf compound built outside of town to contain and protect the male shifters each month, “going over inventory when we heard gunshots.”

Her eyes widened as she hustled after Dean. “Gunshots?” Not a common occurrence in Woodcliff.

“Hmmm. When we went to investigate, we found him.”

“Idiots,” she glared at them both over her shoulder, snapping on gloves at the same time. “Both of you could have been shot as well.” Cautiously she drew the blanket away from the wounded animal, remaining on the side of the bed away from its dangerous muzzle. One snap of those sharp teeth and powerful jaws would really ruin her day.

“He’s out cold.”

Jackie didn’t even glance at Dean. “I would be too if I were shot, but I don’t take chances. Not when he could rip my hand off without a thought.” She ran said hands gently through the thick, dark brown fur. “He’s got a deep gash along his left hindquarter and a smaller one across his shoulders. The round wound in his side looks to be a bullet entry but I need to shave the areas to be sure.”

She stripped off her bloody gloves and moved to the metal cabinet. There she pulled out scissors, a razor, and a comb. “I wasn’t expecting a wolf, Dean. While most of my patients are shifters, I’m a human doctor, not a veterinarian. You need Kaylie.”

“She’s on her way.”

Jackie peered over her shoulder at the large wolf. “You sure he’s a shifter? I mean he smells like a shifter, but my senses might be picking you up.”

Dean’s deep green eyes locked on her brown ones and didn’t let go. “I’m positive.”

She swallowed. “And you don’t have any idea who it is?”

If possible, Dean’s muscles tightened even more. But he only shook his head. Jackie flicked her gaze to Ben who was leaning one shoulder on the door frame just outside the room. When their eyes caught he only lifted a finger to his nose and slanted his eyes at Dean. Ben was trying to tell her something, something that had to do with this unknown’s scent. And Dean.

“Hmmm. Normally I’d ask you to bring him out of wolf form so I could examine him better,” Jackie slipped on new gloves. “But if a bullet is still inside, pulling him out of wolf form will only cause the wounds to close around the bullet. Then I would have to cut into him. And we don’t want that.”

“No. We don’t.” Her Alpha muttered. A quick glance and she saw that his face seemed a bit paler. He even took a step back.

Choking back a snicker Jackie once again sifted through the blood-matted fur. “I need to get a sedative and pain reliever in him. Then I need all this blood cleaned up.” When neither man spoke Jackie lifted her eyes from her unexpected patient. “What? No volunteers?’