Page 81 of Relics of the Wolf

“There was rainwater in the ditch that kept me washed. It was, however, chilly.” His grimace and the brief haunted expression in his eyes were the only indications that he’d been miserable.

I wished I’d known where he’d been dumped so I could have retrieved him. Had he walked all the way back here while cold, naked, and injured? Thirty miles or more?

“I’m encouraged that you’re not shooting at me,” Duncan said quietly, watching my face.

“I don’t have a gun.”

“That being the only reason for your restraint? However inadvertently, I betrayed you again.”

“I gathered your big furry body was used against your wishes.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think it’ll happen again?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know what Abrams is doing or why he let me go, but I’m afraid that, now that he knows I still live, he may want to use me again. And you did take back the artifacts that they stole from you.”

“Thus ensuring they’ll continue to think of me as an enemy?”

“Or a tool. That is what I was to Abrams.”

I lapsed into silence, not sure how to continue the conversation. Since Duncan had admitted he might be forced to attack me again, I should have asked him to walk out of my life and not return. If he were off treasure hunting in the Southern Hemisphere somewhere, he wouldn’t be a threat, especially if his lord scientist remained here. Why that guy had set up camp in the Pacific Northwest with Radomir, I couldn’t guess, but they clearly had plans involving werewolves.

“You mentioned gifts?” I asked instead of requesting that Duncan drive off in his van and never return.

His face brightened. “I did. After a man wrongs a woman, gifts are required. In many cultures.”

“In all, I should think. It’s just right.”

“Quite. Hold out your hands, please.” Duncan had set down the velvet-wrapped item while we’d spoken, but he plucked it up now. He rested it across my arms, then held up a finger to indicate there would be more. He drew out a gift-wrapped box of truffles, then a stack of dark-chocolate bars wrapped with a ribbon. The one on top said…

“Lavender-raspberry dark chocolate?”

“Yes. To make you laugh. There are other flavors that might be of more interest. One on the bottom is dusted with ground espresso.”

“That sounds promising.”

“The ideal way to start the morning.” Duncan plucked another box out of the van, the gold ribbon and wrapping as fancy as the contents. “Dark-chocolate-covered bacon strips.”

“Yum.”

“And one more.” He withdrew another box, this one clear, allowing a view of the item inside. A caramel apple dipped in dark chocolate and nuts and drizzled with white-chocolate sauce.

I might have started salivating a bit at that one. Apples weren’t traditional wolf treats, but my human taste buds had always enjoyed a crisp, tart Granny Smith.

Duncan placed it on top of the pile. “I would eat the apple first while it’s fresh.”

“Where did you get all this stuff if you had to walk naked back from Smokey Point?”

“There’s a factory outlet mall on the way. I’m not sure why candy would be considered something from a factory, especially when the shops appeared to make it fresh there, but several occupied the mall. For the female proprietor at one, my nudity wasn’t a problem. She even took pity on me and gave me a canvas tarp to wear.”

“Sexy. Do you still have it?”

“I do.” He waved into the van. “And now that I’ve been reconnected with my funds, I’ll send her money to pay for her wares. I try not to accept charity when there are others who need it more.”

I eyed his bruises and thought of the scientist who could control him against his will. “You may need at least a little charity.”

“Possibly.” Duncan waved to the velvet-wrapped item. “That’s the most important gift. I found it years ago and could never bring myself to sell it. A part of me may have one day foreseen the need for it.”

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