Page 63 of The Wisteria Tree Cottage

‘That’s exactly what it is.’ Kristofer had obviously come back on the line. ‘I can see why you would think wolf because the likeness is uncanny but there are a number of characteristics which are different. The nose is shorter, and he had a bit of a goofy expression when he was running. Wolves have a narrow frame and longer legs, this dog is wider, stockier. Wolves are shy, not boisterous, and this dog seemed to be having the time of its life running through the trees. Wolves have bigger heads too and, while it’s hard to tell with these clips shot at night, wolves have yellow eyes and this animal did not have those.’

Bear breathed a sigh of relief.

‘I think what we’re looking at here is a husky-shepherd-malamute cross. It might even have some Northern Inuit dog in him too. There has been an increasing trend, especially in foreign countries, to breed dogs that resemble wolves, with little thought to what those dogs will turn out like. My guess is that this dog is around a year old and he got too big and loopy for his owners to be able to cope with him and so they dumped him. But I highly doubt he is going to make off with any small children anytime soon. I would try to catch him, put some food out, gain his trust and then bring him in. We can scan him to see if he’s microchipped and go from there.’

‘OK, will do. Thanks Kristofer.’

‘My pleasure. I’m looking forward to meeting him.’

Bear hung up. ‘OK, panic over, Kristofer is one hundred percent positive it’s a stray dog.’ He explained the differences that Kristofer had pointed out and that he thought he might be a husky cross. ‘He’s one year old so still a puppy really. I think now we know he’s out there he should be fairly easy to catch but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.’

Meadow put the phone down. ‘And none of the parks or zoos I’ve contacted are missing a wolf. It does make more sense that it’s a stray dog rather than an actual wolf.’

Heath sighed theatrically at having his wolf discovery dashed but nodded. ‘It does make more sense and if the wolf expert says they look really similar I do feel validated.’

Meadow smiled and rolled her eyes. ‘You hate being wrong.’

‘No, I just love it when I’m right,’ Heath said.

‘I’m kinda glad it isn’t a wolf,’ Star said.

‘I am too,’ Amelia said. ‘I like a bit of excitement in my life, but I don’t think I’d want to meet a real wolf while walking through the woods.’

‘I am a bit disappointed though,’ Star said. ‘I’ve never seen a wolf before.’

‘There is a wolf sanctuary near Shropshire,’ Meadow said. ‘Maybe we can visit one day.’

‘I’d love that,’ Star said.

‘In the meantime, we need to catch this dog,’ Bear said. ‘Me and Meadow have a thing tonight but it should be finished fairly early. How about we do a little camp out after to see if we can meet him? Star, do you want to join me?’

Star looked eagerly at Meadow and Heath. ‘Can I?’

They glanced at each other and Meadow nodded. ‘Of course you can. You might also see some of these other creatures too, if you’re really quiet.’

Star clapped her hands together excitedly.

‘Well, I better dig out our old camping gear,’ Bear said.

‘I’ll have to see what supplies I’ve got,’ Meadow said. ‘I haven’t been camping for ages.’

‘Why don’t you join them?’ Amelia said, innocently, taking the words right from Bear’s mouth.

‘You can join us if you like,’ Bear said, ignoring the exchange of looks from River and Indigo and the big smirks from Heath and Amelia.

‘I’d love to.’

Bear grinned. ‘Sounds like a plan.’

CHAPTERFORTY-TWO

Bear pulled on a shirt ready for the dating event that night and started buttoning it up, thinking, as always, about Meadow, the secret and his relationship with her as Twilight and AstralSurfer. She didn’t have many friends, she had grown up being best friends with him, River and Heath and some of her girl friends had been jealous of that, especially in the teenage years. It seemed like she felt she could confide in AstralSurfer and he didn’t want to take that away from her by ignoring her or pushing her away.

She had told him stuff about her dad that he hadn’t known. Meadow had never really spoken about her parents growing up, apart from how strict they were with her and that her dad had a bad temper. He’d known that her parents had kicked her out when they found out she was pregnant so he was aware their relationship had never been great, but he hadn’t known that her dad had hated her mum or that her parents had made her feel they hated her. To grow up with that must have been so difficult and it explained her wariness of relationships.

But knowing a lot of this personal stuff made it even more difficult to come clean about who he was. She had told AstralSurfer, not him.

He had to find a way to tell her the truth and the longer he left it the worse it was, although he did think Heath was probably right and he should leave it at least a few more days to let the worry of telling him the secret about Star fade away.

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