Page 36 of Honey Heat
Cesar carefully placed the puppy on Chopper’s lap. She immediately scrambled up his body, tail wagging frantically, trying to lick his face. Chopper scooped her up with gentle hands and cradled her against his chest.
“Hey there, lobita,” he murmured. “You okay?”
The puppy responded by licking his chin frantically, her whole body trembling with excitement. Something warm and unfamiliar bloomed in Chopper’s chest as he cradled the tiny creature.
“She’s fine,” Cesar said. “The pack’s been helping me look after her until—”
A growl ripped from Chopper’s throat when Cesar reached for her. His canines lengthened as he pulled her away from outstretched hands.
“The fuck?” Cesar stepped back, hands raised. “Easy, hermano.”
Chopper felt his eyes glowing amber, his wolf rising to the surface with unexpected fierceness.
The puppy whimpered at his sudden aggression, trying to burrow into the crook of his arm. Her frightened reaction snapped Chopper back to himself, shame hitting him as he realized he’d scared her.
“Shit,” he whispered, gently stroking her fur. “I’m sorry, pequeña. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Dr. Martinez stepped into the room, glancing between them. “Glad to see you’re awake, Chopper. If I’d known a puppy would wake you up, I would’ve plopped one on your lap right after your surgery.”
“He’s having a weird reaction to the meds, Doc,” Santiago said, jutting his chin toward Chopper. “He’s aggressively guarding the pup.”
Dr. Martinez checked Chopper’s vitals. “It’s not the meds. His wolf trauma-bonded with the puppy. You’re not getting her back anytime soon.”
The guy was talking as if Chopper wasn’t even in the room, but that explained his reaction to not having her with him. It also explained why he was ready to end Cesar for trying to take her from him.
“But—” Cesar began.
“Trust me on this one,” Martinez interrupted. “I’ve seen it before. The wolf has chosen to protect her. Fighting that instinct won’t end well for anyone.”
Chopper barely registered their conversation, focused entirely on soothing the puppy, who had calmed in his arms. Her tiny heart raced against his palm, gradually slowing as she settled.
“Que se joda.” Cesar sighed in resignation. “I’ll bring some supplies by. Food, a small bed, and some toys.”
“Thanks,” Chopper murmured, not looking up from the puppy now sprawled across his chest, her warm weight comforting against his skin. Then he glanced up at the doctor. “Why can’t I remember what happened to me?”
Cesar frowned. “You don’t remember getting shot?”
“Your brain’s protecting itself,” Martinez explained. “Trauma can cause temporary memory gaps. They might come back, they might not.”
Chopper stroked the puppy’s soft fur, feeling her little body relax against him. “Lobita,” he murmured, the name coming naturally to his lips.
Her ears twitched at the sound, and she yawned, her tiny pink tongue curling before she settled more comfortably on his chest. The contact eased something in Chopper, the pain medication finally taking effect as drowsiness began to pull at him.
As his eyes grew heavy, he heard Cesar sigh in resignation.
“Guess I need to find Jamie another birthday gift,” he said quietly to Santiago. “Can’t bring myself to take her away from him. Not after seeing that.”
Chopper’s last conscious thought before sleep claimed him was that his Lobita needed a proper collar. Something pink, to match the inside of her ears. He’d get her one as soon as Martinez let him out of this damn bed.
Sleep tugged him under, his hand still resting protectively over the tiny puppy on his chest.
Chapter Ten
As everyone cleaned up, Ethan grabbed the two trash bags sitting by the back door. He’d already leaned out and saw the dumpster wasn’t that far away. Still… “Brett, would you mind going with me to toss these in the dumpster?”
“Sure.” Brett joined him, grabbing one of the bags as the other guys finished cleaning the mess they’d made of Cesar’s kitchen.
Ethan hoisted the heavy trash bag over his shoulder as he followed Brett through the back door of Sin & Steel. The afternoon sun beat down on his face, a welcome sensation after spending hours in the kitchen.
