***Zara's POV***

"How's the wolf?" I asked, breathless, keys still clutched in my fist. I'd probably broken three traffic laws getting here.

Doctor Stevens looked down worried about our newest patient. Frown lines marred his face making him look ten years older. From the description they gave me I knew it was a werewolf, hence the mad rush.

"Not good. His vitals are weak from blood loss. During the bullet extraction he flatlined for five seconds."

The elderly man paused. He took off his glasses briefly to clean them on the edge of his lab coat before adjusting them back on his face.

"A blood transfusion is what I would do next, but we don't have any in stock. Surgery kept him alive, but just barely. He'll need to be monitored closely."

The good doctor sighed heavily over a computer screen near the resting wolf. "Thanks for getting here so fast. I wish we had more like you."

"Of course. Thank you for the opportunity."

He gave a warm look before returning to his paperwork as I turned back to the wolf.

'What have you gotten yourself into?' I hummed to myself as I walked over to rest my hand on his jaw. I so badly wanted to help him recover.

This wolf fought like hell. Deep punctures in his jugular, and long lacerations in his mid section were telltale signs of a wolf on wolf attack. Bullet holes in his chest worried me the most.The edges of the bullet wounds showed clear signs of silver contact.

'Rogues don't carry silver rounds. That kind of ammunition costs money. Like pack influence.'

'Someone organized did this.'

I looked back across the wolf's grey and black fur. It was matted with dried bits of blood and debris.

'Someone placed you here. Was it your mate?'

Mate. The word scraped down my spine. Yearning mixed with guilt and hope. I didn't know which emotion hurt more.

'Are you from a pack or are you a rogue Mr. Wolf?'

"Zara," Stevens called me away from my new friend.

"I'm going to do my rounds on the farms this week before the busy holiday season. Can you watch him?" Doctor Stevens asked, already knowing my answer.

"Of course." I said with a sad smile.

"I'll watch over this guy." The back of my hand softly stroked his cheek near the oxygen mask.

After a few hours, I worked carefully around his wounds to clean him up. During the process I found something between the thick fur around the soft folds of his neck; a hagstone on a stretchy necklace.

'Woah. I've never seen one before. They're extremely rare.'

Unexpectedly, a strange warmth ran up my fingers as I exclaimed the stone, turning it side to side.

'A hagstone. I heard once that a high-ranking pack of witch hunters used them.'

My pulse quickened.

'This wasn't typical rogue.'

'This wasn't random.'

'This was sanctioned.'

As my thumb stroked the smooth surface. Then I felt something rough and out of place. I bent my head to get a closer look. There was a serial number etched into the machine polished finish.

The wolf stirred, pulling on the IV line. Blood darkened gauze around his chest.

A low, pained growl vibrates through the room.

*BEEP**BEEP**BEEP*

"Sshhhh. It's okay. I'm sorry." I released the stone.

"Please don't move." Worry laced my gentle plea for him to calm himself.

My hands ran over the soft spot behind his ears to soothe him with slow strokes. I stayed that way willing him to calm down and reassure him that I wasn't as interested in his hagstone as I was in his recovery.

The vitals monitor steadied as the wolf relaxed.

"Rest easy. I won't harm you. I'm not from a pack but I do know the Alpha in the area. Uncle Patrick will make sure that you are taken care of paper wise. He's very good at those things. It's one of the quirks of being so close to Eden Territory. Or E.T. as some like to hurl at me like an insult."

"But it's not a place for packs."

"It's not a kingdom either."

"But it has its own rules."

"They are more like unspoken rules. But if you're here long enough, you'll realize that it's a place for wolves who refuse to kneel."

"And sometimes I think the Moon calls her children to a resting place."

"We see them come in."

"We don't see them leave."

"And others of course are your typical bad rogue." Memories flashed and I continued without realizing, "I'd help my," I paused trying to reel in the sadness, regretting that I spoke without thinking.

"Mom and Alpha Patrick with the bad rogues, before Edith."

"Just like not all rogues are monsters, not all Lunas are saints."

"You. Mr. Wolf. Are definitely not a bad rogue." I smiled weakly.

'I'm not either.'

The words pressed against my tongue.

I swallowed them.

"Once you recover, I'll have some clothes for you and take you to where you need to go."

"If you want my help."

***

A couple of days passed by, and his recovery has picked up. Mr. Wolf needed constant fluids and new bandages. Today, I removed his stitches. He should be healed enough by the end of this weekend to get out of this place. Doctor Stevens tells me it's a miracle, but I know it's because he's not your average wolf. I stayed with him the whole time and texted Fabian to drop me off some spare clothes. It was a brilliant plan I came up with to get Mr. Wolf some clothes and a great way to spend some time with my best friend after not seeing him during our scheduled workouts. I felt guilty when I told him I had to skip training because I was responsible for the clinic while Dr. Stevens was out. Fabian never misses a training day. Even when he's usually busy being an online history teacher, managing an adult ice hockey league, and playing on several competitive teams, he always showed up.

My phone chimed as a new text message popped up on my screen and a giant smile graced my lips at the sight.

Hello my Queen

        Hello my Knight in shining armor ;)

How's the wolf doing?

        He's doing much better!

Does that mean you'll be able to leave work today to have some fun with your Knight. :D

I looked over at the sleeping wolf.

"Do you think I can leave you for a while? Just move a paw or something if you want me to stay."

Nothing.

"You're no help, you know that." I sighed.

The prospect of leaving Mr. Wolf where it was safe and comforting, to go to the Friday night drinking session with the club where A.J. was didn't sit the best with me. About once a month or so I'd show up for appearances. Just because I didn't like A.J. doesn't mean that I didn't love my time with my best girlfriend Alissa, or my friend Bobby, and of course Fabian. It was a while before I answered, but Fabian beat me.

Just so you know, I'll throw you over my shoulder and take you out of there kicking and screaming. And if you're really bad I'll spank you! 

ヽ(ಠ_ಠ)ノ

        Lol XD

        No need to threaten me with a good time Fabio lol I'll be there

Dang it. I mean that's great I'll pick you up later on Guiliana. ;D

Fabio?! Really!? Maybe you still need that spanking!

        Hahaha, you just noticed I called you Fabio. Lol hahahahaaa

Keep it up princess. Keep it up.

'It's half past one. I think I'll head out of here around three. So I can look halfway presentable tonight. Alissa threatened to murder me if I showed up in a hoodie and jeans again.'

It was around an hour drive back to my little cottage, a terrible commute, but I needed the hands-on experience to finish my degree so I can become an animal doctor. Plus, I adored Doctor Stevens, and he let me do what I wanted as long as I took care of the facility and the patients properly.

For the next few hours I talked to Mr. Wolf. He was a great listener. There were a few times he stirred when I told him a funny story about my first fight when I was a kid.

"A girl once tried to corner me in the locker room," I told him while adjusting his IV.

"She thought she could intimidate me. Invade my personal space like it was supposed to make me cower like all the other girls she's encountered. But all it did was the opposite."

"Mom tried to be mad and scold me about how it was unfair for me to fight a human. She lasted five seconds before she started laughing. It must have been the look of 'I'm so dead' on my face."

*BEEP**BEEP**BEEP*

Mr. Wolf's bed alarm went off from his slight shift of movement.

"Hey, Mister you can't move yet." I scolded.

"Then my mom looked at me dead in the eyes and she told me that I was now part of a proud line of family members that didn't take shit from no one."

*BEEP**BEEP**BEEP*

"What the heck did I just tell you?! Don't move dumb-ass."

*BEEP**BEEP**BEEP*

"That's it. I'm leaving!" I said while throwing my hands up in the air.

*BEEP**BEEP**BEEP*

Daggers shot out of my eyes. If he wasn't all wounded I'd give him a piece of my mind.

"Okay. Rules. I know you want to shift." I said sternly.

"Don't." My voice wasn't gentle. It was commanding.

*Whine*

"That won't work on me. Besides, you should be ready to go by the end of the weekend and if you shift too early you'll have to stay longer." I warn.

Mr. Wolf didn't move but I'm sure he heard me. On my way out I gave his paw a little squeeze, looking at the space where the hidden hagstone is in the folds of his fur and frowned.

The serial number burned in my memory.

"See you later." I said getting up and shaking the unease away.

***

Getting ready for Fabian to pick me up, I decided to just have fun tonight. In my closet I picked out a few things to wear and laid them on the bed.

'Ummm...jeans? Or maybe leggings?'

I went with a pair of Alissa approved black leather leggings with V-shaped stitching on the sides. Then I paired them with a fluffy warm charcoal grey turtleneck with little white and black speckles in the yarn. The sound of a throaty motorcycle reverberated and came into earshot.

"There's Fabian's girl, Guiliana." A smile spread excitedly across my face.

"I love that bitch." Happiness spread at the thought of riding with Fabian tonight.

Walking through to the front of the house, I grabbed my motorcycle jacket. It was a present from Fabian for my birthday. Then I stepped outside and locked up.

*Whistle*

"Lookin' good hot stuff." Fabian commented.

When I turned around to look at him, he took off his helmet and looked me up from head to toe. The feeling of heat rose up to my cheeks. It wasn't often that I tried to look good, but I wanted to feel powerful when I went out tonight, and it felt good to be complimented. My dark grey Doc Martens crunched over the dried leaves, giving me even more of a sense of power and strength.

"Your helmet my queen."

"Thanks."

"Let's go!" My enthusiasm caught fire to his face revealing his dimpled smile.

"You're the only soul I'll let boss my Guiliana around." He chuckled.

"I know." I winked before I flipped the visor down making my face invisible in the dark night.

My arms tightened around his waist as I scooted closer to him so that my thighs were around the outside of his thighs.

He froze.

"Hey grandma. Are we gonna go, or is it past your bedtime?"

"I'll show you what grandma can do." He muttered under his breath as he clipped on his helmet.