Picking Up a Wolf in the Rain
Mrs. White’s ragdoll cat was basically a chainsaw in an expensive fur coat.
“Maeve! What is the meaning of this? A complaint letter from Mrs. White!” Mr. Davis slammed his desk, his fat face twisting with rage. “She said you didn’t look respectful enough when you fed her cat today! Respectful! Do you have any idea how much she’s donating to the shelter next quarter? A cool fifty thousand dollars!”
Maeve stood there, casually pushing back a stack of folders that was about to topple over.
To hell with respect. That cat had tried to gouge her eyeballs out ten minutes ago. Her only mistake was grabbing it by the scruff and shoving it back into the cage before it could finish the job. After grinding out three months of internship credits in this hellhole, her mental state was as stable as a three-day-old corpse.
“Mr. Davis, that cat tried to blind me today. I just put it back in the cage before it could.”
“That is a champion-breed ragdoll worth ten grand! Even if its claws so much as graze you, it’s an honor!” Mr. Davis snapped upright, his finger almost poking Maeve’s nose. “Do you know how much Mrs. White gives us every year? Fifty. Thousand. Dollars!”
“So, does that fifty grand cover health insurance for my corneas? Because if not, I’d say my self-defense was totally justified.”
“What is up with your attitude? Who do you think you are?” Mr. Davis spit flew everywhere. “You’re just a college student here for internship hours, Maeve! One word from me, and you’ll get a fat ‘F’ on your social practice report this semester!”
“According to California labor law and the internship handbook, an supervisor giving a malicious ‘F’ requires detailed proof of industry violations. Mr. Davis, are you sure you want to take legal action over Mrs. White’s ‘disrespectful look’?”
Realizing he was completely cornered by an intern, he could only wave his hands and roar like a maniac: “Are you threatening me? How dare you threaten me?! I don’t care about the details! The customer is God! Got it?!”
“Got it. But now we have a new problem.”
“What problem?!”
Maeve checked her cheap watch. “It’s exactly five o’clock. It’s my clock-out time. Mr. Davis, unless you have a legal overtime order, I’m checking out.”
“Get out! Clock out and leave right now! Don’t let me see your face again!”
“Will do, Mr. Davis. Have a great weekend.” Maeve flashed a dead corporate smile, turned around, and shut the door. Internship credits mattered, but leaving on time mattered more. It was pouring outside, and she wasn’t about to skip dinner for a fifty-thousand-dollar cat.
Half an hour later, rain was pouring down her pants and into her shoes, freezing cold. Maeve held up a broken umbrella that was about to snap in the howling wind, stopping in the dark alley leading to her apartment.
There was a massive shadow next to the dumpster. It was a silver wolf, way too big to be a normal animal. Its thick silver fur was matted with blood and mud, and a deep, bone-deep gash on its belly was oozing blood. Sensing a human approaching, it thrashed violently in the mud.
Damn humans... back off. The Wolf King snarled inside. Tricky traitors, and this pathetic body! Dare to come close to this King, and I’ll rip your throat out! Even if he had to blow up his own demon core, he would tear this weak human to shreds!
However, the scream he expected never came.
Maeve’s professional instincts kicked right in. She tossed her umbrella and squatted down. “Oh my god, look at this massive Husky... wait, is this a Malamute? Why are you bleeding so much?”
Idiot! I am the Moon-Howling Wolf King! Not one of those stupid, lowly canines you speak of! Touch my wound again and I guarantee tomorrow is your funeral! The Wolf King bared his razor-sharp fangs, letting out a low growl.
“Easy, big guy, I’m trying to help you. If we don’t treat this wound right now, you’re gonna pass out from blood loss tonight.” Maeve quickly whipped out a pet emergency tourniquet and tied it tightly around his leg.
Big guy? Who is she calling big guy?! Is this woman insane?! Wait... how the hell is this lowly human so strong...
“Be good, listen to me. You look scary, but I’ve seen way meaner Mastiffs at the vet clinic. Stay still.”
How dare you compare this King to those begging, pathetic dogs... pfft... The sheer frustration made the Wolf King cough up a mouthful of blood. Damn it, the crack in my demon core is... you wretched human, one day I will...
Before he could finish swearing in his head, his massive body hit the mud with a thud. He completely blacked out.
“So heavy... you’ve gotta be at least a hundred and fifty pounds.” Maeve frowned, wrapping the giant wolf tightly in her heavy coat. She took a deep breath, channeling the arm strength she used for hauling hundred-pound bags of dog food, and lifted him up in a bridal carry. Hang in there. Lucky for you, you ran into a vet major. I’ll stitch you up today, but if you die tomorrow, don’t you dare haunt my apartment.
The hallway of the old apartment building smelled like cheap cleaning chemicals. It took her nearly six months to get used to it. Honestly, if she had to choose between the school dorms and this place, the smell was totally tolerable—plus, the rent was the cheapest in the area.
Drenched and panting, Maeve lugged the giant wolf toward her door. Suddenly, the door next door popped open.
Mrs. Higgins—the neighborhood’s ultimate Karen—stepped out with a trash bag.
Their eyes locked.
“Oh my god! Maeve! What on earth is that monster in your arms?!” Mrs. Higgins pushed up her reading glasses, her shriek almost blowing the roof off.
Maeve quickly slapped on her professional smile, pulling the coat up to hide the wolf’s head. “Good evening, Mrs. Higgins. It’s nothing, just a Husky I brought back from the animal shelter. It’s a bit hurt, so I’m doing some home rehab.”
“A Husky? Honey, do you think because I wear reading glasses I’m that easy to fool?! Have you ever seen a Husky with paws that huge? And it’s covered in blood!”
“It’s a new mixed giant breed, a ‘Giant Alaskan Hybrid.’ As for the blood, it just got sideswiped by a pickup truck. I’ve already stopped the bleeding.”
“I don’t care if it’s a hybrid or purebred!” Mrs. Higgins put her hands on her hips, glaring at the bloody water dripping onto the floor. “The HOA rules state clear as day: tenants are strictly banned from keeping large dogs over fifty pounds! This thing is easily three times the limit!”
“I checked the HOA bylaws updated last month, Mrs. Higgins. For ‘temporary placement during medical care and rescue,’ as long as it doesn’t exceed 72 hours, it’s completely within the exemption.”
Mrs. Higgins choked on her words, looking a bit foolish. She gave a heavy huff and pointed an aggressive finger at Maeve’s door. “Bylaws are bylaws, but that thing is a safety hazard! If that giant dog dares to howl at the moon in the middle of the night and ruins my sleep, I will write to the HOA first thing tomorrow morning to report you!”
“He’s incredibly weak right now, can’t even stick his tongue out. I promise he won’t make a peep.”
“And the carpet! If the dirty water and blood on it ruin the public hallway carpet, you are paying for the cleaning bill in full!”
“I’ve wrapped him tight in a waterproof coat, Mrs. Higgins. Not a single drop leaked out.”
Maeve thought to herself: Last time you left your trash in the hallway for three days, it smelled so bad I could barely open my eyes. Didn’t see you respecting the apartment rules so much back then.
And if you’re so worried about the carpet getting dirty, I haven’t even put him on the ground yet. Now shut your trap.
“It better be!” Mrs. Higgins gave her a vicious glare. “Just remember, I’m watching you, Maeve! The second I hear any noise, you and that monster are getting kicked out!”
“Got it, thanks for the concern, Mrs. Higgins. Have a good night.”
The door next door slammed shut. Maeve kicked her own door open with her foot, looking down at the fast-asleep giant wolf in her arms. Man, you’re heavy. You certainly didn’t starve yourself while straying out there.
No howling allowed? No problem. If he dared to make a sound tomorrow night, she’d just duct-tape his mouth shut.
