The Veterinarian and the Werewolf

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 – Tom

Tom sat watching the wolf, hoping, and praying that he would survive, but more than that, he was willing him to heal quickly. He didn't want Boyd to win, even in death he seemed to haunt them. What was it about wolves that made people like his dad and Boyd so frightened? At least that was the realisation he had come to, why else would they actively go looking to destroy them except for fear? He lifted a hand and gingerly touched his face, the swelling was coming down, but he still looked really ugly.

Maybe that was why Miss Jessie was still treating him like a boy, even after she had read his letter to her. She had been really nice, had protected him, fed and clothed him, and allowed him to live with her. But that was it, there was no affection, although she allowed him to comfort her. In fact, the only one who he truly felt loved by was Wolfy. He still wasn't comfortable calling him Henry. The animal was very affectionate, he had tended to his wounds that day he had arrived at the clinic busted up. Had lain next to him, and whenever there was a space next to him on the couch, that was his place.

When Jessie had walked into the house with Wolfy in her arms looking like he was dead, all he had wanted to do was take him and hold him. The rest of the afternoon was a blur really, the anxiety that his one and only true friend was possibly going to die had kept him so on edge. Then to top it off, when he wanted to help his true love, to comfort her, help clean her up, they had kicked him out, told him to go clean up. He looked at Wolfy again, watching his chest rise and fall. Moving forward he stood close, and reaching out his hand he stroked the wolf, the action helped to calm his thoughts. He really did love Jessie, she was everything he wanted in a woman, strong, independent, intelligent, caring, and passionate... Tom's thoughts were interrupted by Joe yelling. Then Miss Jessie came charging into the room, completely ignoring him, pushing him aside and kneeling close to the wolf's head.

She was desperate and upset and as much as he wanted, really wanted to comfort her right now, he could see that there was something important and intimate happening. She threaded her fingers through his mane and called to him in a desperate voice that tore at Tom's heart. "Please my love, my mate, come back to me." What was she talking about? He was just an animal, not a person, not a lover or a mate.

He watched as the creature and human looked at each other, whilst voices rose from downstairs and the sound of heavy footsteps started to climb. Then the most amazing and terrifying thing happened. The animal on the bed began to move, his extremities contorted and shifted, changing until limbs began to appear. Tom could not tear his eyes away until finally the creature was no more and was instead a very large, very well built man. Tom stepped back, confusion clouding his mind. What was happening? How? Why? Was this the same creature that cuddled with him, that he had saved all those years ago?

Unable to understand, he quietly moved from the room, running to his own. He shut the door and sank to the floor. No, no, no, no... All this time, he had no chance at all. How could he compete with a God-like creature that embodied all of Miss Jessie's passions? He wasn't muscular like this man, although he was taller, he didn't embody strength and protection like Henry could. At that moment he almost caved wanting to give in to his tears. He was interrupted when he heard the sound of Jessie sobbing. Groaning, he stood and stepped back out into the hall, no matter how inadequate he felt he still believed Jessie needed him.

Tom listened to the Sheriff as he slowly approached the pair. "I am truly sorry to have to tell you this horrible news." Reaching Jessie he saw she was overwhelmed. He pulled her into his arms, feeling her body shake against him as he addressed the older man.

"Thank you, sheriff."

The family friend looked at Tom with a frown on his face. "What happened to you, Tom? Your face looks like it took a beating."

Tom hesitated for a moment then grimaced. "Dad didn't like me hanging out with Miss Jessie, you know what he is like about wolf lovers."

The sheriff nodded, accentuating it with a rough humph, "Well, you tell him if he does it again he will be in for some trouble from me, ok? If you want you can make a statement now and I can charge him for physical assault."

He looked at the man for a moment, thinking of all the things he could say. Could he really charge his dad? Could he make the choice to get him locked up? But then what about the ranch? without Boyd, Mom would struggle to keep it together. No, he needed to work out a way to stand up to his dad and hopefully he would listen this time. "Thank you, but I'll give him another chance. Maybe he will come around."

The Sheriff said goodbye then left. Joe and Dillon came slowly up the stairs with questions on their faces. Jessie sniffed and smiled at the three of them, then together the four walked slowly back into the room. They all stood looking at the large figure on the bed. Tom almost laughed out loud when he heard Joe mumble under his breath, "I knew it."

Knew what? Knew that Wolfy was, he guessed, a shapeshifter? A werewolf? Those things were in fairy tales and fantasy books, not in real life.

Tom watched Jessie kneel by the man. It pained him to see them so affectionate as she caressed his head. His heart crumbled more when the man seemed to not know who she was. "Um..mm I..I'm sorry miss that felt really nice, but I don't... I um, I'm not sure who..." Sadness enveloped his mind, Tom didn't know what he was grieving more as a stray tear ran down his cheek, the unmistakable loss of his love Jessie, or the loss of his best friend Wolfy.

"It's ok, do you remember your name?"

The man eyed Jessie his look scrunching up and then relaxing. "It's Henry."

Jessie seemed happy with that answer as she continued, "And do you know what year it is?"

Once again his face furrowed in concentration. Silence filled the room until his rough voice responded. "Umm, I'm not sure. Where are my family? We were travelling together, they shouldn't be far away."

Oh no, what family? Tom had seen no other wolves in the area, in fact, the last wolves he had seen were... It couldn't be.

Jessie's voice interrupted his flow of thought. "It's ok sweetheart. You need to rest right now. We can talk about that later, ok?" She returned her hand to his hair and Henry's body seemed to relax.

Tom turned away the scene, it was almost too much to bear. He silently began to leave, hoping no one would notice when he heard Henry's voice call, "Please stay."

Surprised he turned back hope in hope that Henry had remembered him, but once again his hopes were dashed as he realised he had been speaking to Jessie. She patted his head then walked over to Joe and Dillion. Feeling like the odd man out, he shuffled his feet, kind of listening to the conversation.

"I'm going to be ok. I know that you all have questions, but how about you go grocery shopping, and gets some clothes. Do you think you can guess the sizing, Joe?"

Joe seemed to be accepting this all too well, and it seemed Dillon wasn't weirded out either. Giggling Joe responded, "Sure thing Jessie. You were right, he is a bit shorter than Tom, but his legs look almost the same size. Well at least in length. Maybe get him in the PJ bottoms I got and text me if you need a different size."

She nodded and turned back to the room, Tom stood there not sure what he was supposed to do until Joe grabbed his arm. He gave Tom a look that brooked no argument, before dragging him out the door.

The car ride was full of Joe's excited chatter. "I can't believe it, I mean I can believe it, in fact, I guessed it. I even told Jessie, but he couldn't change at that time. But Jessie didn't even flinch, she expected it, so she must have believed it."

Joe's voice droned on in the background, with Dillions occasional "Mfph". Tom looked out the window and tried to understand, tried to comprehend. All that time, the tender licks, the cuddles, and playful games, all that time a man, a grown large man was in the wolf's body. What did that mean? What was he to Jessie? How did Tom now fit in their dynamic? He had hoped he would be Jessie's saviour, but Henry was. He had wanted to be Jessie's love, but it was really obvious that even though he did not remember Jessie, they were meant to be. So where did that leave him?