Fighter

Three

"Oh my God," Lowell said, stepping around Gracie to see what she was gawking at. Connor followed. "Jesus Christ," he muttered under his breath. Both boys walked up to the table, tentatively laying their hands on the sleeping wolf.

"This is appalling. I've never seen anything even close to this," Gracie said, walking around to the side of the table where the wolf was facing.

She placed a gentle hand on his muzzle and another on his bandaged shoulder, looking down at him with angry, tear-filled eyes. Connor and Lowell each wore equally horrified and angry expressions. This was a disgrace beyond comprehension to them. It was against Lupus Lege's very foundations to treat a wolf in such a way as this.

"If you think his physical condition is bad, you should see his mental condition. He's as rogue as a rogue can be," Thomas said quietly.

Gracie's expression reflected her feelings. Compassion for the wolf rushed through her and a need to save him, to heal him consumed her. It was stronger than anything she'd ever felt. With what Thomas was telling her, he was lost. Driven insane by loneliness. It was her duty to euthanize him. But she couldn't. She just couldn't do that to him. Something inside her was begging her not to. Nashoba was whimpering.

"Prepare the euthanization, Thomas," Lowell said.

Gracie snapped her gaze to him with a growl, her body hovering protectively over the rogue's. "No," she snapped. "We are not killing him. He can be saved."

Conner and Lowell jerked in surprise. They stared at her with similar expressions of shock and confusion. "How do you know that, Gracie?" Connor asked.

She looked down at sleeping rogue, running her hand over his head. She smiled, knowing her actions were right. "I just do," she replied.

Lowell and Connor sighed, looking at the hopeful expression on her face. They doubted she would be able to pull him back over the edge and save his mind from the insanity it was shrouded in. They doubted he would heal. But they did know that if anyone could do something so miraculous, it was Gracie. The best healer on the North American continent. "Alright, Gracie. We'll take him back to the pack. For the pack's safety, and for yours, I hope you're right," Connor said.

Gracie stepped back, but she watched as Lowell draped a towel over his arms and picked the wolf up. He made sure to wrap the towel around him. He was already injured and it was the dead of winter. The last thing he needed was to get sick.

"Careful," Gracie chirped when Lowell headed out the door with him in his arms. She didn't know exactly what it was about that wolf that made her so adamant about saving him, but she had a few theories. All of which were ones she didn't really want to think about right now, as they would only lead her to get angry.

She took a step towards the door but stopped and turned back to Thomas. She offered him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Thomas. You are a valued ally to my pack. You've saved many, many lives for us," she said, shaking his hand.

Thomas nodded at her, shaking her hand as well. "You're welcome, Gracie. Thank you for trusting me with such an important secret," the veterinarian replied. He picked up a bag from the counter and handed it to her. "This is everything he'll need. He's very malnourished and unhealthy, so make sure he eats and puts on some weight. I had a feeling you wouldn't be killing this one," he said with a smile.

Gracie smiled back at him and took the bag. Offering him one last goodbye, she headed back out into the parking lot. Conner was just closing the back of the vehicle and he and Lowell turned to face her. Conner's eyes were sympathetic, but she could see the skepticism he was trying to mask. He didn't think this wolf could be saved. One look at Lowell told her he didn't either. She frowned at them.