“I don’t think so, but honestly, I can’t remember. Was it supposed to turn on?”

“If the wire came loose while you were driving, then yeah.”

I don’t say the rest out loud, but I can’t help thinking it.

If the light didn’t turn on, that means the wire came loose after the truck was shut off.

And the only way I can see that happening is if someone popped the hood and took a wrench to the battery.

“I guess it did then. I’m still getting used to Minnie’s driveway. My eyes are usually more focused on the road than my dashboard.” Zoey shrugs, the light moving with the motion.

She’s probably right.

Yet, for some reason, the idea of someone messing with Zoey’s truck won’t leave my mind as I climb back onto my bike and rev it to life.

Keep her safe. Protect her.

The thoughts come through clear and in a distinctly growling tone.

My wolf is more present than I’ve ever felt before.

I wonder if that’s something I should be worried about.

7

ZOEY

“Hello!” I call out, bending at a strange angle to stick my head into the hardware shop while leaving the rest of my body outside.

“Hello?” A middle-aged white woman with thick, dark hair, pulled back from a beautifully angular face, steps out from behind the register, approaching me with a tilt to her brow.

The expression looks familiar, but I don’t remember ever meeting her before. She’s not one of the Sip ’N’ Stitch gals, but maybe she was in The Wild Rabbit last night.

“Hi there. I would love to come in your store and spend more money than I probably should, but I need to ask you a question.”

That smirking curve to her lips also tickles at my memory. “And what’s that?”

I shift to the side so she can see who’s lingering behind me. Bruce sits on the sidewalk, looking like the well-behaved mammoth he is. “Does your store allow dogs inside?”

The woman grins wide. “Seeing as how I’m the owner and I make all the rules, I say yes. We have dogs in here all the time. As long as he doesn’t chew on anything important, we’ll get along just fine.”

What a relief. Bruce does not do well with being left alone in the car. Alone in the house? Perfectly fine. Someone in the car with him? No problem. But the minute I shut the driver’s door and walk away, he sets to howling.

I’m not sure I’ve heard a more pathetic sound. Passersby always think he’s wounded or one step away from dying.

But no. He’s just dramatic.

“Thank you.” I smile at the woman as I open the door wider and pull my overgrown puppy in after me.