The doctor tested the shaver by switching it on and taking a close look at the blades. Then he glanced at the ranger. “The wolf will live. I’ll remove the buckshot, close up her wounds, and give her some medication, but I’ll have to take her with me so I can monitor her healing for a few days.”

The ranger did his best to remain calm and keep his face expressionless. “I’d prefer you didn’t,” he said.

“You want the animal to recover, don’t you?” the doctor asked.

“Of course.”

“She can’t be released into the forest until I’m sure her wounds have sufficiently healed.”

“I understand,” said the ranger.

“Then she should board with me for a few days.”

“No!” said the ranger. His tone was firm and unwavering. “I have pens behind the garage. The wolf will stay here. You can visit as often as you need to.”

The doctor’s eyes narrowed. “One day,” he said, “you’ll tell me what’s going on here.”

The ranger said nothing.

“One day,” the doctor repeated, “but not today.”

The ranger let out a sigh.

The doctor returned his attention to the wolf and switched on the shaver.

Ranger Brock moved slowly over to the window and looked out.

The werewolf was still there, barely illuminated by the porch light, patiently waiting for its mate to be well again.

* * *

“Should we go out there?” Tora said, looking out the living-room window at the werewolf, just beyond the edge of their backyard. The ranger had asked them to leave the garage while the doctor worked.

“It would be neat to get to know it,” Harlan said.

“No!” Noble said. “The ranger was clear…we’re not to go near it.”

“Why not?” asked Argus. “It’s one of us.”

Noble looked at his bigger brother, wondering what was wrong with him these days. He’d ignored the problems he was having in math class, defied the ranger’s decision forbidding them from running through the forest, and now he questioned the ranger’s wisdom about keeping them away from this new werewolf.

“No, it’s not one of us.” Noble said. “It’s a wild animal. The ranger was clear on that point.”

“If it’s so wild, then how did it know to bring the injured wolf here?” Argus said. “To our house, of all the houses on the mountain?”

Noble had wondered that himself. “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe the animals understand this is a place where a good man lives. Or maybe becoming a werewolf made him that much smarter.” He threw up his hands in frustration. “Who knows. The only thing that matters is that the ranger asked us not to go out there. And I happen to agree with him.”

“Really?” said Argus.