War Dog

Chapter 68

My eyes land on the little face peeking up over Wolfs shoulder and my heart plummets. Damn, tiny little thing, the ears pop up in interest as Wolf comes through the door finding me. My eyes glance to Wolfs expression and damn. Double fuck. The fierce expression in her eyes tells me where going to have a hell of a lot of trouble on our hands if anyone tries to take the little girl away from her. She whispers kind words to the little girl and assurances. Encourages the little one to keep her eyes down hiding in Wolfs neck and shoulders. The little striped tail behind the little girl Wolf called Lilly twitched anxiously. The colouring on the fur of the ears and tail were distinctly tiger coloured and I wondered if that was the DNA she'd been infused with. 

I bought up the rear, ensuring no one came up behind us, but by now the place was eerily silent and alarm bells began ringing in my head. Despite that, we managed to make it back to the helo safely, calling in Laswell for Ben to meet us at the drop point. I watched as Wolf spent the time with the girl asking questions and making her laugh with silly little jokes, and I was reminded that she was used to being the big sister looking after her brothers. If her brothers had been years younger than her, this is how I imagined she'd be with them. My heart ached for my own losses. Instead of laughter and joking with my brother we spent the time hiding from our father. I remember my body protecting his more than once. The scars twinge faintly as if they too were jealous of the interaction I was watching in front of me. I shake my head clear of the thoughts, instead focusing on Wolf. 

I smile softly as I watch her expression light up enthusiastically as Lilly tells her a story about her pet cat. It was the same enthusiasm she showed when interacting with her brothers but the wattage had been turned up a thousandfold. The little girl was animated and active. Her eyes bright as she glowed under the attention that Wolf gave her. A pain zinged through my chest as I looked over her sunken features, skin was sallow and I wondered how long she had been caged. Despite that however it seemed like she would bounce back fine. 

A thought hit me, and my expression pinched. Her parents. What were we going to do about her parents? Fuck. She was so young, we'd have to relocate the parents. If her parents were even alive. Fuck those bastards. My hands clenched at my side as I imagined this girls entire future had been upended by some sick bastards who wanted to experiment on her. I would be killing every single operative involved in this scheme. 

I caught Wolfs eyes flickering to me, concern etched on her expression for a split second before she turned back to Lilly. Lilly's ears were pinned back as she scented the air, her own focus turning to me, eyes screwed up in disgust. Wolf watched her and chuckled softly, the sound pure delight. 

"Don't worry Lilly, you'll get used to the scents. Do you know what he's feeling right now?" She asked gently. To my gratitude, Lilly shook her head. 

"It smells... spicy. It burns."

"Yeah, Ghost here has lots of strong emotions like that. I know some people who will help you learn how to tell what's what."

I cough, clearing my throat drawing Wolfs attention and shake my head, meaning clear. No promises. Her eyes squint, teeth set jaw locked in. I was right. God help anyone who decided to go against her in this matter. That little girl had just gotten a guardian angel in the form of a tornado of fur whose sibling instincts had claimed her as hard as her Wolf ones surely hard. I didn't think even I would have a hairs breadth of a chance at putting Lilly anywhere close to harm. If push came to shove, Wolf would disobey every order I gave. 

I geld her eye contact and decided that this was not a battle I wished to fight with the fiesty woman unless I wished to shoot her on the spot. I gave the slightest of nods and she relaxed instantly, going back to Lilly and assuring her everything was fine. Lilly had picked up on the undercurrents of tension, but had no idea what was really happening.