Why the wolf was here at all, Toni didn’t know. Maybe she didn’t want to know. All Toni did know was that her life was getting weird.

The wolf placed Toni’s butt on the stainless steel kitchen island so that she was sitting up. “So what hurts the worst?” he asked.

“Shoulder.”

“That’s what I thought. Because it’s not really in its socket.”

Toni sighed. “Great.”

“The dog is doing well, though,” one of the wild dogs pointed out.

“And that’s what’s important!” Jackie cheered, but when both her children gawked at her again, she quickly added, “You’re a hero! My daughter, the hero!”

A blond female wild dog pushed her way closer through the other dogs until she stood in front of Toni.

“Wolf is right,” she said in a thick Russian accent, “about this shoulder. But we can fix. Hold her, wolf.”

“Now wait a—” Toni protested.

The wolf scrambled up behind her, both legs around her hips, hanging well past her own long legs, and his arms around her waist, holding her tight.

“Got her!” he announced

The wild dog pulled her fist back. “I make this quick, jackal.”

“Hey! I don’t want you—owwwwwwwwwwwwww! You Russian cow!”

“See?” the Russian noted. “She’s better already. Who knew jackals were so tough?”

Coop leaned in, her brother cringing in sympathy. “Are you okay?”

“No!” Toni snarled.

“Make her sling,” the Russian ordered the others. She looked at Toni. “You’ll be fine tomorrow. I’m impressed you don’t cry like sniveling cat.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to.”

“All that matters is that you don’t. I loathe weakness. Like I loathe cats.” Then without another word, the wild dog walked out of the room.

“I’m weirdly freaked out,” Coop muttered, “and turned on all at the same time.”

Toni nodded. “I know.” Glancing down, Toni said, “Why are you still holding me?” she asked the wolf.

“I’m giving you my invaluable support, and my immense charm.”

“More like your immense bullshit.”

“Now, now, darlin’,” he teased, annoying her more. “No need to get so nasty just because you’re confused by your feelings for me.”

“I do not have feelings for you, other than pity for your mental illness.”

The wolf laughed while Coop suddenly raised his brows at her, and Toni shook her head at her brother. Tragically, she recognized that expression. Recognized it all too well.

“Don’t even—” Toni began.

“I’m Cooper,” Coopannounced to the wolf, grinning at him. “The younger brother. Brother. Not boyfriend.”

Horrified, Toni snapped, “Cooper, stop it!”

“How y’all doin’? I’m Ricky Lee Reed. So glad you’re her brother. I’d hate to have to fight you for her.”

“No worries there,” Coop volunteered. “My big sis is very single and not even thirty yet.”

“That is nice to hear.”

“And you already seem to know my very single sister.”

“I will kill you,” Toni warned. “I’m not afraid to.”

“I’m glad to know she’s single,” the wolf said, “but she’s playing hard to get while stalking me all at the same time.”

“I am not stalking you.”

“I feel like a little ol’ gazelle calf without its momma.”

Toni’s eyes crossed at that pathetic visual.

“Are you interested?” her idiot brother asked. “Because as I said, she’s very single, but she only deserves the best. I won’t hand her off to just anybody.”

“Hand me off . . . what is wrong with you?” Toni demanded of her sibling.

“I’m trying to help.”

“I don’t need help.”

“I tried to chat her up,” the wolf explained, “but she used y’all’s other siblings to confuse me.”

“Oh, the ‘are you my daddy’ move? Yeah. She’s been using that one for years.’

“You both are aware that I’m sitting here, right? In front of you?”

“She had a bad breakup,” Coop went on. “About a year ago. I was hoping she’d get over it sooner.”

“I can help with that.”

“That’s what I thought. I’ve had a few She-lion benefactors over the years, and they all say that wolves are great for that sort of thing. The casual hook-up, I mean.”

Toni looked around the kitchen. “Am I dreaming? Tell me I’m dreaming this conversation.”

“We’re real good for that until we find mates of our own,” the wolf explained.

“See, that’s what I’m thinking. Because her ex . . . not worth all this angst. Our father, who is a really great guy, still calls that man the ‘pimple on the cock of humanity.’ ”

“Fathers love me. I’ve got this winning smile.” And Toni didn’t have to turn around to know the wolf was showing that smile to her idiot brother. “Perfect Southern manners. I never cuss. I rarely get sloppy drunk and that’s only around my Pack if I do. And I treat my momma right at all times, and not just ’cause I’m afraid of her. Even though I kind of am.”