Chapter 5

Hetty

I wake up to the sun in my face. I enjoy the peace. Not being poked, prodded, or tested. I can't remember the last time I was actually alone like this. Although,it feels extra lonely without Honour to talk to.

Eventually Leo brings out a raw chicken breast and steamed carrots. Still better than plain oatmeal all day everyday. He doesn't really say anything and shortly after I hear the jeep's engine turn over. He must be headed to work, I wonder what he does. Dad was Beta so he didn't really have another 9 to 5 job, I can't really think of what jobs a human would have other than the ones I've seen on TV. Jess is obviously some sort of veterinarian, and with these large enclosures, chances are she's a wildlife vet.

Not long after Leo is gone does Jess come out to check me again. She rubs a hand over our spine, our legs, and around our head and neck. Probably to check for parasites. I'd honestly be surprised if I didn't have a tick somewhere under all Honour's fur. Her hand stops on the little lump on my foreleg. "I'll grab the scanner to see what info we can get from this tag." I just watch her. They don't seem to take me responding to them very well.

Soon she comes back with a little device that she holds over the lump. It beeps and she looks at the lcd screen. "Hmm, reader error. Weird." She seems at a loss for what to do next. Honestly? Same. "Maybe if we take the tag out we can get something from it?" She rubs her thumb along her bottom lip as she thinks. "I'll go get some stuff and be back." She slips out the gate as she walks toward the shed. I wonder how long it will take for Krauft to come after me.

She comes back with electric shears, a sterile pad, and a plastic package that I assume has a scalpel and forceps. Thanks you Grey's Anatomy for teaching me medical terms. "Ok, this might hurt, but I'll try to be as gentle as possible ok?" I press our nose to Jess's cheek to share my strength and approval. She gives a single nod as she begins to shave our foreleg and sterilize the skin surrounding the lump there. She makes eye contact with me, "Ok, a little cut now." I whimper as she slices and digs in to pull out the little capsule with the tag. "Alrighty, let's wrap this up." She smiles at me as she places some gauze and wraps it with that stretchy wrapping that sticks to itself. They never mentioned what that's called on Grey's.

"Okay, hopefully we'll be able to get some information off this so we can either get your full medical history, or we can share our records with whomever placed this tracker." She stands up. The cup holding the tag in one hand and a bundle of trash and tools in the other. "I'll get you another meal soon." Her genuine smile stirres something in me. A sense of belonging and an urge to protect.

I go back to enjoying my solitude and rest. A few hours later, when I'm just to the point where I'm ready to not be alone, Jess comes back out with a folding chair, a jar of peanut butter, a bowl, and two spoons. "Little bean wants some peanut butter, would you like to sit and eat with me?"

She unfolds the chair and sits before opening the jar to scoop out a glob of peanut butter and plopping it into the bowl. I get down from the cot and sit as she sets the bowl down in front of us. I'm not a huge peanut butter fan, but I am hungry. I press our nose to Jess's knee as thanks before licking the bowl clean. "I haven't been able to get any information off the tag. It's encrypted, beyond my capabilities of decrypting, which is basically none." I just look at Jess as she talks. I lick over and over in an effort to remove the peanut butter from our tongue. This is why I'm not a fan. "Makes me wonder if you're some government wolfdog hybrid or something. Don't know what they'd do with a wolfdog, but I'm sure they would breed one if they found the need for one."

She starts rambling about governments keeping secrets. The government's not the only organization that can keep secrets. "Maybe you just belong to someone with too much time on their hands. There's lots of licensing and training that goes into owning a wolfdog so they probably have too much money on hand too." I roll our eyes. Her mind would be blown if she knew the truth.

"Either way, I'm guessing whoever is responsible for you will show up soon enough. That tag is way too expensive and encrypted to not have a tracker in it too." I rest our head on her lap and whimper. I hope Krauft sends Carla, she's much nicer and wouldn't do anything rash towards Leo or Jess.

Jess stiffens and looks at me in confusion as she places her hand on top of our head. She relaxes as she lets out a sigh and strokes us. It feels nice and comforting. "What's wrong?" She seems to be lost in thought for a few moments. Time seems to stop as we sit there, our head on Jess's lap as she strokes our fur and ponders about something. That is until I hear the rumble of a vehicle approaching