Wild at Heart (Wild, #2)

by K.A. Tucker

“Not without you needin’ a few dozen stitches in that pretty skin of yours. That there ain’t no friendly mutt. Besides, even if we could get the trap off, that leg is so mangled, I doubt he could keep it.” I study the trap again, meant for an animal at least twice the size—its giant metal teeth gripping flesh without mercy, cutting through tendon and muscle, anchoring into bone. I cringe with the thought of it clamped over my own leg. “What the hell is a bear trap doing out here, anyway? A person could have stepped in this!” “Who knows how long it’s been there. I remember Phil havin’ a bear issue a few years back, so maybe this was him. I don’t see any fresh bait anywhere.” I crouch, and with a tentative hand, reach for the nearby chain. The dog bares its teeth and emits a grating growl, warning me back. Muriel’s right—I’ll only end up getting hurt trying to help it. I stand, sighing with frustration. “So, what do we do?” A click sounds that raises the hairs on the back of my neck. It’s a sound I’ve heard only a handful of times, when Jonah loads his rifle. “What are you doing?” I ask warily, cold dread seeping into my stomach as I watch Muriel approaching with her gun. I know exactly what she’s about to do. She gives me a blank look. “I’m puttin’ the thing out of its misery.” “You can’t just shoot it!”