I gritted my teeth and bit back a cry as the Jeep bounded over the uneven road. My leg was on fire, every jolt sending fresh waves of agony through me. As we finally stopped in front of a huge log cabin, I let out a shaking breath. The wolf and the little boy—Didi and Ken—jumped from the Jeep and ran across the yard. Didi was barking and yipping, running circles around Ken as the boy giggled. It was a bizarre sight, but I was too exhausted to question it.

The memories I'd buried years ago rushed back when I'd seen the wolf chasing Ken. I hadn't been able to...