JARVIS was nrammed to panic, but if he had been, this situation might have triggered it. His sensors detected an anomaly—an enormous, wolf-like creature standing in the middle of the living room. More importantly, Liam y unscious at the beast's feet, missing a hand.

  Even more baffling was the fact that Liam had appeared iony's home without setting off a single arm or alert. Tony had security systems so advahat even a fly couldn't sneak in unnoticed—yet here Liam was, gravely injured, without so much as a warning.

  "Sir," JARVIS spoke through the speakers. "I believe you should e to the living room immediately. Liam is in critical dition."

  "Define 'critical dition,' JARVIS." Tony asked and started walking fast. He had questions of how Liam was able to appear again at his pce without the knowledge of anyone. Last time it was the door, but this time it was inside his house. Though he wasn't angry of how Liam was able to appear, he was curious.

  "He is unscious, missing a hand, and currently apanied by an unknowy resembling an oversized wolf." JARVIS said.

  "What the hell do you mean by missing limb and 'oversized wolf'?" Tony was now running up the stairs.

  "I am uo determis exact cssification, sir, but it is siderably rger than any known is lupus species. It appears to be guarding Liam."

  "Right. Of course, because why wouldn't Liam bring home some kind of goddamn direwolf?" Tony muttered. "Where's Yinsen?"

  "Doctor Yinsen is i. I have alerted him as well."

  By the time Tony reached the living room, Yinsen was already approag from the hallway. her of them repared for the sight before them.

  A massive wolf, dark-furred with pierg golden eyes, stood over Liam. Tony immediately stopped in his tracks, holding up a hand as Yinsen followed suit. Fenrir let out a guttural growl.

  "Whoa, whoa, easy there, Cujo," Tony said. "Nobody's here to hurt your—uh, owner? Partner? Whatever Liam is to you. We just o make sure he doesn't bleed out all over my very expensive floor." Though he pined, he felt like his blood was boiling. He had already know that Liam was going through some kind of trials and Liam had assured him that it was safe.

  If a missing limb was his definition of safe, then he and Liam o have a deep talk about ethics. And Tony, even though wao help didn't know if he should summon the Iron Mage suit and take this wolf down, because Liam needed immediate help.

  Fenrir's growl didn't stop, its gaze locked onto the twers. Yiook a step forward, but the wolf bared its teeth, ears fttening in a clear warning.

  "That's a no on stepping closer," Yinsen muttered "You have any ideas? Because I'm fresh out. And Liam needs immediate help. The bleeding isn't too mud I am fearing the worst."

  "Listen, Fluffy, I get it. Liam's yuy. But right now, he's down an important limb, and if you want him to keep existing, yon us help him."

  Fenrir's snarl deepened.

  "Oh, for the love of—look, I know Liam, okay? He's my pain-in-the-ass friend. You think I'd let anything happen to him?" Tony said.

  "Tony, it's an animal, you don't o expin too much." Yinsen whispered at Tony.

  Fenrir remaiense, but its growling softened slightly.

  "Liam wouldn't be dumb enough to keep a pet that doesn't trust him, so if he trusts me, you trust me too," Tony said. "We o stop the bleeding and patch him up before he wakes up and starts being all broody about it."

  The wolf let out a long exhale through its hen—after an agonizing moment—stepped aside.

  "Finally," Tony muttered, kneeling beside Liam. He turo Yinsen. "Alright, doc, let's get to work." Yinsen immediately went to check Liam's pulse, assessing his dition.

  "He's stable for now, but how is he stable with a missing hand, but we need proper medical equipment. We should move him to the hospital." Yinsen said.

  "Yeah, not sure how well that's gonna go over with Cujo here. I don't think we expin it to the hospital. Get him first AID. I will ask others t the equipment required for the surgery." Tony said. Fenrir didn't move, its eyes watg every motion they made while Tony asked JARVIS to call.

  "Stark. What is it?"

  "Liam's hurt. And when I say 'hurt,' I mean 'he's down a damn hand and bleeding all over my furniture.'"

  There ause before Fury spoke again, his voice hard. "What happened?"

  "Not sure. He just dropped in with a giant wolf that looks like it could take down a tank. Also, said wolf nearly took my head off when I tried to help. So I will send you a list of surgical equipment since we won't be able to expin to a hospital." Tony said.

  "I'll be there with everything. I'll bring Romanoff and Barters, too."

  "Yeah, great, just what I need—more people in my house with opinions. Get here fast."

  Yinsen nodded, already w on stopping the bleeding. Tony gnced up at Fenrir again, shaking his head.

  "Liam, buddy, you better wake up soon and expin what the hell is going on and whose heads I o pop?"

  Liam jolted awake with a sharp intake of breath. He was expeg to be itlefield but instead he found himself at a well-lit, pristine room.

  As his vision adjusted, he noticed someone slumped in a chair beside his bed. Happy Hogan, half-asleep, snored lightly with his arms crossed. The slight movement must have triggered something because Happy suddenly snorted awake, rubbing his face before his eyes nded on Liam.

  "Oh, you're up," Happy became incredibly aware. "You're up! Hang on, I gotta call everyone."

  Meanwhile, a blur of fur and movement uself onto the bed. Fenrir, who had beeing nearby, wasted no time in bounding onto Liam's p. Liam was very relieved to see Fenrir fine and he even noticed that there was no wound in his belly.