Page 74 of What a Wolf Wants
The home’s front and back porch lights gave the patrolman enough light to head toward, though Ethan heard the officer trip a few times in the woods over fallen tree branches and roots sticking up out of the ground and swear just as many times.
They didn’t find anyone, but Ethan smelled Kroner’s scent on the deck and around some of the windows. Damn it to hell. Ethan wanted more than anything to return to Charlene and make sure she remained safe.
Patrol cars gathered at the house and Jenkins asked, “Where’s the homeowner who reported the intruder?”
“She hid in the woods. I’m going to get her.” To Noah, Ethan said, “It’s Kroner’s cologne on the deck and around the windows.” Ethan had to alert Noah so that he would be able to catalog Kroner’s scent before the police all converged on the house and the scents would be all mixed up. “Let’s check out the place and then I’ll go get Charlene.” Ethan had to grab her clothes so she could shift and dress before she returned to the house. He was sure Kroner hadn’t gotten in, but they had to make absolutely certain.
Noah could fill the police in on who Kroner was and why he might be sniffing around Charlene’s place.
Ethan went into the bedroom and checked it out, but he hadn’t smelled any sign of Kroner in the house. He got some running clothes for Charlene and a pair of sneakers. He slipped them in a backpack and said to Noah, “I’ll be right back.” He headed out of the house.
He walked into the woods while the officers were examining the grounds around the house and deck. A couple of the officers had even descended the stairs from the deck to the beach to see if anyone had gone down there.
“Hey, it’s just me,” Ethan called out to Charlene.
She was soon coming out of hiding to greet him, nuzzling his legs, sniffing his crotch in a fun-loving mated way. Hecrouched down and hugged her. “God, I’m glad you’re okay. It was Kroner but he had to have left.” Ethan set the backpack down and unzipped it for her. She glanced around and seeing no one, she shifted and began pulling on her clothes.
Then he held her close, hating that he’d put her in this danger. Well, Renault had, but it would have only been a matter of time before Kroner learned that Ethan could have been staying there with Charlene.
“Hey, it’s not your fault,” she said. “I know you believe you’re the one responsible for Kroner coming to the house. I’m sure that Renault was. It looked like you called in reinforcements.”
“We had to. We were speeding to reach you and got pulled over.”
“Oh, great.” Charlene took hold of his hand, and they headed back to the house.
Once they arrived there, Charlene smelled the scents but there were so many around her place because of all the policemen there that she wouldn’t be able to isolate Kroner’s scent if he should return and she had a chance to smell it. At least he was glad Noah knew it now, having caught the scent before the policeman muddied the waters, so to speak. Noah looked relieved to see she was fine too.
The police took her statement, and she described a man of Kroner’s height and build and then they left.
“What do you want to do about the sleeping arrangements?” Noah asked.
Charlene and Ethan looked at him.
“Okay, you know you can’t stay at your house. It’s beencompromised. Kroner or one of his buddies is bound to return at some time or another. Do you want to stay with me at the DEA house? Or maybe Charlene should stay with the pack at Leidolf and Cassie’s ranch until we take this guy down,” Noah said.
“I’m not going to leave Oyster Bay,” Charlene said, sounding annoyed that Noah was acting like she didn’t have any choice in the matter.
“Noah’s right,” Ethan said.
“I could stay at the house if you want me to keep an eye on things,” Noah said.
“Then if Kroner returned, you would be the one who collared him?” Ethan asked.
“Yeah, it would look good for me.”
Ethan laughed.
Charlene didn’t look happy about it. “Okay, how about—if you are both worried about me—I stay at the DEA house and the two of you stay here and you canbothtake Kroner down if he makes a move on the house again.”
Ethan didn’t like that idea at all. He wanted to be with Charlene to ensure her safety.
“Or, we can all stay at our house and you both can take him down while I sleep.” Charlene smiled at them.
Ethan loved her and smiled. “Okay, rather than us leave here and possibly compromise the DEA house, you and I can take a room at the hotel that you stayed at before, Charlene. So can Noah. We’ll stay away from the DEA house for a while, but we can put surveillance on your house or even be there later. Let’s pack some bags.”
“Okay. I’ve got spare toiletries you can have,” Charlene said to Noah. “You’ll have to get some spare clothes until this is resolved if you don’t return to the DEA house, but you can have one of my bags to use.”
“Thanks,” Noah said.
