Page 87 of What a Wolf Wants
“Put your hands on the roof of your car,” Maverick said.
The guy reluctantly did so, and then Maverick approached him with his gun pointed at him just in case the driver tried something.
Charlene came running around the other side of the car and growled at the driver, a man of about thirty, wearing a scraggly beard, his eyes heavily hooded, his hair black as coal. He glowered at her, and she knew if he’d still had his gun, he would have shot her.
She was so mad that these men would come to take Ethan and her down that she really wanted to bite him for it. But she was there in case the guy ran. She’d knock him down before he could get very far and act as a deterrent in case he attacked Maverick or did anything else that was rash.
Maverick got hold of one of the driver’s wrists, but as soon as he did, the driver tried to get to Maverick’s gun. Not hesitating to protect Maverick, Charlene leapt at the driver and, with her full wolf’s force, knocked the man onto the ground on his back. She immediately went for his throat.Don’t bite him, don’t draw blood, she told herself.
Maverick said, “You brought this on yourself. If I gave herthe order, she would rip out your throat and I would give her a big hug and she would wag her tail for the praise.”
She wanted to laugh at Maverick.
“Okay, you can release him now,” Maverick said to Charlene. “As soon as the wolf releases you, you will flip over onto your stomach and put your hands behind your back, nice and cooperative-like. If not, we can go right back to doing this.”
The man was sweating like crazy, and he looked like he was scared to death. It was dark out here and all he could probably make out was a big animal with glowing eyes, and the menacing growl she was making as she slobbered on his exposed throat.
“Okay,” the driver said, sounding like he was trying to be tough, but he croaked out the words, his heart pounding furiously.
So was Charlene’s. She had taken down several criminals over the years, but never in her wolf coat. She hadn’t exactly been trained for this, though she supposed no wolf shifter would be. She didn’t want to accidentally cut him with her teeth and mix her saliva with his blood. She would have to kill him, or they would have to take him into the pack. They wouldn’t want a criminal in their ranks. Maybe he would turn out okay, with the right guidance. But what if he was a bad wolf too? Then they would have to terminate him, and it would be all her fault. Not to mention he could have a family and that would be double the trouble.
“You can let go of him now,” Maverick said in a way that sounded like he appreciated her help, not that he wasordering her about like a master to a dog. She was surprised Maverick had called her a wolf and not a police dog or wolf dog even. Maybe to put the fear into the guy, but she could smell how scared he was.
Then she growled again, held on, not letting go immediately. She wanted the driver to know that she was a little…wild at heart and that she had to decide this for herself. Then she released him. Before the driver could roll over on his stomach like Maverick had told him to do, Maverick was flipping him over and getting the ties on his wrists. Then he pulled him off the ground and headed for the house.
“Good job,” Maverick said to Charlene.
She howled for good measure, letting the driver know she was a wolf, or part wolf, if he was inclined to believe it. Then she saw the blue flashing lights of police cars coming to put these guys in jail. She stayed behind the driver, stepping on his heels a couple of times so he knew she was right there, making sure he didn’t try to run off.
As soon as they got closer to the house, she melted into the woods. Maverick handed the driver over to the police and gave them the driver’s gun, explained who he was, and joined the others in the house.
“You run the reindeer ranch with your brother,” one of the officers said, smiling. “My kids love how you have them displayed at Christmastime at different locations. We would never have gotten to see them where your ranch is located. They loved the red wolves you brought too. Sweetest wolves ever.”
The driver looked at Maverick with a scowl on his face.If he hadn’t believed Charlene was a wolf, he did now. “That wolf threatened to rip my throat out.”
“What wolf?” the officer asked.
“That one!” The getaway driver motioned with his head to behind him, but Charlene was well hidden in the woods, listening to the conversation, amused.
“Yeah, tell another story. You’ll go to prison with the rest of the men who are involved in this.”
“The rest of the men?” the driver asked, sounding surprised.
What did he think? That his boss would get him out on bail?
“Your boss? The rest of his henchmen? They’re all going down as we speak,” Maverick said.
At least they hoped they were, Charlene thought, but she was glad they caught this guy and the others too at least.
Chapter 25
Ethan called Grainger and said, “We’re just at a standstill here at the warehouse.” Then he got a call notification from Charlene. “Got to go. Charlene’s calling me.”
“Hope everything is okay at her place. Out, here,” Grainger said.
Worried that something bad had happened at Charlene’s home and she was in danger, Ethan answered the call right away.
“Hang up on me if you’re in a volatile situation and can’t talk,” Charlene said, always concerned for his safety.
