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He nodded. “But you noticed that I didn’t wait for him to charge me first.”

“Aye, I was glad you hadn’t.”

“I wouldn’t have. Especially when you were at risk of being injured if he had gotten the best of me. I knew just what you were going to do when you bit his tail. I love you, honey.”

“I love you so much too. And I’m glad you figured out I was going for his rump and took advantage of his distraction.”

They ended up on the beach, where a bunch of the pack members had gathered to see them, cheering them for taking down the murderous wolf. Howls rent the air. Even Chelsea was there and gave them a hug.

Grant returned to the shore on one of the boats and joined them. “You were lucky his towline got caught in his propeller.”

“Histowline?” Robert asked.

“Yeah, his boat was bouncing on the waves, and it must have flipped out and tangled around the propeller,” Grant said.

“Well, damn, that’s good,” Robert said.

Maisie shook her head. “Here we had thought we’d stopped him.”

“It’s all good. The threat has been eliminated, and that’s all that matters.” Grant smiled. “Looks like someone’s going to be up for a fish fry.”

“Aye,” Robert said.

“It’s well deserved.”

“We’re going to our house to have the fish fry,” Robert told William. “Iverson, you’ll have to join us since you were so involved in trying to catch this guy too. We’ll just need to have Edward bring Anne and we’ll be all set.”

“I’m calling Anne now,” Maisie said.

“Thanks, Grant, and to everyone who has helped in dealing with Jack,” Robert said.

“Aye, it’s what we do for each other,” Grant said.

***

Maisie drove Robert home, and they brought in all the fish, but before they could take care of Robert’s injuries or begin preparing the fish, they had to greet all of Edeen and Lachlan’s animals and Mittens too.

Afterward, Maisie had Robert strip off his clothes so she could clean up his bite marks.

“Come on. Let’s take a quick shower before everyone gets here.” Robert grabbed up his clothes and put them in the laundry sink and poured water on them while she removed her clothes.

Then the two of them hurried to the bathroom to clean up. After carefully drying Robert and herself, Maisie applied antiseptic to his bite marks, bandaged him, and they both dressed.

“I’m so glad that your bite marks don’t look too bad. If you have a fever or see red streaks around the wounds, let the doctor know at once,” Maisie said.

He laughed. “I love you.”

“Aye, just like I love you.”

Not long after they began cleaning the fish, Chelsea, William, and Iverson arrived. That gave Maisie a chance to rinse the blood out of Robert’s clothes. William and Iverson began helping clean the fish.

Chelsea was making them wine coolers when Anne andEdward joined them.

Hugs were shared all around. “I can’t believe you and Robert took Jack down as wolves,” Anne said to Maisie.

“I couldn’t let Robert take care of him on his own if there was the slightest chance Jack could have gotten the best of him,” Maisie said.

After cooking the fish and chips—served with vinegar and salt and ketchup for those from Glasgow and brown sauce for those from Edinburgh—they sat down to eat them.