Page 47 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

My heart pounds against my ribs.

"And you didn't want that with me?"

"I want it more than I've ever wanted anything," he admits, his voice rough. "But I won't trap you. You came to Saltford Bay for a job, not for a lifetime commitment. I will give you that mate mark if and when you truly want it, not before."

I let that sink in and it shatters my heart into a million pieces. This man, this honorable, gentle, and fierce man is better than even my most feverish dreams. He could take whatever he wanted from me, God knows I wouldn’t stop him. But he didn’t. He’s waiting for me to offer.

Before I can respond, his phone buzzes insistently. Frustration crosses his features as he checks the screen.

"Chemko," he says, answering. "This better be important."

I watch his expression shift from annoyance to alert focus as he listens. After a brief exchange, he ends the call and turns to me.

"They found it," he says, his entire face set in predatory lines. "They found the tiara."

And just like that, I forget how to breathe.

Chapter 14

Adrian

Igripthesteeringwheel tighter as I weave through downtown Saltford Bay's nearly empty streets. Beside me, Julia sits in silence, her green cocktail dress glimmering in the passing streetlights. She turned down my offer to go back home and change before meeting Chemko at the station and we drove right from the pack house.

I understand how eager she is to see what Chemko found. I’m as eager as she is.

The Saltford Bay Police Station stands silhouetted against the night sky, most of its windows dark exceptfor a few glowing squares marking the night shift. I park in my reserved spot and Julia is out of the car before I've killed the engine, her heels clicking rapidly across the asphalt.

I catch up to her in a few long strides, placing a hand on the small of her back as we enter the building. The fluorescent lights inside are harsh after the darkness, making Julia's formal attire look even more out of place against the institutional beige walls and linoleum floors.

Deputy Chemko paces the lobby, his uniform crisp despite the late hour. His head snaps up when he hears us enter, relief washing over his young face.

"Sheriff, Ms. Schroeder." He nods, gesturing toward my office. "They're already here."

Through the glass walls of my office, I can see Percy and Seraphina waiting. Percy's arm is wrapped protectively around Seraphina's waist, his features set in a mask of tension. Seraphina's pearl-colored scales catch the overhead lights, shimmering with each slight movement of her body.

I guide Julia forward, feeling like we're walking into a trap we can't yet see.

"Let's get this done," I mutter, pushing open my office door.

The scent of dragon, ashes, and smoke hits me immediately. Judging by the strength of the smell, they are both prey to intense feelings. Percy nods in greeting, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by tight-lipped determination. Seraphina's violet eyes lock on Julia immediately.

"Chemko, show me what you found." I turn to my deputy, who followed us in silence.

I close the door behind us, shutting out the rest of the station. My office isn't large, but it's mine, maps of Saltford Bay on the walls, case files stacked neatly on shelves, windows overlooking the darkened harbor beyond. Now, with two werewolves, two dragons, and a human crowded inside, it feels claustrophobic.

Chemko places his laptop on my desk, his movements quick and precise as he taps at the keyboard.

"Earlier this evening I received a tip from one of Silverine Draak’s, let’s say…connectionsin the hacking world," he begins, glancing up at Seraphina, who returns the gaze without so much as an eyelash betraying any feelings. "They found the tiara listed on a dark web auction site known for moving stolen artifacts to private collectors."

I raise an eyebrow at Seraphina. "Should I be concerned about these connections?"

She meets my gaze steadily, her violet eyes unblinking.

"As matriarch of the Draak clan, my grandmother has resources you don't, Sheriff. That's all you need to know."

I decide not to push it. Dragons and their clan connections are a complex web I'd rather not untangle right now.

"Show us," I say to Chemko.