Page 62 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

I remain unconvinced.

"Then what about the fire? That fire was too hot to be natural."

"It still doesn’t mean it was dragonfire," Percy countered. "We won’t know if an accelerant was used until we get the results from the lab."

"But only one of our suspects has both motive and opportunity," I press.

Percy's control snaps. "Find another suspect," he roars, his voice shaking the windows in their frames. "It's not Kraxon!"

He turns and storms out of my office, slamming the front door so hard behind him that the entire cabin shudders. I stand in the stunned aftermath of his departure, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

Julia appears in the doorway, her expression concerned. Through our bond, I feel her worry washing over me.

"That went about as well as expected," she observes, moving to my side.

"Yeah." I exhale slowly, forcing my own anger down. "I knew he'd defend his brother, but I didn't expect him to have an explanation ready."

Julia leans against me, her warmth a balm to my frustration.

"Dragons are intensely loyal to their clan members. I’m not sure he would believe Kraxon is the thief even if he saw him with his own eyes."

"I know." I wrap an arm around her waist, drawing her closer, inhaling her scent now permanently marked with my own. The wolf in me settles slightly at the contact. "But something still doesn't add up. Why work with the police to clean up his name if he’s going to make a fortune selling the tiara?"

"Unless he can’t stand the thought of losing his brother," Julia muses. "Maybe he thinks he can keep this a secret. After all, Seraphina didn’t call off the wedding like I’d feared once the tiara was stolen."

Still too many unknowns. And still no way to get the tiara back.

A soft electronic ping interrupts our conversation. I cross the room and open my email, then freeze at what I see.

Julia follows, looking over my shoulder at the screen.

No sender. No subject. Just a message:

Midnight. West Dock. Come alone. Bring cash.

My body tenses, the wolf rising to the surface, my eyes beginning to glow emerald in the dim room. I feel Julia's heartbeat accelerate through our bond, a mixture of fear and excitement pulsing between us.

"They accepted the offer," she whispers.

My wolf bristles, teeth mentally bared, ready for the hunt. The predator and prey are finally about to meet.

Chapter 19

Julia

Twenty-nineheartbeats.Twentydragons.Four werewolves. Three elves. Two selkies.

And one missing tiara.

Everything is perfect for tonight's rehearsal dinner, as expected. Close family and friends of both Draak and Ashbane clans are almost done eating and the conversations are in full swing, the mood light and the atmospherecheerful.

Except for those few who know what is about to take place. Except for the wedding planner about to embark on the stupidest, bravest stunt of her life.

I glance at my watch for what must be the hundredth time since the beginning of the rehearsal dinner. We’re close now, so close that my stomach is twisting in painful knots and I can barely push down saliva through my painfully closed throat.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous in my life.

"Julia!" Courtney calls and I turn to her. "The guests are almost finished with dinner. The father of the groom wants to practice his speech, but I think he had a bit too much to drink. You should come take a look."