“Wait at the car,” Kelly said.
“Yes, sir.”
Head down, West took out his flashlight and clicked it on. When he reached the squad vehicles, Kelly gave a long sigh and shook his head. “I apologize for my officer. If I can see Willow, confirm from her that she’s not under any coercion, we’ll go. We came out to check on a potential…domestic situation. Not to strain human/lupine relations.”
“Yet you’ve manacled one of my pack,” Malachi said.
“That’s procedure,” Davis said.
“Procedure for wolves only.”
“You’re not wrong.” Kelly stepped behind Ezra, and in a moment the cuffs opened.
“Sergeant…” Davis took a step back from Ezra.
“Well? They’ve shown no physical aggression whatsoever, even when provoked.”
Ezra brought his arms around, rubbed his wrists, rotated his shoulders. Tears burned his throat. Most humiliating moment of his life.Maybe he ought to thank them for freeing him, but he didn’t want to.
Dad said, “Willow’s in bed by now, Sergeant. I wish you’d talk to her in the morning.”
“I get that. I hope you can see the circumstances don’t allow it.”
Dad sighed. “I guess I can. I’ll go back with you. Don’t worry about her, Ezra.”
Don’t worry… The full meaning hit him. He was expected to remain here while the police grilled Willow. He shook his head. He had to be with his mate right now.
Kelly’s gaze was intent on Ezra, probably braced for the aggression he’d expected earlier. “I need to get her side of the story.”
Her uninfluenced story, in case Ezra could stare her into silence or something. Right. Procedure. This one actually made sense. He drew a deep breath, let it out, and nodded.
Davis and West drove next door in one car, and Dad rode with Kelly in the other. The taillights faded down the driveway. On suddenly weak legs, Ezra shuffled to the porch and all but fell as he tried to sit. Malachi caught him, lowered him to the top step, and sat beside him.
Ezra scrubbed a palm over the top of his head, then rubbed his wrists. “I can’t… I can’t get my thoughts to… Just a minute ago I thought the worst thing they’d do to me was call mewerewolf.”
Malachi growled. His musky essence was still scorched with pure wrath, and his jaw and shoulders were clenched hard. Threatened at gunpoint while innocent of all harm, any wolf’s heart would rage and ache.
“I’m grateful y’all came for me,” Ezra said. “Rhett, that means you too.”
Rhett’s metallic essence and bulky shadow lurked halfway between the cabins. His quiet growl of acknowledgement sounded for wolf ears only. Then his scent drifted off as he headed back to his cabin.
The readiness of his pack to support and protect him had surrounded Ezra all his life. Still, his wolf heart was flooded with overwhelmed gratitude that they were here at a time like this. He lowered his head to his knees and listened. The cars parked. Dad, Kelly, and Davis got out. Ezra’s chest eased slightly when Kelly told West to wait in the car.
As they reached the front door Kelly said, “I wanted tonight to go differently. To be respectful.”
“Respect doesn’t start with unprovoked handcuffs,” Dad said.
“It won’t happen here again. You have my word.”
For a moment Dad didn’t answer. Then he said, “Willow will be out in a minute.”
Maybe Kelly meant what he said. Right now Ezra could only focus on his mate, her precious lime essence peaceful in sleep. In her room Mom was whispering.
“I’m sorry, sugar, but I need you to wake up. The police are here. They want to talk to you about Ezra.”
“Police…?” Then alertness sharpened her voice. “Oh mygosh, my dad called the police? Where’s Ezra, is he okay?”
“Yes, your father called them. They’re here now to get things straightened out, but they’re not holding Ezra. He’s got to stay at his place while they talk to you.”
