Page 6 of A Dash of Wolf

“Well, the law is wrong!” she shouted. “It’s hurting the weak and defenseless.” She lifted Herman into the air. “Look into his eyes, Sheriff, and tell me he doesn’t matter!”

She saw his lips twitch at the deliberate misuse of his title, and she was surprised to see he looked more amused than angry at her intentional slap.

“That’s Chief Wolfe,” he said, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “But something tells me you already knew that.”

“Look at those bulges, Adeline,” Princess Muffin Top said, rolling onto her back and stretching for everyone to see. “Chief Howls-at-the-Moon has some big bulges. And they aren’t all in his arms and legs.”

Adeline sputtered as everyone else let out catcalls and laughed. Even Emory seemed to be enjoying the moment, her bullhorn lowered and a huge grin on her face. How could her best friend be such a traitor?

“Look,” Adeline said, lifting her chin, “I’m not coming down. These squish-squids have more rights to this marsh than that little troll has to put a building up here. The squish-squids were here first, and they are necessary!”

Chief Wolfe pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ms. Beaumont, I’m going to ask you one more time to unchain yourself and come down from this equipment.”

So he knew who she was. She shouldn’t be surprised.

“And I’m going to tell you one more time.” She paused for effect. “No.”

“Then I’m placing you under arrest.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Then you’re going to have to pry me off this bulldozer.”

Their eyes locked. Herman cooed, and Adeline was pretty sure she heard Princess Muffin Top purring in pleasure above her.

“So be it.” Chief Wolfe reached up and grabbed the chain around her waist, his knuckles grazing her stomach. He stepped up onto the bulldozer until he was eye level with her. “You will be coming down, Ms. Beaumont.”

Herman whimpered, and Adeline cradled the creature closer to her chest. “Do you enjoy bullying defenseless creatures, Chief Wolfe? Is that what does it for you?”

He leaned in closer to her, and she stopped breathing. Was he sniffing her?

“You smell like sugar.” He leaned back and his eyes dropped to her shoulder, taking in her full shoulder tattoo—a colorful cupcake on a pedestal surrounded by magical stars and fairy dust that shifted from pink to gold to violet every few seconds.

“Nice tat,” he said.

Adeline blinked. That was not what she’d expected from the man currently arresting her. “Thank you. Grandmother Lavinia nearly had a stroke the day I came home with the whisk on my forearm.” She stared into his blue eyes and almost forgot to breathe. “The full shoulder earned me a full week of stony silence.” She broke her gaze and turned her head away from him before she did something stupid…like agree to whatever he said. “I consider both tattoos among my finest life decisions so far.”

He snorted but didn’t say anything as he turned his attention back to the lock.

“I have bolt cutters,” Ivan Johansson called out, stepping forward and shoving cutters up to Chief Wolfe.

Adeline gasped. “You lousy troll! May you be eaten alive by a dozen billy goats tonight, Ivan Johansson!”

The crowd sucked in a collective breath.

“Did she just hex him?” a construction worker asked.

Adeline lifted her chin. “I most certainly did. And I’ll do the same to you all if you⁠—”

“Enough,” Chief Wolfe growled low enough so only she could hear. “I’m not going to let you incite a riot by hexing and scaring these people.”

She turned her head to look at him. His face was inches from hers. Those blue eyes were even more devastating up close. “Chief, the only thing I’m trying to incite is a little protection for creatures who can’t protect themselves.” She held his gaze. “Surely a man as big and powerful as you can understand the need to handle something...delicate.”

His eyes widened, and the tips of his ears went red.

Adeline’s brain caught up with her mouth about two seconds too late. That had come out a lot differently than she’d intended. She opened her mouth to clarify, then snapped it shut. Anything she said right now would only make it worse.

“Chief Wolfe!” Miss Moody called out. “I’m Miss Moody with the Moonlight Beacon.” She shoved her notepad forward. “Are you goin’ to arrest Adeline, for true?”

Chief Wolfe broke eye contact with Adeline, ignored Miss Moody, and cut the chain with the bolt cutters. As it fell away amid boos from the geriatric protesters, he reached down and tried to lift the squish-squid from her forearm.