The Werewolf Meets His Match
“Deputy Cruz did.”
She nodded and slumped back into the bed. At least she wouldn’t be responsible for burning the house down, too.
Hank let go of her hand and hooked his thumbs into his belt. “I passed your brother in the hall.”
She smoothed the sheet out. “It was nice of him to come.” Too bad he’d brought so much of their father’s attitude with him.
“He told you why he came?
“Mm-hmm. The Jenkins brothers.”
“He’s going to help me track them down. I have a lead on them at a motel on the outskirts of town. Cruz is staking the place out right now. Sam and Titus are going with me. Should be a simple operation. Deputy Blythe will keep watch at your door.”
“What will you do with them after you arrest them?”
Hank shifted, his expression resolute. “This is a pack matter. They’ll be dealt with at a tribunal. Which also means I need to change out of my uniform before I head over there. I can’t appear to be representing the local law.”
She stared at him. “Speaking of appearances, I just realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“The night we went out for a run, when we stopped at the waterfall, there were two black wolves on the other side. They were staring at us, but they were gone before I could tell you.”
“The Jenkins brothers?”
She shook her head, her mouth twisting in frustration. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen them in wolf form. Men and women don’t run together in our pack. And women aren’t allowed at the meetings, so I barely know what they look like in human form.”
“That’s some serious misogynistic thinking going on.”
“Have you ever met my father?”
Hank frowned. “No.”
And hopefully, he never would. “You’d understand if you had.”
“How did he end up with such backwoods nonsense?”
“We’re a backwoods pack. But his father taught him everything he knew.”
Confusion clouded Hank’s handsome face. “I thought you inherited your motorcycle from your grandfather. Seems like an odd thing to leave a granddaughter if you think of women as second-class citizens.”
“It came from my maternal grandfather, not Clem’s dad. Harlan Kincaid was as big of a bastard as his son is.” She pushed up a little more on the bed. Already, the achiness was half of what it had been. Which only made her antsy to do something besides convalesce.
“You need anything?”
“Yeah, to get out of here. I have a wedding to prepare for and lying in this bed isn’t helping.”
“Maybe I can get you released, take you home.”
“I’d rather you get those Jenkins boys locked up. I can get myself home. Plus, then your deputy can go back to real police work.”
“No.” He narrowed his eyes. “Until they’ve been dealt with, I don’t want you alone.”
“Hank, I’ll be fine—”
Knocking interrupted her.
They both turned to see Birdie standing in the door
“Trouble in paradise?” Birdie trotted around to the other side of Ivy’s bed. “How are you, dear?”
Ivy smiled at her. “Your timing couldn’t be better. I feel fine, I want to go home and Hank won’t let me.”
Birdie frowned at Hank. “You’re not a doctor. You can’t dictate these things just because you’re the sheriff.”
“I don’t want her alone until I know she’ll be safe.”
Birdie set her enormous turquoise purse on the bed and crossed her hands over top of it. “She won’t be alone. I’ll be with her.”
“I fail to see how that’s going to keep her safe.”
Birdie leaned toward him. “I’m still a werewolf, sonny. I can hold my own.”
Hank snorted. Birdie looked like she might swat him.
Ivy held up a hand. “Hank, if anything happens, anything, I’ll call you immediately. Promise.”
Hank’s radio went off before he could answer. “Sheriff, we have a visual and can confirm the two men at the hotel match the photos Ivy’s brother provided.”
He squeezed the radio and responded. “On my way.” He pointed at Birdie. “You can take her home, but I expect your best behavior. Actually, better than that.”
He looked at Ivy. “And you take it easy. Keep the house locked and let no one in until I get back.” He leaned in and kissed her. “I’ll see you soon with good news.”
She kissed him back. “Be careful.”
“You, too.” And with a nod, he was gone.
Ivy took a breath, then turned to Birdie. “Thank you. I owe you.”
Birdie waved a hand at her. “We’re about to be family. Speaking of, do you think I could get a peek at your wedding dress when we get back to Hank’s?”
“Oh. Uh…I don’t have a wedding dress. It was such short notice and…” She shrugged. She wasn’t about to drop all that money on a dress she was only going to wear once for a marriage that had little chance of being anything but contemptuous once the truth came out. “I just brought a dress I already had.”
Abject horror masked Birdie’s face. “Oh, that will not do. Who’s making the cake?”
Ivy shrugged. “We could get cupcakes from the Shop & Save, I guess—”