Free Loyal Wolf by Linda O. Johnston

definitely carnivorous. He was a wolf in human form.
    But in his opinion creatures that were wild, like wolves, should be permitted to stay that way. Survival of the fittest would allow them to feed on their own kinds of prey.
    Humans did not need to kill or eat them.
    â€œI can give you some information about that,” Kathlene said. “There are a couple of bars in town where the sheriff’s department has been called in because of some altercations between our townsfolk and some nonresidents. One’s a sports bar near our headquarters—Arnie’s. At least some of those who’ve gotten out of control came to town from that ranch.”
    â€œGood. We’ll work that out soon, then.”
    â€œBut not tonight?” She sounded curious. Too curious.
    He knew what was coming next.
    â€œNo, not tonight.”
    â€œThen what are we doing tonight?” she asked.
    We . Of course she would assume it would be we .
    Which it was. But that we included only Ralf and him. Not her. Not for what he had planned tonight.
    Click stopped to circle slightly before defecating. Good. That gave Jock an opportunity to stop, too, and turn and face Kathlene.
    He drew himself up as much as possible and looked down on her slim, yet official-looking form in her deputy sheriff’s uniform.
    But for this purpose, he was in charge, her job notwithstanding.
    â€œRalf and Click and I are going to do pretty much as we did last night,” he told her. “Observation and reconnaissance at the perimeter of the target facility. Just us.” He raised his hand to stop her as she opened her mouth to protest. “I know you’re part of our team. You won that right. But we can’t spend our time worrying about where you are and if you’re okay, especially when we’re just doing our preliminary examinations. You can work with us, participate in other aspects of what we’re doing—but only if you listen to what I’m telling you now.” And obey me, but he knew better than to say that.
    She glared up at him. Damn, but that firm chin, that angry scowl on such a beautiful face...it turned him on. Even more than her presence already generated reactions inside—and outside—him that he’d never have imagined would occur with a woman in uniform, especially when that uniform was not one associated with Alpha Force.
    â€œThen you promise that this will be the only time you’ll not include me in your plans from now on.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. Her voice was chilly, but not even that forced his body to lose interest.
    â€œYes,” he lied as he stooped to clean up after Click. “I promise—as long as you promise not to interfere with what we’re doing tonight.”

Chapter 6
    S ure, Kathlene had given her promise.
    She needed to make sure Jock considered her a member of their team, so what else could she do? She didn’t want to fight him again, at least not yet. Besides, he claimed it would only be this one time they would exclude her.
    Ha!
    On her drive back to department headquarters that afternoon, along the winding road outside town, and even when she reached the main streets, she stewed.
    Damn the man and his overprotective, exclusionary attitude!
    Was it going to be like this all the time? Would Jock tell her each day that she’d be included in their plans...tomorrow. But not today?
    Well, she might not be officially included in their recon plans that night.
    But unofficially?
    She’d been there last night observing.
    She would do the same tonight.
    * * *
    They’d followed Kathlene back into town. No, not followed her. Not exactly. But Jock had made sure that Click was settled back in his cabin. Then he drove their car, with Ralf in the passenger’s seat, in the direction that Kathlene had headed.
    When they reached Cliffordsville, their first plan of attack was to drive by the sheriff’s