Page 20 of The Wolf Professor

“You guys run the big wrecking yard in the East Quarter, right?” Gina piped up. “My mom’s car was sent there after it got totaled.”

“That’d be my dad, Benjy. He’s grown the business up a lot since my grandpa died.”

Hmmm,thought Charlie,this has to be Max’s pack.There couldn’t be two Hunt packs, surely? She let her gaze sink once more to the flyer in her hands.

This years Winter Solstice Rut…

Bigger, better, more exciting.

All sexual orientations and preferences catered for.

Let our trained wolves give you the chase of a lifetime.

Or choose to chase with the love of your life.

Cozy cabins available for those wanting absolute privacy to indulge at the end of the rut. Champagne and breakfast included in all premier packages.

Talk to us about any kinks or fetishes.

We will be sure to accommodate them in your package.

Contact Benjy or Janine Hunt for more information. www.solsticeruts.com

“So you’re interested?” Taryn said, standing up.

Gina and Simone nodded, their eyes round with excitement.

“Fantastic. Mom or Dad will be happy to answer any questions, but most of the info is on the website.” She bent down and gave them each a quick hug. “It would be so good to see y’all there.”

Charlie watched her sashay off to the next table and give the same spiel, her laughter drifting over to them. No denying it, Taryn was good at marketing. You could see the same nods and smiles of enthusiasm within seconds of her starting to chat.

Charlie tucked the flyer into her purse before turning back to her friends.

An hour later, letting herself into the house, Charlie’s heart rate notched up a beat when she noticed the door of Max’s study ajar.

He was seated at his desk, working.

He looked up at her over the top of his glasses, his eyes sparkling topaz in the lamp light.

“I’ve had some great news,” he said, jumping to his feet. “I’ve just received an email confirming we can view the archives in Motham Palace on Monday.”

“Oh wow, Max! That’s fantastic.”

“Here, sit a moment,” he said, waving to the seat opposite.

She did so gladly, her pulse tripping a little, watching him pace up and down behind his desk. His shirt had come untucked, and when he raised his hand to stroke at the back of his neck, she noticed a slice of tan skin at his waist.

He spent the next ten minutes regaling her on the different texts that were likely housed in the archives. She only heard half of it, to be honest; she was enchanted by his enthusiasm and the way he glowed as he talked.

“The majority of these books haven’t been seen by anyone other than the Motham family since The Great War. The curator said we can spend a full day going through the records.” He stopped and gazed at her intensely. “Do you realize what this means, Charlie? I—you and me—will be the first members of the public to go through all the archives.”

“That’s the best news, Max.”

“We’ll have access to information that’s never been shared before. It really will be the making of this book.”

She loved the way his face lit up, how boyish it made him look. How he included her in the project. On impulse, Charlie got up, leaned over the desk and raised her hand, palm facing him.

Max glanced at her face then her raised palm, frowning slightly.

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