Page 58 of The Wolf Professor

Her mom gave her dad a desperate look. “Talk some sense into her, Robert, please. She needs to come home. Get away from that awful, dirty city.”

There was a moment’s silence, then Dad said, “No, Shirley. It’s time for us to stop being scared of the consequences. I know you want to keep us safe, but times are changing. Charlie loves Motham, she likes her job, and she is very fond of the professor.”

“Fond… is that a euphemism for something else?” When no one answered, Charlie’s mom wailed, “See. This is what they do… they seduce unsuspecting young women, and the next thing you know, these poor young things are being chased… their clothing ripped off them. Bitten… worse… and then they become part of some awful disreputable pack, and you never see them again.”

“Hush, honey,” her dad said. “Charlie has her head firmly on her shoulders. She knows what she’s getting into.”

Mom’s lips quivered; she pressed her napkin to her mouth.

“Charlotte, please tell me you’re not falling for this wolf’s false promises!”

“He’s promised me nothing, Mom.” Which, currently, was true. “And I object to you implying that he would lie. Max Hunt is the most upstanding and moral man—wolf—you could ever meet.”

“So you’re going back there to be with him, is that it?” Her mom turned anguished eyes to her dad. “What if she takes part in one of those awful ruts?”

“Mom, I can speak for myself,” Charlie said, her voice rising. She took a deep breath, trying not to get angry; after all, this was a lot for her mom to digest.

Hearing the commotion, Snuff skulked out of the room with his tail between his legs.

Charlie was tempted to follow him, but she kept her butt firmly tethered to the chair. “I’m in love with Max, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me.”

“Oh darling, please tell me you’ll not let him chase you.”

Charlie could have said no—after all, she hadn’t signed up for the rut yet.

But a thrill shot through her at the thought, so strong it made her tongue cleave to the roof of her mouth. Because she knew that she wanted to be chased by her big, beautiful wolf through the forest, to feel the primal fear, the excitement of the chase. To be finally possessed by her wolf.

And even more now, since hearing Eloise’s story.

If Max asked her… Yes, she would. She absolutely would say yes.

And if he didn’t…

Well, dang, she’d just have to ask him.

“I’m not going to rule it out,” she said before shoveling a mouthful of delicious crumble into her mouth.

Her mom’s mouth fell open, wordless.

And then Shirley Sullivan pushed back her chair and ran from the room.

CHAPTER 23

Max would be lying if he said he hadn’t been waiting for Charlie’s little blue hatchback to pull up outside the house.

He’d be lying if he pretended he didn’t hold his breath as he watched her get out and grab her laptop.

And he wouldabsolutelybe lying if he denied there was a pack of Black Wolf condoms in the pocket of his pants.

He’d never been socalculatedbefore. Sex happened in bed. Condoms were kept in the second drawer of his bedside cabinet. Always.

He didn’t have them in his pocket, ready, just in case…

But then, everything between him and Charlie was like nothing he’d experienced before.

Everything inside him was wild and wanting. And too desperate to wait to get her into bed.

His gaze drank her in as she walked up the garden path. She was wearing a big puffy ski jacket and jeans. That striped woolly hat was pulled down on her head, and her corkscrew curls stuck out round the rim. Hardly the sexiest outfit.

---