17. Seventeen

The closer we got to the house, the more my stomach turned. The flashing red and blue lights illuminated the sky.

How was I going to talk my way out of this one? I didn’t have long to think of a plan.

Mom stood in the front yard, arms crossed over her chest while talking to Sheriff Adam. Sheriff Adam took a step back when he saw us coming. He gulped, and his hand went to the gun holster at his hip.

He was still jumpy, understandably so. It wasn’t every day that humans saw a man turn into a wolf.

I touched Lincoln’s arm. “Hey, go ahead inside. I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

He hesitated before nodding. “Reach out if you need me.”

I sighed. “You know I will.”

I really hoped that I didn’t need him. I had no idea what I was going to say to the sheriff, but lies would only dig us into a deeper hole. We needed to make sure that the FBI and other agencies stayed out of our way. The best bet for that was Sheriff Adam.

Lincoln’s footfalls thumped up the stairs, and the screen door clanged against the frame as he disappeared inside. Mark followed behind me until we stood right in front of the sheriff.

I waved my hand awkwardly and gave him a toothy smile. “Sheriff Adam, how can we help you?”

He appraised me then glanced to the door. “I received a call this afternoon about some disturbing footage and one of your vehicles that was involved in an accident. Sloane the local law enforcement in that city is involved and I believe they are calling in the FBI.”

I didn’t miss the way he dragged his gaze over me like he was looking for injuries. Thank goodness I’d had a chance to shift so I didn’t look like a walking horror-movie victim. It was time to do damage control and find out what the other departments had already pieced together.

I ran my fingers through my wet, snarled hair. “What exactly did they say?”

Sheriff Adam opened and shut his mouth before taking his hat off and looking at the ground. “They sent me the footage from several doorbell cameras and were asking about the car that was left at the scene. It is one that is registered to your father.”

I swallowed and stood up straighter. I opened my mouth to say something, but he spoke up first.

“They think there was some sort of street fight, gang violence thing that bled into the wrong neighborhood.”

I cleared my throat. “This is part of what I told you about the other day. It’s really best if we keep the law and everyone else out of it.”

Sheriff Adam looked at my mom, who gave him a small smile. He clutched his hat to his breastbone tighter. “I told them that you had reported the car stolen a few days ago, and the people in the video were not you. The camera footage was not high enough quality for them to run any facial recognition software, so I think that should be the end of it. At least, I hope.”

The air whooshed out of my lungs, and I put my hand over my heart. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to us, keeping our secret and protecting us.”

He wiggled a finger in front of my face. “Don’t thank me just yet, Sloane. I don’t like lying for you. It’s not okay, and it goes against everything I stand for. I’m going to need some real answers and reasons for continuing to protect you.” He turned his attention to my mom. “I’m doing this out of a courtesy to your family only because I’ve known you for so long, and I know you are good people.”

The predicament that we were putting him in wasn’t ideal, and he was right. He was putting his job and reputation on the line for us.

“I’m sorry, Sheriff. Truly,” I said. “But you understand that we can’t have regular law enforcement involved. The more people poking around, the more likely someone inadvertently gets hurt.”

Or worse, killed, but I didn’t say that out loud.

I shifted my feet. “The alpha we are up against is unhinged. I honestly don’t know what he would do if he found out that humans were investigating and got in the way.”

That was the truth. I could guess, and I didn’t think it would be good. Alpha Dane had lost his mind, and he didn’t care who he hurt.

The sheriff put his hat back on. “That’s what your mother just finished telling me, too.” He put a hand on my mom’s shoulder. “She also told me about your father’s passing. I’m incredibly sorry. David was a good man.”

Mom’s bottom lip trembled before she put her hand over it. She nodded, her eyes misting over. “Thank you, Adam.”

He patted her shoulder. “You believe these people will come back here?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, wishing I could tell him no. “Absolutely. It’s just a matter of when. We’re doing everything we can to make sure that no one else is included outside of our pack. I promise.”

The only thing I couldn’t control was Alpha Dane. No one here would hurt humans.

He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “Is there anything my department can do to help?”

The offer was thoughtful of him. I truly appreciated him wanting to watch out for us.

“I can’t let you do that, Sheriff,” I said. “It’s dangerous, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to someone when they don’t know what they’re getting into.”

He exhaled and gave me a pained look. “I understand that. We’ve known each other for a long time. Your dad and I grew up together and were good friends. I might not know everything about what’s going on, and it’s a lot to understand. But I can’t let bad things happen to the people I care about. To people in my city and under my jurisdiction, it wouldn’t be right.”

I rubbed my hand over my heart. “It means a lot, really, but I don’t think we can let you help us.”

He chuckled. “I think you’re confused. I’m not asking. I’m telling. This whole county is under my jurisdiction. The threat isn’t only to your family but to the others living here as well. I’m not going to turn a blind eye. If this man is half as dangerous as you make him sound, then the residents of our town are already in danger. I swore an oath to protect, and that’s what I plan to do.”

Mom’s brow creased with worry. “Adam, Sloane may have shown you what we are, but I don’t think you truly understand what you’re getting into. People are dying. This is an all-out war.”

He clapped his hand on the back of my mom’s shoulder. “Did you forget that I served in Iraq, Kathleen? These men might have claws instead of guns, but I know what I’m getting into.”

Mom glanced over at me and shrugged.

We shouldn’t involve him. He was human and didn’t understand what wolves could do, but honestly, we needed all the help we could get. Maybe I could have him do a wiretap and some surveillance. There were probably other things he could do that would help but would keep him out of the real danger as best we could.

I crossed my arms. “I think there are a few things that maybe you could help us with, like if you could get us the wiretap on Alpha Dane on as many phones as you can that he owns. I don’t think you could reach out to the law enforcement there where he lives because I believe he may have them in his pocket in some way.”

Sheriff Adam nodded. “I believe you may be right about that. Unfortunately, there are some lawmen who can’t be trusted.”

My mom wrung her hands together as the worry lines deepened on her face. “Adam, I just don’t want to see you or anyone on your team get hurt. This is an extremely dangerous situation.”

He patted her hands as he laughed. “I think that is the very meaning of serve and protect. It’s my job, Kathleen.”

A thought occurred to me, and I stood up on my tiptoes. “Maybe there’s something else you could help with. I could have Lincoln pull the plates for his father’s vehicles and the models that he typically uses. Do the red-light cameras still work?”

Sheriff Adam’s brows knitted together. “They do, but we don’t use them for that anymore. They’re just mostly if there are any traffic accidents. That sort of thing.”

I bit my lip. “Maybe Lincoln could log in to them and set up a thing to search for Alpha Dane’s plates so we could get a good warning before any of his men make it here.”

Mark put his hands on my shoulders and shook me. “That’s a great idea, Sloane. It’s at least a twenty-minute drive.”

Twenty minutes would give us plenty of time to prepare and get everyone into position. Our people watched the perimeter, but that only gave us a few minutes.

I smiled at the compliment, and I could see the beam on my mother’s face too. She must’ve agreed that it was an excellent idea as well.

I shifted my gaze back to the sheriff. “Do you think that’s something you can do?”

He scratched at his beard. “I suppose I could get some things put up like that, but I’d want to know when he was coming as well. I still think my men could provide assistance.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “I’d rather more people not know that we can turn into wolves. Can we keep that between us, please? And there’s not really a good way to tell who’s who when we’re in our wolf form. We can tell by smell, but visually, I’m not sure there’s a way to differentiate ourselves. I’d hate for the wrong person to get injured.”

He rubbed his jaw harder. “Give me some time to think on that. Why don’t you and Lincoln come by tomorrow, and we can get stuff set up with the red-light cameras. But I’d like you to come up with some ideas as well on how my team can be involved. Like I said, I don’t want anyone else to get hurt, and we are here to help.”

That was a start, at least. I reached out my hand to him. He let go of my mother’s and shook mine firmly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, if that works?” I asked.

He shook my hand one more time. “Ten a.m.”

I smiled. “Perfect.”

He let go of my hand and tipped his hat at Mark before turning back to my mom and giving her a hug. “I’m truly sorry to hear about David. Please let me know if you need anything, Kathleen.”

Mom said something that I couldn’t understand before pulling away from him. Red rimmed her eyes, and a stray tear trickled down her cheek. “Thanks, Adam. I’ll let you know.”

He nodded at me and then headed toward his car.

Mark shook my shoulders again. “That went better than I thought it would.”

The police car backed up, the tires crunching on the gravel as it drove down the path.

I waved at the sheriff as he turned his car around. “It did go better, thank goodness. I’m so nervous about having him here, though. I don’t know what all the other alphas will think about involving the local police.”

My mom grasped my hand. “He doesn’t need to tell anyone. I understand why you told him, but I fear it’s the truth that might cost him his life. You know how he is. He won’t let this go. He’s going to be involved now more than ever.”

I looked down at the ground, my stomach sinking. “I’m sure we can think of a way to make him helpful without putting him in more danger.”

Mom let out a heavy breath. “I hope so because that man will give his life for the town, and I fear he is going to die protecting us from Alpha Dane.”