Page 1 of The Alpha Option
1
Jace Carter crested the top of the ridge and then eased on the brakes. The valley stretched out before him, a mix of late-spring green and shimmering-lake blue. A quick pause was all he wanted, to reminisce and get his head on straight before doing the next thing.
Thumbing its nose at the sentimentality of the moment, the engine of his borrowed truck rumbled unevenly, coughed twice, and stalled out.
He mumbled a curse, crawling from the cab to get a better view of the reason he was outside Jasper, Alberta.
Timberwolf Lodge. Memories rushed in—
Summer vacations with his extended family. Lazy days floating on the lake with his cousins, his childless Auntie Rachel and Uncle Jim acting as pack parents for whoever came out that year.
Jace’s last summer there had been after college. The six years that had passed could have been sixty judging by the obvious neglect that greeted his gaze.
A kilometer below at the base of the hill, the lodge and cabins dotted the lawn between the edge of the lake and the tree line that was the wilderness. The entrance of the main building still oozed grandeur. Enormous wooden beams stretched skyward over the double-sized front door, creating an A-framed central staging area that could have challenged a castle for imposing first impressions. The three wings of the lodge radiated out like spokes, with guest quarters and the living room/kitchen windows facing the lake.
But the wood siding was faded, the roof had seen better days, and weeds had taken control of the outdoor living spaces.
And Jace had all but been summoned here.
“What are you up to, Auntie Rachel?” He breathed in slowly, allowing the aromas of the area to fill his senses.
Huh. Someone was in the woods to his right. A second later, a branch broke, and Jace resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
An audible sigh hung on the air for a second before his cousin sheepishly stepped into view.
“Hey, Blue. Tie one on last night?” Jace asked. Should be the only good, or not-so-good, reason for the man’s serious lack of stealth.
“I didn’t want to surprise you.” Somehow Blue kept from smiling. “Not everyone can handle being suddenly confronted by the wonder that is me.” He drew a hand down his chest like a game show host displaying priceless jewels.
The dramatic effect showcased his tattered Hawaiian shirt and board shorts. The shirt, lime green. The shorts, pink with red-checked highlights.
Jace winced. “Shockis a better word for it. Staring at you is like looking at the sun. I’m going blind here, cuz.”
“I have a matching outfit to this one if you’d like to borrow it.”
Jace pretended to consider the offer seriously. “Generous, but let’s not traumatize the locals more than you already do.”
He extended his hand, clasped Blue’s tightly, and pulled the other man into a warm embrace.
Blue sighed contentedly even as he pounded on Jace’s back. “You’ve been gone a long time. Too long.” He stepped back and glared. “I’m kind of pissed it took someone giving you property to get you to come home.”
Jace shook his head. “Wildest thing ever. How was Auntie Rachel doing the last time you saw her? The only thing I heard was she’d mentioned wanting to travel.”
Blue shrugged. “She lost interest in the lodge when Uncle Jim died.”
Four years ago. How had things gone to hell so quickly? Jace’s gaze landed pointedly on the neglected building.
His cousin raised his hands in protest. “Hey, I tried. I kept up with the maintenance she allowed, but even I couldn’t sweet-talk her into letting me outright manage things for her. When she said no, she meant it.”
True, there was no convincing a wolf who didn’t want to change. Not while she was in her own territory.
Blue continued. “When she got all excited about the idea of traveling, I was happy to see it. She stopped by my workshop, nearly vibrating, about two months ago. ‘So many plans,’ she said. ‘It was all coming together,’ she said.”
Jace dragged a hand through his hair. He’d gotten a call from the lawyers only four weeks earlier. “Two months ago?”
Blue considered. “Pretty certain. Oh, wait.” His cousin dug into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Yup, see? She dated it and told me to give it to you when you arrived. First thing.”
Auntie’s neat-as-a-pin handwriting shone up at Jace. Dated April 1, the envelope bore his name and Auntie’s bold signature.
