Page 41 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
11
The airplane rideto Montana was filled with silence. Adrian did not speak to her except whennecessary.
Stomach twisted into knots, she rode with him to the Mitchell Pack ranch. It had ceased snowing, and drifts blew into the road and against the windshield of the four-wheeldrive they’drented.
Darcy wondered how long they’d have to remain at the ranch. Tristan had been vague. Perhaps deliberately. She huddled into her parka, for despite the heat blasting through the air vents, it was quite chilly in theSUV.
Finally, they came to the entryway leading to the ranch. A hand-cut wood sign read Mitchell Ranch. Adrian turned onto the newly plowed dirt road.After about half a mile, she could see a wood lodge. Colorful Christmas lights bedecked the frontporch.
“I’m leaving you here and returning soon,” Adrian said curtly. “I’m staying long enough to be polite and fulfill my duty to you, Darcy. But I cannot remainhere.”
“I understand.” A lump clogged her throat. “You don’t want to be around me anylonger.”
His jaw tightened.“I cannot trust you, Darcy. But more than that, I cannot stay here because having two strong alphas in the same vicinity means a vicious fight. Aiden will feel threatened if I remain here long, and his instinct will be to protect his mate and pack from me and against the possibility I’ll takeover.”
Something she never considered. “Aren’t you jumping to conclusions? He’s a powerful alpha,and if he felt you were a threat, he’d pound you into the ground, and I’m sure he has a security team willing to do the same. You’ve never met theLupine.”
“I know alpha males. I know their capability and what drives them.” He pulled up before the woodlodge.
“Just as you knew me, right? Knew I was the right mate for you until you found out my origins. You can be a real ass at times,Adrian.”
She yanked open her door and then went to the back seat to grab her backpack, ignoring him. A male bounded down the steps, offered to carry it for her. Not wishing to offend, she handed it over and thankedhim.
The lodge was impressive, filled with a cozy warmth as she went inside. Two leather sofas in an L-shape sat before a roaring fireplace in the living room. A fir tree,decorated for Christmas, sparkled with tinsel at one floor-to-ceilingwindow.
A tall, handsome male with a black beard, his arm protectively around a smaller blond woman, came forward. The male stuck out hispalm.
“You must be Darcy. Tristan told me you were coming to visit. I’m Aiden Mitchell, pack alpha.” He gave a fond glance at the pregnant woman at his side. “This is my mate,Nia.”
“After that long drive, you’re probably hungry. And tired,” Nia told her, smiling. She made a gesture, and the male who’d brought in her suitcase hurried upstairs withit.
Darcy smiled at the alpha couple. “Congratulations. When are youdue?”
Nia put a hand on her enormous belly. “I’m past due, actually. The midwife said any momentnow.”
Adrian walked inside, hiscool, dark gaze sweeping over Aiden Mitchell. Both males quietly summed each other up for a moment, and then Adrian briefly inclined hishead.
To her surprise, Aiden did the same. He stuck out a hand, which Adrian shook. “Welcome to ourhome.”
“Thank you for welcoming us into your home,” Adrian told him, equallyformal.
An attractive blond woman came forward. “Hi, Darcy, I’mSamantha. I’ll show you to yourroom.”
Adrian followed the alpha pair into the living room.Guess we’re not sleepingtogether.
She followed Samantha up the staircase. The guest room on the second floor was girlish, with a pink canopy bed, white furniture and pink-stripedwallpaper.
“Sorry for all the Pepto Bismol colors. Nia got it into her head to decorate in pink becauseshe’s certain she’s having a girl. Usually we give guests rooms that aren’t so pink, but we have a few staying here tonight for the monthly pack dinner. If you don’t like the room, another will be freetomorrow.”
“It’s fine,” Darcysaid.
The woman had a fey air about her. Darcy’s nostrils flared. Her Changeling powers might have drained, but she still held some ability to detectorigins. This Samantha had a touch, perhaps more, of fairyblood.
Interesting. She thought Lupine packs were strict in admitting onlyLupines.
“You must be exhausted and hungry.” In her bare feet, Samantha strolled over to the window, pulled the pink-and-white drapes shut. “Rest for a while before dinner is served. We’re having prime rib, vegetables and salad. Or if you’re not inclinedto dine with a whole pack of hungry wolves,” Samantha smiled, “I can arrange for a tray to be delivered to yourroom.”
Darcy thought of Adrian, who would never have a tray in his room. So impolite, after they’d been offered hospitality. Hiding away, as ifashamed.
