Page 44 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
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The following day,Darcy hoped she’d have a chance to speak in private withAdrian.
No such luck. He had breakfast before she woke, and when she went downstairs, a cheerful Lupine named Beth, who was Aiden’s niece, informed her that Adrian and Aiden had gone out on theranch.
She grabbed a bite and busied herself with reading from the lodge’s extensive library. Not knowing everything about Lupines, but figuring she’d better learn, Darcy settled on the sofa with a volume about Lupinehistory.
Adrian didn’t show up for luncheither.
In the afternoon, she felt stir crazy and went to look for him. Darcy tugged on her parka, boots and gloves andtrudged outside. The stables weren’t too far from the lodge, and she needed a walk to clear hermind.
A truck was parked before the building when she reached it. Maybe Adrian was in here with Aiden. Surely he couldn’t ignore her anymore, not with the alphahere.
But when she opened the door and went inside, disappointment filled her. No alphamales.
Just a tall, muscled cowboyfeeding hay to thehorses.
The smell of horses, hay and warmth flowed over her. Boot heels clicking on the floor, she looked around. The cowboy turned, saw her and tipped his blackStetson.
Jackson, one of the cowboys on the Mitchell Ranch. She’d met him last night atdinner.
Wearing a sheepskin jacket, a blue chambray work shirt opened at the throat, and dusty jeans, he wascute. Tall. Nice-looking Lupine, as were all the males on this ranch. But she felt nothing for him, unlike the stormy emotions Adrian conjured inher.
He paused, leaning on the handle of the fork. “How are you settling here? Everythingokay?”
“Fine. It’s really pretty here,” she toldhim.
“Life on the ranch ain’t perfect.” Jackson forked more hay into the stall. “The packain’t perfect either, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other life.” Pausing, he turned and gave her an intense look from his dark eyes. “The only way I’d leave is if Lexie wanted to go elsewhere. I’d do anything for mymate.”
Such loyalty. Devotion. Caring. All the things Darcy longed to have as well. Why couldn’t she?Because you were dumb enough to fall in love with an alpha who alwaysputs packfirst.
He finished and set the fork aside. Outside, a truck rattled along the road and then stopped. Soon, the stable door opened and a petite, young Lupine walked inside, her hips swaying gracefully. Snow dusted her black cowboy hat and long, dark hair and covered her thick work boots andjeans.
Jackson’s polite interest flared into fierce intensity as he looked at thearrival.
“Speaking of the devil lady herself,” he murmured. “Hey there,sweetheart.”
Lexie, Jackson’s love. The Lupine rushed forward, engaged her mate in a long, passionate kiss that raised the temperature in the stable by twenty degrees. Darcy busied herself with studying thehorses.
The couple broke apart. The tenderness in Jackson’s gaze and the adoration in Lexie’s madeher chest hurt. It was sweet, but suddenly she felt jealous of their devotion. She wanted the same from arelationship.
Jealousy never served a good purpose. Darcy pushed the feelings aside and focused on petting the horse in front of her. The couple almost seemed oblivious toher.
“I was out on the ATV, checking to make sure the roads are all clear in case of an emergency.” Lexiesmiled at her mate. “Maybe we can duck out later and go visit our favorite spot in the woods. Build abonfire.”
Jackson chuckled. “Little minx. It’s adate.”
Darcy suspected the bonfire wasn’t the actual reason for the “duckingout.”
Then Lexie turned to her. “I’m sorry, Darcy. Didn’t mean to ignore you, but I haven’t seen Jackson all day. Are you settling in hereokay?”
Everyone seemed worried about making sure she felt comfortable. Maybe the Silver Wizard had threatened them. Or maybe everyone on this ranch was simplynice.
“Fine. Just admiring yourhorses.”
“You want to ride? Diamond needs exercise, and Jackson has chores to finish.” Lexie gestured to the row of horsestalls.
Anything was better than moping around, wishing and hopingfor a glimpse of Adrian like a lovesick schoolgirl. Or a lovesick pup. “Sure.”
