Page 29 of Wild Wolf
“Feel like arun?”
He noddedagain.
They shifted into their wolves. Tongue hanging out, Aiden looked athim.
Nolan understood. His land, his pack and it was up to him to lead theway.
Cutting through the forest, he raced over leaves and through brush, his wolf sensesexploding.
And then he smelled something off, like old smoke. Alarmed, he changed direction and headed for thesource.
In a clearing halfway up the mountain, he raced toward the sharp, acrid odor screaming in his nose. Wolf and man had trained to fight this, recognize itinstantly.
Nolan shifted back to Skin and waved a hand, clothing himself in jeans and a chambray shirt and boots. He squatted down, staring at the burned detritus near a tall, majestic oaktree.
Dimly he became aware of Aiden joining him in human skin, his cousin poking at the ashes with aboot.
“Who’d be stupid enough to have a campfire here, with all these trees around?” Aidengrowled.
“Someone who isn’t stupid, but filled with purpose. No one from my pack would do this.” Nolan sifted the debris through his fingers. “It means someone has been trespassing, setting fires on ourland.”
“Yet this fire was extinguished.” Aiden brought a leaf fragment to his nose, sniffed. “Almost like acampfire.”
“Or a test fire to see how close they could get without our security team spotting them.” Nolan dusted off his hands. Either way, he didn’t like it. His pack had strict orders never to set fires alone, except during approved bonfires when water and sand buckets were standingby.
“I’ll increasepatrols.”
“Needhelp?”
Nolan shook his head. “Appreciate the offer, but I’ve got this. Selene, the Fae queen in this region, will have to be alerted. She’ll send patrols as well at night to watchout.”
“And during the day, when the Fae sleep and your people are in the vineyard and winery?” Aiden rubbed hischin.
“I’ve got it covered. Been meaning to open up the vineyard to Skin tours. Maybe host a few hikes through the forest in daytime. That’ll discouragetrespassers.”
His cousin raised dark brows. “You want to invite Skins on your land, riskexposure?”
“Better the loss of privacy than the whole damn forest burning down.” He made a mental note to talk to the pack, warn them strictly against shifting during theday.
They headed back toward the lodge. As they climbed the gravel path leading to the building, Nia met themhalfway.
Aiden swept her into his arms, giving her a passionate, lingering kiss. Nolan watched, jealousy darting through him. Would he ever have the same kind of affectionate relationship with Jordan? Last night’s sex had been spectacular, everything he’d hoped for, but it took more than sex to make a matingwork.
When Nia and Aiden broke apart, he came to a decision. “I’ll have dinner sent to your cabin,” he told them. “Spend the time you have left here together inprivate.”
Aiden gave him a steady look. “Yousure?”
“Positive.” He stretched out a hand, which Aiden shook. “Appreciate all your help, cousin. But you should be alone withNia.”
“Thanks.” Arm in arm with her mate, Nia beamed at Nolan. “Jordan made you asurprise.”
“Sure hope it doesn’t contain arsenic,” hejoked.
Sympathy shone in Nia’s blue eyes. “Jordan’s high spirited, Nolan, but please give her a chance. She’s got a goodheart.”
“Just make sure to keep all the sharp knives out of the bedroom,” Aidenmuttered.
Nolan grinned. “But not the whips and chains. Those arefun.”
