Page 30 of Wild Wolf
“And restraints.” His cousin laughed as a red-faced Nia poked hermate.
Aiden ceased laughing and gave him a long, intense look. He stepped away from Nia and clasped Nolan’s arm. “We’re leaving tomorrow on the early flight. We’ll take care of our transportation,” he said as Nolan started toprotest.
“But if you need me, cuz, call, and I’ll be here for you. We’refamily.”
Nolan embraced him in a bear hug that said everything his emotions could not state. “Thanks,” hesaid.
“It’ll work out,” Nia told him, kissing him on the cheek. “You’llsee.”
He sure hopedso.
The lodge was quiet as he stepped inside, wiping his feet on the rag rug just inside the doorway. Nolan closed the door and gazed around the massive living room. A wood plaque hung over the fireplacemantel.
PACK FIRST, itread.
The plaque had been there as long as he could remember. Craig had drilled it into his mind– always put pack first when you are the alpha.It’s been a tradition in our family forgenerations.
Yet he wondered about the validity of such traditions. How did Jordan see it now that they were mated? All the time required to attend to pack business meant he’d be too busy to accommodate her. His mother had understood that she came second in Craig’s life. Even Nolan had taken precedence over his mother because Nolan had been the futureleader.
All he’d had after Craig’s unexpected death were the customary conventions to guide him. He hadn’t been ready to rule the pack. Nochoice.
So Nolan had clung to the Mitchell traditions as tightly as a grape hugged avine.
Some grapes need to be pruned. Maybe it’s time to rethink therules.
Troubled, he walked into the dining room and ground to ahalt.
Candles flickered on a table beneath a bank of windows overlooking the hills and valleys. A white linen tablecloth was set with his mother’s good china, and silverware. A large bowl and ladle sat on the table. Enticing smells filled the air – beef and vegetables. Homecooking.
Nolan couldn’t recall the last time he’d actually sat down and ate a regular meal, other than his wedding day. He was always too busy taking care of pack and winery business. Meals were grabbed on therun.
But the best sight was Jordan standing by the table, wearing a floral print dress and a wide smile. He scanned her body. Bare feet. She looked good. Realgood.
He was too aware of his grubby face and hands, the sweat on his back from what he’d found in theforest.
Nolan dropped a kiss on her cheek. “This lookswonderful.”
Her smile widened. “Nia helped me today. I thought just the two of us could share a meal and since you had no lunch, you’d behungry.”
He nodded. Maybe they did have a chance of making thiswork.
Well, he could be considerate as well. Nolan gestured to the ceiling. “Mind if I wash up first? Only be a fewminutes.”
“Go ahead,” she said softly. “I’ll keep everythingwarm.”
At her suggestive wink, he grinned. “You dothat.”
Minutes later, freshly showered and dressed in a clean white shirt and black trousers, he sat at the table and dug into the stew withzest.
“This is really good.” Nolan reached for his glass of sweettea.
“With Nia’s help. It’s Aiden’s favorite, so I thought you might like it aswell.”
The spoon stopped halfway to his mouth. “Mighty thoughtful of you, Jordan.Thanks.”
Something flickered in her gaze. “I’m not the domestic type, Nolan, but I’m also not selfish. You worked hard all day in the vineyard, and you deserve a hot meal. Just next time, will you please wake me up and let me know what’s going on? Give me a chance to work with you. I’m no spoiled princess to bepampered.”
He set down the spoon. “Thought to let you sleep in this morning, after you were up half thenight.”
