Page 38 of Wild Wolf
All these emotions made her yearn to pack her bags and flee again. Nolan’s father hadn’t believed her or stood up for her years ago. She wanted to have faith her mate would, but why wouldhe?
She was stuck with Nolan, who might put his pack before her, and a pack who wasn’t certainly welcoming her back into the fold. Running away from the turbulent emotions swirling inside her wouldn’t solveanything.
That stunt yesterday because of Erica. Her formerfriend.
Yet she understood the dilemma Nolan faced with his pack, not wishing to show his new mate preferentialtreatment.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel. To her dismay, Shirl and Erica were coming up from the stable area. Guilt etched theirexpressions.
“Where are you going?” Ericademanded.
“None of your business. You now the pack police, monitoring mymoves?”
“There are rules you need to follow, Jordan. You don’t get special exemption simply because you’re mated to Nolan now. You can’t wander around as you please,” Shirl putin.
“You twoare.”
They exchanged glances. Ok, this was interesting. “Where have you been, anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be working at the winery since you’re so terrific at pouring at thebar?”
Red suffused Erica’s face, much to Jordan’s amusement. She’d heard that Galen had ordered Erica off the bar after a mere twenty minutes because she confused thecustomers.
“You’re not in charge of us,” Shirl snapped. “So shut up,Jordan.”
She considered. “Maybe Nolan should have grown a crop of marijuana in addition tograpes.”
Both women lookedpuzzled.
“Why?” Shirl blurtedout.
“Because then you could go smoke some weed and calm the fuckdown.”
Shirl growled and lunged, but Erica pulled her back. “Never mind her. Let’sgo.”
They scurried past, giving her a wide berth. Damn, that hurt. Once they had been inseparable. Now her former friends hatedher.
Had they truly been there that night, aiding in what happened? All these years she’d tried to imagine it was two other women. Yet their voices had been thesame.
That hurt the most, because they had been so close. Maybe they’d hated her because of her relationship with Nolan, the alpha’s heir. Yet her friends had always teased her about Nolan, encouraging her to get physical withhim.
It made no sense. Hurt her head thinking aboutit.
What she needed was a swift ride, a temporary escape. Jordan headed for the stables, but remembered the horses were all gone. Trail ridetoday.
She changed direction and jogged to the separate building that once housed the tractor and other farm equipment needed for the vineyards. A smile touched her face as she thought of Nolan staring at her as she rode the tractor, plowing through the fields with an old straw hat clapped on herhead.
When she opened the wooden double doors, what caught her eye wasn’t a green tractor, but a sleek redmotorcycle.
“Well, butter my biscuit and call me dinner,” she drawled, staring at the bike. “Nolan Mitchell, when did you start livingdangerously?”
Maybe that reckless, wild wolf she’d glimpsed inside the alpha wasn’t her imagination after all. Jordan marched inside, her boot heels clicking across the concrete floor. Her heart pounded with excitement as she ran a loving hand over the sleek, polishedchrome.
Keys weren’t in the ignition, but she’d picked up a few skills in her years on the road, including how to hot wire amotorcycle.
Minutes later, she wheeled the bike outside, placed the black helmet on her head and tore off for the road. The narrow, winding and steep country roads made it perfect for riding. Jordan leaned into the curves, laughing still, enjoyinglife.
Maybe this mating thing wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. Nolan could be an arrogant alpha, but he’d been tender and gentle in bed, and then domineering just as she liked. He thought she had a wild side.Well…
Jordan accelerated, thrilling to the rush of wind, the kick of adrenalin fueling her body, the sheer bliss of freedom. She’d almost lost that freedom to a dark prison. Never again would she take it forgranted.
