Page 45 of Wild Wolf
Jordan folded her arms. “I don’t knowhow.”
So calm. He was so damn calm and quiet, his light brown gaze clear and uncompromising. “Do it. It’s in yourblood.”
Her blood consisted of rebellion and anger, not patience. Jordan’s stomachrumbled.
“Learn or go hungry.” Nolan dusted off his hands and stood, leaning against a treetrunk.
Fine. I can do this. I’ve done much more complicatedthings.
She climbed over a fallen tree trunk to access a pool further from where Nolan had caught the trout. Jordan had never fished, but she wasn’t stupid. The trout he’d caught was long gone, and that fishing areatainted.
Hunkering down, she waited. Memories bit of those first lonely days on the road, huddling under dead, dry leaves for warmth at night, trying to wash away her scent by sticking to the river so Nolan couldn’t trackher…
Or worse –Bryce.
Fishing in the river aswolf.
Being chased by Skins with guns who thought she was a coyote after theirlivestock.
Jordan waited. A flash of shiny scales, the wriggle of afin…
Her hand shot out, almost of its own accord. When she drew it out of the water, the trout wriggled init.
She beamed at Nolan. “I didit!”
He gave her a long, slow smile. “Knew youwould.”
Something in that smile shattered her stubborn resolve to distance herself. That smile scared her more than his silence because it provided a connection she didn’twant.
Jordan dropped the fish into the water. Nolan blinked in apparentsurprise.
“Bye fish, swim free.”I’m not free. I never will befree.
“What in tarnation did you do that for?” hedemanded.
Finally, a reaction. She shrugged. “I told you, I don’t likefish.”
Nolan stared at her a good long minute. Suddenly he threw back his head and laughed. It was such a charming, warm-hearted sound that the Skins cooking on the grill above them peereddown.
Jordan only felt more confusion. He should be angry. “Why are youamused?”
“You always were a prideful lil thing,” he mused. “That hasn’t changed. Reminds me of the time when Dad refused to let you leave the main dining hall during the monthly pack dinner until you ate your beef. I came down for a midnight snack and you were still there. Meat on your plate congealing in sauce. What were you, all of five yearsold?”
She broke into a reluctant smile. “He’d caved and dismissed me two hours before, but I wasn’t about to break. It was a test of wills, until you showed up and carried me off tobed.”
They both fell silent. The memory of that night had stamped deep into her conscience. Nolan had asked his father to carry her upstairs, and then Craig had tucked her into bed and kissed her good-night on her cheek. Nolan had remained at her bedside, singing until her eyes flutteredclosed.
For the first time since arriving at the Mitchell pack in Tennessee after being orphaned, Jordan had felt hope that maybe things could workout.
How wrong she’dbeen.
She rubbed her arms, suddenly cold as a different memory overtook her. “How much longer do we have to stayhere?”
Shock filled her as he approached, enfolding her in his strong embrace. “You’re shivering,” he murmured. “I’ll take you back the long way and we’ll stop at a restaurant in town. Lots of rarebeef.”
The warmth of his body and the gentleness of his tone nearly undid her. If she broke, it wouldn’t be from Nolan’s gruffness and reticence, but hiskindness.
Yet it had been too long since anyone had held her with such gentle consideration, had taken the least bit of care with her. So for a few minutes she remained in his arms, resting inthem.
