Page 56 of Wild Wolf
Nolan released a heavy sigh as he shut off the truck engine after parking in the driveway before his grandmother’s cabin. Here was the one place where he could truly be himself. He enjoyed sitting with them in the evening hours and listening to their stories of dayspast.
Sometimes he gleaned nuggets of wisdom he tucked away for later. Those nuggets came in hand with the biggest dilemma he faced as alpha – being tough enough to lead without being a total prick, like hisfather.
MeeMaw’s cabin was the largest, honoring the fact that she was Craig’smother.
As they entered the spacious cabin, Nolan hugged his mother. He stepped aside for Jordan and Sue to greet each other. His mother had always liked Jordan and approval shone in her dark gazenow.
Sue wiped her hands on a checked apron. “Lunch should be ready soon. Why don’t you go inside, say hello toMeeMaw?”
Nolan’s grandmother was ancient. No one knew her exact age. She sat in her favorite chair by the fireplace, her wooden cane at her side. Face a roadmap of wrinkles, she looked frail as newly blown glass. But her rheumy blue eyes werebright.
Nolan crouched down and kissed her hand. “Meemaw, this is Jordan, my mate. You rememberJordan?”
The old woman squinted at Jordan. “Come closer, child, my old eyes can’t see thatwell.”
Jordan bent down before her, and Meemaw ran a hand over her face. “Good bones, strong character. You’re a wild onestill.”
Pink tinted Jordan’s cheeks. “Yes,m’mam.”
“But polite. I like that.” Meemaw turned to him and Nolan felt the uncomfortable weight of her sharp scrutiny. His granny might not see too well, but she saw some things far toowell.
“You’ve been treating her well, Nolan Mitchell? Feeding her well, making sure she’s comfortable, bedding her each night? That old iron bed has made many mated females happy over generations, and you had better not be the first to disappoint yourmate.”
Honesty was always best with the old ones. “I’m doing my best,Meemaw.”
The old lady sank back against the chair. “Your best may be good enough for sex, but that ain’t why you’re here. Tell me child…” she turned to Jordan, who had backed off and stood by the fireplace. “What ails yourheart?”
Jordan shrugged. “I was forced into this marriage. It doesn’tmatter.”
“No one forces anyone into anything, least of all a strong female like you.” Such sage observation made Nolansmile.
Jordan bristled. “It was marriage to him orprison.”
“Not a bad choice, mating with my grandson. Nolan’s a good alpha. Now his brother Bryce, he was a badone.”
At Bryce’s name, Jordan stiffened. She turned toward thefireplace.
“Bryce was a bastard,” she burst out. “You’re the first person to admitit.”
Nolan wondered what Bryce had done to cause such an outburst. His brother had always vexed him. But Jordan never had a problem withBryce.
“Tell me child what hangs heavy on your heart. I can feel the weight of your misery. It’s like a fog in here.” Meemaw beckoned to Jordan, who sat on the fireplace hearth. She let the old woman take her hand. Meemaw’s hands were paper white, the skin like velvet, blue veins roadmapping her frail flesh. But her spirit was strong and Nolan knew taking Jordan here was the best thing he could havedone.
Jordanshrugged.
“You always were a feisty lil thing, even when you first came to us. You rememberthat?”
She nodded. “I don’t recall my folks, though. I have brief memories of living with wolves in the wild, and men with guns who hunted them. I guess that was my folks who hid me in the hollow of that tree to protect me from Skins findingme.”
“Then Tristan found you and brought you here. He said you were orphaned when Skins shot and killed your folks.”Meemaw sighed. “Times can be tough for our kind. But what you make of yourself after is yourchoice.”
Jordan’s lower lip wobbled. “I made the most of it. I… grew to love it in the pack. Sue was always good to me, like a realmother.”
“Then why did yourun?”
Meemaw’s question made Jordan stiffen. “That’s something I can’tdiscuss.”
“Not with me. But you sure as darn hecky better talk with Nolan here or you’ll never be happy. Tell him, child. Get it out of your system before it eats youalive.”
