Page 62 of Wild Wolf
Her heart sank. He wasn’t buyingit.
“Why were you running alone in wolfskin? I told you to never go anywhere without anescort.”
Shame arrowed through her. Nolan didn’t know about her problem. “Guess now’s the time to tell you. I never learned to shift as quickly as you. I went alone to practice. Last thing you needed was a mate who couldn’t shift when you ran beneath the moon with thepack.”
Nolan crossed the room, clasped her chin and lifted her face to meet his fierce gaze. “Last thing I need is a mate who lies to me, and one who doesn’t obey a direct order for her own good. Ever think I didn’t know about your problem, and maybe if you’d come to me with it, we could work on ittogether?”
Jordan’s temper rose. “I’m capable of taking care of my own problems. You should have known I don’t always follow orders, Nolan. Especially when you’re giving so many this place turns into a military camp instead ofhome.”
He released her and she felt cold dread snake down her spine at the emptiness in his eyes. “You never follow directions. Even when it means you endanger yourself and others. You screwed up big time,Jordan.”
He didn’t believe her. “I told you the truth. It was Adam setting thefire.”
“Adam was withus.”
“You don’t believe me. Not even giving me the benefit of the doubt that maybe it was someone who resembledAdam.”
She stood now, fisting her hands. “I would never set a fire, Nolan. That’s not me. Endanger the forest? I know how important it is. What reason would I have to risk wildlife and burn down thelodge?”
He ran a hand through his hair and his broad shoulders tensed. “Perhaps the same reasons that drove you to run from us in the firstplace.”
One last attempt at reasoning. Swallowing her pride, she went to him, took his hands, feeling the tensile strength inthem.
Thecoldness.
“I love you, Nolan. I would never hurt you or do anything to endanger thepack.”
His eyes closed. He pulled his hands away and the gesture felt like a hard slap. “I want to believe you, Jordan. But the evidence pointselsewhere.”
“Screw the evidence,” she shouted. “You’re a wolf, you can flush out the scents and find out for yourself. I wasn’t the only onethere.”
Nolan’s eyes opened. Deep in those caramel depths she saw doubts flicker. Encouraged, she pressedon.
“Why would I set fire to the forest and destroy my home, Nolan? Destroy what is so important toyou?”
But he pulled away as she pressed close to him. “You were important to me, Jordan. The most important one in my life, more than my own damn family. And yet you threw it away and left. Maybe you’re changing your mind again because you’ve decided this isn’t going to work out and you want out. Again. You’re good at running. Just not stickingaround.”
Nolan added, his voice growing deep with frustration. “Why did you run the first time, Jordan? You never toldme.”
Her heart dropped to her stomach. Gods, he was going there now. Should have realized it would happen sooner or later. She’d hoped to have more time to solidify their relationship first, make him realize she did lovehim.
“I do care. I always did,Nolan.”
His dark eyebrows arched. “Uh huh. Then why did you leave and say those things tome?”
Jordan struggled with her emotions. “To stop you from coming afterme.”
Nolan’s mouth thinned. “That’s a poorexcuse.”
Tears burned the back of her throat as she turned away, struggling with her lost composure. She refused to surrender to them, just as she’d refused to cry that night. Now it would come out. He would knoweverything.
“I didn’t want to leave. I had nochoice.”
He didn’t even blink. “Don’t lie to me, Jordan. You’ve liedenough.”
“I lied because of what Bryce did. I lied that day because he was your brother and you had to live with him.” Fisting her hands, she turned away from him, unable to look him in the eyes. “That night after you and I made love…when I was walking back to thelodge…”
Words failed her. Jordan clutched her throat, feeling the acid boil in her stomach, the terror and shame of that night bubblingup.
