Page 16 of Wild Wolf
A smile touched Aiden’s mouth. “Smart move. And you wanted them to see this is a solid marriage, with Tristan marrying you both. Let them witness that you’re taking on a strong mate. Let them see the loyalty of yourpack.”
Strong? Try super strong. Jordan was a force unto herself. “Yep. They’ll think twice before setting fires on myland.”
“Seems odd, a local pack risking burning trees when fires spread easily to their ownturf.”
He thought so as well, but hadn’t voiced his suspicions to anyone. Secretly, Nolan had been scouting out the source of the fires, trying to pinpoint the arsonist. Brandon Harlow denied setting thefires.
He was starting to believe him, but who else would want the vineyard destroyed, his pack’s livelihood and territoryruined?
“Appreciate you standing up for me,Aiden.”
“Glad to do it. But why not have your betawolf?”
“Don’t haveone.”
Aiden’s brow wrinkled. He stroked his short-cropped black beard. “Right, I forgot about that in your pack. But you’re leading now. Why not take abeta?”
“Tradition. Betas have always been the heirs in this pack, dating back to my great-grandaddy’s time.” Nolan rolled hisshoulders.
“So you’re going to wait until you have a son to have someone assisting you? Stupid tradition,” Aidengrumbled.
Nolan growled low. “Watch it, cuz. Don’t mockus.”
Aiden shook his head. “Your pack is smaller, but you’re running a business, Nolan. Take my advice. A beta wolf is necessary for your sanity. I don’t know where I’d be without Darius. You have someone to trust when times getrough.”
“I can handle my people, and my life. Backoff.”
The other alpha held up his hands. “No insultmeant.”
Everything Aiden said made sense, yet Nolan couldn’t budge on breaking with what his father had done. He wished he could confide in Aiden, but even though they were blood, they barely knew eachother.
He’d been too young to assume control of the pack after his fatherdied.
Aiden glanced out the bedroom window. “Thanks for giving me and Nia the cabin by the creek. But shouldn’t you be there for your wedding night with yourbride?”
“My bedroom is here. Marriages, and babies, always begin here.” Nolan gestured to the bed, and both of themgrinned.
His cousin’s smile faded. “Not veryprivate.”
He agreed, but it was important to let the pack know continuity. After his father died, there had been turbulent times. Lupines wanted to leave. He held them all together through assuring them nothing wouldchange.
Nothing had. Not in twoyears.
Maybe it was time for a fewchanges.
Aiden patted the bed. “Good, solid mattress. I can hear the springs creakalready.”
Nolan’s blood thickened. He could imagine it as well. Bedding Jordan would bepleasurable.
It was the other times when she was out of bed that concernedhim.
“You sure do like tradition in this pack,” Aidenobserved.
“We’re slow tochange.”
“Your father was glacial. He never changed anything. Not up until the day he died.” Aiden sighed. “Maybe if he had, he’d still bealive.”
Nolan said nothing. Craig had died in a foolhardy springtime tradition of the alpha proving his stamina by running over every square inch of pack territory for two days, without stopping for rest or water. Even though Craig had suffered from sickness that winter, pride refused to let him postpone or break that tradition. Weakness didn’t trumppride.
