Page 17 of Wild Wolf
Craig tripped and went tumbling down the hill, his head smashing open on arock.
“Fathers can be bastards.” Aiden’s gaze met his in the mirror. “Mine was. Don’t keep putting yours on a pedestal, Nolan. Because when that pedestal shatters, the jagged pieces cutyou.”
Narrowing his eyes, he met Aiden’s steady gaze. “My pack, Mitchell. Stay out ofit.”
But Aiden only smiled. “Agreed, Mitchell. Just giving cousinly advice. Ready to dothis?”
His chest tightened as he thought of the enormity of what faced him. Once he’d imagined this moment as his future - marrying Jordan and claiming her for life. But the carefree, giggling girl had vanished, leaving a wild wolf in herplace.
“Let’s do it.” He grinned to hide his true feelings about the importance of this moment and the dream he’d harbored all his life. Sex was easier to talk about than love and commitment. “Sooner I wed her, sooner I bedher.”
“Now you’re talking.” Aiden grinnedback.
5
Dressedin the flowing white gown Nia bought for her, a circlet of pink roses upon her head and white satin shoes upon her feet, she waited for her groom on a raised dais by the fish pond. A wood trellis decorated with white and red roses stretchedoverhead.
Nolan’s pack was small compared to others – only two hundred, including young. Despite the last minute arrangements, a few outsiders had been invited to witness their hasty marriage. Two alpha-looking Lupines sat upfront.
Friends ofNolan’s?
“Nolan told me he invited the local Fae queen as a courtesy.” Nia scanned the crowd. “I don’t see her. Or hercourt.”
“Selene always was private and preferred to stay out of sight.” Still, it disappointed Jordan that the Fae had not shown. She always liked them, and it had comforted her knowing they lived in the forest, protecting the trees and thevineyards.
Neither Aiden nor Nolan were in sight. Standing at her side, Nia offered an encouraging smile, but doubts flickered in her pretty blueeyes.
Jordan felt the same. Had Nolan decided to ditchher?
Overhead, the sun shone strong in a bright blue sky, and the wind rustled through the pines, maples and oak trees. Seated on white chairs covered with linen, the pack stirred restlessly. She saw her childhood friends Erica and Shirl in the front row, their smirks echoing herfears.
Nolan wasn’tcoming.
Nia touched her arm. “Don’t worry. He’s coming. Aiden will talk tohim.”
Jordan shrugged. This was far too important to express her real emotions, her fears and hopes. “Or talk him out ofit.”
“Not mymate.”
The small bunch of pink roses in her hands trembled a little. She smiled to hide the inner trepidation. “I hope Nolan shows up. Otherwise it will be a waste of pretty flowers and decorations. The food, well, this pack never wastes food. Or wine. At least you’ll get agood…”
Jordan ceasedtalking.
A soft pop of air pressure and the Silver Wizard, Aiden and Nolan appeared on the dais. Nolan blinked hard, smoothed down the lapels of his blacktuxedo.
“I don’t know how you do that without getting dizzy,” he toldAiden.
Aiden, dressed also in a black silk tuxedo, a pink rose in his lapel, shook his head. “Idon’t.”
“Wusses,” Tristan saidcheerfully.
The wizard, dressed all in black, regarded Jordan. “My apologies for the delay. I had some business to address regarding thewinery.”
Jordan’s fingers tightened on her bouquet. She looked at Nolan. Whether in blue jeans and a blue chambray work shirt or a silk tuxedo, he was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. She smiled athim.
“Thanks for stoppingby.”
Nolan’s light brown gaze flickered. “Thanks for dressing up for theoccasion.”
