Page 3 of Wild Wolf
Jordan raced, her heart banging against her chest, adrenalin loaning her speed. Her legs were too short. Theirs were longer, their bodies mature andstronger.
Their wolves morepowerful.
She felt the hot breath of her pursuers on her heels, heard the growls and snarls. They had shifted to chaseher.
Shift, shift! Her panicked mind couldn’t recall themagick.
Amber light from the lamp on the pathway cut through the darkness. The path was almost ahead. Get on the walkaway and they couldn’t touch her. It was well-traveled. No one would dare attackher…
With a burst of speed, she made it to the path, her feet touching the gravel. And then they were upon her, dragging her backwards into the dark forest, their rough hands bruising her, forcing her down. Laughing, oh, the mocking laughs as the hot burn sliced herskin…
Jordanscreamed.
No one heardher.
1
Eastern Tennessee,presentday
He hated twilight,sitting alone with the haunted memories of the woman who broke hisheart.
Cell phone in hand, Nolan perched in his granddaddy’s old rocker on the lodge’s back porch. Before him stretched out the rolling green vista of hills peppered with fir, maple and oak trees. A ridge flanked the right of the lodge, where a full moon hung low in thesky.
Vineyards were hidden by banks of evergreens. Cicadas hummed in the trees as two hummingbirds fought over use of a feeder. The air was redolent with pine, freshly mown grass and fresh air, but he barelynoticed.
For the third time he glanced at the text from his distant cousin in Montana. Aiden Mitchell, alpha of the Mitchell Ranch, asked afavor.
He seldom dealt with Aiden. Oh, he’d kept in touch now and then. Sent Aiden and Nia a lovely handmade quilt to celebrate their baby’s birth six months ago. Nia had written him in thanks, inviting him to the ranch, but they both knew he’d never leavehere.
Nolan’s chest felt hollow as he contemplated Aiden’srequest.
The Silver Wizard’s edict stands firm. Either Jordan Baxter marries you and becomes your permanent mate, or she goes to ShifterPrison.
Jordan. Thatwoman.
Life had taken an abrupt twist six years ago when Jordan, the only woman he’d ever loved, departed his life, leaving only dusty tracks behind and a permanent ache in his chest where he used to have aheart.
Once he’d thought they’d share this special time together, the time of twilight just before the sun’s last rays vanished from the sky. Talk, sip wine, talk some more before heading up to their bedroom overlooking the hills and valleys and then make long, sweetlove.
Nolan thought about the request and rocked some more. Shifter prison was serious. What had Jordandone?
I don’t need a mate. I have themagick.
The grapevines in the fields below thrived on twilight magick shimmering through the forests. Fae who lived in these woods protected the land and the pack. They replenished the vines in gratitude for Nolan’s sharing the special vintage he made especially for them. Symbiotic relationship,that.
The rocker creaked back and forth. He sipped herbal tea and cast an appreciative eye around the porch. Most of the pack had already finished eating in the lodge dining hall, and headed to their rooms or their respectivecabins.
Aware of their scent even before the door opened, he remained focused on the hills. Charlene and Roy’s daughter inched her way outside, her feet barely making a sound. Good stealth for one so young. Kacey was onlyseven.
He knew his duty, knew what he must do. Still, he remainedsilent.
“Ecscue me for disturbing you, alpha, but mommy and daddy said I have to confess what I did wrong.” The little girl approached, stinking offear.
Best not to prolong her misery. Nolan glanced at her. She touched her forehead in the usual measure of respect, refusing to meet his gaze. Few in the packdid.
“Go on,” he told her in his gentlestvoice.
Her lower lip wobbled and she pushed a hand through her strawberry blonde hair, her other hand bunched in her Hello Kitty T-shirt. “I stole Summer Harvest wine and dranksome.”
