Page 44 of Wild Wolf
Nolan talked about the pack, about the places they liked to run in the wild as he drove, one arm hanging out the window. Shirt sleeves rolled to show off muscular forearms, he seemed more relaxed than she’d everseen.
“So why are we here?” she asked. “When’sbreakfast?”
“You’llsee.”
He parked the truck in a popular picnic area not far from the entrance. He shut off the ignition and turned to her. “Here in the park, the pack runs wild, but the rules are, we do it where no Skins can see us and no one goes alone. No one. Gotit?”
“Yessir.”
His hand tightened on the steering wheel. “Those are the rules, Jordan. There’s reason for them. Safety above all else. This is a popular park and we don’t risk Skins seeing us aswolves.”’
“And you? Do the rules apply to you? You never run alonehere?”
No answer. He climbed out of thetruck.
“Figures,” shegrumbled.
They walked down the hill to a pathway leading to the Little Pigeon River. Children splashed and played in the water, and a black Labrador bounded after them. Green moss coated the thick maple trunks growing near the river. Huge boulders flanked the rushing water, some flat, making good areas to stretch out andrelax.
Skins cooked meat over charcoal grills. The smell of grilled chicken made her stomach growl with hunger, reminding Jordan she hadn’t eatenbreakfast.
Pride prevented her from saying anything, but Nolan gave her a sideways glance. Blushing, she ignoredit.
They descended to a pool of water trapped by rocks near a smallwaterfall.
“Did you take me here for a picnic?” She gazed around. “Where’s thefood?”
Nolan didn’t answer. Instead, he crouched down, staring at the water as if divining secrets. Her stomach growledagain.
“I’m so hungry I could eat a Skin,” shemuttered.
Still no reaction. What did it take to get a rise out of thisguy?’
“Maybe even one of those children. Would you mind? I can grill my own,” shetaunted.
Nolan leaned closer to the water. She felt like pushing him in. Gods, she hated beingignored.
“Why are we here anyway? You won’t let me run, orhunt…”
Suddenly his hand shot out. Her jaw dropped as she saw what wriggled in hispalm.
A fat trout, scales shiny in thesunlight.
Jordan’s jaw dropped. Nolan glanced ather.
She hadn’t even seen the trout. Admiration filled her. Best not to let him see it or it would feed him even more power overher.
“If that’s breakfast, I don’t like fish,” she toldhim.
Nolan released the trout and it splashed into the water, swimming away from danger and the wolf’sgrip.
Hunger bit at her. “Hey, why did you dothat?”
“I already ate breakfast. You need to catch yourown.”
“I’m not thatquick!”
“Learn.”
