Page 50 of Wild Wolf
“The ghost of my father haunts older members of the pack. They’re too scared tochange.”
“Maybe they’re scared of losing their independence. Hetty doesn’t live with the pack and maybe if she did, she’d start feeling useless and witheraway.”
Nolan’s caramel gaze grew thoughtful. “Never thought of it that way. I’ve offered to bring in help, but she insists on doing thisalone.”
“Then change your tactics, Mitchell. If she’s that proud she won’t accept help. But sure as shooting I bet she’d accept young trainees eager to learn the retail side of thebusiness.”
He blinked, and a warm smile touched his full mouth. “Pixie, you’rebrilliant.”
Jordan blushed. “Naw. I just worked with the elderly for a while and know how they are with pride and fear of losing their independence. Skins and Lupines aren’t much different in thatregard.”
He fished out his cell phone and barked instructions into it. As he hung up, Nolan looked at her with fresh appreciation. “Ben and his mate, Maggie, will be here by morning. I’ll tell Hetty.Thanks.”
They rocked a while, enjoying the fresh air and cool breeze. “Where did you work with the elderly?” Nolanasked.
Jordan sipped her wine. “In a nursing home out west. They were in desperate need of attendants and I was in desperate need ofmoney.”
“You never told me what you did those six years you were gone fromus.”
No, because that part of my life isn’t pretty.She shrugged. “Moved around a lot, did a bunch of odd jobs, sometimes working for fast food stores. Easy to fudge a job application for minimum wage or get paid under the table. Stuff like waiting tables or picking fruit. Tried to avoid Lupine packs, but I managed to run with the moon by my lonesome now andthen.”
“You liked the taste of freedom, but not the freedom of living withpack.”
Nolan’s deep voice held no accusations, but the words made her uneasy. “Not really. I avoided other packs because I still held loyalty to yours. Just couldn’t comehome.”
“Why?” He turned to look at her. “When are you going to tell me what happened that drove you away? Was itBryce?”
Jordan stiffened, the glass halfway to her mouth. Her heart pounded and she tried to control her emotions. The mere mention of his brother’s name filled her with rage andgrief.
She shrugged again. “Maybe I just needed to find myself. I had no parents, no real blood ties and I needed toexplore.”
Judging from his expression, Nolan didn’t believeher.
When they were back in the truck and headed home, she kept the talk to mundane topics, like the winery and the business. Yet inside, she mulled over confiding in him about her issues with shifting into wolf on packland.
“You have a selfless devotion burning inside you, Nolan. You truly care about your people.” She tapped her fingers on one knee to the rhythm of the song playing on his iPod. “It’s not a power trip like it was with yourfather.”
Nolan fell silent a moment and she feared she’d offended him somehow. Then he turned down the music and spoke quietly, his deep voice reverberating in the truck’scab.
“My father wasn’t a great Lupine, Jordan. Keep trying to tell myself he was, but he had many faults. Since I took control of the pack two years ago, I’ve come to realize that. Hetty was just one example of a wrong that should have been maderight.”
For once, she listened, not saying anything as words poured out of him. By the time they pulled into the lodge’s driveway, she had new understanding of the challenges hefaced.
Not only trying to live up to his father’s reputation as a tough alpha who brooked no disobedience, but also dealing with younger Lupines opposing him and hinting they could run thepack.
He parked the truck and turned to her, gaze solemn. “It’s always something, Jordan. Some days I feel like I’m riding a roller coaster, going three hundred miles an hour and no one’s going to stopit.”
She placed her hand over his, feeling the strength and the rough hairs feathering the back. “You’re not alone, Nolan. Let me help you. You took on a role you weren’t ready for, but you’ve handled it. Nothing says you have to do everything exactly as your fatherdid.”
He nodded. “Got a pointthere.”
Nolan scratched his chin, day beard bristles evident. “Full moon soon. I’m looking forward to running with you. Our first time out leading the packtogether.”
His confident smile filled with warmth filled her withdread.
“Nolan, there’s something you should know about me,” shebegan.
They were interrupted by Sam, approaching the truck, his expression grim. Nolan rolled down hiswindow.
