Page 14 of The Mating Need
Chapter 2
The wood signhanging above the open gates read MITCHELLRANCH.
A mile-long gravel road led to buildings he could barely make out. Green forest and mountains painted a pretty backdrop to the serene valley where horses grazed. Freshly-cut grass scented the air, threading through the smell of wildflowers and strong alpha Lupinemarkers.
Troy stood on the steel grates designed to prevent cattle from escaping and shuffled his boots back and forth. His future stretched before him, seemingly bright and beckoning, but much like the distant storm clouds, not alwayssunny.
Life was never totally trouble free. Hell he would settle for dramafree.
But joining a pack presented a huge commitment when you’d been a lone wolf on the road for a long time. Not just a lone wolf, but a lone wolf with a crazed need to mate and breed. Might be a problem in a large pack filled with competitive males, except he already had the mate inmind.
If only Jenny would cooperate. Leaving her felt like leaving his heart behind, but he had to moveforward.
Except now, he couldn’t. Couldn’t make his feet take anotherstep.
Isn’t this what you wanted?Go.
Instead, he simply waited a minute, knowing the security cameras on the fence posts already picked up his presence. A wolf howled in the distance, signaling his arrival in a more basic, Lupineway.
Maybe his expectations ran too high and he feared being disappointed yet again. Easier to turn around, return to the forest with Jenny and resume their nomadiclife.
Not this time. Something about this ranch called tohim.
The trick to blending in with Skins was looking like them. He’d learned that long ago it worked with Lupines as well. Surely it would worknow.
Troy pushed the Stetson back on his head to show his face as he started forward. Now wasn’t the time to hide. Alphas were smart. Wary. Protective of theirpacks.
The way you protectJenny.
His thoughts skidded sideways. Nearly two months with her, teaming up like some kind of odd friendship when he’d wanted more. From the moment he’d seen her zapping those three Skins who wanted to rape her, he’d known she was his. Hisalone.
Lust kicked him low and hard as he recalled the softness of her skin, the sweetness of her mouth as he’d kissed her, the curves that had him salivating. Yeah, he was patient. Too patient. Other males would have pushed her hard, edging past the thin line of seduction to something darker and moreprimitive.
It lurked in the genes of every male Lupine, that raging lust that drove them to mate. He’d learned to control himself. But ah, around Jenny, control had a way of teasing away from him, letting the lust consumehim.
Times like that he usually left her alone, headed into whatever town they’d bunked near, to get away fromher.
Like now, except he wanted her with him. Permanently. Her panic attack had scared the ever loving shit out ofhim.
For now, he had to check out this place, see if they were good Lupines, a good place to settle, mate with Jenny, raiseyoung.
See Zoe and how she was getting along. She sounded happy in her texts. There even was a cowboy she liked, and wanted to date, but she was afraid he’d find out her sordidpast.
Troy started for the buildings, taking his time, assessing the surroundings. He gauged the sun riding lower in the sky. Best time to visit. Chores mostly would be finished, Lupines relaxed and ready for dinner, tending to family matters. The alpha wouldn’t be asbusy.
Finally he reached the main building – a wood lodge that looked like both a hotel and a place ofbusiness.
He drew closer to the porch, catching the scent of two Lupines sitting there, booted feet propped up on the railing. One was lanky, with the blackest eyes Troy had ever seen, and razor sharp cheekbones. Troy pegged him as Native American, maybe Sioux. Fascinating. He’d met one or two Lupines with Sioux blood in his travels. Not wolves to tangle with, for certain. Like him, they stayed close to nature and were more feral than Skin. Beneath his white Stetson, inky black hair hung curtain rod straight down to his torso. His jeans jacket, white T-shirt and jeans were worn and slightlydusty.
His companion had shorter hair and a black Stetson. His body boasted of hard muscle beneath his jeans and blue chambray work shirt. He recognized the scent of the black-hatted Lupine. Hell, this was the same male who’d trekked through the woods near their camp. His gut reaction kicked in, wanting to growl in the male’s face. Still so protective ofJenny.
But this male had a hellava lot to protect,too.
Troy stopped short of the steps, focusing on the familiar male. Tall, short dark hair beneath his Stetson, he had a watchful look. Probably the packenforcer.
Easy to recognize the type, the relaxed body ready to rip into action in seconds, triggered to either offer a hand in friendship or rip your throatout.
He’d done the same at his former pack. Troy nodded at the male, equal toequal.
