Feral (Wolf Ranch 3)

“Thanks, I would appreciate that.” I played dumb. “What’s the bull for, anyway? Are you going to sell him?”

“No, he’s here for breeding. We just sell a few cows off every so often.”

“Oh yeah?” I twirled a lock of hair around my finger and sat into one hip. “Just a few?”

His eyes tracked my movements.

“I know, it’s strange if you ask me. Seems like it’d make more sense to sell them all at once. Maybe he don’t want to buy another trailer. Not the way I’d do it, but it’s not my ranch.” He shrugged.

“Well, I’d love to watch you load them up. The cows, I mean. I’ve never seen a working ranch before.”

A grin creased his youthful face. “Well, I don’t load them. I just bring ‘em down into the chute. Mr. Markle likes to load them himself after sundown and transport at night, so it’s not too hot and uncomfortable for the cattle.”

Uh huh. Sure. The only way Markle probably liked a cow was medium rare.

“Well, that’s very humane of him. When will that be? I’d love to watch that part.”

His grin broadened like he thought I was cute. “Well, sure. I’m bringin’ “em down tomorrow evening. You’re welcome to come down.”

“It wouldn’t be too much of a bother if I came back to watch? I’ll stay out of the way, I promise.”

Jack’s gaze darted toward Markle’s house, like he was suddenly unsure. I wasn’t surprised considering what an asshole Markle was. “Uh, yeah. I think that would be fine. I mean, it’s fine with me. I don’t think Mr. Markle would care.”

“Well, I’ll ask him when I come,” I said sweetly. “Thanks.”

I turned and headed back toward my place.

Perfect. If Markle followed routine, which most drug runners did once they found a method that worked, he’d load the drugs in after the cows, like I saw last time. If I could get down there and check out the crates before they were loaded, I’d have everything I needed to take Markle down.

And Jack just gave me an excuse for being there if I got caught.

I walked back to the house, trying to keep my gaze from lifting toward Wolf Ranch.

Trying to ignore the stab of pain in my chest that seemed like it would never go away. I ached for Rob. For the life he had here, the family. For his dick. And his heart.

Focus on the job, Willow.

It was the only thing I had left.

25

ROB

The shaking of my bed made me groan.

“Get up, asshole.”

“What the fuck?” I growled.

“You’ve had two days.”

Colton.

“I’ve never known you to drink yourself into a fucking stupor.”

Boyd.

I blinked, tried not to have sharp spikes drill into my skull as I did so. My bed was soft. Warm. I didn’t want to move. I was pretty sure I’d been in it for twenty-four hours straight.

“I’m keeping away the moon madness,” I muttered. “And thoughts about Natalie. I mean, Willow. Whatever the fuck her name is.”

One of them kicked the bed.

My stomach flip flopped.

“You smell like the floor at Cody’s after closing.” Again, Colton.

“Are you still wearing the same clothes as at the picnic?” Fucking Boyd.

Groaning, I sat up facing the window. It was dark out. Definitely not time for them to be getting me out of bed. My foot kicked a whiskey bottle across the floor.

“Fuck off.”

My mouth tasted like something died, and I wasn’t sure if my head was going to stay attached to my body. After I’d called Kara’s mate’s pack and requested the guy’s presence here on Wolf land, I’d led her back to her dad and Tom and Janet. They’d left soon after, and I was sure she’d told them the plan for her mating by now.

I’d still do the mating ceremony if they wanted, but it wasn’t required for a true match.

After they left, I found the whiskey and drowned myself in it. My wolf had pushed me to go after Willow, but I refused to do it. The only way to get my wolf to stop and for me to forget was to get stumbling drunk.

“We did. For two days. Take a shower and get yourself together,” Colton said. “You need to eat some food.”

Two days. I’d accomplished my goal. But why they were having me surface now, I had no idea.

“Why?” I ran a hand through my hair absently, then over my jaw.

“We’re not talking to you like this. Shower. Shave that fucking beard,” Boyd ordered. “We’ve got some steaks on the grill.”

“Don’t boss me around. I’m the fucking alpha around here.”

“Oh yeah?” Colton asked, whacking me on the back of my head, making me groan. “Then act like it.”

“We give you ten minutes then we’re coming in after you,” Boyd said. “The last thing I want to do is see your junk, so you better fucking move.”