Wild (Wolf Ranch 2)

I climbed out of bed. Actually, maybe it would be better to just bail because it was safer that way. Leave him before he left me. I’d have a few hours to get over it. Over him.

When Colton saw me at the ranch, he’d slap me on the ass and thank me for a good time. I just didn’t want to hear it right now.

Yeah, maybe I was chickening out, but I had zero experience with one-night stands and what happened the morning after. Especially when he found out I’d known who he was all along and had taken advantage of that. Most guys wouldn’t care about being used for their dick, but Colton wasn’t just a guy. He was Audrey’s future brother-in-law who I’d see off and on for the rest of my life.

I found my clothes laid out on the radiator where he must’ve put them to dry last night.

That little kindness made my chest ache. Colton was perfect. Running felt cowardly. I wasn’t really running—it was a safety check. He’d see me in a couple hours at the ranch, and I had to be A-OK by then.

I pulled on my shirt and leggings, grabbed my suitcase and slipped out the motel door, hoping I wasn’t making a huge mistake.

See you, soon, cowboy.

COLTON

* * *

I smiled when I heard movement in the motel room. My little mate was awake. I’d woken at my usual five for PT, my body so attuned to the daily regimen it was impossible to break. Even in a different time zone. But I didn’t get up and run the usual five miles. Fuck, no. I’d lain awake beside her until the sun rose before getting up, afraid I’d wake her. But she’d slept deeply last night. Peacefully. I knew, because I dozed lightly most of the night, so my wolf could watch over her and because it was hard to sleep with a hard dick, even after taking her twice.

My wolf needed to know she wasn’t going anywhere. That no one would hurt her. That she was here in my arms. For the first time in… forever, I was calm. No restlessness. No panic at not finding her.

Some of that over-protectiveness would ease after I claimed and marked her, but I didn’t care if it didn't. Protecting my mate was a goddamn honor. If it meant a thousand sleepless nights, I’d sign up in a heartbeat. Hell, there was no signing up. I was on the job.

I finished the shower and toweled off, pausing when I heard the click of the front door. My shifter hearing was strong enough to hear over the bathroom fan. She was probably getting something out of her car.

Still, that underlying anxiety that had kept me awake all night made me throw open the bathroom door to get eyes on her.

And I did.

Fucking driving away.

Aw, fuck no. No, no, no.

Dropping the towel, I yanked on my clothes, grabbed my shit and ran for the truck, but her car was already out of sight.

Goddammit. My mate just left, and I didn’t even know her fucking name!

I took a breath, let it out. The morning air was cool, the rain had cleared away for a bluebird sky and a soft breeze. Inside me, the storm was still raging.

No, it was okay. I knew which direction she headed. I could catch up to her. Tossing my stuff onto the passenger seat, I climbed in and started the engine.

I would find her. When I did, I would not let out the steamball of aggression my wolf was throwing around. I would not scare her or come on too strong. Her ass would get spanked pink.

Before I could do that, I needed to goddamn find her.

I returned to the place we met last night—where the road had washed out from the swollen creek. The raised water was gone now, and I drove right past. The pillar she’d stood on caught my eye, making something cinch in my chest. My mate was out there. Alone. Not with me.

I’d find her. I had to find her.

5

MARINA

* * *

I pulled up to the ranch house and tumbled out of the rental car, looking like a rumpled mess in yesterday’s clothes. I knew Audrey and Boyd had their own little cabin somewhere on the property—Audrey’d told me all about the work they were starting on it—but I didn’t know where. Based on the length of the driveway, Wolf Ranch was huge, so I parked in the main circle drive, in front of the house, figuring I could get directions.

The screen door banged open, and my dark-haired half-sister came flying out to greet me. “You finally made it!” She pulled me into a warm hug. “Getting caught in the storm last night must’ve been so stressful!”

I hadn’t seen Audrey since Christmas when we’d had a week together. It had been too long, especially since she’d found a guy to marry since then.