Read Online Wolf on Board (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 14) by Heather Long - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heather Long
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why.
To his credit, Jake didn’t laugh at her. “Dude, do you get to bring home samples of what you fix?” He shoveled in another mouthful of food. His steak was three-quarters gone, as were his vegetables. His enjoyment pleased her immensely.
“Not today. We actually ate some then donated the rest to a party at a shelter for battered women.” She admired her instructor’s dedication to social work and making lives better for the battered women and their families. In the pack, they took care of each other. Abusers were few…most wolves could fight back, and those that couldn’t would be protected.
“I’d whine that I’d like to have tried one, but that’s a great place to bring some sweetness and light.” Of course, Jake understood it. “I hate those places though.”
“They’re a necessity, especially for those escaping those who would hurt them.” She didn’t particularly care for the scent of them either—defeat, sadness, pain, and grief always tore at her when she went anywhere near them. Those weren’t the only scents she experienced—she’d also tasted hope, simple joy and relief.
“I appreciate that; I just hate that they are a necessity. If the human laws allowed them to handle abusers the way we do, they wouldn’t need them.” A growl underscored every word he spoke.
Mimi focused on him. The lackadaisical, laidback wolf she’d had coffee with and found stalking her transformed. His eyes narrowed. His jaw tightened. Even the sweet, sea breeze mingling with the woods in his scent diminished, growing chillier, mintier and deeper pine.
Willow Bend had a human population within the pack, from humans who mated in to full families who remained loyal to the pack whether they took the bite or not. “Humans aren’t the same as us. Some are, but not all. Their laws are complicated and take time…”
“And they can’t always read intentions or truth telling, I know.” Jake wiped his mouth with a napkin then took a long pull of beer. “We can’t always tell those intentions either, no matter how keen our senses.” An unexpected sadness seemed to creep over him. “You ever think we trust our so-called instincts too much?”
She had enough on her plate to store and eat later, and she was full so she ignored the food for the moment and rested her elbows on the counter. Studying his expression, she considered her answer. “We’re wolves. What would we be without our instincts?”
“Ignorance could be bliss.” He didn’t sound as if he believed it though.
“Did you know the traitor in your pack?” It was an awkward question. The answer was none of her business, but the wolf sitting opposite her didn’t glare or growl at her inquiry.
“Marco Renaldi.” The name didn’t mean much to her. Owen had described the scene of Marco’s attempt on Brett, the gunshots, even the way Gillian distracted the mad wolf so Owen and finally Brett could execute him. Jake drained his beer and, without asking him if he wanted another, she retrieved a fresh one from the fridge and held it out to him. He gave her a half-smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He hadn’t answered her question directly. Then again maybe he didn’t need to. “Sorry if I’m prying.”
“It’s all right. I knew Marco. He’d been vetting me for Hunter training.” His mouth twisted on the last bitter note. “Something was off about him. Hell, he was insane. We all know that now.”
But Jake hadn’t known it then. Mimi’s heart ached for him. “Your Alpha didn’t know.”
“Yeah, that’s a comfort.” A muscle ticked in his cheek. “Brett didn’t spend every day for four months with him prior to the murders…”
“And if he didn’t believe anything he did was wrong or, worse, that he had a right to do those things, then there’s an excellent chance he would have no scent markers to betray him.” At least on this subject, she could offer some comfort.
“You can’t know that.” He twisted
To his credit, Jake didn’t laugh at her. “Dude, do you get to bring home samples of what you fix?” He shoveled in another mouthful of food. His steak was three-quarters gone, as were his vegetables. His enjoyment pleased her immensely.
“Not today. We actually ate some then donated the rest to a party at a shelter for battered women.” She admired her instructor’s dedication to social work and making lives better for the battered women and their families. In the pack, they took care of each other. Abusers were few…most wolves could fight back, and those that couldn’t would be protected.
“I’d whine that I’d like to have tried one, but that’s a great place to bring some sweetness and light.” Of course, Jake understood it. “I hate those places though.”
“They’re a necessity, especially for those escaping those who would hurt them.” She didn’t particularly care for the scent of them either—defeat, sadness, pain, and grief always tore at her when she went anywhere near them. Those weren’t the only scents she experienced—she’d also tasted hope, simple joy and relief.
“I appreciate that; I just hate that they are a necessity. If the human laws allowed them to handle abusers the way we do, they wouldn’t need them.” A growl underscored every word he spoke.
Mimi focused on him. The lackadaisical, laidback wolf she’d had coffee with and found stalking her transformed. His eyes narrowed. His jaw tightened. Even the sweet, sea breeze mingling with the woods in his scent diminished, growing chillier, mintier and deeper pine.
Willow Bend had a human population within the pack, from humans who mated in to full families who remained loyal to the pack whether they took the bite or not. “Humans aren’t the same as us. Some are, but not all. Their laws are complicated and take time…”
“And they can’t always read intentions or truth telling, I know.” Jake wiped his mouth with a napkin then took a long pull of beer. “We can’t always tell those intentions either, no matter how keen our senses.” An unexpected sadness seemed to creep over him. “You ever think we trust our so-called instincts too much?”
She had enough on her plate to store and eat later, and she was full so she ignored the food for the moment and rested her elbows on the counter. Studying his expression, she considered her answer. “We’re wolves. What would we be without our instincts?”
“Ignorance could be bliss.” He didn’t sound as if he believed it though.
“Did you know the traitor in your pack?” It was an awkward question. The answer was none of her business, but the wolf sitting opposite her didn’t glare or growl at her inquiry.
“Marco Renaldi.” The name didn’t mean much to her. Owen had described the scene of Marco’s attempt on Brett, the gunshots, even the way Gillian distracted the mad wolf so Owen and finally Brett could execute him. Jake drained his beer and, without asking him if he wanted another, she retrieved a fresh one from the fridge and held it out to him. He gave her a half-smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He hadn’t answered her question directly. Then again maybe he didn’t need to. “Sorry if I’m prying.”
“It’s all right. I knew Marco. He’d been vetting me for Hunter training.” His mouth twisted on the last bitter note. “Something was off about him. Hell, he was insane. We all know that now.”
But Jake hadn’t known it then. Mimi’s heart ached for him. “Your Alpha didn’t know.”
“Yeah, that’s a comfort.” A muscle ticked in his cheek. “Brett didn’t spend every day for four months with him prior to the murders…”
“And if he didn’t believe anything he did was wrong or, worse, that he had a right to do those things, then there’s an excellent chance he would have no scent markers to betray him.” At least on this subject, she could offer some comfort.
“You can’t know that.” He twisted
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