Later that afternoon, as Nolan met with his security team to map out areas where the pack would run tomorrow, she slipped out of the lodge.

Nolan had promised to make changes to the pack. Because of those promises, she needed to do her own part.

Running at his side during the full moon hunt was a good start.

Shifting had never come easy to Jordan. As a youth, the swift transition that Nolan enjoyed had always been slow agony for her.

The pack had blamed it on her inexperience and age.

Now the pack would give her no excuses.

She had to do this. If she didn’t shift to run with Nolan beneath the moon, the pack would lose respect for her, and consequently, lose respect for Nolan. After seeing him challenged in the vineyard, Jordan knew Nolan could defend his place as alpha, but any weakness and the younger Lupines would jump all over him like water on hot grease.

Jordan hiked down to the ponds, where the forest grew thick and wild. Nolan had forbade her to be alone, but she had no friends to bring with her and let them know her defect.

I’ll run for a short while, practice, and be back before Nolan notices I’m gone.

Taking a deep breath, she focused. Thought of the forest, the freedom her wolf afforded.

The power.

A tingling rushed down her spine. Jordan closed her eyes and centered herself, focusing on that tingle of magick, seeing it grow and expand until it exploded.

Pain raced along her nerve endings as her human body fought the shift. Gritting her teeth she rode through it, and stretched out her arms.

Bones lengthened and her muscles stretched, but the excruciating agony didn’t follow.

Jordan opened her mouth to scream with glee. A howl came out instead.

Still grinning, she stretched on all fours, then shook her body, relishing the feel of muscles and strength. Jordan bolted up the pathway, her senses reeling. Smell, sight and hearing doubled.

Ears pricked forward, she raced up the hillside, following an old scent trail of a rabbit. Maybe the creature had left, but a good chase was exactly what her wolf needed right now.

Up ahead, a strange orange glow flickered through the trees. Not the warmth of sunshine dappling the oaks and maples, but something more sinister.

Her wolf scented the smoke before she saw it. Jordan halted, her nose in the air, her fur on end.

Wolf and human knew this was bad, oh, so very bad.

The blue sky overhead held no hint of indigo storm clouds. This smoke came not from natural sources.

Quiet.

She heard footsteps crunch in the dead material littering the floor, detected the snap of a breaking twig.

Whoever set this fire was still there. Jordan paced slowly, using all her dormant wolf senses to creep with stealth through the forest.

Just like the games you and Nolan played when you first shifted. Stalk the prey. Quiet. Don’t let them know you are here.

The acrid stench grew thicker. She ducked behind a tree and watched as the orange glow flickered stronger, and heard a muttered curse.

“There. Got it. That’ll teach that bastard Nolan,” the strange voice said.

Male or female? She couldn’t tell, for the accent was odd and the smoke made it impossible for her to distinguish an individual scent. If only Nolan were here!

She had no cunning to stop this, no strength. But teeth and claws were good weapons.

She must stop this person before they set the entire forest on fire.

Jordan crept closer, saw the campfire glowing bright, flames licking at the debris piled on the forest floor. No innocent human roasting hot dogs, but a hard-faced man with a cruel expression as he blew on the flames, and then stepped back.

He looked up. Jordan ducked back, her wolf urging discretion, but the human inside her filled with shock.

The man was none other than Adam, the Harlow beta wolf she’d seen flirting with Erica at the winery.

A small red can was behind him.

Her nose pricked. Gasoline. If he doused the trees, the fire would spread quickly.

As the man started back for the can, she raced forward. No snarl of warning, no sound at all as she zeroed in on Adam’s left calf.

Jordan bit hard. He toppled, giving an unearthly howl of his own.

He tried to beat at her with his hands. Her teeth sank deeper. Must not let go.

If she did, he’d get the gas and she’d be roasted in minutes.

With all her strength, she began dragging the screaming Adam backward, away from the fire, in the direction of the lodge.

Voices sounded down the hill. Good. Someone had seen the smoke.

Too busy looking backward as she dragged her catch, she didn’t see the rock in Adam’s hand. It hit her just below her ear. She opened her mouth in a howl of surprised pain.

Bleeding, cursing, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a switchblade. Sunlight glinted on the steel blade as it snapped open. Jordan snarled at him.

The voices came closer, and with them, dozens of glowing lights. The Fae had seen the fire, and arrived to extinguish it.

The man shoved the knife back into its sheath, and ran through the forest. Jordan followed him, but he passed the fire as he ran past.

Had to keep that gas from reaching the flames. She shifted back into Skin, and gasped at the pain in her head. Jordan grabbed the gas can and ran a few feet from the fire. Through the trees she saw the sprites extinguish the fire, spreading a mist that snuffed out the flames.

Summoning all her strength, she clothed herself through magick and slumped against a tree.

Nolan, Sam and a few others rushed into the clearing, saw her there.

Sam’s eyes narrowed. Nolan’s mouth flattened.

Before she could speak, he pointed to her. “Jordan, what are you doing with that gas can?”

Her mate. Her husband. Her accuser.

Nolan couldn’t believe his eyes. He didn’t want to.

Jordan, gas can in hand, a fire flickering nearby. Guilty expression.

“Caught in the act,” Sam said quietly, for Nolan’s ears only.

Nolan scowled. “Help the Fae put out the fire and establish a perimeter. I want patrols increased.”

Sam’s gaze narrowed. “You’ll have to pull every able guy off the grapevines.”

“Do it.”

Jordan hadn’t moved, merely stood there clutching the gas can as if it were a life raft. The smell of fuel clung to her, making him nauseated.

Or maybe that was the smell of utter betrayal turning his stomach.

He strode over to her, took the can from her trembling hand.

Her mouth opened and closed. “Nolan, I didn’t do it. But I know who did. Adam Morton from the Harlow pack.”

Standing nearby, Sam turned. “The Harlow beta? That’s a lie, Nolan.”

“It’s the truth. I saw him when I was in wolfskin. He intended to burn the entire forest.”

“Bull,” Sam snapped. “Nolan and I were just meeting with him and Brandon.”

Jordan’s gaze widened. Nolan felt a fresh wave of anger and grief.

He waved his hand, indicating for Sam to pipe down. He didn’t need a scene.

“Quiet down Sam,” he ordered. “Get to work and stop yammering.”

Taking her arm, he marched Jordan down the hill, sticking to the path. Sam would take care of the fire, formally thanking the Fae and ordering patrols.

Only he could handle this with Jordan.

Nolan locked up the gas can in the storage shed below the lodge and made sure to change the combination. Later, he’d test it for scent markers.

“Upstairs. You smell like gas. Go shower,” he ordered.

For once she didn’t argue, but trudged upstairs. He waited, pacing in their bedchamber.

Sam was right. Jordan lied. He and Sam were having sweet tea with Brandon and Adam on the porch, discussing a truce when Sam had spotted the smoke.

No Lupine could be in two places at once.

Why did she blame Adam? Was Jordan trying to stir trouble? Did she intend to set the woods alight, or call in for help at the last minute, and then blame their ancient enemies?

Sinking onto the love seat, he buried his head in his hands. Leading the pack had presented challenges he’d never anticipated. He’d survived the past two years since his father’s death by sticking to established rules and ruthlessly quashing dissension.

But being mated to Jordan turned his orderly world upside down.

The bathroom door open. Steam misted the air as she emerged, fully dressed. Red hair damp, framing her face.

Gods she looked so young. And scared.

Steeling himself, he stood and went to the fireplace to begin the unpleasant task awaiting him.

Interrogation.

And if she was guilty?

Banishment.