So Nolan thought he could tame her by scrubbing bathrooms.

Later that afternoon, Jordan jogged along the path she’d known well, down to the barn and the stables. Her stomach knotted with tension. That little showdown in the store had turned her sunny day sour. She was good with the customers, knew the product. Hell, she’d even organized the damn closet!

Yet Nolan had yanked her from the bar and set her into the bathrooms to clean.

I’m not a maid.

She didn’t resent hard work. But busy work, for the sake of showing his pack he held no favoritism, that didn’t sit right.

Dread curled through her as she thought of the upcoming full moon run. As his mate, Nolan would expect her to run at his side. Maybe even shift in front of the pack. If she failed to do so, they’d see her vulnerability, perhaps exploit it. And Nolan, well, he didn’t know. It might make him look weak as well, taking a mate who struggled to shift.

Oh, she was fine in other places. On the road, she’d had no trouble shifting into wolf.

But here on the farm, it had always been difficult.

She hadn’t even shifted here since…that night. Tensing, she flexed her hands. Shirl and Erica taunted her. Were they the ones there that night and held her down, laughing as…

No! Don’t go there. Halting, she doubled over, gasping for air. After a few minutes she regained her lost composure.

If any of the pack saw her lose it, she was toast.

All these emotions made her yearn to pack her bags and flee again. Nolan’s father hadn’t believed her or stood up for her years ago. She wanted to have faith her mate would, but why would he?

She was stuck with Nolan, who might put his pack before her, and a pack who wasn’t certainly welcoming her back into the fold. Running away from the turbulent emotions swirling inside her wouldn’t solve anything.

That stunt yesterday because of Erica. Her former friend.

Yet she understood the dilemma Nolan faced with his pack, not wishing to show his new mate preferential treatment.

Footsteps crunched on the gravel. To her dismay, Shirl and Erica were coming up from the stable area. Guilt etched their expressions.

“Where are you going?” Erica demanded.

“None of your business. You now the pack police, monitoring my moves?”

“There are rules you need to follow, Jordan. You don’t get special exemption simply because you’re mated to Nolan now. You can’t wander around as you please,” Shirl put in.

“You two are.”

They exchanged glances. Ok, this was interesting. “Where have you been, anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be working at the winery since you’re so terrific at pouring at the bar?”

Red suffused Erica’s face, much to Jordan’s amusement. She’d heard that Galen had ordered Erica off the bar after a mere twenty minutes because she confused the customers.

“You’re not in charge of us,” Shirl snapped. “So shut up, Jordan.”

She considered. “Maybe Nolan should have grown a crop of marijuana in addition to grapes.”

Both women looked puzzled.

“Why?” Shirl blurted out.

“Because then you could go smoke some weed and calm the fuck down.”

Shirl growled and lunged, but Erica pulled her back. “Never mind her. Let’s go.”

They scurried past, giving her a wide berth. Damn, that hurt. Once they had been inseparable. Now her former friends hated her.

Had they truly been there that night, aiding in what happened? All these years she’d tried to imagine it was two other women. Yet their voices had been the same.

That hurt the most, because they had been so close. Maybe they’d hated her because of her relationship with Nolan, the alpha’s heir. Yet her friends had always teased her about Nolan, encouraging her to get physical with him.

It made no sense. Hurt her head thinking about it.

What she needed was a swift ride, a temporary escape. Jordan headed for the stables, but remembered the horses were all gone. Trail ride today.

She changed direction and jogged to the separate building that once housed the tractor and other farm equipment needed for the vineyards. A smile touched her face as she thought of Nolan staring at her as she rode the tractor, plowing through the fields with an old straw hat clapped on her head.

When she opened the wooden double doors, what caught her eye wasn’t a green tractor, but a sleek red motorcycle.

“Well, butter my biscuit and call me dinner,” she drawled, staring at the bike. “Nolan Mitchell, when did you start living dangerously?”

Maybe that reckless, wild wolf she’d glimpsed inside the alpha wasn’t her imagination after all. Jordan marched inside, her boot heels clicking across the concrete floor. Her heart pounded with excitement as she ran a loving hand over the sleek, polished chrome.

Keys weren’t in the ignition, but she’d picked up a few skills in her years on the road, including how to hot wire a motorcycle.

Minutes later, she wheeled the bike outside, placed the black helmet on her head and tore off for the road. The narrow, winding and steep country roads made it perfect for riding. Jordan leaned into the curves, laughing still, enjoying life.

Maybe this mating thing wouldn’t be as bad as she thought. Nolan could be an arrogant alpha, but he’d been tender and gentle in bed, and then domineering just as she liked. He thought she had a wild side. Well…

Jordan accelerated, thrilling to the rush of wind, the kick of adrenalin fueling her body, the sheer bliss of freedom. She’d almost lost that freedom to a dark prison. Never again would she take it for granted.

As she darted around a startled squirrel, she leaned over the bike and forgot all else except the joy.

But for a sheer moment, she wished she could share in it with Nolan.

Where was she?

Nolan paced, trying not to worry. No one had seen Jordan since her return home from the winery. Had she run off?

He hadn’t meant to be so tough on her, but he’d had to show that he harbored no favoritism. Everyone in the pack did every job at one point. It unified them, impressed upon them the importance of teamwork. It also effectively shot down those who had airs or thought to claw their way upwards in the struggle for power. They were always testing him, his pack, since Craig died.

Now he had Jordan, the newest challenge. Hooking his hands behind his back, Nolan tried to think of the places she could have hidden. Pairs of Lupines had been sent out to search them all, but maybe…

“You’re gonna wear out that nice varnished porch.”

The familiar drawl brought him up short. Nolan whirled, relief shooting through him.

“Sam.”

The two hugged quickly, and Nolan slapped him on the back. “When did you get back?”

“Few minutes ago. Heard you have a new missus.” His best friend dropped his black duffle bag on the porch and gave him a long, pointed look. “Had I known you’d be mating someone, I’d have rushed back sooner.”

“Was a last minute decision.” Nolan resumed his pacing. Where was Jordan?

“Would like to meet her.”

“I’ll introduce you, when she returns. If she returns,” he finally admitted.

At his friend’s dark, raised brows, he quickly explained. When he finished, Sam whistled. “Leave it to you, Nolan, to find a wild one for a bride. Why did you do it?”

Nolan jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and didn’t answer. Didn’t have an answer. He’d mulled that one over himself today after setting Jordan to clean the bathrooms. After spending the past two years keeping the pack together through sheer strength of will and hard work, he’d brought a restless rule breaker into the fold.

Did he love her after all these years, this wild wolf who’d broken his heart?

Nolan shrugged, realized it was the same shrug Jordan herself would have given. He suppressed a smile.

“Nolan, you ok?” Sam put a hand on his shoulder. “You look lost.”

Don’t feel lost. I feel as if I’ve finally found something. “Come on inside, let’s get you settled. Want your old room back?”

“If it’s still available.”

“Left it empty for your return.”

Sam slung his duffle over one shoulder. Big and burly, with ink black hair and blue eyes that twinkled with good humor, the Lupine made a formidable security expert. Would make a great beta as well. He trusted him with the safety of the pack.

Nolan missed him like crazy during the years he’d been gone, but he understood why he left. Sam had conflicting emotions about Craig dying, and when he’d asked Nolan for the position as his beta and Nolan refused, Sam left.

Left with the idea that he’d be back, but he needed to “stretch his legs a bit.”

“Maybe by that time you’ll change your mind about keeping traditions that don’t suit you,” he’d told Nolan.

Maybe it was about time he did reconsider.

“Tell me about your travels,” he said, holding the door open for him. “When did you grow that?”

He pointed to the short beard covering Sam’s cheeks.

Sam rubbed a hand over the bristles. “Got a dislike for razors while hooked up with a cute little number in Italy. She wanted me to grow it. Figured she was worth it. Stayed with her a few weeks.

Nolan grinned, remembering his friend’s penchant for the ladies. “I gather it wasn’t for the pasta.”

“Terrific cook, and she had other assets as well.”

The loud purr of a motorcycle interrupted them. Nolan whirled, stared as Jordan drove up the driveway on his bike. His baby, the one he seldom rode and no one in the pack ever touched, not even to wash or wax it. Laughing, she pulled the black helmet off, ruffled her long red hair and sat, straddling the bike.

“That was amazing!”

“Whoa,” Sam said softly, his voice filled with admiration. “Who the hell is that sweetheart with that fine machine between her legs?”

Nolan felt a bite of pure male possessiveness.

“That sweetheart is mine,” he growled, fisting his hands.

“That’s Jordan?” Sam whistled. “Day-mn, she’s grown up all nice.”

Nolan vaulted over the porch railing, strode over to Jordan, his temper uncoiling like a snake. Between Sam’s stark interest in her, the fact she’d taken his Kawasaki Ninja H2 without permission and Nolan’s real fear something might have happened to her, he was ready to snap.

Jordan set the helmet on the handlebar, shut off the engine.

He caught her hand as she dismounted and pulled too fast, Jordan colliding against his chest. Warm from her ride, she felt soft and curvy and so good to hold.

Nolan pulled away. Now was not the time to think of sex.

It’s always a good time to think of sex, his dick happily disagreed.

He scanned her body, searching for scratches, bruises, any injuries. Fresh relief swept through him. She was okay.

She was okay, he kept repeating. Nothing happened to her.

The thought of anything happening to her made him sick. Assured she had suffered no damage, he struggled to rein in his temper.

“What the hell did you think you were doing?” He kept his voice low, but fury rose inside him.

“Riding. Sweet bike.”

“Without the keys? Or did you find those as well?” He’d kept the keys in his private office, in the safe containing his father’s last Will and Testament, deed to the land, and other important papers.

She beamed at him. “No need for a key. Learned how to hot wire a bike from an old geezer Lupine I met in Los Angeles. All you need is to manipulate the crank shaft and a few other tricks. Traded the information for yard work and running errands. Takes a little magick, the right touch and you’re all set.”

Nolan swallowed hard. She was so lovely, the sun glinting her red hair, her cheeks stained red from her ride, her entire body sparking with life. Jordan invigorated him, making him wistful for the times they’d shared and the closeness they experienced. Then he looked around, saw others from the pack staring at her.

He was alpha now and must set an example.

Jordan patted the seat. “Sweet bike.”

He pulled her away from it. “You stole it.”

“Borrowed.”

“Without permission. You could have broken your neck, flipped over, anything. This is not a toy.”

Her lower lip wobbled. “I didn’t think of it as one. I only wanted to ride. It’s been a long time since I had fun.”

Fun?

She turned him inside out. His well-ordered world spun around in its axis.

Nolan gestured to one of his pack who had gathered around to watch. “Walk the bike down to the garage, padlock it. Make sure that the garage is secured. Anyone, I repeat, anyone touching this bike again will answer to me.”

The Lupine nodded, gulped, and wheeled the bike away as if it were Nolan’s ancient grandmother.

Lacing his fingers around Jordan’s upper arm, Nolan led her away to the gazebo overlooking the grapevines. “We need to talk.”

When they reached the structure, he pointed. “Sit.”

“I’m not a dog. You can’t teach me commands.”

“Please sit.”

To his relief, she sat.

“Jordan, you’re in my pack now. From now on, wherever you go, someone will be with you.”

She folded her arms. “I thought this marriage was to keep me out of prison. Now you’re telling me I need a babysitter?”

He ignored that.

“You took my $46,000 bike joy riding. A bike that I never let anyone touch. No one.”

“If it’s so important to you, you should have locked it up. Or you should have married it.”

Taking a deep breath, he pressed on. “The Ninja is not a toy. It’s for experienced riders.”

“You care more about that bike than anything else.”

“The hell with the bike,” he burst out, breaking his rules about swearing. “I was worried you might have broken your neck. You don’t know the roads around here anymore. You could have hit a pothole, taken a curve too fast, run into a Skin driver who was texting…”

Nolan took a deep breath. “I could have lost you,” he said in a quieter tone.

Jordan stared. “This isn’t about the bike. You really care?”

The slight hesitation in her voice twisted his heart. She sounded like that long ago girl who’d arrived, uncertain and scared, wondering how Lupines in her new pack would treat her.

Trouble was he did care. And if he laid open his heart, like he did long ago, would it feed her power over him? Nolan seized her chin and stared down at her.

“You’re mine now, Jordan. I hold on to and protect what is mine.”

He released her and Jordan braced her hands on the wooden seat, stared into the distance.

As if she longed to run away again.

“It’s a nice bike. When did you get it?” she asked.

Nolan didn’t answer, but sat beside her. Didn’t take her hand, though he was tempted. He wanted to throttle her for sending him into a tailspin and at the same time, kiss her senseless.

“Didn’t know you still had it in you, Mitchell. I thought you’d turned into a responsible, dull alpha with nothing on your mind but grapes.”

“That’s what adults do, Jordan. We have responsibilities.”

“Boring. I like to have fun.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “Hey, you’re off duty. It’s after five. Let’s grab a bottle of wine, have a picnic by the pond and do things that scare the fish. And then we can go into town for dinner, maybe find a nice bar to go dancing and I’ll teach you to smoke…”

He stared. All those things sounded tempting, except the last. “You smoke now?”

“Not tobacco. Tried a hookah at a bar in Phoenix. I like the mint flavor. Just as a lark.”

She was out of control.

Next thing he’d know she’d be smoking a hookah in the living room, teaching the young Lupines how to play beer pong with his mother’s cut crystal glasses.

Jordan had never been reckless. A little wild and spirited, which is what drew him to her.“We don’t smoke here. Hookahs or anything else.” Nolan thought of the danger of a spark ignited by a cigarette, and his stomach lurched.

“You gonna set a babysitter on me to make sure I don’t do that either?” she asked, folding her arms. “I’m not the one you need to watch. Erica is. I saw her yesterday flirting with Adam, the Harlow beta wolf.”

The news didn’t surprise Nolan. Though their two packs were rivals, the single women in his pack had complained about the lack of eligible bachelors. It was one reason he tried forging a truce with the Harlows.

A marriage between a Harlow male and a Mitchell female would help end the blood feud.

“Leave Erica to me. You’re more trouble right now than she is,” he muttered.

“Maybe you can assign that cute guy on the porch to watch over me while you’re sampling vintages and stamping grapes. He looked a little like Sam. Is he?”

“Never mind him,” he growled. “No smoking. Fire danger’s too great.”

She searched his face. “No one in the pack would be stupid enough to flick a lit cigarette.”

“I’m not taking chances. It’s dangerous in the woods.”

“It’s not fire season yet.”

“I’m not taking chances,” he repeated. “You’re never to be alone. If a fire breaks out, you might get trapped.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “I never thought about that. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Just did.”

Jordan released an exaggerated sigh. “Communication is a good thing in a relationship, Mitchell.”

It was, and he wanted answers from her.

“Why did you take the bike?” he asked quietly.

Jordan shrugged. Something brewed inside her, dark and deep. Nolan clasped her chin and turned her face toward him to meet his scrutinizing gaze.

“Pixie, why did you take the bike?”

Whether it was the endearment or his gentle tone, he didn’t know, but her lower lip wobbled. “I just needed to get out of here. Too many memories all bottled up, I guess.”

He wondered what memories. “When I get like that, I shift and run through the woods. Release my wolf.”

Now she refused to meet his gaze. “Running as wolf is one thing. I wanted to have fun as a Skin.”

Surprised, he studied her, stroking the softness of her lower lip. “You having trouble shifting?”

She shrugged again. “Never had any problems on the road.”

Her evasive answer worried him. He needed a strong mate who could run with him as wolf, and control the others when they were in wolfskin. Then again, perhaps she hadn’t been eating right while she’d been gone. Lupines needed to eat raw meat once a month in order to shift into wolf.

“You probably need a good, home-cooked meal.”

Jordan traced a line on the bench. “I’ve done okay for myself.”

The wildness was all related to human activities, not anything Lupine, he realized.

She needed alone time with him in the woods to learn how to be a wolf again. Being wolf would relieve her restlessness.

Tomorrow, he’d take her into the park and teach her a few things.

Maybe teach her how to make love in the wild, as a wolf did. His blood surged at the thought.

For now, she had to face the consequences of her actions. Nolan gestured to the house. “Dinnertime. And after dinner, you’re on cleanup detail.”

Her face fell. “I scrubbed the bathrooms at the winery. You can eat off those floors and they were gnarly. And now I’m to do more manual labor?”

Nolan tapped her nose. “Consequences of breaking the rules, Jordan. That’s the price you pay.”

Sullen, she didn’t look at him but she did take his hand as they walked up to the lodge. “Are you going to spank me as well?”

“Maybe later in our bedroom. Could be fun.”

He gave her a gentle swat on the rear and she tried to glare at him.

Nolan caught the sassy twinkle in her eyes and knew it wasn’t a trick of the setting sun.

He’d made some headway and felt more confident she had learned her lesson not to leave the grounds without an escort.

Trouble was, he wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t break the rules again if pushed too hard. Or worse, run away for good next time.