Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,40

when they’d have the time to explore the magic that flowed through both their veins.

When they came to a fork in the road, Reggie steered them away from the little stream and deeper into the forest, slowing the horses to a walk when the trees seemed to press in on them from both sides. Janice looked over at him anxiously but kept on, a determined look on her face.

“It’s not much farther,” he said. “Just around the next bend.”

The sound of a stream greeted them just before they entered the clearing and saw the little cabin nestled into the trees. Janice’s face relaxed as soon as she saw it, then she looked over at him and smiled, clearly relieved. The sunlight felt good after the cool air of the forest, and as they rode through the deep grass, he knew that he’d made the right choice bringing her here.

***Janice***

Janice was charmed by the little cabin, and she relaxed in the saddle, letting the sunshine soak into her chilled skin. The dense forest had bothered her more than she wanted to admit, stirring up her instincts and making her jumpy, but the cabin looked inviting. But then, a tall, burly man with long hair and a flowing beard came out of the front door, and the nerves were back.

“Who is that?” she asked, looking over at Reggie, who had a smile on his face.

“That’s Uncle Peter,” he said. “He’s been living up here alone for most of his life. I think you’re going to like him.”

Janice looked back over at the man, but couldn’t make out his features from so far away. “That would be a welcome change. The only people I’ve met here that I like are the servants,” she said, her voice betraying how nervous she suddenly was.

“Uncle Peter looks tough, and I guess he is, living out here all alone like he does, but deep down, he’s really a pussy cat. You just have to get to know him,” Reggie said. “I snuck up here to visit him every chance I got when I was a kid; all the kids did back then. I wonder if they still do?”

The warmth in Reggie’s voice told her as much as his words, and she relaxed. “He sounds like a good man,” she said. “Why does he live up here all alone?”

“He and my father had a falling out after my grandfather died,” Reggie said. “They had very different ideas about how the clan should be run, and as the older son, my father won in the end. Uncle Peter moved up here shortly afterward, and as far as I know, he’s never been back to the house or attended a council meeting even though he’s still a voting member.”

Janice looked around the clearing, taking in the garden, the barn, and the forest around them, realizing that it wouldn’t be an easy life living up there all alone. “Why does he stay?” she finally asked. “It can’t be an easy life up here, especially in the winter.”

“I think you’ll figure that out on your own when you meet him,” Reggie said, grinning at her. “It usually doesn’t take him long to voice his opinion, even around strangers.”

When they reached the porch, Peter stepped down to greet them, a huge smile on his face. “Well, it’s been a long time since I saw you coming across the meadow,” he said.

“About two years, I think,” Reggie said, jumping down from his horse. “You look just as ugly as you did the last time I was here.”

Peter beamed at Reggie. “And you’re just as smart-mouthed as you’ve always been,” he said.

Reggie helped her down from her horse, then led her over to Peter. “Uncle Peter, this is Janice,” he said.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, holding out her hand.

Peter looked at her hand, then grabbed her, pulled her off her feet, and gave her a big hug; it reminded her of being hugged by a bear, but the feeling wasn’t unpleasant. He set her back on her feet, pulled back, and looked at her, his hands still holding her arms, then a huge smile broke out across his face.

“So, she’s the one?” he asked, turning to look over at Reggie.

Reggie laughed. “It appears that way,” he said, grinning at her. “Uncle Peter, this is Jacob’s sister.”

Peter looked back at her, then back over at Reggie, and burst into laughter. “Well, isn’t that an interesting turn of events? Congratulations,” he said when the laughter