Feral (Wolf Ranch #3) - Renee Rose Page 0,15

of relief, knowing I had both of my brothers home. Having my family back was huge.

It was as if this whole time—years—I’d been treading water, keeping the ranch going, leading the pack, doing everything expected of me except taking a mate, but none of it was for me. It was for them. For their future.

Now that they were back, I could breathe. Figure out my own future. I could think about myself and what my wolf wanted for five fucking minutes.

Although it didn’t seem like that was going to start right now because something was fucking wrong, which meant my life was about to implode.

“There he is,” Tom said from the front door, looking concerned. “You go for a run, son?” He glanced at my clothes because shifters didn’t usually run in human form.

Tom moved to the side, and Colton came out onto the porch. “Heard about the meeting.”

I growled. I really didn’t want to fucking talk about the meeting. I wanted to thump my brother on the back and welcome him home.

Like everything else when it came to being alpha, I didn’t get a break until the issue was put to bed. I said nothing, only nodded, and went past them into the house, heading straight to the kitchen. I paused in the doorway, took in the small group around the table. Clint, Levi, and the rest of the ranch hands sat with Janet and Boyd.

“What the hell are you all doing in my kitchen at midnight?” I demanded.

“Nathan Brown met with pack elders after the meeting,” Janet said in a tight voice. “We weren’t included, of course, because he knows our relationship with you, but the Thompkins told me. The elders are very concerned about your mating status and moon madness destroying the pack. Of course, they don’t want to be absorbed into the Madison Range pack—it’s not like they’re getting into bed with them. At least not the way Ginny Thompkins portrayed it. But there’s a lot of concern.”

I slapped my palm down on the table. “I’m not going to succumb.”

I hadn’t meant to throw alpha power into my words, but it came out anyway, blasting everyone back in their seats, the coffee cups on the worn table rattling.

“I called a friend up in Manitoba,” Tom said. His hair was more salt than pepper these days, but his calm demeanor and quiet way had been a good influence. I respected his words because he used them sparingly. “Their alpha’s daughter hasn’t been mated yet, and her father’s dead set she only mate with an alpha. He wanted another Canadian, but it hasn’t gelled. He’d like to arrange a meeting with you.”

An arranged marriage?

No, my wolf snarled.

No fucking way. I kept my mouth shut, though. An alpha thought before he spoke. Even when it came to his mate.

“My brother should choose his mate,” Colton said. I glanced over where he leaned against the back stairs, Marina tucked under his arm.

Tom nodded. “Of course, he should. But there’s no harm in meeting the she-wolf, is there? It would show Nathan and the pack he’s addressing their concerns.”

I wanted to shout “No!” so the walls shook but bit it back. Stayed quiet. I wasn’t Rob Wolf, the man. I was alpha, and that meant I had to listen to my pack, even about my fucking love life. It wasn’t just my happiness and livelihood at stake here. If Nathan and the others tossed me out, everyone around me would have their life impacted and not for the better.

“I’ve arranged for her to visit,” Tom said. “Just to give you a chance to meet her. If she’s not the one, she’s not the one. Just show the pack you’re looking.”

I wasn’t looking. I’d found her. But I wasn’t about to drop that bomb now, even if I did consider everyone in the room to be like family.

“Fine,” I spat.

“What?” Boyd said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Fuck that.”

He knew the truth about Natalie but kept quiet. I knew what he was saying, that Natalie should be claimed, be mine. Not some Canadian alpha’s daughter. How was I going to be with Natalie again—because one taste was not enough—if a woman was coming to pack land just for me? I might not want her, but I wouldn’t disrespect her feelings or intentions. She wasn’t a pawn any more than I was.

I glanced at him, then Clint. “I’ll meet her, and then I will decide.” I was alpha. Tom was right. I