Lone Wolf (Wilde Brothers Ranch #6)- Scarlett Grove Page 0,21

arrived. It listed an address in Denver, not far from where Shane and Montana were living. “I know the area.” His hands were shaking, and his heart was trembling in his chest. “I can't thank you enough for this.”

“Just remember those steaks,” Zander said with a laugh.

Dylan laughed. “You deserve a whole steer.”

“I’ll hold you to it. We just put a new freezer in the basement.”

“It's well worth it for this. You’ve given me back my life.”

“You go get your girl,” Zander said. “But give her some space. There has to be a reason why she ran away. You have to be prepared for whatever comes next. If she's in some kind of trouble. If there are people who are threatening her. You have to be prepared for that.”

“I'll have my brother and Montana for backup. I'll go stay with them while I try to talk to her.”

“That's a good idea.”

Dylan ended the call and stared at the text message of Annie’s address. He couldn't believe that Zander's friend had been able to track her down. It was a miracle. He called his brother Shane. The phone rang then went to voicemail. Dylan left a message.

When Shane called him back later that afternoon, Dylan was packing his bags to head up to Denver.

“Hey, Dylan,” Shane said when he answered the phone. “What's up? You didn't say much in your message.”

“I was wondering if I could come up and stay with you and Montana for a while.”

“Sure…” Shane said reluctantly. “Is there a reason?”

“I'll explain everything when I arrive. Are you sure it's okay? Do you have room?”

“We have a guest bedroom that is my office. But there's a bed in there.”

“I don't want to interrupt your writing. I could always stay somewhere else.”

“Nonsense. We can move things around for you. Are you sure you can't tell me more about why you’re leaving the farm to come up to Denver? I'd like to think you just want to see me. But for some reason, I feel like that's not it.”

“It's about my mate,” Dylan finally said.

“I had no idea that you found your mate,” Shane said.

“It was months ago. We spent one night together, and then she disappeared. But I found her. I'm about to get in the car. I'll tell you more when I get there.”

“Okay, brother. I'll see you soon.”

Dylan threw his bags into his Jeep and started out on the long trek toward Denver. The sun set, and he drove through the oppressive winter darkness. The snow was falling and covering the ground.

When he arrived in Denver, he pulled up in front of the little house that Shane and Montana were renting and grabbed his things from the Jeep. A chill blew through his jean jacket as he stood at the front door of his brother's house. It opened before he could knock, and he was greeted by smiles, hugs, and pats on the back from his brother and his mate. They brought him inside and gave him a warm drink while they peppered him with questions.

“How in the world did they find her?” Montana asked, her eyes wide.

“He said it was better not to ask too many questions,” Dylan said with a laugh then sipped his spiked hot chocolate. “I promised him an entire steer for his freezer.”

“I'm sure that the information is worth twice that,” Shane said.

“Tell that to Austin for me,” Dylan said. “It will probably come out of my paycheck. But it's still worth it.”

“How are things back at the ranch? With the new office manager?”

“It's given me time to think. Given me time to come up here and find my mate. My friend Zander told me to expect challenges… and prepare for them. I know he's right.”

“We're here for you,” Montana said. “Whatever you need.”

“We prepared the guest bedroom for you. I'll be doing my writing at the kitchen table for a while.”

“I'm sorry to put you out, Shane,” Dylan said, carrying his bags to the guest room.

“It's all right. Maybe I need to shake things up a bit. The book I'm writing… I'm having a bit of writer's block. Taking my hero out of the wilderness and putting him in the city has proven to be more challenging than I'd expected.”

“If you need any feedback,” Dylan said, “I'd be happy to help you. You know how much I love to read.”

“Would you really?” Shane said.

“Of course. What are brothers for?”

“I'll send you some pages,” Shane said. “I’d love your feedback.”

“It's the least