Wolf Claim (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 3) by Heather Long Read Free Book Online

senses.
    Intrigued, she traced her thumb along the side of his hand. He was a big man, and his larger hand seemed to engulf hers. Gillian knew she was tiny, it was how she’d been built. Fortunately, being petite didn’t mean she was weak. “How do they play?”
    “Spirited runs through a frosty wilderness.” He interlaced his fingers with hers. Settling into the seat, she leaned her head against the headrest and studied him. “In the winter, they spend more time as wolves than as humans and, trust me when I say, winter lasts a long time up there. Come spring, during the thaw, they migrate to their villages, towns and their lives and seem to have little to do with each other until the weather turns again.”
    The idea of being so separate was alien to her. “Why?”
    “Maybe the fact that they spend six months of the year living raw? I don’t know.” He shrugged.
    Not ready to let him lapse back into silence, she pursued her curiosity. “How long were you there?”
    “Two weeks.” She thought he wouldn’t say anymore then he shrugged. “Toman wanted to renegotiate some trade rules. I carried a letter from him.”
    “Wouldn’t a phone call have been easier?”
    “Yeah, but the Yukon Alpha doesn’t have a phone. Or, if he does, he didn’t share the number with anyone. He prefers to look his messengers in the eye and negotiate face to face. So, if the other packs want something from him, they have to send an emissary.”
    “That’s—archaic and kind of sweet, too.” Several days of running with little sleep had begun to catch up with her, and she had to smother a yawn. The more Owen spoke, the more the tension in the vehicle dissipated and she relaxed.
    “Sweet?” Disbelief filled his voice.
    “Yes, sweet. We have cell phones and text messages and social media and a thousand different ways to distance ourselves, so it’s kind of sweet that he insists on the personal touch.”
    “It’s a power play, Gillian. He controls access to information and trade, he makes the other Alphas send wolves to him knowing damn good and well they can’t negotiate anything without checking in. If one of us pulls out a cell phone, he walks away and ignores us. For days .”
    Maybe it was a show of dominance. “He’s an alpha. He can do that.” Toman had his own eccentricities. The disloyal thought didn’t sit well with her. She’d heard the stories and the rumors about Toman’s actions, most notably his abandonment of A.J. Buckley to the human justice system. There were other stories—seedier ones. The type she didn’t want to believe, so she didn’t ask about them.
    “Being an Alpha doesn’t make you a god. If anything, it should make you more responsible, not more of a dick.” He grimaced. “Sorry.”
    She laughed and he cut a quick look at her. His nostrils flared and his pupils dilated faintly. For a brief second, she thought his wolf peeked out, but his eyes darkened once more.
    “What was funny?”
    “You apologized for saying ‘dick.’ Dylan about cuffed Kyle the other night for cursing in front of me.” Did he even know how archaic and old-fashioned his behavior was? “You do realize I won’t faint if you say fuck or damn or even shit, right?”
    A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he gave her hand a light squeeze. “You can say whatever you want, but I’ve never heard you curse before today.”
    Fresh amusement filled her, and she laughed all over again. “That’s because you don’t see me every day. I bet this trip will open your eyes to all of my flaws.” The moment the words were out, she regretted them. His scent changed, deepening, and no way could she miss the musk of arousal spiking his naturally spicy aroma. A wave of heat pulsed through her and she blew out a breath between her teeth. The profound urge to rub against him threatened to drive her crazy.
    Eager to change the subject, she said, “I’m really curious if Hudson River’s problem is as serious as their Alpha told