Free Wild Game (Wilding Pack Wolves 1) - New Adult Paranormal Romance by Alisa Woods Page A

together was either dead or gone. The whole thing fell apart, scattered to the winds.”
    “So how does your pack fit into that pile of snakes?” Owen was amazed that any of them would talk to the others at all after that kind of history.
    “My father’s generation were Gary’s pups. Each was suspicious of the others not being a true son of Gary Wilding. Once they scattered and separated, the five brothers formed the five dominant Wilding families in the area. My father, Arthur, and the four brothers‌—‌Astor, Donnie, Frank, and Billy. Astor you might’ve heard of‌—‌he’s Colonel Astor Wilding, Piper’s father.”
    Oh, Owen definitely knew who Colonel Astor Wilding was. He was the one responsible for Owen losing a year of his life to a cage. And losing his wolf and himself in a haze of genetic experimentation. The man was straight-up evil‌—‌he’d even imprisoned his own sons, Noah and Daniel. “Yeah, I’d lay money on that one being spawned from the Bobby Wilding strain of the family.”
    Nova scowled. “I’m glad the Colonel is under arrest for his part in what happened to you. And the other wolves. That was some terrible business. But Jace’s mate, Piper, and her brothers are decent people. I think. I don’t really know them too well.”
    “So which brother is Terra’s father?” Owen was trying to get this whole Wilding family tree solid in his mind, but it was a lot to track.
    “Terra’s father is Donnie Wilding. She’s got a brother Trent, and you know about her little sister, Cassie, the one who was kidnapped. Terra’s a little crazy‌—‌she’s an artist‌—‌but it’s not like we’re enemies. We even had her shoot some concept pictures for Domination . She does urban photography, and we were looking for a future-urban cityscape kind of look.”
    Owen nodded‌—‌maybe this Terra cousin would be a way to convince Nova she needed to stay at the safehouse. “Maybe you and Terra can catch up while I talked to Jace about some business.” The business was her, but he wasn’t going to say that.
    Nova scowled at him. “Just don’t take too long. I’ve got a lot of prep for the tournament, still.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled, a genuine one for the first time since the morning. At least they were talking again, instead of the constant, stony silence.
    They were finally pulling up to the ranch. The parking lot was filled with cars, as it had been ever since Owen made this his new home. After Jace had sprung him, there was no way in hell he was going back to the Army, but he didn’t have money or a place to stay, either. Like many of the liberated shifters, Mama River had been kind enough to take him in. He’d just need to grab a few things, talk with Jace about the sticky situation with Nova, and get her back to her apartment, if that’s the way it was going to be. If he were lucky, her cousin would talk her into staying. Owen had played all his cards with that.
    After they parked and strode in the front door‌—‌the place was huge, so knocking was usually pointless‌—‌Owen brought Nova to the oversized kitchen. A frantic bustle was underway, getting ready for the dinner hour for the hordes. Owen gave a small wave to Mama River, who was ordering people about.
    “Don’t let those potatoes cook too long,” she said to one of the shifters manning the stovetop. Then she quickly ushered them into the adjoining dining room.
    She brushed her long, gray hair back over her shoulder, then gave Nova a look-over that made heat rush to Owen’s face. She turned back to him. “Owen Harding, so this is what’s been keeping you busy.”
    He didn’t want her jumping to conclusions‌—‌even if they were the correct conclusions‌—‌so he rushed out, “Just doing my duty, ma’am.”
    Mama River hiked up her eyebrows but kept the smile. “Well, that’s unfortunate. And excuse my manners, Nova Wilding. Welcome to my home! I was just hopeful that our Owen had