Free Wolf on Board (Wolves of Willow Bend Book 14) by Heather Long

the top off the bottle and pushed away from the bar. “Not that it matters. He was a fruit loop, the pack suffered, and I left. No more drama.”
    “Actually, I can know that. Scent markers are body chemistry. They are triggered by hormone releases within the body, hormones which are dictated to by brain chemistry. When the scent markers aren’t there, it’s typically because something is wrong with that wolf’s brain, not your nose.” For a split second, the sharpness in his scent dissolved into something more hopeful then the mint drowned it out. So, his anger and self-loathing manifested in mint. Good to know. “You can’t scent what isn’t present. Most wolves are mentally balanced. We are not as prone to the illnesses which plague our human brethren, but that doesn’t make us immune. We live longer. We heal faster. We’re stronger. We move quicker. We change into animals, and we appreciate the hunt. It gives us any number of advantages—our nature tends to take out the crazier and more reckless among us. But crazy comes in all shapes and sizes. No matter what you think…what that wolf did wasn’t your fault, and you weren’t the only wolf who didn’t see him for who he was or what he’d done.”
    “The impossible becomes reality when we believe in it…”
    “It’s not impossible, Jake. And I can prove it.”
    For the first time since the subject came up, real hope flared in his eyes. “How?”
    She glanced at her food. “Go take a shower in my guest room while I clean up, and we’re going to need to take a ride. You game?”
    He frowned slowly, then gave her a sidelong look. “Are you just trying to get rid of me?”
    “By inviting you to take a shower then go for a ride with me? What do you think I’m going to do, drop you off in the mountains and abandon you?”
    “I don’t know. Are you?”
    Mimi didn’t even try to hide the roll of her eyes. “No, dumbass. I’m going to prove the scent markers to you, but you need to clean up and so do I. I also need to let Mitch know where we’re going so he doesn’t freak if he doesn’t find us locked down. Now go shower, and change your clothes and, for God’s sake, put on a damn shirt.”
    A flash of a smile softened his mouth then he raised his bottle to her in a quiet salute. “Yes, ma’am. Right away, ma’am.” He strolled toward the French doors then paused and glanced back at her. “You do promise to not take advantage of me, right?”
    She considered a whole host of answers before she retrieved his empty bottle and dirty plate, but she simply smiled. “Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies.”
    Jake paused, his expression almost comical in its confusion. “Huh.” He stayed there a moment longer, then headed out—presumably to his van to retrieve a change of clothes.
    Mimi shook her head and turned to the sink. Hopefully she knew what she was doing…or maybe she did want to take advantage of him.
    There are worse things I could do. This trip is about experimenting, right?

Chapter 6
    T wo hours later , Jake studied the landscape beyond the windows of Mimi’s toy car. The mini cooper seemed adorable when he met her. After spending the last thirty miles in her vehicle in stop and go traffic until they’d finally out distanced the townies and hit a stretch of freeway angling toward Garrapata State Park, he’d changed his mind. It was a coffin on wheels, designed to torture him. He’d put the seat all the way back, yet he still couldn’t stretch out his legs.
    “Where are we going?” It wasn’t the first time he’d asked the question.
    “Not far from the beach.” The vagueness in her response didn’t offer much in the way of comfort. A small smile played around the corners of her mouth.
    “You’re enjoying this.”
    “Am I?” Challenge, not relish, ignited in her tone. She spared him a sidelong glance and raised an eyebrow. The sweetness of her scent permeated the tiny vehicle, but he couldn’t detect any