Read Online Idler (Norseton Wolves Book 3) by Holley Trent - Free Book Online Page A

have built a rapport.”
    “That’s right,” Anton said. “And if we’ve proven that we can work together for a common goal, and live in a community so near each other without regularly trying to claw out each other’s throats, who’s to say it’s not possible widespread?”
    “And natural,” Vic added.
    “Just like with any group, you’ve got to blend personalities carefully. It’s not about how much strength a wolf has, it’s about what he does with it.”
    “You have plans, don’t you?” She tipped her chin to both in turn. “About what you want this pack to be?”
    Anton nodded. “We all do. Don’t make assumptions about us. About any of us. We’re in our own bubble here. What happens out there can stay out there. Got it?”
    “Got it.”
    The two men followed Colt’s footsteps toward the main road, and Lisa stared after them until Ashley called from across the street, “Everything okay?”
    Lisa hurried back and took her former seat at the table. “Not at the moment.”
    “What’s wrong? Did something happen at the mansion?”
    “No—nothing’s wrong in that way. I mean in general. With—with Colt .”
    “He yelled at you? You want me to find him and kick him really hard?”
    Lisa laughed and brought her coffee to her lips. “Nah. He didn’t yell at me. Would probably make things easier if he did. But that’s okay. I’ve got a plan.” She sipped, smirking.
    “Want to share it? I could use a little help.”
    “With Vic? You’re on your own there, sistah. Your wolf’s probably got issues a lot different from my wolf.”
    “That’s for sure,” Ashley said softly and slumped in her seat.
    “Hey. A year from now, we’ll probably look back on this and think we did a whole lot of fretting for nothing.” Lisa hoped that was the truth and not just a wish. She’d never had an overabundance of optimism when it came to anything, but she needed to turn over a new leaf for the sake of her little sisters.
    “I don’t even know why we got matched.”
    “I thought the same thing at first about Colt, but Alpha said something about us giving each other what we needed. I don’t know what that is, but I think I can get him to tell me.”
    And in the process, perhaps figure out what she needed from him as well.

CHAPTER SIX
    Colt was beginning to see the appeal of the head-down, work-hard philosophy he hadn’t subscribed to before a certain domineering female wolf had been dropped into his world. If he was busy—kept his hands moving and eyes focused—it didn’t leave much room for his brain to chime in. He didn’t have to think so hard about what it was all that busy-ness was fixing, only that the activity kept the gnawing anxiety at bay.
    There was a certain rush that came from moving from one completed chore on to the next with no gap, no downtime. Or perhaps a burst of adrenaline released from completing a challenge in a self-imposed deadline no one else knew about. He’d painted his entire house, tossed enough junk and clutter to fill a pickup truck bed, hauled sheetrock down to the basement for the finishing he hoped to get around to, dug holes for fence posts in the backyard, and even had time to make a few phone calls.
    He was about to grab Anton and start on a corner of fence in his thumbnail of a yard when tiniest yank at the back of his pants made him stop. He looked over his shoulder and rolled his eyes at his wife. “Didn’t hear you.”
    She pointed to his ear. “Try taking out the foam.” She overemphasized each word, ostensibly so he could read her lips.
    He pulled out an earplug and tucked it into his pocket. “What’s up?”
    “You do realize you live here, right?”
    “I haven’t forgotten. My name is on the electric bill, after all.”
    “I had to make sure. You’ve been in and out of the house so much in the past six weeks, I couldn’t tell if you’d forgotten. Where’ve you been sleeping?”
    He shrugged. “Here and there.” His wolf didn’t care