Page 1 of Wanderlust With Wolves

Chapter One

AXE ME NO QUESTIONS

Ronan

The scentof pine and fresh-cut wood fills the crisp morning air as I raise the axe over my head. With a cleancrack,the log splits, sending bark flying and releasing that sharp, earthy smell I’ve always liked.

Chopping wood is simple. Honest. A steady rhythm, a clear goal. The feel of the handle, rough and worn against my palms, the satisfying give when the axe finds its mark—it keeps my mind steady. Keeps me from thinking too much.

But peace never lasts long in Avalon Vale.

“Ronaaaaan!”

I exhale through my nose. Luna.

My baby sister’s voice carries through the clearing, bright and full of mischief. Which means I’m about to agree to something ridiculous. Again.

Sure enough, Luna comes bounding up the path from Wilding Way Resort & Spa, her brindled colored curls gathered into a top knot, a scheming grin on her face. She stops afew feet away, hands on her hips, dusted in a light coating of snow. In her jeans and flannel, she looks harmless—just another business-savvy young wulver woman with Timber wolf coloring. But beneath the surface, she’s pure honey badger with sharp instincts, and a streak of determination so stubborn, she could chew through steel if she put her mind to it.

“Before you say no,” she starts, flashing her best innocent smile, “just know that I really, really need my big brother right now.”

I sink the axe into the stump and fold my arms. “Luna, the last time you ‘really needed me,’ I ended up leading a group of honeymooners through the unchartered territories so they couldsummon their inner wolves.”

She waves a hand. “That wasresearchfor our ‘Howl at the Moon Couples Retreat!’ And it was ahugesuccess.”

“We tumbled through an untagged Rift portal. We nearly lost one of the couples to a tentacled swamp monster.”

“Fine.Mostlya success.”

I’m not finished. “They threw their camping gear at it as a distraction and somehow lost their shoes.”

She waves my words away with her hands. “But this is different! The resort isthriving,Ronan. We just need a little extra…incentiveto keep drawing in visitors.”

“That sounds like ayouproblem.”

“Ronan.” She clasps her hands together. “Youloveme, right?”

I narrow my eyes. Of course I love my sister. “This conversation is taking a turn I don’t like.”

Before I can demand an explanation, another voice cuts in.

“Well, well. One of our fine Rift Wars heroes is back to his true calling—chopping wood and dodging his sister’s plans.”

I don’t need to turn to know Vane Wildfang is grinning like an idiot as he strolls into the clearing. His long coat is slung overone shoulder, hisdeputy sheriffbadge—self-appointed, mind you—gleaming against his shirt.

“I don’t seeyousplitting logs, Wildfang.”

“Because I havedelegation skills,” he replies smoothly, dropping onto a nearby log. “Anyway, speaking of things that annoy you—let’s talk about The Sweetheart Wilds Event.”

I pick up another log and set it on the stump. “Let’snot.”

Vane leans forward, ignoring me completely. “So, Luna’s been workingreal hardconvincing the Chamber of Commerce that our very own version of an Avalon Vale Valentine’s Festival should include atraditional wulver courting experience.”

He uses air quotes to emphasize the last part.

Luna beams. “They’re coming around! I mean, it’s just alightly modernizedversion of Lupercalia?—”

I bark out a laugh. “You mean ‘lightly modernized’ as inyouget to pick all the rules, and the mayor just has to deal with it?”

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