Wild Rogues (third in lone wolf series)

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

                (Marcus, you need to come home now so we can talk,) Julian ordered as he realized with a sniff of the air that Marcus had not come back to the ranch house after leaving town suddenly.

                (Don’t order me around, brother,) Marcus growled back.

                (Quit moping and feeling sorry for yourself and get home!)

                (Goddammit, I’m coming!)

                Julian flopped down on the porch swing and waited for his brother to show up. They had a small crew of hands that lived on or near the ranch and those men were hard at work, cleaning stalls, repairing fences and barns and just doing all the day to day upkeep that a ranch required.

                Julian felt an uneasiness in his soul at the knowledge that his mate was alone in that town so far away from him. His wolf wanted her to be near him always and Julian knew that no matter what Marcus may say, his brother was feeling the same restlessness.

                He had also felt his brother’s guilt and pain over what had happened earlier while at the clinic. Julian had opened their emotional link long enough to feel that and he could not help but feel sorry for his idiot of a sibling.

                Marcus was powerful, strong and dominant. It was what caused him to search out so many females his entire life, it was what had him taking so many risks as a marine to save the life of every man around him and it was what caused most people to simply assume he was an abusive jackass with nothing to offer other than muscle.

                If Marcus had been permitted to stay within a pack he would have been beta, responsible for the safety of the pack and of the alpha. But now he was simply a rogue and the vulnerability of that ate at Marcus every day; Julian knew it did.

                But Marcus was going to have to learn to control his temper where Abbie and her children were concerned. Those three were a part of their lives now. Julian might be the more submissive of the brothers and not necessarily the great warrior his brother was but he was going to stand his ground with Marcus on this. He would not be denied his mate.

                Julian was aware of Marcus bounding onto the back porch in wolf form and letting himself in the back door. It was several long minutes before Marcus came storming onto the front porch and flopped himself down in the rocking chair.

                He was agitated and upset that much was clear. He was on edge and ready for a fight which meant Julian was going to have to tread carefully if he wanted to accomplish anything other than a yelling match that ended with Marcus leaving once again.

                “We have much to talk about,” Julian began cautiously.