A Grey Wolves Howliday (The Grey Wolves #14) by Quinn Loftis

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Jacque said. The female alpha sat on the floor with her back against Sally’s chair. Jacque’s eyes showed both concern and compassion. “We can just make fun of Jen and Peri all night long.”

“Me?” Peri’s eyes snapped up. “Why am I being dragged into this? I’ve been sitting over here minding my own business.”

“Which isn’t like you,” Jacque pointed out. “And that means you obviously need to be made fun of.”

“I fail to see the logic in your argument,” the high fae responded dryly.

“Who said anything about logic? It’s girls’ night. Were you expecting logic?”

“And you haven’t been minding your own business,” Jen piped up. “You said my child’s development was questionable.” Jen held up a hand. “Not that I’m disputing you. I’m just pointing out that your argument is false. You’ve indeed minded someone else’s business, namely mine.”

“That’s only because someone needs to mind your business because you’re so busy minding everyone else’s,” Peri snapped.

Jen stared at the fae for a moment and then gave an exaggerated nod. “You’re not wrong.”

Zara couldn’t help but laugh. She’d never met a more ridiculous, though amazing, group of women. Her laughter brought everyone’s attention back to her. Great.

“You know,” Bethany said from beside her as she wiggled her now painted toes and smiled at them, “I came to Jen, Jacque, and Sally when I was dealing with some stuff with Drake. It helped.”

“Totally helped,” Jacque agreed.

“Just look at that stomach,” Sally added.

“One class with us and you’ll be prego in no time.” Jen smiled.

Zara’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. “Ahh, I’m not, I mean, that’s not what…” She pointed at Bethany’s huge abdomen. “No. Just no.”

The room erupted into laughter. “You should see the look on your face.” Elle grabbed her own stomach. “You look like someone just told you Wadim is pregnant with a draheim baby.”

“Did not need that mental image.” Peri sighed, shaking her head as she took a sip of her drink, which Zara could tell from the glass was not hot chocolate or eggnog. “I’m going to have to do a lot of scrubbing to get rid of it.”

“Just picture your mate naked, in a tutu, with a tiara on his head,” Rachel offered.

Zara’s head, along with everyone else’s, turned to the healer who was leaning against the mantle by the fireplace.

Rachel shrugged. “When I’m angry at Gavril, it totally makes him growl when I picture that and let him see it through the bond. Also, it gets rid of any unwanted images in my brain because I’m too busy laughing at my mate’s horrified face.”

“Diabolical.” Jen lifted her cup to the healer in a toast. “You win the awesome, wicked mate award.”

“When did that become a thing?” Sally asked.

“Just now. Didn’t you hear me?” Jen’s eyebrows rose.

Sally shook her head. “Put more cookies in your mouth, please.”

There was more laughter, but Jen ignored it and turned back to Zara. “Don’t listen to them. Tell us what’s got you and history boy snarling at one another.”

Zara took a sip of her drink and then shut down the bond a little tighter. She could feel Wadim’s irritation. When she’d told him she was going to the girls’ night, he’d growled and said he was going on a run. He had pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she was breathing hard, but then he’d taken off like his butt was on fire.

“I told Wadim I was ready to complete the bond,” she finally said.

Everyone perked up, and they all suddenly leaned toward her. Zara sank further into the couch.

“Jacque, get the book,” Jen said without taking her eyes off Zara.

“We don’t need the damn book,” Jacque snapped.

“We totally need the book,” Jen retorted.

“I vote book.” Bethany raised her hand.

“You’re pregnant, which means you’re thinking with your hormones and dead brain cells. If there was a vote, which there isn’t, you would not get a vote.” Jacque’s eyes shifted to Bethany and then back to Zara.

“Why does pregnancy make your hormones so out of whack?” Bethany sighed. “I’m as big as a whale, and yet I want to jump on my mate’s bone.”

Sally groaned as she closed her eyes and shook her head. “It’s jump my mate’s bones, Bethany, not jump on his bone.”

“Speak for yourself,” Bethany replied.

“Yet, another mental image I never wanted. Ever. Could have lived without that one for the rest of my long existence.” Peri huffed.

“Agreed,” Elle said.

“Okay, moving on. Sorry, Bethy, but you had your turn. We educated you. You seduced your man and got his bone. Now, it’s Zara’s turn, and she’s chomping at the bit for—”

“If you say history boy’s bone, I’m going to dump my wine on you,” Peri warned.

“I didn’t have to say it,” Jen replied. “You said it for me, Peri Fairy.”