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

Jacque hadn’t missed the fact that none of the guys said a thing about the beautiful sleigh. Her own mate’s head was filled of all the ways he was going to torture Jen, so he hadn’t had time to notice.

“Okay, kids in the sleigh,” Jen said.

Jacque walked over and waited until Titus, who was also giggling, and Thia, who was once again singing “Jingle Hells,” were seated and then put Slate in between them. “Titus, can you make sure he doesn’t slip off?” Jacque asked.

“I got it, Aunt Jacque,” he said as he wrapped an arm around Slate and tucked him close to his side. Slate’s eyes were wide with wonder as his hands ran over the soft white blankets they were sitting on. He was dressed in a little red and green suit that matched Titus’s, complete with Christmas plaid bow ties. While Thia’s dress was red with white fur trim all around it.

WhenJacque stepped back to take in the full sight before her, she lost it. Like full-on, body bending over, stomach grabbing, barely able to breathe, lost it. She laughed so hard she thought for sure she was going to pee on herself. She wasn’t the only one.

Sally stood next to her trying to speak around her own laughter. “I’m pretty sure this is the best thing she’s ever come up with.”

Jacque nodded. “The best.”

The looks on the males' faces, all except Wadim, who seemed to be taking his duty as a reindeer very seriously, and Adam, who really didn’t seem to give a crap, ranged from sort of annoyed to down-right pissed.

“Peri, camera,” Jen called as she held out her hand.

Peri sighed. “You do realize I’m not an online store with instant shipping, right?”

“Nope.” Jen snapped her fingers.

A camera suddenly appeared in her hand, and Jen immediately brought it to her face. “Okay, Blitzer, Donald, Ruddy, Comic-con,” she began calling out.

“Those aren’t the reindeer names,” Zara pointed out, tears streaming down her face from laughing.

“Don’t care,” Jen sang. “They’re my reindeer bitches. Their names are whatever I call them.”

“Jennifer!” Decebel growled, nearly a full-on snarl.

“It’s for our daughter, B.” Jen began snapping photos. “Just think of how happy she is. Can’t you hear her giggling?”

“She won’t even remember it,” her mate pointed out.

“Oh, she’ll remember it, because every Christmas there will be a wall dedicated to this awesome display of Christmas cheer.”

“Do we look cheerful to you?” Costin spoke up for the first time.

“You look adorable,” Sally told him through snorted laughter.

“Okay, I need y’all to really get into character. Be the reindeer.” Jen bent and leaned and turned her camera this way and that. “Feel the reindeer. Seek out the inner reindeer that lives inside of you.”

“If you say ‘reindeer’ one more time, I’m going to spit on you,” Drake snapped.

“Wrong hooved animal, babe,” Bethany said. “You’re thinking of a camel. It’s no wonder you look awkward. You’re in camel mode.”

“Exactly.” Jen pointed at Bethany. “You can’t be in camel mode and understand the uniqueness of the Christmas reindeer. You’ve got to really think of what it must be like for them to feel the excitement of delivering toys to kids the world over. Let’s get some hoof stomping going on, and a little snorting wouldn’t hurt, either.”

“How’s this? Is this getting into character enough?” Costin raised his leg to the side, looking very much like a wolf marking his territory.

“Wrong animal again.” Bethany shook her head. “Reindeer don’t hike a leg up to pee. You’re in mutt mode.”

“Regardless, thank you, Costin.” Jen wasn’t a bit deterred. “I got that. It was perfect. It’ll look amazing hanging on the reindeer wall.”

Costin dropped his leg and let out a string of curses.

Through the whole thing, Jacque’s mate stood stoic, on all fours, attempting to look as dignified as an alpha wolf dressed up in a Rudolph costume could possibly look.

After Jen had gotten as many pictures as she felt necessary, she said, “Okay, now I need some live action. Start pulling the slei—” She didn’t get very far into her instructions when Fane snarled. “Perizada!”

“Oh, dear,” Peri muttered. “I think the alpha is done.”

“Stick a fork in him,” Crina muttered.

“Sorry, Jen, but you just got outranked.” Peri snapped her fingers. All nine males were upright and dressed in regular clothes. Well, sort of regular. They had on jeans, but each of them was wearing a Christmas sweater. Not the ugly ones, just Christmas plaids.

Jen glared at Peri. “Chicken.”

The fae chuckled. “I could make you look like Mrs. Claus, complete with the plumpness that comes from her cookie and hot chocolate diet.”

“That’s a wrap,” Jen said quickly. She wound a finger in the air and then gathered up Thia.

Jacque grinned and picked up Slate. “I think you should do it,” Jacque told Peri.

Sally smiled while she helped Titus from the sleigh. “Agreed.”

Peri sighed. “I’ll think about it, but I have to weigh the consequences of listening to her gripe for the next three centuries.”