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

“You think she’ll make it three centuries?” Jacque’s brow raised.

“Seriously.” Sally shook her head as they walked toward the front door. “I love Jen, but one day she’s going to piss off the wrong supernatural and her ass is going to be grass.”

“Technically, it’s already been grass a couple of times. But she’s like a weed. She just keeps coming back,” Jacque noted.

Peri nodded. “Exactly. Three centuries is probably not generous enough.”

As they stepped inside the mansion, Jacque sat Slate down. The boy took off crawling like his butt was on fire. Thankfully, Titus loved chasing the little guy, so Jacque didn’t have to run after him. “You do realize she’s going to ask you to develop those photos now, don’t you?” Sally asked Peri.

“That’s okay. I’ll let it slide this time, simply because I know those pictures are going to be hilarious.”

Jacque felt arms come around her from behind. Her mate’s scent enveloped her, along with his irritation. “You owe me,” he whispered in her ear.

“Me?” Jacque turned her head so she could look up at him. “I didn’t force you to wear the Rudolph costume.”

“You laughed at me.” He huffed.

Jacque smiled up at him. “Would it help if I told you that you’re the sexiest Rudolph I’ve ever seen?”

“So, reindeer are your thing?” he asked, a slight smirk on his handsome face.

“They totally do it for me.”

“Well, I hope you got enough of a kick out of that because I’m never wearing it again.”

Jacque’s lips turned up slightly, and she ran her nails across his forearm. “What if I make it worth your while?”

“You’re sexy as hell, Luna. But I don’t need a Rudolph costume to get you on your back.” He pressed a kiss to her neck and then released her.

Jacque was left standing there with her jaw hanging open while she watched her mate swagger off as if he hadn't just been decked out with the rest of his pack in silly reindeer costumes.

“Why do you look like you’re about to jump your man’s bones?” Bethany stepped up next to Jacque.

“Because even after looking like that”—she motioned over her shoulder back toward where the sleigh was sitting outside—“he’s still as confident as a male who hadn’t just been dressed up like Santa’s nightlight.”

Bethany snorted. “You can put the wolf in a reindeer costume, but you can’t take the alpha out of him.”

Jacque laughed. “That made no sense.”

“I’m pregnant. I don’t have to make sense.”

Jacque held up her hand for a high five. “True.”

“Let’s go see if Peri’s got the pictures. Jen will want them up on a wall ASAP.” Jacque grabbed Bethany’s hand and pulled her toward the voices filling the kitchen.

As they passed the main living area, she saw all the males sitting. Oddly enough, their grumpy faces were gone, and they were talking and joking. Maybe Adam had given them more fairy juice. After what Jen had just put them through, they deserved any kind of buzz they could get.

“Damn straight,” Fane muttered through the bond, though most of the irritation was gone, and he was beginning to seem more amused by the whole thing.

When Bethany and Jacque entered the main living area, the one wall was covered in a huge red curtain that had not been there before.

“You’ve already got them hung?” Jacque asked Jen, who was staring up at the red curtain as if it was a precious child. Maybe in Jen’s twisted mind, it was.

“I’m good like that.” Peri brushed invisible lint from her shoulders.

Jen looked over at Jacque. “We will unveil them at the Christmas celebration.”

Jacque’s eyes widened. “Ahh, ookay. That’s not going to be awkward or humiliating for the males at all.”

“Smurf girl. They turned my daughter into a Smurf girl.”

“Buuut, they didn’t get any pictures of it,” Sally pointed out.

“Which means I win.” Jen stuck her nose in the air, obviously proud of herself.

“You do realize that not everything is a competition, right?” Crina asked.

“Keep telling yourself that, fae lover, but expect to lose at everything in life.”

“Wow, that escalated really fast.” Zara’s eyes widened.

“That’s pretty much Jen’s m.o..” Jacque nodded. “She goes from friendly to ‘I’ll slit your throat’ in about two point five seconds.”

“Speaking of two point five seconds…” Jen glanced at her watch. “We need to pick up the cakes.”

“What does two point five seconds have to do with picking up cakes?” Sally asked.

Jen shrugged. “I don’t know. I just needed a segue to a new conversation.” She turned to Peri and Elle, who were sitting on the couch munching on popcorn and watching everyone else as if they were a television show. “Can you two take all of us? There’s quite a few cakes to bring back.”

Suddenly the popcorn was gone and the two fae were up, holding out their arms. “We live to serve,” Peri said dryly.

“What is it you’re serving? B.S.?” Zara asked.