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

“Are you speaking literally, as in go take a bathroom break?” Adam held up his laminated sheet. “Because that’s not scheduled until 10:00 a.m.” Crina tried to push him from the room while telling him to “Shh.”

“You know what I mean. Do not deviate from the schedule, fairy boy.” Jen walked over to Peri and Elle.

“Why do I have a feeling this is going to turn into one of those ridiculous Christmas movies where someone gets electrocuted, another person gets locked in a bathroom for two days, and another falls from the roof?” Sally asked.

“Because it’s Jen who’s in charge, and she will probably be responsible for all three of those things happening,” Jacque answered.

“Good point,” Sally conceded.

“All right, boys, do us proud.” Jacque patted Fane on the back.

“Well, according to the schedule, Luna, you’ll have to wait until Thursday for us to do you two anything,” Fane muttered.

“Stupid schedule.” Costin tilted Sally’s head up and pressed his lips to hers. “Have fun with whatever the hell your acronym means,” he said when he pulled back.

“There’s a key.” Sally pointed to the sheets of paper in his hand, grinning at his annoyance.

“I refuse to read the key as an act of rebellion to the evil Christmas general,” he said, then turned to Fane. “You ready?”

Fane grunted. “I’m the alpha of this pack, but I have to walk around waiting for Jen to give me payback for something I didn’t even remember doing until yesterday.”

“You could give her an alpha command,” Costin said as they headed out of the kitchen.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Fane agreed.

“That’s a terrible idea,” Sally and Jacque called after them at the same time.

Jacque looked at her. “It would be hilarious, though.”

“Totally would. I’d pay money just to watch him do it,” Sally agreed.

“All right, Thelma.” Jacque sighed as she headed toward Crina and Zara. “Let’s go get our holiday cheer on.”

“I really feel like we should be walking in slow motion while awesome background music plays,” Sally said.

“Wearing Santa hats,” Jacque added.

“We’re on squad IDLD,” Zara said as they reached the other girls. “Indoor lights and decor.” She pointed to the key on the paper. “Before we get started, I’m thinking we need a squad cheer or something.”

“We want to put all the other squadrons to shame,” Crina said.

Sally and Jacque looked at each other then back at the two girls.

“We like how you girls think.” Jacque threw up her arms and shouted in her best drill team voice. “We are I-D-L-D, so bright you cannot see. If you do not like us, you can kiss our knee.” She smiled. “Get it? Bright because we’re doing lights.”

Zara laughed. “Have you already dipped into the special eggnog?”

“Nah, girl. I’m just drunk on cheer. Holiday cheer and a ‘our squadron is better than your squadron’ cheer.” Jacque hooked her arm through Zara’s.

Sally did the same with Crina as they followed the pair out, heading for the meeting hall where Jen had all the Christmas decorations set up in organized piles, which they already knew because it was written on their oh-so-helpful sheet of instructions.

“This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?” Crina whispered.

Sally nodded. “Absolutely. But it will be a hilarious disaster, and I think we could use a hilarious disaster right now.”





Chapter 3





“On the third day of Christmas my werewolf gave to me three growling males, two cursing pups, and a furball in a fir tree.”

Keep singing people. So help me you’re going to enjoy this story whether you like it or not.” ~Jen





“How many more bloody trees does she want?” Lucian asked Decebel.

“Yeah, what he said.” Adam pointed at Lucian. “Because yesterday we cut down thirty.”

“But she only liked ten of those,” Decebel replied. “She inspected them and decided twenty were unacceptable. They had too many issues.”

“Issues?” Adam frowned. “How can a damn tree have issues?”

Decebel rubbed his hand down his face. He loved his female. He did. And he had to keep reminding himself of that the previous evening while she pointed out the issues. His tongue was bloody from all the times he had bitten it to keep his muzzle shut. “Her heart is in the right place,” he said. “She wants everything to be beautiful for the pack and to create some pleasant memories for the end of the year.”

Lucian met his eyes and nodded. “Then we get her more trees.”

“I really hate it when you say stuff that makes me have all the feels when I really just want to bitch.” Adam huffed as they headed back toward the forest.

“All the feels?” Decebel laughed.

Adam just shrugged. “Crina says it all the time. She’s rubbing off on me.”

“Don’t tell my mate that.” Decebel said. “She’ll remind you it’s not Thursday yet.”

Adam and Lucian both froze and turned to look at him.