Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Walk in front of me,” Eli said to her. “I like staring at your ass while you walk—it’s one of the best parts of my day.”
She snickered. “You’re so full of it.”
“Hey, that was a heart-felt compliment.” He threaded his gloved fingers through hers. “Did you hear from Adrian this morning?”
“Yes. He and Clare are planning to come by one day this week.” The mated mink-pair had initially wanted to drop by tomorrow, but it was tradition for the Mercury and Phoenix Pack to have a huge get-together on Boxing Day since, due to the number of visitors each pack received, they weren’t able to meet up on Christmas Day.
“I also got a ‘Merry Christmas’ call from Emily when you were in the shower,” Casey added. “My mom was with her, so she spoke to me for a few minutes, too. They’re planning to visit soon.”
Casey couldn’t say she had a solid relationship with them, but it wasn’t awkward. They’d started speaking again seven and a half years ago, when she’d gone to visit Miles at rehab. Emily and their mother had been there and … well, Gayle had collapsed into heart-wrenching sobs the minute she’d spotted Casey.
It was when Ira tried forcing Emily to marry his friend’s son that Gayle had finally snapped out of her bullshit “I must follow my mate’s lead” state. You didn’t follow someone who was a complete asshole.
Gayle had rebuilt a relationship with each of her children, despite that Ira wildly disapproved. It had helped Miles a lot with overcoming his addiction, so Casey was glad of it. It had taken a while for her mink to accept Gayle and Emily’s presence in her life, though; she still didn’t trust them.
“Damn, it’s cold,” Casey said with a little shudder. “One thing I hate about winter is how dry it makes my skin.”
“I’ll give you a facial later.”
She gave the dirty-minded wolf the side-eye.
He put his mouth to her ear. “I love it when you swallow my come, baby, but blowing my load all over your pretty face is always a pleasure. Come on, let me. I’ll make sure you have a happy ending.”
She chuckled. “You’re an idiot.”
A small breeze came along, rustling branches and causing a few clumps of snow to cascade down.
“Will you two stop!” a male voice burst out.
Turning, Casey glimpsed Bracken through the trees. He was glaring down at two little dark-haired girls who could pass for identical twins.
The oldest, Regan, jabbed her finger at her sibling. “The Thing started it!”
“Stop calling me that!” Yasmin yelled.
Casey exchanged an amused smile with Eli. The cute pallas cats were only a year apart in age, and they could play together beautifully. They shared, laughed, and constantly made up weird songs. But it was never long before one was trying to choke the other to death, and it could be over the most menial stuff.
Madisyn strode up behind her mate. “What are you two demons whining about this time?” Her frown melted away when she noticed Casey and Eli. “Hey, guys! Merry Christmas!”
“Same to you!” Casey called out. She smiled at the pallas kits. “Did Santa bring you all the stuff you asked for?”
“He didn’t bring me the tarantula, which is a bummer,” said Regan. “I was gonna put it in The Thing’s bed.”
And then Yasmin launched herself at her sibling, taking her to the ground.
Bracken let his head fall back. “This is what I get for ignoring Vinnie’s advice to have them decades apart.”
Madisyn laughed. “We’ll catch up in a minute, Case.”
“Sure.” Casey gave them a quick wave and then headed to the main lodge. Kathy must have noticed them out of the window, because she opened the door before Casey had a chance to knock.
Kathy beamed at them. “There you all are!” She gave a hug to Eli and Casey and then made a huge fuss of the kids, peppering their little faces with kisses.
After removing their coats, gloves, and hats, they all walked into the living area. Casey wiggled her cold fingers. The room was gorgeously warm, thanks to the crackling fire. Most of the pack were already there, and she found herself quickly swept up in hug after hug after hug.
“Uncle Eli!” The Alpha’s son dashed over and wrapped himself around Eli’s leg.
Eli ruffled his nephew’s ash-blond hair. “Merry Christmas, Kellen.”
“Dad said the kids can open their gifts before dinner this year so that he doesn’t have to deal with my pouting and whining while he’s eating.”
“Good thinking on his part.”
Kellen released Eli’s leg. “What did ya bring me?”
“It might be in this sack.” Eli dumped it on the floor. “Take a look.”
“Presents!” yelled Kellen, and every kid in the room descended on the sack.
Ally and Derren’s take-charge son tried making the others line up, insisting he’d take out the gifts one at a time and call out whoever’s name was on the tag. He usually managed to make the other kids dance to his tune, since he was the oldest, but today they were all too high on excitement to give a hot shit what he wanted. It didn’t help his cause that his two little sisters were advising the others to “ignore Mr. Bossy Pants.”