Nathan and Jessica cast glances at each other, then Jessica finally said, “About Christmas—Hunter said he wanted us to give you both time alone together and time to investigate the murders…” She bit her lip.

“The other family we’re staying with is great…” Nathan said.

Bjornolf knew what Nathan was getting at, but he felt it was up to Anna. This was her first Christmas. Their first Christmas together.

“Yeah, really loving and all… you know, worried that we’re not going to have fun at Christmas because of… well, you know,” Jessica said.

“They have five-year-old quadruplets.” Nathan looked like that was all he needed to say.

“All boys,” Jessica added.

Bjornolf waited quietly for Anna to take the lead.

She glanced at Bjornolf, trying to read his expression. She appeared willing if he was. He should have known she would be. All that camouflaged armor she’d worn for missions was gone now. He gave her a ghost of a smile, telling her it was all right with him.

“We have a guest room that’s all yours,” Anna said decidedly.

“I’ll go get our bags,” Nathan quickly said, as if he was afraid Bjornolf would contradict Anna.

He was amused that they were packed and ready to move in without even knowing they were welcome to stay.

“I’ll help you.” Jessica beamed, mouthing a thank you to Anna and hurrying after Nathan.

Shaking his head, Bjornolf snuggled closer to Anna. “Do you think we’re doing the right thing?”

Anna rested her head against his chest. “It might be just what we all need.”

“You’re right.” Even though he’d wanted Anna all to himself over the holidays.

The kids were back in the house again soon afterward, and they headed for the guest room.

When they returned, Jessica glanced at Anna and asked, “Can we make Christmas cookies?”

Bjornolf suspected Anna hadn’t made them before, so he helped her out. “I’ve never made them.” He felt Anna’s eyes on him and added, “I’m game if you can teach me.”

“Me, too,” Nathan said, coming out of the bedroom. “I’ve never made them, but I’d sure like to eat them.” Nathan gave Anna a wicked grin.

Jessica dumped her bags in the room before joining them, slipping her hand into his. Smiling, she headed for the kitchen. “How about pfeffernusse cookies?” She started pulling open cabinet drawers. “What are your favorites?”

“Shortbread cookies?” Nathan asked.

“Sugar cookies?” Bjornolf added, as they all followed Jessica into the kitchen, getting into the spirit of baking cookies. They all looked at Anna to see what she preferred.

“They’re not really Christmassy.” Anna looked a little like she was unsure how to join the party.

“What are they?” Jessica asked.

“Chocolate chip cookies. Double the chips.”

Jessica grinned, looked at Nathan, and said, “We’ll need some ingredients.”

“We’ll go get them.”

Before Bjornolf knew it, the kids were off again.

Anna slipped her arms around Bjornolf’s waist. “Yeah, I think this was just what we needed.”

***

The last of the cookies were made, and several of the cooled ones had already been eaten. They were in the middle of cleaning up the mess when Jessica gave them all a funny look, then ran for the guest room.

Nathan quickly followed her to see what had happened. Anna and Bjornolf continued to sweep and wipe up spilled flour and sugar. They were washing mixing bowls when Nathan returned.

“She had the sudden urge to turn wolf. She’s upset that she can’t control the shifting, but… well, we’re going to take a run in the woods tonight.”

Anna said without hesitation, “We are, too.”

Nathan looked a little startled.

“We don’t have to run with you, but…” She patted Bjornolf’s stomach. “He needs to keep in shape.”

Bjornolf pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I recall seeing you eating your fair share of the cookies.”

“More than my fair share.” She hugged his arms as he wrapped them around her waist.

Nathan grinned. “Jessica will be thrilled to have you guys tag along.”

He rushed back to the bedroom.

“Ready for a run?” Anna asked Bjornolf.

“We forgot to add that to our schedule. Running.”

“As wolves.”

“As wolves,” he said, and she was glad. That was her favorite kind of running.

***

Anna and Bjornolf and the teens ran through the chilly woods. The snow was falling in huge, fat flakes, and the waves crashed against the boulders below in a steady rhythm.

Anna nipped at Bjornolf’s neck in fun-loving play. He licked her nose back, his eyes flashing with a predatory gleam. She was bound for more fun later tonight. The kids ran with them, sometimes a little ahead. Anna noticed the way Jessica studied her while Anna was sniffing the ground and the trees, nuzzling up to Bjornolf, licking his cheek, jumping at his back, playing.

Anna realized that Jessica was learning what it meant to be a wolf. She hadn’t grown up with wolves, didn’t know how to play as one, and needed guidance and inspiration.

After Anna nipped Bjornolf twice more, he finally caught her off guard and pinned her to the snow. She growled playfully while Jessica and Nathan watched. Anna loved this part of a wolf’s nature, though she’d never done this with an adult male before. Sparring with men in training was as close as she’d come. For her, this was all fairly new, too.

Bjornolf still had Anna pinned down when she quit struggling to get up. He licked her face. She licked his in return. His eyes were dark with lust. She imagined hers were, too.

Time for them to head back to the house. This part they didn’t need to teach to the teens.

He let her up and she shook off the snow sticking to her fur. They both looked at Jessica and Nathan.

In wolf language the teens knew what Bjornolf and Anna had in mind. Nathan bowed his head a little in acknowledgment, and then Anna sprinted for the cottage. Bjornolf chased after her with a woof, like two teens in the race for the finish line. She hoped Jessica and Nathan would take a nice long run before they returned to the house.

Chapter 26

A week later, Yale called Anna as Bjornolf and she were getting ready to prepare Christmas Eve dinner. Bjornolf knew at once that Yale had some forensic results. Anna put him on speakerphone so Bjornolf could hear.

Jessica and Nathan were out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. Bjornolf was glad they weren’t here at the moment.

“I know this is bad timing with it being Christmas Eve. But the DNA test results came back and I wanted to let you know they were positive,” Yale said. “The young lady is Jessica Silverstone, daughter of Jenna and Oliver Silverstone. The blood we found using the luminol in the basement of their home proved to be both Jenna and Oliver’s blood. And… some of Roger Wentworth aka Roger Everton’s blood. He was probably wounded when he killed the couple. Their daughter was right.”

Anna listened, not saying a word, her jaw clenched tight.

Bjornolf wrapped his arm around her shoulders, grateful that Yale hadn’t revealed the gory details in front of Jessica. “What about the DEA agents? Any word on what happened to them?”

“They were checking into allegations that William Wentworth was dealing in illegal drugs. Their investigation led them to the Christmas tree farm. They were in the house at some point or another. We didn’t find any of their blood there, but they appeared to have been caught as soon as they entered the house. The only place they had been was the front foyer. I almost missed smelling a vague hint of their scent there. If you came in the back door, you might have missed it, too.”

“We did. Did Hunter tell you what Jessica heard when she was home sick from school that one day?”

“Yes. The time corresponds to the approximate time of death. Both of them were shot several times. They bled out before their wolf’s healing abilities could come into play.”

Anna took a deep breath.

“I’ve informed their families. Not the kind of news anyone wants to hear at Christmastime, but they need closure. William and his family had an alibi for that time. They were with you in the Amazon.” He took a deep breath. “You have the hardest job—giving the news to Jessica.”

“What about Everton’s condition? Any word?” Anna asked.

“Intensive care still. He had a heart attack. He’s in a coma. So no questioning him yet.”

They said good-bye, and Anna looked at Bjornolf. “I should have aimed better.”

“Hell, Anna,” Bjornolf said, taking her into his arms. “You were drugged, and he intended to shoot and bury you. If you’d hit somewhere less vital, I might not be holding you here now.”

“You’re right. I just wish they could have interrogated him and learned what all this was about. As to Jessica, she has to be told. I hate being the one to tell her. She’ll want to know the truth, but it comes at a price.”

“If you want me to…”

Anna shook her head. “She knows my parents were murdered. So I kind of have a connection.” She hesitated, her gaze drifting to his chest.

He kissed her and hugged her tight. “I know, Anna. I don’t want you to be sad about any of it any longer.”

She sighed and gave him a small smile. “I don’t want to be, either. I want this first Christmas to be really special. And it will be,” she said with determination, dragging him into the kitchen. “If we get to cooking.”

***

They should have known that something was wrong when the kids didn’t come home for dinner on time. Not when Jessica and Nathan had proved how responsible they could be. Not when they were just doing some last-minute shopping and most places were already closed for Christmas Eve.

“I’m worried about them.” Anna turned off the oven.