“So whatcha think of the house?”

“I think it’s a fuckin’ mansion.”

“Yeah, I guess. But it needs a porch.”

Once inside, Miki gawked, her mouth open in awe. It was more amazing inside than out. Their hallway actually had marble floors and mile-high ceilings. A winding stairway sat opposite from the huge oak doors that led into the sunken living room.

“Your room is up those stairs. Second door on the left. This is the living room. It’s got a gigantic TV. I watch all the football games on that.” Sara dragged her down the hallway. “This here’s the kitchen. Nice, huh?”

“Shame you can’t cook.”

“Excuse me, but I make a mean chicken and dumplings.”

“And that’s all you make.”

Miki suddenly found herself in another Sara hug. The girl had really gotten strong and clearly hadn’t quite learned how to control it. Much more and she’d crack Miki’s ribs.

“I missed you so much.”

“Sara—”

“And I can’t wait until Angie gets here. Then the three of us will be back together again.”

“You’re killing me.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Sara quickly released her. “Hey. I gotta introduce you to somebody. Hold on.” Sara ran outside and Miki looked around the stainless steel kitchen with its Italian tile. She whistled in appreciation.

“I’m glad you like it.”

She screamed and jumped back about three feet. “Fuck, Zach! Make some goddamn noise, why don’t ya?”

“Get used to it, sweetness. We all do it.”

They both sneered at each other.

Zach looked her up and down. “Nice boots.”

Miki picked up an orange from a bowl on the counter. She tossed it across the enormous room. “Go get it, boy! Go get it!”

Zach gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing dangerously. She wondered what Sara had made him promise to keep him from coming across the counter for her. This could prove to be fun.

“So, Zach.” She grinned. “Where are your old Alphas, Yates and Casey? Or did you just kill ‘em, eat their carcasses, suck the marrow from their bones, and then roll around in your own filth in an orgy of blood and death?”

Zach glared at her.

“What?” She shrugged innocently. “I’m just askin’.”

“They’re in DC opening a new club, you psychotic little…”

Miki chuckled, ignoring whatever he was calling her and turned back to the glass sliding doors. She saw Sara calling something over.

“Oh, dear God!” Miki spun away, turning to Zach in horror. “What the hell is that?”

“That’s her dog.”

“Dear God, man, what were you thinking? You can’t letthat thing in your house. It’s a mutant!”

“She found it on the side of the highway. Had to have it.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing, really. Except for his short stubby front legs, his very long back legs, and freakishly large head. His sloping back. And, of course, he’s missing an eye.”

Sara returned, tragically with the dog. “And this is your Aunt Miki.” Miki stared down at the beast. “Mik. This is Roscoe T. Budsworth.”

“Roscoe T. Budsworth? That’s the best you could do?”

“That’s a wonderful name. It has prestige.”

Zach looked down at the dog. “No matter what you call him that is still one ugly fucking dog.”

Sara glared at Zach as she leaned over and covered up Roscoe’s long, floppy ears. “You be nice to him!”

“You’re lucky I’m being nice to her.” Zach glared at Miki. “Later, Tinker Bell.”

“Later, jackoff.”

With one last glare, Zach walked out of the kitchen.

Sara crouched down next to Roscoe and rubbed his shiny coat. “You told him to go fetch, didn’t you?

“I didn’t actually use those words…”

Chapter Three

Miki fell face first onto her bed. Huge and so soft, it would be like sleeping on clouds. And it smelled wonderful. She buried her nose into the comforter and breathed in deep. Okay. She’d admit it. A body could get used to living like this. Easily.

She’d spent the last four hours with Sara in the kitchen. They ate biscuits and drank buttermilk while playing with that amazingly sweet, but disturbing-to-look-at dog.

And not once had Conall stopped by. Which was good, dammit. No matter what Sara and Angelina thought, she wasn’t about to hook up with Conall Víga-Feilan, present-day Viking. No way. No day.

She’d learned the hard way that love and sex and all the rest of it was bullshit. A distraction from the bigger picture. Her mother had been planning on college in the hopes of going to medical school. Then she’d met Miki’s father. One illegitimate baby later and she was working herself to death to put food on the table while her own mother took care of Miki. But Miki had no intention of going down that road. So her bigger picture would be the next three days. Everything else would take a back seat to that.

At the moment, the Pack was downstairs ordering Chinese food and Miki had taken the opportunity to come up to her room and take a shower. She felt grungy after her day in the airport and on the plane, and she still had a full night planned. They were all going to one of the Pack’s clubs for some serious dancing and partying. She’d tried to back out of it, but Sara fought her hard, insisting that Miki needed to relax.