Smitty laid his head down on his paws and watched Jessie lob snowballs at Johnny. It must be his birthday since she insisted on his wearing a crown, and Smitty could see through the glass doors and windows the other wild dogs decorating the house and fixing a huge meal.

Jessie squealed and he watched Danny toss her over his shoulder, spinning around until Phil took her and hung her upside down by her ankles. Smitty’s lips pulled back over his fangs and he thought about tearing the little bastards into several pieces.

Snow crunched near him and he glanced over his shoulder to see Mace walking toward him. The big cat lay down beside him. As lion, Mace beat him in weight and size by more than double. But they were friends more than they were predators. Nothing had ever come between them and nothing ever would.

Mace didn’t do anything. He didn’t shift and try to talk to him or drag him out to get drunk and find another girl. He didn’t do anything because he didn’t have to.

They’d had to lie to Jess to explain why they were leaving the house in the middle of the afternoon and just before Johnny’s party. But watching her pretend not to be miserable was hard on them all. May, having grown up around Smiths, had a pretty good idea where she could track down the Smith Pack Alpha Female. And although her idea sounded improbable—why would a couple of afternoon-boozing She-wolves help them or Jess?—Sabina was desperate enough to try anything.

Now, after talking to these females for over an hour, it seemed like there was only one option at this point. An option Ronnie Lee Reed kept trying to talk her friend out of.

Most things people stressed over Sabina didn’t understand. But this, this she understood. It was something she’d never do. Not for all the dark chocolate in the world.

“Phone, Ronnie Lee.”

The She-wolf dug the phone out of her small backpack, then stopped and asked again, “Are you sure you want to do this? Are you really sure, Sissy Mae?”

“Do I have a choice? Do any of us?”

To Sabina’s surprise, she actually didn’t despise Sissy or her pouty-lipped friend. They both cared about Smitty the way she and May cared about Jess. They were family and they were willing to do anything to make these two assholes happy even if it killed them all!

“Give me the phone.”

Ronnie slapped the small cell phone in her hand. “I sure hope you know what you’re doin’.”

Sissy chuckled and dialed. “When have I ever?”

First they sang “Happy Birthday to You,” as they were traditionalists. Then they sang, “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want,” which made Johnny laugh out loud.

He did seem overwhelmed by his gifts and, okay, maybe the dirt bike and new violin based on his teacher’s recommendations—and which he couldreturn if he wanted a different one—was spoiling him a little, but she knew what it was like to be spoiled and then not to be. Johnny was a good kid. He deserved a little spoiling now and again. Although she didn’t agree with the dirt bike. Why would you give someone with hands blessed with musical talent a goddamn dirt bike? But when she argued the point, Phil shoved a piece of chocolate cake in her mouth.

Jess knew when Johnny suddenly hugged her while she poured glasses of milk for the kids that she’d made him happy.

Now, while her Pack danced to old seventies and eighties music in the living room, Jess wandered out to the back porch and sat on the steps. She’d brought with her a piece of May’s dark chocolate cake and a glass of milk. She wasn’t really hungry, especially not after all that food, but having it would keep everyone off her back about “sulking.”

Really, there was nothing like having forty wild dogs asking you if you’re “okay”—constantly.

Jess wasn’t surprised when she saw Smitty walk out of the dark woods toward her. She’d known he’d been in the woods earlier in the day, only as wolf. If she hadn’t been able to scent him or hear his breathing—she had—she would have simply known. She felt his presence like a warm blanket around her shoulders. Protecting her, soothing her.

Now, as a fully dressed human, he sat between her legs on the lower step. She handed him the slice of cake and then the milk.

They sat like that for a long while, not saying anything, simply enjoying the land they felt a part of.

When Jess heard her Pack in the kitchen, putting food away and cleaning up, she took the empty plate and glass and stood. By the time she walked to the back door, Smitty had walked off. But she knew he’d be back. When she went to bed, she’d find him in her room, waiting for her.

And, again, she’d let him snuggle up to her, snoring lightly in her ear. Why? Because she loved him and didn’t want to sleep away from him.

Unfortunately, none of that changed a goddamn thing.

She knew Smitty; he was still floundering. Still trying to figure out what she wanted. It would take something extreme to get him to wake up. Something he’d never see coming.

She simply prayed it was before she gave up hope entirely. She had only so much.

Chapter 26

Smitty climbed down the tree that he’d been using to get in and out of Jessie’s room. Once he figured out how to make her his for good, he’d cut down this goddamn tree. Too easy for scumbags to get in and out of her room. But it definitely served its purpose this weekend.

As he dropped to the ground, he scented a wolf and quickly turned to find Johnny leaning against the trunk of another tree, watching him.

“Boy.”