by Terry Spear
As soon as he walked inside, Anna frowned a little at him. He quickly joined her and said, “Come on, before we chicken out. Let’s tell Hunter and Tessa the good news.”
She smiled. “Maybe they won’t see it that way.”
He chuckled. “His pack will be lucky to get us.”
They found Tessa and Hunter pouring more wassail. Both turned to see what they had to say.
“We’ve got good news,” Bjornolf said. “Well, unless you don’t want us to join your pack.”
Tessa hurried over to hug Anna. “Thank God it worked. Hunter’s been trying to figure out a way to get the two of you together since the last mission here on the Oregon coast.”
Anna and Bjornolf looked at Hunter. He smiled a little, then shook Bjornolf’s hand and gave Anna a hug. “I didn’t know that Meara had the same idea. That was why she sent Bjornolf to watch our backs in the Amazon.”
Bjornolf grinned. “I should have known.”
“This means the two of you are also going to be on the team for missions, right?” Hunter asked.
“Bjornolf told me only if it’s not too dangerous for him,” Anna said, smiling.
Bjornolf slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her tight. “She’s right.”
“Having well-seasoned wolves who could help us with pack issues and on covert missions, too? The scenario couldn’t be better,” Hunter said. “I was worried about Anna being alone, and now…” Hunter breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad for you, Anna. And glad for you, Bjornolf. I’m pleased you’re no longer a ghost. That you want to be part of the team. Not just on the outside looking in.” Hunter saluted them with a cup of wassail. “Welcome to the pack.”
* * *
When Bjornolf, Anna, Jessica, and Nathan arrived back at the house later that night, Jessica and Nathan wanted to talk to them about future living arrangements. Bjornolf wanted to take Anna to bed, but he knew this was important, too.
They all sat down on the couch, and Jessica started the conversation as they sipped eggnog. “We’ve been thinking. Nathan sold his house, and he’s got money so he could help with the cost. And I could sell the Christmas tree farm…”
“It’s not in your name—yet. Your adoptive parents claim it’s theirs,” Bjornolf warned.
Jessica’s eyes narrowed a little. “But we know it isn’t. It’s my parents’ house. And they’re dead.” Jessica spoke as if she was coming to grips with what had happened. That under all this other talk, she was hurting, angry, and wanted to settle things a bit. “I think I know where they’re buried.”
Anna should have been shocked at Jessica’s revelation, but she wasn’t. She guessed that Jessica was compartmentalizing things. Taking care of one major issue at a time. Jessica had been worried about being pregnant. Now she was concentrating on something else.
Her parents’ deaths.
Jessica loved the people who raised her, and she was struggling with giving them up, too. No teen should have to deal with issues like this.
“How do you know?” Anna asked.
“I started analyzing the sections of trees and the years they were planted. We have tons of records dating back some years before that. I was trying to match up when my parents might have been buried on the farm.”
“I’ve been pondering that same thing about the DEA agents,” Bjornolf said. “Hunter’s police officers are going to look into it.”
“What if your parents died in the Amazon, Jessica?” Anna asked, trying to be realistic. If they’d died there, no one would ever discover what had happened so long ago.
“Sure, I considered it.” Jessica folded her arms. “When I was little, maybe five or so, I was playing in the basement, and I smelled blood.”
“Your parents would have been gone about three years by then.”
“Yeah, I don’t know. I never really gave it any thought until later when I fell and split my forehead open. I was six at the time. Head wounds bleed a lot. The doctor couldn’t find the cut in my hairline so they couldn’t stitch it. I remember smelling all that blood. It reminded me of the blood I’d breathed in earlier in the basement.”
A wolf’s strong sense of smell.
“I don’t recall getting a whiff of any blood when we were in the basement,” Anna said.
“That’s my fault. I told my parents I smelled it on one side of the basement, opposite where the dartboard was. They said that I was imagining things, but they used bleach to clean it up. I could only smell bleach after that.”
“It’s not your fault, Jessica. Forensic scientists can still discover bloodstains using luminol, which reacts by turning fluorescent.”
Jessica nodded. She didn’t look happy about the situation, but she appeared resigned. If her adoptive parents had murdered her own parents, they’d lost the right to be her family.
“Where do you think they were buried?”
“Two different areas. Seedlings were just being planted. The other trees were too mature.”
Bjornolf had his cell out and was already calling Hunter. “We think we’ve got a possible location for Jessica’s parents’ bodies.”
Chapter 25
After Nathan and Jessica returned to the other pack member’s home where they were staying and Anna fell asleep, Bjornolf left the bedroom and went into the living room. He turned on his phone to check the order status on the clothes he had ordered for her. He smiled when he confirmed that they would arrive in time for Christmas. He couldn’t wait to see Anna’s face light up when she opened his presents. He would do anything to make her smile.
“What are you doing?” Anna asked as she walked into the living room, naked and mouthwatering.
He quickly turned off his phone. “Nothing. Did I wake you?”
“If you’re not doing anything, why don’t you come back to bed and do something?” she purred and slipped her hand around his arm. Her eyes took in his nakedness, giving his thickening cock a long, hungry look. She smiled as she gave her upper lip a little lick.
He couldn’t help but give her a cocky grin. His mate was insatiable. So was he. Muscles tensing and ready for action, he swept her up in his arms and carried her back to bed. He was just glad the earlier upset was over.
His feet were soundless on the thick carpeting. When he dropped her on the bed, she bounced and gave a little “oh.” As he joined her, he looked into her eyes, their gazes locking, and she teased, “So who were you texting? Old girlfriend?”
“Are you kidding? Mated to a she-wolf with lethal moves, I’d never be that foolish.” He raked her from head to toe with his gaze, and then he ran his hands over her feet. She gave him a look that was particularly devilish, as if she wanted to try her moves out on him right then. Instead, she waited to see what he was going to do next, hands behind her head.
He settled his cock against her nest of curls and lifted her legs around his waist. He ran his hands over her hips and waist, caressing her breasts while her smile broadened. He shrugged. “And these? A total distraction when I’m trying to take you down.”
He slid his hands over her silky arms. “You’re all I ever wanted in a woman in one heavenly package.”
“Hmm,” she said, her fingers sliding down his back and making him want to plunge into her. The moment he’d lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, he’d been ready.
He kissed her long and hard, their tongues tasting of cinnamon and oranges. He shifted his attention to that sweet spot that had her writhing beneath him and begging him to finish her off.
His cock was rock hard, throbbing with the need to find release, as her fingers dug into his shoulders. Every muscle in her body was toned to perfection as if she was meant just for him. For his pleasure. For his touch.
She smelled of she-wolf and peach shampoo, of sweet wassail and sex and desire. Her heart was racing to the moon, and her breath caught when he sensed she was close to climaxing. He pushed her over the edge by pressing his cock between her folds. She cried out, not needing to hide their lovemaking
from the teens tonight.
He joined her, pressing hard and deep, surrounded by her hot, wet heat, as her muscles contracted with thrilling little ripples of climax. He told her he loved her and stretched her as he deepened the penetration.
Her fingers were all over him—clawing at his back and ass, pulling at his shoulders.
He wanted to hold on to the peak, wanted to make it last even if it killed him, but he couldn’t. He reminded himself that as needy as she was, they could do it again after a little bit.
And he let go.
“You’re so hot,” she murmured.
“Hell, you make me hot.”
Satiated, he pulled out of her, rolled onto his back, and moved her over to cuddle with him. No matter what happened, he would always love her.
* * *
The next day, several investigators gathered at the Christmas tree farm, searching for bodies. Yale, Hunter, Finn, Anna, and Bjornolf watched the proceedings as teams of men dug up the areas that most likely held the bodies of Jessica’s parents and the DEA agents who were murdered.
“Over here,” a man shouted, and they all moved to the area of freshly planted seedlings only a couple of weeks old. “Two bodies.”
The bodies hadn’t decomposed much. Bjornolf was able to ID the first man as Montoya Sanchez.
One of the men on the scene located an ID in the pocket of the other dead man. “Thomas Cremer,” he said.
“The missing DEA agents,” Yale confirmed.
A man hurried to speak with Yale and said, “Second dig site yielded the skeletal remains of a man and woman.”
“If the young girl will agree to it, we’ll get DNA samples and see if we have a match.”
* * *
After the day of excavating the bodies at the tree farm, Bjornolf got a text message from Nathan.
Can we see you tonight?
Bjornolf was afraid they’d already heard about the bodies being found. Then again, the feds might have contacted Jessica for DNA samples, so she probably knew.
He showed Anna the text message. “Invite them to dinner,” she said.
Come for dinner.
They were early, and Bjornolf suspected they were really worried about something. Everyone was quiet as they ate the spaghetti and meatballs he’d made from scratch. He half expected someone to bring up the weather—they were going to get a snowstorm—but no one even mentioned that.
They finally cleaned up the dishes and retired to the living room. Jessica and Anna turned on the outdoor lights and Christmas tree lights, and he and Nathan started a fire.
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 pl
ayfully 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.”
