by Amy Green
This time, Brody caught it, his wolf’s body twisting like mercury in the sunlight as he leapt. He hit the ground and Heath was on him immediately, growling and digging his teeth into the scruff of Brody’s neck as Ian tried to wrest the ball from his jaws. That particular fight left all three of them covered in mud from head to paws, but this time Heath emerged the victor, bringing the shredded ball and dropping it at Tessa’s feet. She bent and kissed his muddy nose, and they started again.
And so it went, until the sun was high, and Tessa’s feet hurt, and Skylar got hungry and sat on the folding chair next to Anna, eating a cracker and a slice of apple. The last shredded football was dropped in the mud, the winner was completely unclear, and the four wolves ran into the trees in different directions to change into men again. Alison was packing up their supplies when she heard Skylar shout, “Daddy!” and she knew Brody had emerged once more.
Skylar wriggled off her chair and ran toward her father. Brody—dressed now, his arms and face muddy—scooped her up and kissed her, getting dried mud on her skin. Skylar laughed in delight.
“You totally cheated,” Devon said to Brody as he walked toward Nadine, who was almost as muddy as he was.
“There are no rules,” Brody pointed out. “I couldn’t cheat. Besides, I don’t think I won.”
“That was me,” Heath said. He took Tessa’s hand and kissed it; she looked delighted and disgusted at the same time. “I totally won.”
“Yeah, Heath,” Ian said, rolling his eyes. “You totally won.” He turned to the rest of them. “I’m taking Anna home now to rest.”
They left, and Tessa looked Heath up and down. “You can’t come in the house like that,” she said. “I’m going to hose you off.”
“I look forward to it,” he said, and led her to his truck.
Devon didn’t even bother to say goodbye; he already had Nadine slung over his shoulder, and she was laughing and holding on as he carried her off.
Brody was still holding Skylar. Getting a grip on her wriggling body, he leaned down and kissed Alison—just a little longer than necessary, and then longer again. He tasted like man and werewolf and a little bit like mud, and when he pulled away she could have sworn she felt the faintest flutter in her belly, as if the baby in there knew exactly what was going on.
On the other side of the field was a park—yet another park they’d managed to put in over the last year and a half. Kids were playing in it, while the adults sat and talked. The Falls was finally at peace.
“You hungry?” Brody asked her.
“Yes,” Alison said, “and so are your kids. Both of them.”
“Then let’s go home and eat.” But he didn’t make a move. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her instead. He kept going until Skylar said, “Daddy, stop!” Then he pulled away, laughing softly.
Alison thought this might be the happiest moment in a long, long series of happy moments. “Thank you,” she said to Brody.
His eyebrows went up. “For what?”
There wasn’t really an answer to that. But still, she gave him one.
She smiled at Brody Donovan. “Everything,” she said.
Also by Amy Green
The Shifter Falls Series
Rebel Wolf (Book 1)
Lover Wolf (Book 2)
Warrior Wolf (Book 3)
The Full Moon Rising Series
Full Moon Rising
Blood of the Alpha
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