Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,103

he got into any other trouble and you were able to catch him at it.”

“I agree,” Josh said.

“Some of the male teens in the pack don’t.” Sierra sipped some of her mulled wine.

Josh noticed two teens watching Lucas dancing, their arms folded across their chests, their expressions dour.

“Maybe one of them is the old boyfriend,” Adam said.

“As bachelor males in a pack, they have to learn only one gets the girl and gets her for keeps,” Maverick said, saluting Josh. “It’s good they learn that early on and how to process it. From one who knows.”

Josh chuckled.

Adam saluted Maverick with his drink. “That goes for me too.”

Then they saw Ethan heading their way with a plate full of food.

Josh was glad he could join them.

* * *

“You’ve heard Brooke and Josh are mated, haven’t you, Ethan?” Adam asked.

“Aw, hell, that’s the end of me trying to win you over,” Ethan said to Brooke.

“Once Josh accused Brooke of stealing our reindeer, I knew he was after her, and not for the aforementioned crime,” Maverick said.

“You guys gave up too easily,” Brooke said.

“They knew it was a lost cause.” Josh kissed her.

Ethan gave her and Josh hugs, congratulating the two of them.

“Hey, are you ready to run?” Brooke asked when everyone had finished eating.

“We might have even more pack members running with us, if that’s okay with you,” Maverick said. “Everyone usually finishes off the party with a wolf run.”

“Oh, do we need to wait until Cassie or Leidolf say it’s time to run as wolves? I don’t want to mess up their party. I never even thought anyone else would want to,” Brooke said.

“No, not at all. Everyone does their own thing, so you can run when you want to,” Josh said. “Come on. Let’s go find a place to strip and shift.”

Josh and Brooke hurried to strip off their clothes behind a barn. And then they shifted.

God, he loved her. This time, running as wolves was different because they were mated. He nuzzled her face, nipped her ear, and licked her cheek. She nuzzled him back and rubbed her whole body against him, telling him she had claimed him too. He couldn’t wait to take her home and make love to her. But he loved this time with her as a wolf too. She was beautiful and all his.

Adam, Ethan, and Maverick soon joined them in their wolf coats and greeted them. Then they all took off running. They were having a ball. Josh was glad she could set the business of the armed robbers aside for the moment and just enjoy being a wolf. He was having the time of his life, racing alongside her. He’d always enjoyed running as a wolf, running with his brother, Ethan, and Adam, but running with his mate was the best thing ever—with her licking and nipping at him in playful fun, chasing his tail around, teeth ready to bite.

He swore the other guys would have been laughing up a storm if they could have while in their wolf coats.

They ran down to a river, and she stood watching the trout swimming in the water. She suddenly woofed. She wanted to fish. They could certainly do that and have a fish fry some other time. He couldn’t wait to do everything with her, this season and every other.

Then they ran through the woods across the river and heard wolves howl. Other pack members were now taking a run. Josh howled back, and Brooke howled with him, her wolf’s voice melodious and enchanting. He would know it always now, just as she would recognize his howl if she heard it again. Adam, Ethan, and Maverick took up the chorus of howls.

Then they continued exploring, racing, Adam and Maverick tackling each other, something Josh would normally have taken part in. This time, he was sticking with Brooke. He wanted to enjoy every wolf moment with her.

He thought of Lucas being at the house tomorrow, when Josh would have spent the day in bed with his mate. He sighed. Lucas wanted to earn some extra money for Christmas presents, and if Josh and Brooke really wanted to spend some time alone with each other during the day—like he was certain they would—they could send Lucas out to get lunch or something.

Brooke finally nipped at Josh and turned to head back to the ranch. He hoped that meant she was ready to go home, but they needed to drop by his and Maverick’s ranch so Josh could