A SEAL Wolf Christmas

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 playfully 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