Page 1 of Twisted Howlidays

CHAPTER ONE

Kendra McMillan stared out of the window of her tenth-floor apartment. City lights stretched through the darkness, like a sparkling blanket reaching to the horizon. Most wolves would shudder at the thought of choosing an urban life—at least willingly. But for Kendra, the city was her home.

Of course, she also loved the great and wild outdoors. She was a wolf after all. The problem—she enjoyed those great and wild outdoors in short, measured portions.

Wrapping her hands around her warm mug of tea, she turned her attention to the photographs of owls, cranes, and ferrets scattered across her table. These photos were the culmination of her success as a wildlife photographer. The newly printed proofs were to be included in a calendar of endangered species. It was a lucrative contract she’d eagerly accepted. Not only was it good money but tracking down and photographing the creatures fulfilled her need for the carefully administered doses of life in the wild and the thrill of the hunt.

Other wolves were a rarity in the city. In fact, the only other wolf shifters Kendra knew of were her immediate family. However, she’d heard all the nostalgia-filled stories which touted the glory days of pack life. But those days were before her parents’ home pack collapsed due to loss of territory and a change in leadership. Her parents, both professionals in the medical research field, had long ago moved to the city where Kendra and her sister were born.

Her sister, Cindy, had managed to venture out and actually meet another wolf. Not just any wolf, but her one true mate. Love at first sight, blah, blah, blah. Fairytales that their parents had told them for bedtime stories. As far as Kendra was concerned, they were nothing more than bullshit stories meant to comfort them. How could anyone just meet someone and know that this other person was the one—the wolf they were fated to spend the rest of their life with? Whatever. At least, her sister was completely happy with her hot wolf husband out in the country, even if she did have a litter of little ones driving her up the damn walls.

Almost if on cue, her phone rang. It was none other than Cindy.

“Speaking of the Devil…”

As soon as she answered the call, she heard the racket in the background. A small laugh escaped her mouth when she pictured her twin nephews and three nieces squealing with delight while tearing through her sister’s kitchen. Sheer bedlam. No thank you.

“Hey Cindy. How’s everything in the asylum?”

“Crazy, as usual. We were just making plans for Christmas, and wondering if you’d like to come early and spend an extra week? Mom and Dad will be coming out early. And we have plenty of room.”

“Ah, you have room. But do you have a spare straitjacket?” Kendra laughed.

“Of course, I have a bunch of holiday ones ready to go. You can choose from Santa or Rudolf. I even have a few with snowflakes or ornaments and you can even have your name embroidered on it, if you’d like.”

“Personalized? Nice touch! And anti-anxiety meds?”

“I’ll serve them up in a fruitcake, just for you.”

Kendra laughed when she pictured it. “I tell you what. I can only promise Christmas for now, but I'll come out early if I can finish this project.” Even though she joked about need a straitjacket and tranquilizers, she did love spending time with her sister and all of the kiddos. But work had to come first. She had to finish up her assignment, even if she had to fly somewhere to find the last pair of damn bears she needed.

“Anything we can do to help?” Cindy asked.

“Sure, if you have a spare pair of breeding grizzly bears lounging in your backyard, snap a few pictures for me. That’s what I need to finish my calendar.”

“Hmm, let me check. Nope, sorry. I don’t see any bears doing the nasty in our yard—front or back. I don’t know what kind of calendar you’re working on, but all the bears around here are strictly G-rated.”

“By breeding, I mean mated. Not doing the nasty. Smart ass,” Kendra couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her mouth.

“Speaking of getting mated, have you given any thought to getting out there and sniffing around? You never know who you might find.”

“Absolutely not. I’m happy on my own and having fun with what I’m doing. Kiss your litter of crazy pups for me and tell them I’ll be there for Christmas.”

After hanging up with her sister, the photographs once again drew her attention. The project deadline was nearing, and she still needed to photograph one last subject—a breeding pair of grizzly bears. But winter was knocking on the door, and those reclusive bears would already be moving up the mountain slopes to prepare their winter dens.

Where to try next? All she knew was that time was not on her side when it came to finding the bears she needed. Reluctantly, she decided to reach out on social media to a group of fellow freelance wildlife photographers.

Kendra sat down at her desk and popped her laptop open, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

“Help! I desperately need a pair of grizzlies ASAFP! I’m working on a contract for a calendar, and I have a hard deadline. Does anyone have a lead on some good, preferably photogenic subjects?”

Kendra sipped her tea and waited for an answer from someone in the community. She also said a few prayers, hoping the prayers would help her cause.

CHAPTER TWO

“I’ve heard some chatter from folks outside of Twisted Tail. The human community sure has been buzzing with rumors lately. I guess people are on edge.” Daisy said, pouring Calder a steaming cup of coffee.

“Thank you. Rumors, huh? What kind of rumors?”

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