Page 34 of Cowboy Wolf Christmas

A fierce, echoing warning to their enemies that the strength of the wolf was its pack.

The other Grey Wolf warriors burst forth from the forest, the whole of their kind circling and working together as one to ease the vampires back. The bloodsuckers weren’t stupid. They’d come prepared for no more than a handful of wolves, only intending to catch the stragglers left in the days before their return, so the bloodsuckers fled. Quickly. Chased into the night.

A Christmas fucking miracle.

With the immediate threat receding, shouts from the pack’s elite warriors followed, orders to get Wolf Pack Run’s perimeter secured. But Silas couldn’t bring himself to pay attention, he was too busy watching the naked woman now standing at his side, her eyes the blazing gold of her wolf like the hopeful glitter of a Christmas ornament.

She launched herself into his arms then, wrapping her own around his neck.

“I told you to stay inside,” he grumbled against her ear, before he buried his face in the crook of her neck, the soft tendrils of her hair.

“You really thought I’d listen to that?” She swatted at his arm, playfully. “When you’d been going on with all that foolish nonsense about how you’re not one of us?” She shook her head. “I’d never leave you like that. To fight alone.”

They stayed like that for a long time, wrapped up in one another, seemingly unaware of everything, everyone around them, until from behind them, they heard the familiar sound of the packmaster clearing his throat.

Silas turned facing the Grey Wolf leader, Cheyenne shamelessly in his arms. Maverick glanced between them, eyeing them a bit like the cat that’d caught the canary rather than a packmaster, a powerful wolf who’d caught his former enemy embracing one of his pack’s most beloved she-wolves. “I guess this means I win the bet.”

From behind him, Wes cursed, as his brother, the Grey Wolf high commander, Colt Cavanaugh let out a victorious whoop.

Silas snarled, lip curled. “What the fuck does that mean?”

From nearby, Wes huffed his annoyance. “We all had a bet going to see if you and Cheyenne wouldfinallyget together by the time we got back.” He sauntered toward them. “Cheyenne didn’t know, of course.”

Silas glanced down at the woman in his arms, and she nodded her head in confirmation.

“We didn’t figure it’d take the two of you this long after she let you out of the cells,” Maverick shrugged. “My bet was for when you got back from Missoula.”

Silas glanced between the two men and the handful of the other elite warriors alongside their mates who had crowded around them now, exchanging pleased glances.

Silas stammered. “But . . . but you fucking told me to take care of her? And I . . . and we . . . ” He’d never been at more of a loss of words in his life.

“Take care of her?” Maverick’s brow furrowed momentarily until he threw back his head and laughed. “You thought I meant Cheyenne?” That deep-throated chuckle could only be rivaled by Santa alone. “I meant my truck, you fool.”

His truck?

Silas stilled, remembering how the packmaster had tossed him his keys the moment after he’d said that.

“The Grey Wolves females can handle themselves, Silas.” Wes clapped him on the arm. “Best get with the program.”

“But what about the trust test?” he spat, mind reeling. He was still trying to piece together the part where they’d taken bets on him sleeping with one of their most cherished she-wolves. Like they were amused––no,pleasedabout the idea of seeing them together.

Like he wasoneof them. A part of their pack.

“Serving the pack as you were asked, looking out for their best interest when you returned,thatwas your trust test,” Maverick said. “Not protecting Cheyenne. She’s more than capable of handling herself.”

“Amen to that.” Cheyenne grinned more than a little, preening really.

Of course, she was, but he’d thought . . .

Fuck, he didn’t know what sort of ridiculous nonsense he’d been thinking. That because she was sweet, tender-hearted that meant she wasn’t an accomplished warrior? Somehow, he’d forgotten that. The only thing he knew was that he loved her, and now, she loved him back and somehow in the midst of all this insanity about packs, and loyalties, and futures, and Christmas, and pack politics, they were going to figure out a way to make it work.

“And the pack?” Silas asked. “They still don’t trust me, even ifyoudo.” He frowned. He was still trying to wrap his head around that.

Maverick shrugged. “Well, I suppose they’ll have to get over it, considering you’ll likely be the father of one of them in roughly,” Maverick sniffed, “nine months from now?” The Grey Wolf packmaster chuckled.

Cheyenne nestled against his side, blushing a little at that, but she seemed far more used to the idea of her packmates being far too aware of the intimate business of her life than he was.

He wasn’t certain he’d ever get used to it.

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