I flipped through the radio stations looking for something other than Christmas music. I never understood the need for every station to switch over. The option of one or two? Fine. But even the rock stations were filling the hours with holiday tunes, or at least the stations that were coming in as I drove the Interstate up toward Philadelphia.

“Why are you driving us, Uncle Norman?” Langdon asked from the backseat of my truck. I glanced at him in the rear view mirror. His red and blue baseball cap was halfway covering his face, but some of his dark hair spilled out the sides.

Alex shifted in her seat and looked back at him. “Langdon. I told you Uncle Norman is keeping us company while Daddy works.”

“No, he wants to see Nancy.” Langdon’s voice didn’t change at all. He spoke calmly.

Alex laughed nervously. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I heard Daddy and you talking.”

I glared at her out of the corner of my eye. Did they have to make things awkward for me with my nephew too?

She returned my look with a smile. “Your uncle and Nancy are good friends.”

“She’s pretty.”

Another look in the rear view mirror revealed he’d pulled out some action figures from his backpack.

“She is.” I couldn’t argue with that. “Beautiful.”

“Are you going to marry her? Then she can be my aunt.”

I laughed nervously. “I’m sure she won’t mind if you called her aunt.” Nancy loved the kid. Although she’d have never admitted it, she’d been disappointed Alex and Langdon had moved to Forest Ridge.

“But she wouldn’t really be my aunt.”

“So can you believe it’s almost Christmas?” If there was one conversation change that could work with him, that was it.

“Yes! And we are all going skiing! Daddy says you like to snow bot.”

“Snow board,” Alex gently corrected.

“I do.” Although I hadn’t had time to in years. “It’s lots of fun.” My conversation change had worked.

“Can you teach me?” Langdon was all excitement.

“Sure, when you’re older I will.” He didn’t know it, but I’d gotten him a set of skis for Christmas already. It was easier to learn to ski first, then move to snow boarding.

“Why not now?”

I knew better than to emphasize his age. He, like most little kids, wanted everyone to think of him as big. “Because I’m not going with you guys.”

“Why?”

“That’s a great question.” Alex turned to me. “Why not?”

I let out a slow breath. “Because this is for your family.”

“You are my family. Did you forget? My daddy is your brother.” Langdon spoke so much more clearly now. It made it even harder to pretend I didn’t understand.

“I know we are family, bud. What I mean is your immediate family.”

“But your daddy’s brother.”

“Alex, a little help here?” I glanced at her.

She shook her head. “Nope. You are on your own.”

I should have known this would happen. I was suspicious she was the one who’d put him up to it to begin with. “I need to stay in town and make sure everything runs smoothly for your dad.”

“Daddy said he has other people to do that.”

“Did he now?” Yup. Langdon was definitely put up to this. He’d probably been promised a treat or something.

“Well, I couldn’t go anyway. I have some plans I can’t cancel.” Alex wanted to throw this on my lap? I’d give a response she couldn’t argue with.

“Plans that are more important than me?” Langdon gasped.

I resisted the urge to laugh at his response. That wouldn’t go over well with him. “I have to go to an important event with Nancy.”

“You do?” Alex’s jaw fell open.

“Yeah, you know the ball.” I kept my voice as casual as possible.

Alex grinned and clapped once. “I didn’t know you’d agreed to go with her! That’s fantastic.”

“Yup.” It would have been fantastic if she’d actually wanted me to go with her.

“I can’t believe she finally asked you. I really didn’t think she would over the phone. Now I feel bad making you drive up with us today. You’re just going to have to come back again so soon.”

“It’s not a problem.” The drive wasn’t, but getting out of this lie was going to be a problem. Still, it solved the immediate issue of answering Langdon.

We fell into silence for a few moments until Alex exclaimed, “Oh!”

“Oh no. What did you just think of?” I was all about her being happy, but not when it involved me and Nancy.

She swatted at my arm. “You can’t have that reaction before I even open my mouth. My suggestion is a good one. How about I drop you off at Nancy’s, and I’ll come get you after Langdon’s appointment?”

“Are you sure she’s home?” I wanted a chance to talk to Nancy before I was confronted with my fabricated excuse. I didn’t know her schedule, but it was a week day. Hopefully that meant I’d get a reprieve.

“She has the whole week off. She should be home. Anyway I have an extra key. She wouldn’t mind if you waited for her.”

She would mind. My little fib was about to get me in even more trouble. “I don’t mind sitting in the waiting room while you have your appointment. It’s not a problem at all.”

“It’s going to be awhile. There’s no reason for you to sit there.”

“Whatever you say.” I wasn’t going to win this argument. Hopefully Nancy would understand my little fib. Maybe she’d have done the same thing.

I pulled up in front of Nancy’s place. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

“Nope. We’ll be back when we’re done.” Alex hopped out and came around to my side.

I reluctantly handed over my keys. “See you in an hour or so.”

“Not going to tell me to be careful with your truck?”

I gestured to the back window. “The cargo inside is more important than the truck.”

She pulled me into a hug. It took me a minute to respond. “And that’s why you’re the best brother-in-law ever.”

“Ok.” I patted her back. “I think the pregnancy hormones are showing.”

“No.” She wiped a tear off her face. “I’m just grateful.”

I held open the door for her. “Drive safe.” I looked in to the back. “Take care of your mom.”

“I always do.” Langdon grinned.

“Tell Nancy we’ll be over here as soon as we can.” She was about to close the door but stopped. “Wait, here’s her extra key in case she’s not home. We need to go if we’re going to make the appointment.”

Likely story. Alex always built in extra time for appointments. She wanted Nancy and I to have time alone. “Go ahead. I’ll see you guys later.”

She closed the door, and I waved as she pulled away from the curb. I wasn’t ready to face Nancy. It wasn’t just about the ball. It was about everything. Maybe it would be better to get my feelings aired though. Things were going to be awkward anyway.

I started for the door when I sensed I wasn’t alone. It wasn’t Nancy. This someone was a shifter; I just wasn’t sure what kind yet.

The most important thing was to make sure Nancy was safe. I needed to know if she was home. I moved closer to the house. Nothing. There was no human around. It was only the other shifter and me. Relief flooded me. I could handle whoever it was.

I waited, using myself as bait to lure him out. It didn’t take long. He jumped out of the shadows, but I was ready for him. I shifted, shredding my clothes as I reached out for my wolf and let it take over, feeling the strength surge through me as my vision tunneled.

I let the mountain lion make the first move. He lunged for me, and I quickly sidestepped avoiding his attack. Before the mountain lion realized his mistake, I charged into his side knocking him off his feet onto the frozen ground. I then jumped onto his chest, pinning him to the ice.

I could have ripped him apart—but that wasn’t going to help. I needed answers, and I wasn’t going to get answers from a dead shifter. Luckily my size alone was enough to knock him down on the ground. I shifted back to my human form and lashed out with one solid punch to make him easier to deal with.

I dragged him inside, closing the door behind me.