~

 

“Perhaps now would be a good time for you to refrain from using magic,” Saffy bit out as she turned accusing eyes that was also filled with disbelief on her friend.

“Just because you’ve sworn off our birthright, doesn’t mean that I’m going to sit here and do nothing while that big mutt slobbers all over the glass,” Natalie informed her with something of a lofty and superior attitude.

“That’s all well and good, but now you’ve just made him madder, don’t you think?” Saffy offered back rising to the challenge of her friend and offering her a scowl for her thoughtlessness.

Natalie’s problem was that she always acted first and thought about the consequences after — if she thought about the consequences at all.

“I think you should go out and rescue our Christmas tree.” Natalie offered back, tipping her chin upwards, and folding her arms.

“Are you insane?” Saffy looked at her as if she had just grown another head.

“Well, if the wolf doesn’t bother you…”

“I never said I wanted to be eaten. I just said don’t make him any madder,” Saffy shrugged with disbelief.

“So, the wolf is a problem?”

“Well, if he wasn’t a problem before we almost ran him overshot a tree at him, and deafened him with the horn – he bloody well is now that you’ve tossed him like a freaking caber.” Saffy snapped back.

“Meh.” She shrugged.

“Meh, is not an answer.”

“At least he knows we’re not going to sit here and take his crap!” Natalie offered back. “If he wants to do the whole — Mr growly pants — routine, then he should expect to get zapped.”

“Yes, and no. I just don’t think it’s helpful.”

“Well, as you’re not using your magic at the moment, I took it upon myself to use my magic for the both of us.”

“Could you ask next time?” Saffy berated her with just a look.

“Probably not,” Natalie admitted. “Excuse me, Mr. Wolf, could you just hold that thought while I converse with my friend about how best to use my magic against you and stop you from eating us?”

Natalie looked somewhat smug, and with good cause, Saffy thought. Perhaps she had jumped the gun and been a little harsh in her reaction.

“Well, when you put it like that.”

 

~

~

~

 

First, they had tried to mow him down. Then they threw a tree at him. Then they’d tried to deafen him. Then he’d found himself on his back, paws up in the air like he wanted someone to tickle his tummy, with most of the bones in his body screaming displeasure at him. So far, he’d say that it wasn’t a good night.

Doug growled in annoyance. He wasn’t just annoyed that they’d tried to run him over, or thrown a tree at him, or even tried to deafen him, nope, he could probably live with that. What really jumped up and down on his very last nerve was that they were witches.

Witches!

I hate witches! He growled to himself.

Witches!

On pack land!

On my land!

I should eat them — there would only be bones left to bury.

Have to get rid of the car — I can do that.

Move. Get up.

Don’t let the witches get the upper hand.

Just a minute more while I heal.

Damn! They’d already got the upper hand.

Doug felt the first flakes of snow touch the tip of his nose, and his beast growled. He’d been looking forward to running in the snow, and now that was ruined. Ruined by witches.

He’d heard every word of the witches incessant chattering as he laid there trying to heal. The fact that they were arguing about a damn tree only reminded him of how different a species they were.

He didn’t like witches at the best of times, and this wasn’t the best of times — for him. Witches were devious, they were mean, and they talked too damn much.

He thought that she-wolves could chatter and bicker, but witches had a whole different level that went way above the females in his pack. And what noble and lofty things they were discussing while he was laying there trying to heal in peace?

Christmas!

I didn’t even know that witches did Christmas.

My pack only do Christmas because the females like the twinkling lights.

Of course, no self-respecting male would turn down the banquet of food, and the guilt-free booze-fest.

But that’s not the point.

Why would witches do Christmas?

Wasn’t it like — a religious thing?

Guess twinkling lights outweighs religion.

And there they are talking about the vampire getting them a new tree. I should have known that damn vampire had something to do with it — bringing witches on to pack land!

I’m going to have to have a word with that bloodsucker.

Now, do I lay here and finish healing, or do I go eat witches?

Decisions — decisions.

 

~

~

~

 

“Can we go?” Natalie demanded.

“Yes…” Saffy turned back toward the windscreen and grimaced. “Oh!”

“Is it that damn wolf again?” Natalie grumbled as she turned to see the thick flurries of snow that had come down like a veil around the car.

“I don’t think the wolf problem is our biggest problem anymore,” Saffy grimaced again.

“It’s just snow. Put your foot down and let’s go.”

“Its snow,” Saffy offered back, lifting her hand and motioning all around them.

“I said that. I’m sure I said that.”

“Yes, yes you did. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s snow,” Saffy offered back.

“Well, why don’t you think of it as really pretty rain, and let’s get going?”

“Really pretty, slick, scary, icy, can’t see a bloody thing, death-inducing snow. What part of that don’t you get? Because I can explain it again.” Saffy offered back with a lot of sarcasm and a whole bunch of attitude.

“No — no, I’m good with your explanation. What part of a really miffed of wolf don’t you get?”

“Hmm, wolf – snow,” Saffy lifted her hands and weighed the options.

“I’ll take the snow – I trust your driving,” Natalie offered back.

“I’ll take the wolf — I don’t trust my driving,” Saffy shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re such a — defeatist.”

“I think you mean — realist.”

There was another loud thud against the car bonnet. But this time when they snapped their heads around to peer outside, it wasn’t a wolf, but the naked man that the beast had shifted back into.