Holly walked out to speak to her family, and saw Jared standing at the front door, her sister still holding onto the doorknob. Holly’s heart plummeted. With their sensitive hearing, she hoped he hadn’t overheard what they’d been discussing in her bedroom. Then again, they’d been keeping their voices low so that the rest of her family couldn’t hear what she was up to and Greg had closed the bedroom door.
“I thought we could go on a wolf run together, Holly.” Jared didn’t look like the prospect thrilled him.
“Thanks, but—”
“We’re going to make snowmen.” Greg smiled as if he were a kid again and was thrilled to build one. “That’s where we were headed. Now.”
“Me too,” Marianne quickly said, casting a glance at Holly, looking to see if she would go along with it.
“Snowmen.” Jared sounded like he didn’t believe them.
Holly hoped he didn’t offer to make one with them, but she loved her younger brother and sister for playing the game.
“I’ll clean up the dishes so you can go play,” their mom said, sounding amused.
Holly grabbed her parka, gloves, hat, and scarf and set them on the back of the couch so she could put them on. She hated getting her sister involved in this too.
Marianne grabbed her tasseled hat and pulled it on her head. Then she seized her jacket and put it on. “You can make your own, Jared.”
No, no, no, he couldn’t.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” Jared said, his gaze shifting from Marianne to Holly. “I’ll run with you later tonight then.”
She gave him a nod, then jerked on her parka. Greg was all ready to go and moved toward the door, showing his alpha nature by trying to force Jared out of the way. Jared smiled darkly at Greg.
“Last one to make a snowman is a rotten egg,” Greg called out, racing off.
“Best one wins, not the fastest one made,” his sister said, still tying her scarf round her neck and tore off after him.
Now what? They’d take forever making three snowmen. And she’d miss meeting Aidan and his men. He’d worry, and she wouldn’t be able to call him. No doubt he’d already be on his way to the meeting place in his wolf coat.
Jared stepped out of Holly’s way, and she hurried outside.
“Later,” Jared said to Holly, and left.
He wasn’t even interested in dating her, so why the change of heart? The business with Aidan at the mall yesterday? Maybe he’d like a hug too? Never!
Holly raced after her sister and brother and found them about a quarter of a mile away, starting to build the bases of their snowmen.
“What is going on with you?” Marianne asked, shoving another handful of snow onto the base.
“We’re on a mission that you shouldn’t know about,” Greg said, slapping a snowball against his snowman.
“A mission,” Marianne said, glancing at Holly.
“To look for Nick,” Holly said.
“Well, you said that already.” Marianne tilted her chin down. “There’s more to it than that. And I want to help.”
“No.” Greg grabbed another two handfuls of snow. “It’s too dangerous.”
“If it’s too dangerous, the two of you shouldn’t be going. You know Jared will check later to see if you built your snowmen or not,” Marianne said.
Holly saw her parents headed their way. Great.
“Looks like it’s about time to tell the family what you’re up to,” Greg said.
“So, there’s more to this business of you looking for…ohmigod, you’re going to meet up with Aidan Denali, aren’t you! I want to go too,” Marianne said.
Holly thought her sister had a crush on Aidan, or maybe one of his bodyguards. “No. I didn’t want any of you to know about it.”
“Know about what?” their mother asked. To Holly’s surprise her mom and dad began to build a snowman.
“I’m meeting with Aidan and his bodyguards to search for Nick.”
Her parents stopped working on the snowman and straightened.
“I didn’t want to have to tell you because I didn’t want you to get into any trouble with the pack over it.”
“I’m going with her. I have to see this guy she’s got the hots for.” Greg smiled at her and she grabbed a wad of snow, made a snowball, and threw it at him. He dodged it, but it splatted on his shoulder.
“I’m just doing what I always do, except I’m running with them for protection,” Holly said.
“We’ll finish your snowmen. Go, take off.” Her dad smiled a little.
Her mom worked faster. “Eddie, keep adding snow.”
Holly couldn’t believe her parents would cover for her like this.
“Me too?” Marianne asked, looking hopeful.
“No, not you,” their mother quickly said. “You’re supposed to run with Joey’s family tonight. And you have to make your own snowman. No telling how long Holly’s little adventure is going to last.”
Marianne sighed, but hurried over to give Holly a hug. “Give him a kiss for me?”
“We’ll be wolves.” Holly hugged her back. Then she started heading in the direction where she would be meeting Aidan and the others.
“Just strip and shift, and we’ll take your things with us so no one finds your clothes out here,” her mother said.
Just in case anyone happened to be watching them from a long distance off, both Holly and Greg went into the woods and stripped, and then shifted.
“Be careful, the both of you,” their dad said.