It’s like playing dodgeball, Sam thought as she watched Pappy out of the corner of her eye. As soon as he moved, she moved…in the other direction. It was all so silly, like something she would have done when she was in high school. At the same time, she couldn’t help herself. She’d been rebuffed once in college, then her husband dumped her. She had no intention of going for the charm the third time around. Plus, she hated herself for dressing up for him.

Dinner was finally announced, to Sam’s relief. Her plan, which she’d just formed on the fly, was to eat, socialize for another hour or so, then plead a headache and leave. The day was entirely too stressful for her liking.

Alpha, apparently sensing her mood, walked alongside her to the dining room. Sam was sure he intended to lie at her feet the way he’d done last night. A sharp command from Pappy made the wolf-dog stop in his tracks. Pappy pointed to the door. The dog raised his big head, his yellow eyes fixed on his master. Sam sucked in her breath when the dog didn’t move. Her hand dropped to Alpha’s head. “It’s okay, he isn’t bothering me,” she said quietly.

Kyros stood in the doorway, a platter of prime ribs in his hands. He, too, sucked in his breath as he waited for his son’s reply.

“The dog doesn’t belong in the dining room, and he knows it.”

Sam’s hand started to shake when she saw everyone staring at her. She squared her shoulders. “He was here last night. You can’t give a dog mixed signals, even I know that, stupid as you seem to think I am. You know what, I’m suddenly not very hungry. Enjoy your dinner, everyone, and…Merry Christmas!” She turned on her heel and marched out of the dining room, Alpha sprinting ahead of her. In the foyer, Sam reached for her jacket, not bothering with her boots as she raced outside and across the compound. Somewhere along the way, she lost the slingbacks.

Racing into the barracks, Sam collapsed in front of the fire, tears streaming down her cheeks. Alpha approached tentatively and licked them away. Sam didn’t think, didn’t even consider that the dog was part wolf when she wrapped her arms around him and howled into his thick fur.

Back in the dining room, the assembled guests looked at one another, not sure what was going on. Pappy glared at everyone as he took his seat at the head of the table. Kyros, the prime rib still in his hands, leaned over and dumped the prime rib, by accident, everyone said later, into Pappy’s lap. “Not only are you a buffoon, you are a schmuck.”

“I don’t think I’m very hungry either,” Slick said.

“Me either,” Kayla, Olivia, and Zoe said in unison.