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“I’m not saying it wouldn’t cause complications or problems, but as smart as your husband is, he’s not enough of an evil genius to blow our cover. We’ve faced better operators than him over the years. We have devious, slightly more violent methods to deal with him that are best left to your imagination.”
“Probably not.”
“We can take care of him. Of course, you would have known this if you’d told me about it.”
“Hindsight and all that.”
“Now comes the part where I threaten to kick your ass from here to Ontario if you hurt Caleb.”
I nodded. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Seriously, I’d fix it so they’d use your carcass as bait on that Deadliest Catch show.”
“So to make me feel safer and calmer, you’re threatening me with graphic, grievous bodily harm?”
“Yup.”
“Little too far there, Mags.”
15
This Is Why You Use the Buddy System
With my real birthday on the horizon—not the birthday listed on the “Anna Moder” paperwork—the werewolf aunties insisted on hosting a big joint celebration of my thirty-fourth year and Caleb’s permanent return to the pack. It was the first opportunity for the pack to put on a big spread since the first hard frost. I didn’t mind being used, as long as it meant Aunt Winnie brought her hash-brown casserole.
So one not-so-special Friday evening, when the roads were clearer than usual, every aunt, uncle, and cousin jammed into the community center to stuff themselves silly under a jungle of tissue-paper flowers produced by Samson’s mate, Alicia. Even Mo and Cooper made the treacherous snowmobile trip with their toddler, Eva, to welcome us back into the fold. They were the last of the relatives I’d “fooled” with my false identity. I liked Mo quite a bit, and I hated the idea of her shunning me as a result of perfectly justified hurt feelings.
I should have known better. Mo adjusted to my news the way she had adjusted to most things pack-related: smoothly and with style. She just grinned and threw her arm around me when she and Cooper had made their way through the throng of noshing werewolves.
“Well, now that I know who you are, I’m a little ashamed of myself. I thought I knew another Southern transplant when I saw one,” Mo said, grinning, shifting the sleepy-looking toddler so she could extend her hand as if to reintroduce herself. “Leland, Mississippi.”>“So we’ve established that you’re both sorry,” Maggie said, shaking her head as she crossed the street with Samson, her unofficial second-in-command.
“What is it about human women that turns the men of this family into complete idiots?” Samson asked. “Idiots who will phase in broad daylight in the middle of the street, where any human visitor could spot them, just so they can hug their mate?”
Caleb gave Maggie a sheepish look. Or at least, as sheepish as a werewolf can pull off.
“So, back for good?” Maggie asked Caleb, although I wasn’t sure which of us she meant.
“We both are,” Caleb agreed, then turned his attention to me. “Though there are going to be a few things you’re going to need to do for us to make this work.”
“Like dirty, sexy things?” I offered hopefully.
“Like filing a restraining order and reopening your divorce case.”
“That is neither dirty nor sexy.”
“I plan on marrying you, Dr. Campbell. And I don’t plan on getting arrested for bigamy. Besides, you can’t let him chase you for the rest of your days. You have to make a stand sometime.”
“He’ll take one look at the information on the paperwork, and he’ll be able to find me,” I said.
“There are steps that we can take, legal and not so legal, to prevent him from finding you. And even if he does, I’ll be right here with you. Not to mention a pack of giant werewolves who are pretty darn fond of you.” When I frowned, he added, “He won’t be able to hurt you, Rabbit. I promise you. You’re not alone anymore.”
I looked up into his big brown eyes. And I knew that he meant it. I cast a glance over his shoulder to Maggie, who nodded. “OK. I’ll do it. I’ll file the papers.”
“Thank God. Now, would you two please calm your dramatic asses down and go inside? People are starting to stare.”
“Maggie likes me,” I told him. “I’ve really grown on her.”
“Have not!” Maggie called over her shoulder as she and Samson headed back to the community center.
