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With the moon illuminating the snow, the first of the ice dancers took to the lake, while the pups skated to the edge to sit on the logs and watch. First single wolves, then pairs, and finally trios. Acer fell asleep in Logan’s arms, while Roark climbed out of Rusty’s and slipped away. Logan caught sight of him midway through the trio’s performance, helping to carry food and refreshments to the pups by the lake.

Some of the wolves helping were grandparents, like Gina’s father, whose mates carried trays beside him. Each community event, it became clearer to Logan that the pack members here viewed each pup as family and cared for them like their own, regardless of who they belonged to. When one stopped to distribute items, the other moved past them to the next group of pups and on and on, until every pup had something to eat and drink before the adults returned to their respective circles.

Distinctive red hair caught his attention and he saw Wren open their arms for a big hug from their Uncle Flame before introducing them to their friends as he gave them s’mores. Smart thing to have someone making them up at the booth rather than lighting fires and passing around sharp sticks to pups of varying ages.

“Would you look at that?” Rusty said, resting his head on Logan’s shoulder as they watched Flame join the pups on their log once he’d passed out the final treat on his tray. “I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

“I see it,” Logan replied, chuckling. “I think he’s found his spot for the rest of the evening.”

“Yup.”

“Time for me to start getting ready,” Gina said not long after.

She passed her phone to Colin and pecked him on the lips before leaving their circle to get ready for the game. Bodies scooted over to fill the space she’d left behind, though most of the pups, aside from Bowie and two other little wolves, had already curled up in someone’s arms by now and were napping or sucking on their fingers while they watched the last few trios of dancers. Some of the techniques they executed were spinning, leaping, and dangling from one of their partner’s hands as they skated across the ice. It was both beautiful and low-key terrifying to see the way they held their balance before they were whirled into another maneuver. The skill and practice it must have taken to be able to go out on the ice tonight was to be admired, but Logan couldn’t help but send up a tiny plea to the Goddess to wait at least a decade before planting any ideas in Wren’s head about learning anything like that.

Though from how engaged Wren was as they watched the performances, something told him that message was going to be returned unread.

Chapter Twenty-Six

(Rusty)

BZZZZ BZZZZ BZZZZ

“What the hell?” Rusty groaned, rolled over and hunted for his phone before it could wake his mates.

BZZZZ BZZZZ BZZZZ

“God dammit,” Roark groaned.

Yeah, so much for not waking anyone. Now two phones were going off.

Rusty groped around, finding the pull chain on the lamp and tugging even as he yanked the end table drawer open and grabbed his phone while Logan sat up in the rumpled bed between him and Roark, blinking sleepy-eyed and looking confused.

“Shit, we have to move,” Roark said, throwing the covers aside, and all over Logan, in his haste to scramble for his clothes. “All club alert.”

“What the fuck?” Rusty asked as he hurried to get dressed.

“What’s going on?” Logan asked.

“Not sure yet,” Rusty explained, “but it’s never good when the Prez calls anyone in.”

“Do I need to do anything? Logan replied.

“Keep to the morning routine,” Roark said. “Charlie and Kale won’t get calls, but Baz insisted on being left on the call sheet, so he’ll be riding out with us. We’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as someone tells us.”

“Got it,” Logan grumbled, rubbing his eyes as Rusty yanked on a long-sleeved t-shirt and rummaged around for a pair of socks. “Shit. It’s one in the fucking morning.”

“Yeah, so go back to sleep. You’ve got work in a few hours.” Roark said, pausing to kiss him before hurrying out.

Rusty did the same, pressing his hand to Logan’s face and rubbing noses with him. “We’ll be home as soon as we can. I promise.”

“Fuck! What was the fallback plan again?”

“Charlie and Kale will bring the pups here, Kale will take Wren to school, and Charlie will stay with the pups since he’s got a whole crew of wolves to handle things for him.” Rusty reminded him. “Unless a shelter-in-place edict is issued, in which case, you three and the pups will be here until it’s lifted.”

“Got it. Go. Be safe.” Logan blurted before kissing him again.

“Always,” Rusty said before hurrying after Roark, who already had one boot on when Rusty reached him.