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Zoe snapped to attention; she wiped the smile off her face and slowly shook her head as she pouted her lips and made a meal out of considering it. “Not a dang thing,” she said, holding out the eggs.
“Except you got frosted,” Heather said, grinning like all her Christmases had come at once.
Zoe used her elbow to nudge her friend in the ribs. “Nix it, now,” she hissed in a low whisper, but she knew everyone could hear her.
Heather sighed. “I know you fancy the pants off the guy, but seriously?” Heather said, turned on her heels and walked away.
That left Zoe staring at Billy, and he stared back through narrowed eyes. “Awkward silence,” Zoe said as she thrust the eggs at the beta’s stomach and forced him to take them. “Sorry about the eggs.” She reached out for Kristen and yanked her inside. “Merry Christmas,” she said and tossed the door closed.
“Hey,” Kristen said, motioning to the door. “Robert’s out there.”
“I think he knows how to twist a door handle,” Zoe said and hightailed it for the living room.
~
With the front door slammed in his face and the half box of eggs in his hand, Billy turned to stare at his brother. “A witch mate – really, brother?” he growled.
“Hey,” Robert snapped. “Do not disrespect my mate.”
Billy chewed that over for a long moment. He slowly nodded. “You’re right; my fight isn’t with your mate,” he said, kicking at the snow around his legs until he was free.
“There is no fight to be had here,” Robert said as his brother stalked away. “The witches will be gone after Christmas.”
Billy’s long legs ate up the distance to his truck. He wasn’t happy, but he was intrigued. Those witches had something about them that made him want to kill them and yet, protect them. His wolf was all twisted up inside, so he knew the beast felt as confused as he did.
He yanked open the driver’s door and dumped his backside into the cold seat before he looked down at the eggs in his hand. It wasn't worth all that hassle for a few damn eggs.
Billy put the eggs on the passenger seat and reached for the keys still in the ignition. He turned the keys and heard the comforting roar of the engine. He could return to the hunting grounds and be there by morning – that was a tempting thought.
He eyed the cottage and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. Just like something had kept his feet glued in place at the front door, something inside him was telling him to stay.
“They’ll be gone after Christmas,” he grumbled to himself. “Until then, he’d have to play it by ear.”
~
“Heather, I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” Zoe said, marching into the living room and eyeing her friend with contempt.
“You wrestle it off your new friend?” Heather asked, plopping down onto the couch and tossing her feet onto the footstall.
“Your mate is here?” Zoe said, craning her head forward on her neck and glaring at her. “What was that?”
“She said that?” Kristen said, snorting a chuckle, and when Zoe snapped a frosty glare at her, she slapped her hand over her mouth to cover the smile.
“I can still see the amusement and sparkle of mischief in your eyes,” Zoe informed Kristen, and the witched slapped a hand across her eyes.
“Betcha can’t now,” Kristen said, teasing her.
“Nope, but I can still hear it in your voice,” Zoe said and sighed. “What were you thinking, Heather?”
“That it was funny,” Heather said with a half-shrug. “Come on, Zoe, payback is a witch, and you should have made that chocolate cake.”
Zoe frowned. “That’s not what this is about,” she said with a look of suspicion.
“No?” Heather asked. “Go ahead, tell me what I was thinking.”
“Mischief making,” Zoe said. “But that way leads to trouble.”
“Oh, come on, it was just a little fun,” Heather protested. “And he’s not your mate, so where is the harm?”
