Chapter 124

The Christmas celebration rocked the house while music about Santa ho-ho-ing, jingled, and lights twinkled. Garish decoration abounded with every clich‚ known to mankind displayed from snowmen, to mangers, to a little village of penguins dressed in pointy red hats. God she loved it. Loved the chaos, and noise, the goodwill and food.

Jiao maneuvered through the bodies, all shifters and mostly wolves given Chris's family predominated the place. But she did catch the occasional whiff of cat as Javier and Alejandro, accompanying their mates, mingled as well, their swarthier tones offsetting that of the predominantly Caucasian crowd.

A handsome fellow, someone she'd not met before, bumped into her. His eyes lit with interest. "Well hello there, cutie. You must be new. I'm Joel."

An arm curled around her waist possessively, and Chris growled. "She's already freakn' mated, Joel, so go pour the charm on someone else."