A SEAL Wolf Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

totally serious, she shook her head, trying not to chuckle. This was a side of him that was appealing and so unexpected.
    She finished buttoning her shirt, needing to be fully clothed before she got too close to Bjornolf’s half-naked body, and whispered, “Did you hear the brothers talking last night?”
    Bjornolf looked into her upturned face, his own expression dark, and nodded. “I spoke to Hunter about it already.”
    “What did he say?”
    “You know him. He has to ponder it for a while. He let the others know. We’re all mulling it over, coming up with different scenarios.”
    “Blackmail?” she whispered.
    “Possibly.” Bjornolf glanced at the hut. “We have to get them on their way.” He dressed, then walked toward the screen door. “I’ll wake and feed the family. You go do whatever it is you have to do, and we’ll all be ready to leave in a little bit.”
    “All right.” She sat down on the floor and quickly pulled on her boots.
    When Bjornolf rapped on the door to the hut, Wentworth answered in a tired voice, “Yeah?”
    “Rise and shine, folks. Time to eat a bite and get on the road.”
    Bjornolf walked inside the hut, speaking quietly to the dad, telling him about the next phase of the journey.
    “What do you mean I need to give up my cell phone?” William asked, highly agitated.
    “The men who took you hostage might be able to track you using the signal from your cell.”
    “Can’t get a signal out here.”
    “Just hand them over.” Bjornolf was no longer playing Mister Nice Guy. In truth, they had to make sure the brothers didn’t use them to contact someone to institute a new plan as soon as they did get a signal. “All of them.”
    “I don’t have one,” Jimmy said, his voice small.
    “That’s okay, Jimmy,” Bjornolf said.
    Anna didn’t envy Bjornolf the job. She climbed down the ladder and found Allan standing partially hidden by the floor of the hut that served as a roof on stilts. He was chewing on a piece of meat and smiling at her.
    He always looked cute, his cheeks dimpled, his eyes full of mirth. “Have a good sleep?”
    “You should have woken me up for guard duty,” she said, annoyed.
    “Hunter’s orders. You had babysitting duty along with Bjornolf.” At the last comment, his eyes narrowed a little as he looked up at the hut.
    She snorted. But she wasn’t about to tell Allan that she had slept through the night. She also couldn’t believe Bjornolf had actually washed his clothes and hers, too. She’d have to do something good in turn for him.
    Then she saw the black caiman stretched out over a fire. The reptile had to be at least thirteen feet in length! A little caiman? She looked up at the hut. That’s what he’d killed just to wash her clothes?
    ***
    A few minutes later, the family descended the steps to the forest floor. Bjornolf carried the girl down, and Paul, the boy. Anna came out of the jungle to join the group, giving Bjornolf a look.
    He wasn’t sure what was up until she said, “Little caiman?”
    Loving that the she-wolf was in awe of his hunter prowess, he just smiled back at her, which earned him a shake of her head.
    After roasting and eating the caiman that Bjornolf had slaughtered by the stream, they were on their way. As soon as they headed out, Jimmy asked the question no one wanted to answer. Not: When will we get home? Or: How long will this take?
    “Are we gonna be home in time for Christmas and see Santa coming down the chimney? We have to leave milk and cookies out for Santa,” the boy continued.
    Paul frowned, not responding.
    “Will we be home before Santa comes?” Jimmy asked again, not about to be ignored.
    “Sure, you’ll make it home in time for the jolly old elf to climb down the fireplace,” Paul said. “But we’ve got to be real quiet like before, okay?”
    His eyes wide, the kid nodded.
    That had Hunter wishing he was home with his family. His wolf pack celebrated the holidays like many packs did, although