Shelly Laurenston: Here Kitty, Kitty!

But young Cleatus jumped into the DJ booth, amped up “Sweet Home Alabama”, and that was it. What started off as a nice little birthday party, turned into a full-blown hootenanny. Especially when some Pack from Tennessee showed up. The Smiths or something. Their name may have been plain but these people really knew how to party.

After that, Angie spent the rest of the time making sure the food was on hand, the liquor was plentiful, and that Miki didn’t annoy the hell out of someone. Thankfully, Conall was ahead of her on that and tossed Miki’s crazy ass behind the bar. Once back in her element, Miki was fine. But at some point she’d need a break and Angie hoped Conall was on top of that as well.

Angie cut over to the barbeque pit. “Hey, Bobby.”

“Hey, darlin’. You’re lookin’ gorgeous this evenin’ as always.”

“You are such a dirty little sweet talker,” she flirted. Bobby was a wolf from her home town and one of the nicest guys she never dated. She motioned to the food. “Are we doing okay?”

“I was a little worried when Sheridan ordered two more cows, but after watching those tigers eat, I see why. So far, so good, though.”

“Good. Get me on the walkie-talkie if you need me.” She’d insisted everyone working the party have either a headset or walkie-talkie. They had no idea what a Nazi she could be when it came to running a party.

Moving away from the barbeque pit, Angie tried to find Sara. Nope. They still weren’t here. Hours since the Alphas locked themselves in their bedroom. Hours .

She walked up to a few of the Pack standing with Alek and Ban. “Someone has to go get them.”

“Are you fuckin’ high?” Kelly said with that disturbingly gravel-like voice.

“Forget it,” some wolf named Billy Dunwich added. “No one’s goin’ up there when those two are fucking.”

Angie looked at Alek and Ban. She gave them her best alluring look. “Guys?”

They snorted in unison. “Not on your life, Santiago.” Alek shook his head. “I’d rather start eating vegan.”

“I’d set myself on fire first,” Ban added.

Man, since she started fucking their brother the two of them had been less and less cooperative.

When she was about to go kick the Alpha pair’s bedroom door down her damn self, Sara appeared, Zach following behind. She’d made him wear the hat, but he really looked too worn out to care. Sara, however, didn’t look tired at all. Clearly her night had just begun.

Angie stalked over to her. “Where the hell have you been?”

Sara smirked. “Do you really want the full details to answer that question?”

She didn’t need full details. The teeth marks all over her friend’s neck told their own story.

Grabbing Sara’s arm, Angie dragged her toward several Prides. “You’re going to come over here and be goddamn polite, or I’ll kick the living shit out of you.”

“Happy birthday to me,” she complained.

“You got your birthday gift from me. And you used it all fucking day.”

“Dear God in heaven.”

Nik and Ban turned away, but Alek stood. Transfixed. “My God, y’all. She’s the worst goddamn dancer I’ve ever seen.”

“Turn away. It’ll hurt your eyes. Turn away!”

Finally, Alek did. “He must really love her.”

The three men glanced back at Miki, but could no longer watch. Nik, motioning for the bartender, now understood why Conall hadn’t complained when Miki started working the bar during the party rather than enjoying the event herself. Because working the bar, Miki looked graceful and cute as hell. Out on the dance floor, however, the woman was an absolute mess.

Nik leaned across the bar toward the man who’d replaced Miki. “Y’all got any grain alcohol? I need to wipe out a horrible memory.”

The bartender shook his head.

“Then we’ll take three shots of vodka.”

“Each,” Alek added.

Nik looked down to the end of the bar. The thankfully always-graceful Angie stood there comfortably chatting with two lions and Reena. He never met a woman who could effortlessly combine classy and trashy so well. Angie’s jeans were Calvin Klein. Her cowboy hat and boots were made specifically for her and most likely cost her a pretty penny. But the tiny black leather halter top she wore barely covered her breasts and only stayed on because of the tiny leather ties around her neck and her waist, which Nik had quite the enjoyable time tying up for her earlier that afternoon. Add in that the thong peeking out the top of her jeans was from Frederick’s of Hollywood, and Nik was a very happy man.

He smiled to himself, wondering when this stupid party would be over so he could bury himself back inside that hot little snatch that seemed made for his dick.

“You’re doin’ it again.”

Nik looked at his brothers. “Doin’ what?”

“Starin’ at Angie with big, dumb dog eyes.” Alek popped back his shot of vodka.

“Dammit, man,” Ban continued. “You’re a cat. Act like one!”

“But cats like pretty shiny things. Don’t y’all think she’s pretty and shiny?”

The three men looked again at Angie. At that moment, she suddenly glanced up. Her eyes widened a bit when she realized they were staring at her. After a few moments, she turned away and, with a shake of her head, went back to her conversation.

Ban sighed. “She sure is.”

Nik nodded. “Yup. And if y’all get within five feet of her, I’ll kill ya both where you stand.” He lifted his shot of vodka. “ Na zdorovie !”

“Cheers to you, too,” his brothers responded back, laughing.

It suddenly occurred to Angie she’d lost sight of Miki. She’d been trying to keep an eye on her all damn evening but once she was no longer behind the bar, the little bitch moved like lightning.

Between the hillbillies pissing off the snobby lions, the Packs growling at each other, and Sara much more interested in Zach than upholding the truce, Angie didn’t know what to do with herself.

“You can’t watch her all the time, Angie.”

Angie spun around at the familiar voice. “Marrec!” She threw herself into the man’s arms. He hugged her so tight, she was sure he would break one of her ribs. But nothing felt better because it let her know exactly how important she was to him.

“I am so glad to see you,” he barked gruffly.

“I’m fine. I promise.” He finally let her go, pulling back to stare at her face.

“You sure? You sure I don’t need to kill anyone?” And he would. They both knew it.

“No, sir. Everything is fine.”

“Good. Where’s the birthday girl? The rest of the Pack are dying to see her.” Rest of the Pack her ass. Marrec wanted to see Sara. Angie knew exactly how much the old coot missed her friend. “She’s over there…fondling Zach.”

And she was, too. Sara straddled Zach’s lap like a stripper giving a lap dance, her arms tight around his big neck, her voluptuous chest offered up to him under her sleeveless black Harley T-shirt.

Horny dogs .

Marrec shook his head. “Maybe I’ll wait a bit before saying hi.”

Angie shrugged. “That’s probably a really good idea. But there’s loads of food and drink, so you guys have yourself a good time. We’ll talk later.”

Marrec gave her a fatherly kiss on the cheek and walked off. She waved at all her friends from her Texas hometown, but she still wanted to find Miki.

Eventually, after some wandering around, she saw her. Angie was starting to realize exactly how smart a man Conall was. In order to keep the crazy bitch occupied, he’d invited Miki’s geek friends from Seattle. Three guys and some girl she sort of recognized as well as a few others she didn’t know. Angie’d met them before, but they hadn’t been interesting enough for her to retain names. But they kept her friend busy and happy. As did Conall, apparently. Miki stood in front of him talking to her geek friends while Conall talked to some lion she didn’t recognize. He had his arm around her waist, palm flat against her stomach, and his head resting comfortably on her ass. Miki’s hand rested against his, their fingers intertwined.