The next morning started off like any other, with me hobbling out of bed for the habitual breakfast my uncle enjoyed making. When we finished, we cleaned up the kitchen and sat in the living room for another long talk about growing up in the good old days. Though this wasn't what I expected, I ended up bonding with my uncle though I had threatened his life not too long ago. Nothing bad could happen to the old geezer until we made our peace. Keeping with the family bonding theme, I also gave my sister a call.

"Matt's been calling everyday,” Genevieve imparted. “What the heck is going on? I thought you guys were living in marital bliss."

"It's nothing,” I lied. “We're having a tiny spat that couples go through from time to time."

"That must be one hell of a spat to send you running away from home.” She paused. “Did he hit you?"

Dear God, that's all I needed. “No, Viva, he never laid a hand on me. So don't you dare mention this to Mom or Dad. They'd have Matt getting his meals from a stomach tube for the rest of his life."

Or the other way around if things got out of hand. Matt would never hurt my father, because they had a terrific father-son relationship. In some ways, my husband filled some of the void of losing Avery Jr. But that didn't mean Matt wouldn't defend himself if he had to. I didn't want to think that far ahead, so I stopped.

"He had better not,” Genevieve warned. “I love him like a brother, but I'll kill him if he lays a hand on you. Are you sure things are okay?"

"They're fine, Viva. Just promise me you won't say a thing to the folks. It took them a while to trust Matt. The last thing I want to do is have them second guessing themselves. This is something we need to figure out on our own."

"No worries, little sis. Matt made promise the same thing, so I guess I have to take your guys’ word for it. But call me when you're back on speaking terms again."

She didn't sound convinced. Neither would I, had I been in her shoes. Nonetheless, I didn't want to think about our conversation anymore. An hour fishing on the pier would take care of that.

As I squashed a worm onto the point of my hook, my thoughts went to Dane and Riley and our dinner last night. They promised they would come over, but hadn't returned my call. Things must have significantly changed between us, if I craved their company. Then again, I was to the point where I'd have chosen almost any type of werewolf company.

I missed mingling with the pack's heated bodies and having our limbs intertwined. More than anything, I missed Matt's comforting touches and longed to feel him on my body again. I would have to leave soon. The question was should I go to his loving arms or to those of my sister?

Snatching me from my thoughts, a fish snagged the end of my line. I began reeling him in, tugging on the arched, fiberglass pole. For a small fish, he pulled with the force of a pit bull. I scooted backwards on my rear because my bum leg wasn't up to par and couldn't give me the leverage I needed. Reeling in the great white wasn't a problem, but I didn't want to snap the line in half, either.

As the pole strained, I reeled in the line and cursed under my breath. Sweat beads slithered down my back and flooded my pits. Taking a chance, despite my earlier assessment, I stood on my mangled ankle. It hurt like hell, but this fish wasn't getting away. If he put me through that much pain, then I planned to collect.

Another tug yanked with such a force that my toes curled as though that would keep me from tipping forward. It didn't. I stumbled, my attention on the darkened waters. I cranked the reel again and the line jerked me further. The rod handle dug into my stomach as the parabolic fishing pole convulsed. That monster was going down. Pictures of Graham frying him up in a pan with lemon juice and olive oil came to mind. The anticipation of the smell flooded my mouth with juice.

A powerful yank threw me forward, slapping my sore foot on the planks. Scrunching my eyelids shut, I bit my lip to keep from screeching in pain.

Footsteps pummeled down the dock behind me. It had taken Graham long enough. Another yank from the Loch Ness Monster jerked me inches from the edge of the pier.

An arm encircled my waist.

I froze, eyes stuck straight ahead. That wasn't Graham.

"I've come this far,” Matt said, gripping the pole just above my hands. “You think I'm about to lose you to a fish?"

A tremor tore through me. A clot stopped up my throat and my heart nearly pumped itself to shreds. Swiveling my head to the right, I matched the voice with the handsome face.

Matt grinned as his hand reached around to crank the reel. His dark brown eyes remained focused on the taut line that disappeared under the surface waters. I didn't want his attention on some fish. I wanted him to look at me.

Cupping his chin, I turned his head until he met my eyes. Oh man, did my heart tear up on its own. I wanted more of him, so I parted my lips and met his. Never in my life did I want to taste him the way I did at the moment. Our tongues roved and searched, snaking on any surface that met our needs. I had waited for him for so long that he set off a barrage of fireworks in my gut.

Zip! Zip! Zip!

We pulled out of our kiss.

The reel had taken on a mind of its own as the fish ran off with my bait. Laughing, we turned our attention to the pole and stopped the fish by locking the reel again. Matt pulled on the line as I cranked the spool. The more the fish wriggled the line, the faster we hauled him in.

Our boisterous laughter caught the attention of the kids playing on their rope swing. Cheers belted out and fingers pointed. Eager faces waited to see our treasure. I guess calling this thing the Loch Ness Monster wasn't that far off the mark.

Matt backed me away from the edge while I continued to reel in our supper. The grayish-white underbelly of the fish and a fin splashed the surface before being swallowed up by the water. Whatever it was, had to be more than a foot and a half in length. Enough supper for two nights. As the fish got close, Matt picked up the net and continued guiding the line. Lowering the net into the water, he scooped something up and turned around.

That fish had to be at least two feet in length. His tail was so big that it flopped over the rim of the net. Its gills inflated and deflated as he breathed his last breath. The kids across the way pointed and cheered us on, pointing at our catch.

"Well,” Uncle said, sauntering to my side. “I guess that means we're having a cookout tonight. That sea serpent won't fit in any of my pans."

"He certainly won't be enough to feed all of us, either,” Matt added.

I laughed. “I guess that means you guys will have to get your own."

Matt came to my side and turned me around. “What about them?"

My face lit up for a second time. Stephan, Aiyana, and Evan stood by the porch, smiling and waving their hands.

Evan broke rank first and sprinted down the small incline thundering straight for me. From the way he barreled toward me my mind screamed, “Take cover!” With that kind of excitement, he might break my other leg or finish off my injured one. I backed in to Matt, seeking his protection from the friendly neighborhood maniac.

When Evan thumped onto the dock, my husband shoved me forward into his Herculean arms. The Neanderthal lifted me in a huge bear hug, whirled me around, and carried me off to a grassy area.

Matt shrugged at my smiling uncle, both men grinning and not moving an inch to help. So much for loved ones. I got more use out of that worm at the end of my hook.

Evan laid me on the grass and covered me with his body, being mindful of my ankle. “I missed you so much,” he said, planting a smacking kiss on my cheek. He didn't stop there. His head bobbed up and down as he kissed my entire face.

"Get off me, you jerk!” I screamed. “There are kids around!"

Of course, they seemed to forget about the fish as their wretched little minds salivated at seeing action of a different type. Claps and wolf whistles resounded throughout the trailer community. Brats. What was this world coming to?

"It looks like they're enjoying the show just fine,” he said. As though nothing happened, he went back to smooching up my face, making sure he covered every inch.

"You've hogged her long enough,” Aiyana said, plopping down beside me. Her face came in close and she picked up where Evan had left off, giving me small, tender kisses and not slobbering ones.

Stephan loomed over us, blocking out the sun. “You deserve whatever punishment they dish out. Running away like that. Giving us grief. Not calling enough.” He slumped onto the ground next to Aiyana. His lips made immediate contact, delivering a soft tender kiss more luscious than those from when we had first mingled together.

It was good to know that the trailer community allowed open displays of affection. These guys made sure the neighbors would never see my humiliated face again.

One thing gnawed at the back of my mind. Graham hadn't warned me about them coming up the road, and Dane and Riley had chucked their everyday calls and visits. Something was up and I wanted to know what.