Hey everyone, thanks for the favorites and follows, they really are an encouragement. Naturally, right when I vow to update more often, life gets in the way. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and there will be more to come. Any reviews or suggestions are welcome!

As always, I don't own the characters.

The drive to the west side of the Stonehaven estate took longer than it ordinarily would have. Clay and Antonio took their time over the snow covered roads. Although Bear Valley did plow the roads in and around the town, they never came all the way out to clear the portion of the highway that passed by Stonehaven and led to many of the access roads. The lack of plowing and overhanging branches to block the snow ensured that even the large and well-equipped SUVs could lose their traction from time to time. The access road was better, sheltered as it was by large trees and their branches, but Clay still took his time, focusing on the road ahead.

With Clay focused on driving, and Elena and Nick pulling faces at each other through the rear and front windshields respectively (he was almost certain that Nick had started it), Jeremy was left to contemplate his son's actions in peace. Clay's sense of smell was nowhere near as good as Elena's, but he was the Pack enforcer, and even at the heart of Pack territory he was alert for dangers that might threaten his family and Alpha. Clay had smelled something, that much was certain, but it couldn't have been a strong scent, or even very near, otherwise his son would have informed him.

"We're here!" Elena's voice shattered Jeremy's quiet contemplation, and he realized they had arrived at the small corner of Stonehaven where a relatively clear piece of land was home to fir trees. He saw the others climbing out of Antonio's SUV, already debating what kind of tree to choose, and placed his hand on Clay's arm, stopping him in the process of opening the door. Elena, oblivious of their actions, left the car and slammed the door with a bang, jumping headlong into the debate. Clay turned to him with a questioning look, unintentionally mimicking Jeremy's own facial expressions.

"What did you smell?" Jeremy asked, knowing they had only a moment or two before one of the others noticed that they had remained in the car. Clay sighed, and turned to study the silent forest surrounding them through the windshield.

"I thought I smelled a Mutt," he replied. "But it was brief; the scent was there and gone again before I could identify who it was or even if I had actually smelled anything at all." He glanced at his father, who was also watching the trees as if he could spot the intruder.

"Hmmm. Antonio also mentioned that he thought he smelled a Mutt when they stopped in Bear Valley last night, but he couldn't catch a good scent either."

Clay laughed lightly, although it held little humor. "Any Mutt who attempts to come at us at Stonehaven, with the entire Pack present, has got to be insane."

"Don't forget it's the dead of winter, as well. They would either have to drive here from town, or travel the distance between Bear Valley and Stonehaven as a wolf. Either way we would have ample time to prepare." Jeremy thought for a moment, before continuing. "Let's keep this between us for the time being. But stay cautious, all the same."

Clay nodded, and left the warmth of the Land Rover to join in the now heated discussion over Christmas trees. Before doing the same, Jeremy zipped his heavy winter coat up tightly, and was glad he had once the frigid air hit him. The temperature had dropped several degrees since they had left the house, and was now cold enough to give even a werewolf pause. He crossed in front of the Land Rover and listened with amusement to Clay's suggestion that they forgo the tree altogether and simply dress Nick up. Nick growled and started forward, but Jeremy stepped forward.

"Enough. Nick's too short to be a tree, Clay." Nick spluttered with outrage, and straightened to his full height, but Jeremy didn't stop. "Elena picks the tree."

Elena grinned and grabbed Clay's hand, tugging him along to the nearest copse of trees. Pete and Logan followed, and a chagrined Nick trailed behind, muttering what Jeremy assumed to be less than complimentary remarks directed at Clay's back.

Antonio held back and walked slowly next to Jeremy. The snow was deeper here, the forest being more open, but not so deep as to make walking uncomfortable. Someone had planted fir trees in the clearing, years ago, probably with the intention of making a few dollars, but had never attempted to harvest them. Now, they served as an excellent supply of Christmas trees for Stonehaven.

The two older men watched silently as the younger pack members began debating each tree's merits. Antonio unscrewed the lid of the thermos he had been carrying and poured a liberal amount of steaming coffee into the cap. He passed it to Jeremy, who sipped it, appreciating the rich and distinctive scent and taste of the whiskey melding with the strong and bitter coffee, before handing it back to his friend.

"Clay hear something earlier?" Antonio asked casually, taking his own sip from the cup. Jeremy shook his head.

"No, he smelled something. Said it was a Mutt, but it was there and gone again before he could identify it." Antonio grimaced.

"Two times in as many days can't be a coincidence, Jeremy." His Alpha nodded, watching his son and daughter-in-law as they broke branches off the lower portion of the chosen tree to make space for Clay's saw. He took another sip from the coffee Antonio passed to him and laughed as Nick took advantage of Clay's stooped posture to shove him face first into the snow.

Clay surged to his feet and growled, but the effect was ruined by the bits of melting snow still clinging to his face. Nick danced out of range of Clay's first strike, but was distracted when Elena's snowball caught him hard in the chest. He went down with an astonished expression still on his face as Clay tackled him into a mound of snow, his elf-eared hat flying off in the opposite direction. Not to be outdone, Logan and Pete took it upon themselves to send Elena reeling with matching snowballs. Jeremy grinned to himself and glanced sideways at Antonio, who was already screwing the thermos cap back on. He raised an eyebrow and Antonio grinned.

"Shall we?" He asked, holding his hand out in the general direction of the escalating snowball fight. Jeremy nodded, and both men jumped into the fray.

For several minutes the snowballs, and occasional werewolf, flew through the air. By the time they all lay panting and tired in a heap near the tree Elena had chosen, Jeremy was sopping wet and more than ready for the warm confines of the Land Rover and a mug of the excellent coffee he and Antonio had sipped on. The temperature was continuing to drop, and he could see clouds rolling in, bringing more snow with them. He stood, trying in vain to brush some of the snow off his heavy coat and jeans.

"All right, everyone up. Let's get this tree back to the house before it starts snowing." Turning, he surveyed the area as everyone began moving again. Nick groaned as he stood, probing gently at an already swelling bruise on his forehead. Clay, impatient to be done, took the axe and hacked through the base of the tree, oblivious to Elena's exasperated comments. With the tree down, Clay and Logan began carrying it to the vehicles on the road, with Pete trailing and calling out good natured advice. Nick and Elena followed, carrying the tools and thermoses.

"What is it?" Antonio asked, coming to stand next to his Alpha and watching the nearby trees with suspicion.

"I'm just wondering about this mutt. You were right, before. His being here can't be a coincidence, but we both know that no one has sought me out for a challenge in a while. There has to be something else going on."

Antonio glanced at Jeremy's face, and saw the hardness that suggested he was more concerned than he let on. "Whatever it is, old friend, we can handle it together. As a Pack. There's no point in worrying about a danger that might not even exist."

Jeremy glanced towards his best friend and advisor. "You don't believe that this Mutt means well anymore than I do." Antonio just shrugged, and Jeremy sighed. Ahead of them, the rest of the Pack had reached the road, and Elena turned to wave her arm at the two stragglers. "But, you are right about one thing. There is no point in worrying about a threat that is this undefined." He waved back at Elena, and started walking in that direction.

"I'm only right about one thing?" Antonio asked impishly, his smirk reminiscent of his son's. Jeremy just growled.