A/N: So when I first started/got the idea for this story it was Christmas. And despite me being totally excited about summer I'm enjoying writing about winter and one of my favorite holidays. Christmas really is the nicest time of year - at least when you got people you love to celebrate it with. But when you don't I imagine it's quite terrible!

Two

-A Not So Merry...Monday-

*Annabeth*

I parked my little red Toyota between the house and the large building we called the Track. It was Monday afternoon and I was pissed. My best friend Petra's boyfriend Josh had been talking non-stop about all the things he was making his parents buy him for Christmas. Petra had gotten into it too, making wishes for a newer car, phone and fancy make-up. I hadn't said anything.

As I remained in the car, looking up at the dark house, I wondered if I would be getting any presents at all this year. Considering all the facts, I wouldn't blame my dad if he canceled Christmas this year too. I didn't deserve a Christmas and there sure hadn't been any indication that he wanted to do anything to commemorate the holidays. It was only three weeks left until Christmas would be over, yet there were no decorations anywhere on or in our house.

Decorations had been April's thing. She'd loved those stupid blinking lights and Christmas ornaments of every kind were overflowing boxes in the attic.

Since it had been a full moon this weekend the pack had gone running several times and it hadn't felt right to bring it up with them all in the house. But now there would be only me and dad. Yes, I decided as I grabbed my school bag and got out of the car, I would talk to him. I would make him realize decorations and Christmas couldn't just stop.

"Hi dad," I called as I entered the house. There was no reply. Which was about what I had expected.

Instead of heading upstairs to my room, as I normally would, I went into the living room and down the yellow painted hall full of photos of me, my brothers, my father and April. Stopped in front of my dad's office door and knocked.

"Come in," he called from inside. "Oh, Annabeth," he said as I opened the door. "I thought you were Don."

He sat up a little straighter behind the desk. My dad looks good for a guy in his late forties, but most werewolves keep pretty good. Something about the magic of shifting from human to wolf I knew. It had been explained to me when I was younger but I didn't quite remember the specifics. But I knew it was true because my dad, with his dark curly hair, blue twinkling eyes and strong body didn't look a day over thirty-five. Something I knew had been bugging the hell out of April. Not that it mattered now.

"Well it's me. Do you have a moment?" I said, trying not to frown at the thought of Don coming for a visit.

"Sure Angel. I always have time for you," my dad said putting his pencil down and plastering a smile on his face.

I swallowed, knowing that was true. If I wanted his time he would always give it. Only I couldn't bring myself to make him be around me. Because we both knew what I'd done. Who was responsible. Even when he said he didn't blame me, we both knew. When he said the road had been covered with black ice, we both knew. When he said that it was an accident. When he said that he was glad I was alive. We both knew he didn't really mean it. We both knew. We both knew I'd killed April. Killed his fragile human mate.

"I was thinking we should put up some decorations," I said, watching his face. I wondered if I would see the insanity that had been there the first weeks after April's death. Or the emptiness that had come after. Or the agonizing expression of soul deep pain that now was more common. Instead of any of those though he smiled, a real smile that made little crinkles around his eyes.

"I think that'd be nice," he said. "It's getting to be that time of year isn't it?" he asked, looking over at his table calendar. As he did, his smile ghosted away like it had never been. "The time sure goes by fast."

"Yeah," I agreed. It had been almost a year since April died.

"You remember the paper snowflakes you guys made," he said, still looking at the calendar. "She was so proud of you for that."

"Yeah," I said again, wanting to leave but unable to move. The paper snowflakes were one of my first memories.

"She loves the holidays so much," he said wistfully. "Loved," he corrected himself.

"So it's okay if I do some decorating?" I asked after half a minute of silence.

"Sure," he said. "Do whatever you want Angel."

I left and was heading back down towards the living room when I heard the front door open. Great. That had to be Don.

Don had come to Pine Creek Valley when I was fifteen. I'd been a sophomore, he'd been a senior. He'd been sent to my dad's pack because his father and my dad figured we'd be a good match. Back then I'd been pretty stoked about him and me. He was attractive, charming and a really good kisser. Back then being set up to marry and potentially become mated to him hadn't seemed like a burden at all.

"Annabeth," Don said as he walked into the living room and noticed me. He looked great as usual, perfectly styled blond hair, dazzling smile, wide shoulders, narrow hips, long legs. His jeans were dark and neat. His shirt crisp and blue. Mr. All American Dream Guy. Not.

"Hi Don," I said as I stopped across the room from him.

"You joining us to talk about the rogue?" he asked pleasantly as he walked towards me.

I smiled, trying not to think about the possibility of a rogue shifter hunting on our territory. That just didn't happen these days. At least we'd all thought so until Cody and Beatrice went missing.

"No. I figured I'd go for a run. It's so nice out."

"Why don't you go run the Track instead?" Don asked, stopping less than a foot away from me. The Track was a big building the pack had turned into a sort of indoor play area. One quarter of it was open, the rest a maze built with metal and plywood. We used for hunts in winter, when it got really cold or snowy. But it wasn't really cold now. It wasn't even snowing, the temp was only a little below freezing and the sun wouldn't be setting for another hour.

"No, it's not that cold. Besides the track is no fun unless the whole pack is there," I said. This was untrue because the track could be fun if someone had laid a trail for you. I loved trails; tracking was kind of my specialty.

"I worry about you, sometimes Annie, running around-" He reached up about to push some of my unruly hair away from my face but I slapped his hand away.

"Don't call me Annie," I said angrily. "I'm not yours anymore. You can't have cute pet names for me."

Don looked taken aback for a moment then smiled at me like I was a child that was throwing a temper tantrum. "What if you were? Don't you miss me? I miss you."

I glared and backed away from him."Too bad."

"Don't be like that," he said taking a few steps after me.

I put my hand up. "You broke up with me, remember? You said, let's see if I can remember, ´college girls are just more fun Annie. Don't feel bad. It's not about you.´ Yeah, I think that was about it."

Don rolled his eyes."Well if you're still holding that old stuff against me I'm not even sure I'd take you back. You're just so immature. Don't you know guys need to experiment some before settling down? Before they realize how good they had it?"

"Old stuff? It was only a little over a year ago," I said and turned. I was never taking Don back. He was a boring stupid A-hole."Have fun with my dad."

I left the living room and headed up to my room.

After stripping off my T-shirt I went to look at myself in the mirror. I had always been a bit of a tomboy, wearing jeans and T-shirts instead of pretty dresses and skirts. Running and climbing trees rather than shopping and gossiping. The wearing T-shirts and jeans part hadn't changed even though I now days did my fair share of shopping and gossiping.

Most of me was pretty nice, I thought as I tugged down my jeans. Sure, it would be great if my boobs had a second growth spurt and got a cup bigger and I could do without the freckles that covered my nose and cheeks, but none of that was really that important. In fact there was only one thing about my appearance I really would change if I could.

My hair.

It was mane of dark curls that couldn't be tamed. In the morning I looked like that sea monster that had snakes coming out of her head – Medusa – and even after I'd showered and attempted to beat the blasted curls into submission my hair still looked wild and untamed.

At least it was long now. When I'd been thirteen I'd had decided I hated being a girl and having to have long hair and stuff. So I'd cut it all off. It hadn't been pretty. I'd looked like a clown, only with brown hair instead of red. It had been a right awful mess.

Turning away from the mirror I got rid of my last pieces of clothing and found one of the dog collars my dad insisted everyone in his pack wear. Like anyone would actually mistake my wolf form for a lost dog. Still he wanted us to wear them in case we got hurt or God forbid, were picked up by animal control. So he'd get a call if anyone in the pack was in trouble. I guessed the basic idea was good. Still it was a bit weird.

I changed to wolf quickly. It wasn't like it was hard. Shifters don't need the full moon or anything like that to change. We just will it and we change into our wolf shape. It takes only a few seconds and is like a flash of magic. It's warm and fluttering but at the same time disorientating. Also it made you kind of hungry.

I pushed my bedroom door open with my snout, awkwardly skidded down the stairs and headed for the kitchen and the extra large dog door we had there.

Outside was crisp and fresh but even though I was sure the temperature had dropped a little since I got home I wasn't cold. Wolves don't get cold. Besides my winter fur had come in weeks ago. Smiling – as much as a wolf can smile – I headed for one of the creeks Pine Creek Valley was named after.

Pine Creek Valley was located between Montana's capital city, Helena and Great Fall, but was so tiny you might miss it if you weren't paying attention. It was mostly pine trees and creeks, which I guessed the name kind of gave away. It was the kind of place everyone knew everyone and the library being repainted was worth gossiping about for weeks.

It was also the only place I'd ever called home.