Read Online Gray Back Alpha Bear by T. S. Joyce - Free Book Online

her momma instincts. Oh, she could just kick him! Repeatedly with spiked heels.
    She cuddled Peanut Butter close and shoved the door open, then slammed it. Only it was anti-climactic because the door didn’t shut well and was made of cheap wood, so it made a soft thud.
    “Come on, girl, you can do better than that,” Jason said from outside. She could practically hear the smile in his voice.
    She set Peanut Butter down and tossed her bag of clothes, then slammed the door with both hands. Door still didn’t want to shut. With a battle scream, she opened it and closed it three times before she kicked it, gave up, and stomped into the bedroom crying.
    A mouse skittered across the floor, and she yelled again as she sprinted for the bed. “Peanut Butter! Save yourself!” she sobbed as the dog watched the little rodent walk right by him.
    Creed appeared in the doorway, arms crossed as he leaned against the frame. The mouse hopped right over his work boot. “That’s Nards, and he came with the house. Tagan says he’s a pet, and we can’t hurt him. He’ll even eat out of your hand.” His dark eyebrow jacked up. “Can I show you something before you light me up again?”
    Gia’s shoulders were heaving around her ears with her crying. God, she couldn’t stop! It was like all the tears she’d been holding in since she’d found out she was pregnant were coming out now, and for what? She felt crazy.
    Creed disappeared into the bathroom and came back with a handful of Peanut Butter’s hair.
    “O-oooh-oooh,” she sobbed, clutching it to her chest. “Ow!” She dropped it on her lap and rubbed her finger where a sticker burr had poked her.
    Creed pulled the strands apart. Peanut Butters discarded fur was full of the prickly things.
    “He was crying when we got back from the landing. It was Easton’s day off, and he’d been picking burrs out of his feet for an hour, but they were working their way against his skin. Out here, long-furred animals get hurt, Gia. I wasn’t trying to mistreat your dog. He’s been tramping all over the trailer park for the last couple of hours, happy as all get out. You should see him. Look around you, Gia. This isn’t a showroom. I don’t care that Spike’s hair is perfect. I care that he isn’t hurting.”
    Gia wiped her eyes and looked at Peanut Butter Spike. He was rubbing his body happily down the side of the wall, tongue lolled out to the side and a doggy smile on his face. He did look happy. And she hadn’t seen his legs in a year. The haircut was hideous, but she couldn’t deny he wasn’t missing the rubber bands and long fur. “But a Mohawk?”
    Creed chuckled and pulled her closer. “I can shave the Mohawk off, but the boys and I think he looks like a little badass.”
    “I shouldn’t have said that.” Guilt gutted her, and she sniffled. “I shouldn’t have said I couldn’t trust you with our kid. You should’ve asked me first, but you were trying to make my dog feel more comfortable.”
    “It’s okay. I understand why you were upset, and you’re right. I should’ve called. I thought I would surprise you with his haircut, and you would think it’s cute, but clearly I know nothing about women.”
    Gia laughed thickly and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling against him. “I just went crazy.”
    “I Googled pregnancy shit all last night, and this stuff is normal.”
    Gia eased back and searched his eyes, but he didn’t seem to be joking. “What did you Google?”
    “Uh, how to be a supportive partner, what to expect in the delivery room, what you can’t eat.” He leaned back on his locked arms and drew his knee up so she could lean on it. “I even watched a birth video, which was horrifying. It gave me nightmares. I have a whole new respect for women. If it was up to men to go through that, we’d be extinct. Now, what were you going to show me before you got pissed about Spike?”
    She narrowed her eyes at his use of a name that was not her