by Dannika Dark
Once everyone settled down, Melody changed into her pajamas and curled up by the fire near the tree. She said little as she watched her family with a gentle smile on her face. Lexi couldn’t help but notice she seemed older somehow. Not one person asked what had happened or scolded her. Those questions would come later, but for now, the pack let her know how important she was—how loved.
William handed Melody a cup of cocoa with tiny marshmallows floating on top before he sat down in one of the chairs. He glared down at Lakota’s wolf, who was lying beneath the tree amid a few scattered presents. “Is he going to stay like that all night?”
Ivy set down her roll. “If it bothers you to have my son’s wolf in your home, I’ll gladly take my meal out to the garage with him and finish.”
Austin barked out a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. Lakota saved her life, and we’re in his debt. Someone give him another piece of that turkey.”
Trevor ripped off a strip of dark meat and tossed it on the floor. Lakota’s wolf stretched out his long neck and gobbled it up. He mostly stayed out of the way, and Lexi didn’t mind having him around at all.
Because they didn’t have as much food as they normally would, everyone filled their plates with small portions, mindful of those around them. Despite the ravenous look in their eyes, the men ate less and made sure the women had their fill. Few things aroused a Shifter more than going hungry so his mate could have a full belly.
“This bread is delicious,” Lexi raved, eagerly taking another slice. “If you ever get tired of furniture restoration, you can sell your bread in my bakery.”
Ivy smiled. “Only if your employee bakes it. I don’t think I could knead dough all day.”
Lexi was pretty damn satisfied with how well everything had turned out. They’d grilled potatoes, corn on the cob, beans, and heated up a ham. Austin’s first attempt at deep-frying a turkey was a success. The coleslaw, cheese, cucumber salad, dip, and sodas had stayed chilled in the coolers. Best of all, Austin broke out the malt whiskey and red wine for the adults. Everyone remarked that it was the finest meal they’d had in ages.
There were enough chairs for everyone, but some chose to sit on the floor to help pass the plates around since they’d put the food in the center of the rug.
The hearth glowed, radiating warmth throughout the room, which was already abundant from the love this pack had for each other. Maddox collected the empty plates and bowls and hauled them into the kitchen before Lynn got the notion to do it herself. She was half-asleep on the sofa with April, Reno, and Ben. Opposite them, Jericho and Izzy snuggled up together in the loveseat, and Austin claimed the leather chair to the left. Wheeler and Naya faced the fireplace, lost in each other’s arms.
Lorenzo poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat on the floor to the right of Izzy and Jericho, one leg drawn up and bent at the knee. Lakota’s wolf was within reach, and every so often, Lorenzo looked down at him with pride.
The fire was getting a little too hot against her back, so Lexi scooted off the hearth and continued watching the twins on her left, who were eagerly trying to solve a metal puzzle ring. Most of the pack was deep in the clutches of a food coma. Blankets covered laps, and the pillows were on standby. Lorenzo and Ivy planned to sleep in one of the spare bedrooms to give the pack privacy.
Ignoring Lakota’s wolf, Denver crawled over to the tree. “I think it’s time for a few presents.”
Maizy opened her eyes from her spot on the floor in front of their mom. “Uh-oh. Something tells me I should be afraid.”
Denver tossed a lightweight package to Maizy.
She excitedly tore away the shiny paper. “What the heck?”
Lexi laughed when Maizy held up a T-shirt with mistletoe on the bottom half.
“I may need to borrow that,” Naya purred.
Denver crawled back over to his mate and kissed her on the neck. “Santa’s bringing your big present in the morning.”
“That I don’t doubt,” Maizy quipped.
Ivy reached in her bag. “That reminds me. Melody, I have a gift from Hope. I don’t see why you should wait until morning to open it.” Ivy handed her a small package wrapped in silver, and Lexi leaned closer for a better look.
Melody had her hair tied up in a ponytail, and Lexi could see a shadow of the little girl she once was. Lexi glanced down at her sleeping son and stroked his silky hair. The years were just flying by, and soon she wouldn’t be able to hold her baby in her arms anymore. Why couldn’t they stop time and live in that moment forever?
Melody tore open the package and held up a bracelet with a small dreamcatcher dangling from one end. “Did she make this herself?”
Ivy nodded.
Melody’s lip quivered, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Lexi got on all fours and reached for it. When she turned the bracelet in her hand, there was a tiny metal rectangle affixed. Inscribed on it was My Sister.
Melody wiped away her tears. “Tell her how much I love it. Tell her I feel the same.”
When her brothers saw it, they frowned. “Jeez, we didn’t get you anything that nice,” Lennon said, his voice sullen.
Melody crawled over and grabbed each one around the neck, giving them a big hug. “You do stuff for me all the time. I love you knuckleheads.”
They hugged her back but quickly withdrew when they felt all eyes on them. Boys at that age were funny about public displays of affection.
When Sparty sashayed into the room, the kids cracked up laughing. Shortly before Melody’s return, they’d discovered Sparty scratching at the back door. No one knew where he had been, and he wasn’t talking.
As the cat circled around the living room, everyone chortled. Hanging from his rear end was a long piece of silver tinsel.
Wheeler tilted his head to the side, and his brows drew together. “That cat is hell-bent on ruining Christmas.”
Naya lightly slapped him on the chest. “Be nice or else.”
He arched a brow. “Or else what? I won’t get my present tomorrow?”
“You’re not getting one anyhow.”
His jaw slackened. “What’s that supposed to mean? You didn’t get me a gift?”
She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled against his chest. “You’ll have to wait nine months to unwrap mine.”
Jaws dropped. It took Wheeler a minute to process what she had just said, and when he did, he looked more petrified than a piece of wood.
Ben finally broke the silence and leaned over, gripping Wheeler’s knee. “Congratulations, brother. Kiss that woman, or else I will.”
A few laughs broke out, and Wheeler laid a kiss on Naya that could have set the house on fire. Sparty leapt on the couch, head-butting and trilling to steal some of that attention.
This was the perfect moment to surprise everyone! Lexi stood up and dashed into the kitchen. A few candles on the counter provided enough light for her to see, so she opened the dryer and carefully removed three pies—one of them cherry. Over the years, Lexi had learned the hard way the importance of a good hiding spot. Pie wasn’t something she made often, but it was a dessert that every last man in the house coveted like the gluttonous fools they were. Since they hated doing laundry, they’d never think to search the dryer. The women in the house were privy to the secret, and Lexi had given them a wink that morning and told them not to do any laundry. She’d tightly wrapped each one in foil to lock in the smell.
After lining them up on a long tray, she put on her galoshes and snuck out the back door with the pies. She didn’t want them to have a clue about her hiding spot. Circling around to the front door would throw them off, and maybe next time they’d search outside instead.
Thank God it stopped snowing, she thought. Lexi squinted, the dim flickering from the candles in the windows giving her just enough light to see. Izzy had placed them there during the search, hoping they would help Melody find her way home.
“This was a bad idea, Lexi. Bad, bad,” she said, realizing no one ha
d shoveled the snow on the side of the house, and it was getting inside her boots and making her feet slide around.
She climbed up the porch steps, all giddy with excitement, and kicked the toe of her boot against the front door.
When it opened, Austin leaned against the doorjamb. “What are you doing out in the snow, Ladybug?”
“Delivery.”
He smiled sexily and waggled his wolfish brows. “Is that so?”
Damn, that lean.
“Austin Cole, you better move your ass outta the way and let me inside before I freeze to death.”
He chuckled and stepped aside.
As the door closed, everyone turned around with bemused looks on their faces. Lexi managed to kick off her boots while still holding the heavy tray. She crossed the room, and the sight of three round objects wrapped in foil made the men sit up straight.
“Only one of these is cherry, so you’re going to have to fight for it.”
Denver narrowed his eyes. “Where did you get those?”
Lexi set them down on the floor and smiled. “Santa. Whoever gets me a clean knife gets the first slice.”
Five men shot up from their seats and trampled over each other as they ran toward the kitchen.
That evening, everyone ate pie and shared memories. The room came alive with laughter, and after a while, Jericho broke out his acoustic guitar and played a few Christmas melodies while Ivy and Trevor sang along.
Later that evening, the Christmas lights in the living room came on and twinkled. While Maddox had switched off the main lights and appliances, he’d forgotten about the colorful lights strewn along the banister, over the mantel, and around the windows.
It was magical.
No one turned on a lamp, went to their room, or even made a pot of coffee. The pack remained huddled by the fire, holding on to the magic before it would inevitably fade by morning. Melody crept onto the sofa and fell asleep between her parents. Lakota stayed in wolf form, nibbling on the popcorn strung around the Christmas tree. Travis awoke from a long nap, and they let him open up a small package of plastic animals.
Someone noticed a mysterious envelope with Ben’s name on it filled with maps of New Mexico and reservations for an RV rental. At first everyone thought Naya was behind it. But when Ben asked who it was from, Wheeler replied, “Santa. Looks like we’re going on a trip.” Ben couldn’t wipe the grin off his face for the rest of the evening.
Neither could Wheeler with the news of his mate’s pregnancy.
In the wee hours of the morning, Lexi fell asleep in Austin’s arms—safe, protected, and loved. She woke up once during the night and overheard him having a private conversation with Trevor.
Even though Austin grumbled about Lakota chewing on his tree, and Lorenzo threatened to shift into his wolf and piss on it, the two Packmasters had shared a drink together. Beneath all their competitiveness, they respected each other and would always be allies. Bickering was just a part of that.
Lexi snuggled closer to her little boy. She no longer dwelled on the end of things but on the beginning. The end of childhood was the beginning of a new adventure. The end of winter brought spring. There would always be new beginnings, but that meant learning to let something go.
She looked forward to the years they would share together—the experiences they would have as a family.
The laughter.
The tears.
The changes that would shape them as a pack.
That winter night would live in her memory forever. Their children would eventually become adults, but new babies would come along. No matter how relationships changed over the years, Lexi would always remember the pack as they were that Christmas when the lights went out and the only power burning within their house was love.
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A personal note from Dannika:
If you enjoyed this book and want to see more, please take a moment to show your support by leaving a review on the product page where your purchase was made. Your reviews are important and help readers discover these books!
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THE MAGERI SERIES is an exciting urban fantasy romance about a young woman's claim to immortality. Passionate, humorous, dark, and full of unpredictable twists, the Mageri series will take you on an unforgettable journey of love, friendship, and the hidden power within us all. Cliffhanger-free.
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THE SEVEN SERIES is a paranormal romance that portrays Shifters living in secret in the modern world. A blend of humor, heartwarming romance, drama, and real-life issues. This series is for those who believe in family, second chances, and finding that person who completes you. Cliffhanger-free.
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Note: All my fantasy stories are written in the same universe. Same Breeds, same rules, and may contain character crossovers/appearances.
Sometimes ordinary people are destined for extraordinary lives.
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Dannika Dark Newsletter
Books by Dannika Dark:
THE MAGERI SERIES
Sterling
Twist
Impulse
Gravity
Shine
The Gift
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MAGERI WORLD
Risk
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NOVELLAS
Closer
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THE SEVEN SERIES
Seven Years
Six Months
Five Weeks
Four Days
Three Hours
Two Minutes
One Second
Winter Moon
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SEVEN WORLD
Charming
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