A Shifter's Christmas Box Set

by Emilia Hartley

  Dealing with Devin had already forced Colton to grow up in ways he shouldn’t have had to yet. Atticus stifled his simmering rage while the two of them raced down the road. His dragon’s power filled the truck and made the metal groan, as if it might burst under the pressure. Colton seemed unaffected at first, but the longer he bore Atticus’s anger, the more his discomfort became apparent.

  Atticus was proud. Not just any shifter would handle being trapped in a vehicle with an angry dragon. And Atticus’s dragon was two seconds away from ripping free of his human constraints and flinging the truck aside.

  “Where does Devin hang out? Where would he feel most safe?” Atticus needed to keep his wits about him. Rage would not find Frankie.

  It might free her, but it couldn’t find her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Frankie leaned back in the kennel, slouching low to avoid hitting her head on the top of it. Devin must have thought he was funny. Frankie, on the other hand, didn’t appreciate the irony.

  As soon as Devin landed, he’d shifted back to human, grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, and dragged her inside. She’d fought to break free of his grasp when she saw the kennel, but Devin had been stronger. He’d plucked her phone from her pocket and nearly bent her in half when he’d shoved her through the kennel door.

  Now, she feigned indifference. Devin pulled a desk chair up to her and sat down before slamming his feet onto the top of her kennel. She didn’t flinch because Devin would have gotten a sick kind of satisfaction from it. She didn’t say anything either. The words that coated her tongue felt wrong, like she might accidentally goad him into killing her.

  She didn’t trust her wit or charm. Waiting was easy, though. She crossed her arms over her chest and let the minutes pass. Devin found a pen and poked it through the holes of the kennel grate. Blue marks marred her arms, but she never looked up.

  “You don’t smell like any wolf from my pack, but you do smell like Colton,” Devin mused. “Are you cheating on your mate already? He would be devastated to find out.”

  Despite her control, Frankie gagged. She cut Devin a glare when she wanted to say are you stupid? Colton looked like a taller version of her, but with blond hair. No one could deny the familial resemblance. Devin couldn’t be that daft. He knew Colton was her brother. That could only mean he was being repulsive, perhaps to get a response out of her because he was bored. He certainly couldn’t use her relationship with Colton against Atticus when he arrived.

  Because Atticus would arrive eventually. He would come for her. Both Frankie and Devin knew it. Devin watched her phone like a hawk, as if he wanted to catch Atticus unaware and twist the knife. It didn’t ring, though. Silence pervaded the small room.

  So, she relaxed and took in the room around her. It was a simple office, with metal and cheap wood desks. The blinds had been drawn over each window, but through the slits she thought she could see familiar landscape. Could this be the office outside the quarry she and Atticus had visited the day before?

  Christmas seemed far away. She’d been given a miracle, a mate to spend the rest of her life with. Falling for him had been nearly instant. She yearned for his presence, to feel his cheek pressed against hers and his hands on her body, not the bite of metal grates under her thighs.

  Finally, boredom overwhelmed her.

  “Why are you the way you are?” she groaned.

  Devin growled, low and ominous. He would likely take a bite out of her before he would ever bother answering, but she figured the kennel served as armor for now.

  “You wrecked my favorite car for what? To kidnap me and kill me with boredom?” Frankie loved her Beetle. Had loved. She doubted it could be saved. “Did you put me in a kennel to insult me or because you were afraid I’d knock you out?”

  Her wolf brushed against the inside of her skin, so close to the surface. All she had to do was let it out. Then Devin would face down a snarling beast just like she had earlier. Instead, she borrowed the beast’s strength. She pushed her fingers through the holes in the grate and clenched her fist.

  The metal bent like butter. It surprised her, like it should have been difficult. Frankie had fought back this kind of strength for a year. She’d denied herself so much.

  “I could tear my way out of this thing if I wanted. You really didn’t prepare. Did you?”

  Devin groaned with annoyance. “How can he even stand you? I liked it better when you were quiet. Close your mouth before I turn that kennel into a barbeque.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare. You and I both know Atticus is going to swoop down here and smack your ass. Your beat down won’t be as bad if I’m alive.”

  “He said he would stay away. I thought Atticus would be gone forever. Then I find him partying it up with the pack? He lied to me. This is my business, my territory. Not his.”

  This time, Frankie looked up at Devin. Two pink scars covered the side of Devin’s face as if he’d recently gotten into a fight. Devin caught her staring.

  “This?” He pointed to the scars, pressing into them like they didn’t hurt. “Your damned brother did this to me.”

  So, he knows Colton is my brother. He was playing dumb, after all.

  Frankie got on her knees and gripped the kennel. The grate stretched and nearly snapped under her strength. “That was a fight you started. Colton looked like the walking dead this morning. You don’t look half as bad right now, so don’t come crying to me.”

  Anxiety prickled her skin and made her gut churn. She didn’t want to know what her brother had endured. Shifters healed pretty quickly, a fact she’d learned after a few kitchen mishaps. There was no way of knowing what her brother had looked like when he got home the night before. Only Devin and Atticus would know.

  If she pushed Devin too far, she might face the same fate, and she wasn’t ready for that kind of fight. She was woefully unprepared for violence.

  “I thought Atticus was your mate,” Devin grumbled. “Where is the big dumb dragon? Does he not call you to check in? What kind of mate is he?”

  Sinking down to relax once more, Frankie had to lean away from the side of the kennel she’d warped. She stole a glance at the analog clock pinned to the wall. Not much time had passed. Devin’s presence made it stretch uncomfortably and gave the illusion of hours passing.

  Still, doubt swirled inside her heart. She’d been waiting for her mate with the hopes that he could make everything better. If Atticus wasn’t going to rescue her, she needed to start thinking about her own escape plans. Her wolf brushed against her and reminded her that Atticus would be on his way. The wolf’s faith in him was unwavering, and so Frankie clung to it while she inspected the warped side of the kennel.

  Frankie never shifted on her own until the day at the quarry with Atticus. Normally, she shifted when she lost the fight with the wolf. The idea of giving the wolf all the power troubled her, but she knew she needed to trust the beast. It was a part of her. She couldn’t deny it for the rest of her life.

  That would lead to a half-life. The beast was a part of her and fighting it wouldn’t get her out of this kennel.

  She threaded her fingers through the grate again. Devin lurched to his feet, but the door swung open and they both stilled.

  “Atticus,” Devin growled.

  Her mate stood in the doorway, smoke rolling from his skin. His eyes had a red gleam to them, like they had when they stood in the glow of taillights on the highway. This time, it wasn’t a reflection. She knew she was looking at the fire raging inside her mate.

  The red banked when he saw her. She grinned and tugged at the kennel grate. The metal snapped and opened for her. Devin said something, but the sound was muted when Atticus flew across the room at him. Frankie stumbled out of the kennel and slowly got to her feet.

  Colton appeared at her side, already dragging her away from the fight destroying half the office. Atticus landed a punch on Devin’s jaw. The sound of cracking bone m
ade her cringe. Colton pulled her toward the exit, but she dug in her heels and threw him off.

  “They’re going to destroy the building,” Colton hissed.

  Frankie could see that. Devin shoved Atticus into the wall. It shattered and crumbled around them, winter light breaking into the artificially lit office. She needed to stop them. Devin closed his hand around Atticus’s throat. Frankie screamed and lurched forward, but Atticus gripped Devin’s wrist and twisted.

  The snap of bone made her teeth ache. Devin didn’t flinch. He shoved forward and they both disappeared through the hole in the wall.

  “Francine,” Colton said. “You’re going to get yourself killed if you get between them. Stop trying to intervene.”

  She bared her teeth at her brother. The wolf was done with his precautions. Now wasn’t the time to run. She didn’t want to watch Devin die today, even if he was an asshole. Atticus would kill him if she didn’t stop them. Then, the weight of guilt would slowly break her mate over the coming years. If she could stop that from happening, she would.

  Even if it meant leaping into the middle of a dragon fight. She pulled her shirt over her head and opened the way for her wolf. The shift was as smooth as water. She left her shoes behind and paws touched the snow outside. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been fast enough.

  Devin’s form burst into a massive black dragon, hunks of melting snow flying around him as he took to the sky. Atticus howled. The sound became a roar when his dragon erupted from him. Frankie raced over the wet earth to reach him, but she was shoved back by the gust from his wings.

  The two beasts clashed in the air. Flames cut across the sky as they battled. Frankie shied away from the heat and falling embers. She couldn’t jump high enough to catch either dragon, and even if she could, she didn’t know what she would do once she grabbed one. All she wanted was to stop the fight.

  They didn’t have to kill each other. Christmas might be over, but she could still cling to the spirit of it. Everyone could walk away from this fight.

  ***

  Atticus saw nothing but red. The haze covered his vision, painting everything with anger and hatred. The heat of his rage burned away all rational sense the moment he saw Frankie in the kennel. Devin had crossed the line and he would die for what he’d done.

  Devin snapped at Atticus’s wings, but Atticus pulled them into his body at the last second. He dropped through the air and out of Devin’s reach before snapping them open again. Atticus swung around and latched onto Devin’s back. The dragon howled in pain.

  Below, Atticus noticed a small, furred form running back and forth. He didn’t have time to look closer because Devin’s tail swung back and smacked Atticus in the spine. Pain stung as it travelled up and down his body. He snarled and snapped at the back of Devin’s neck.

  His bite missed, catching only air. Devin twisted and tore himself free of Atticus’s grasp. Blood sprayed in the air and rained onto the wet ground below. Devin’s flight pattern was erratic. He lurched and dropped, clearly tired.

  Atticus knew a win was close. Devin would hit the ground and Atticus would be able to pin him.

  Before Devin could hit the ground, the form below let out a howl. The sound broke through Atticus’s red haze. It startled him, like an alarm clock shaking him back to life after a long sleep. The howl came from his mate. Frankie pranced nervously below, her gaze on him.

  Atticus didn’t know what the howl meant. He glanced back to Devin. The black dragon had landed and was breathing heavy. Rage gripped Atticus tight once more. If he hesitated much longer, Devin’s wounds would heal.

  Frankie let loose another howl. It whistled through the trees and filled the whole quarry. A rational part of Atticus returned, bursting through him. Frankie wasn’t trapped in the kennel. He began to doubt the kennel could have held her without silver.

  Her barks and yips seemed to say get down here. He grinned with pride at her. She and her wolf seemed to be working in unison. They were one creature now.

  Atticus circled down to her and touched down. Frankie lowered her form to the ground. For a moment, he thought she had cowered in fear, but once the winds from his wings settled, she bounced back onto her feet and ran toward him. Frankie positioned herself between Atticus and Devin, who’d landed a hundred feet away.

  His tiny mate must have thought she could separate them with the force of her snarl alone. She paced, keeping an eye on both dragons. What was she trying to do? Atticus wanted to shove her aside and finish the fight he’d started, but the rage deep inside him was not stronger than his affection for Frankie.

  Atticus waited for his mate to show him what she wanted but kept half his attention on Devin. The black dragon didn’t move, as if he were mesmerized by Frankie’s attempt to quell the fighting, too.

  Near the wrecked wall of the office, Colton shouted, “Use your words!”

  Frankie snapped her teeth and growled, but she sat back on her haunches like she realized her brother was right. When she looked to Atticus, he could see the union of wolf and woman. They weren’t in opposition. Whatever she wanted, her wolf wanted, too.

  Atticus brushed his head against her. He nearly knocked her over in the process. His mate had come so far in only a couple of days. She’d needed him as much as he had needed her. He thought he could feel the bond that tethered them tightening, pulling them even closer.

  Frankie grunted, the sound turning from animal to human until there was a woman sitting in the snow. She let out a breath, but Atticus could hear the rumble of her stomach underneath it. They shouldn’t be here, in the middle of the quarry. Frankie needed food.

  “It’s the day after Christmas,” Frankie said. “I’m not going to let you two kill each other. No one is going to die today. Instead, you’re going to learn to get along. That means no shoving people into kennels, Devin.”

  The black dragon bared its teeth at her. Atticus tensed, ready to pounce on his cousin, but Frankie stood and marched over to him. The sound of skin meeting scales echoed between the trees, followed by Colton’s surprised whistle. Frankie shook her hand after slapping Devin in the nose, as if it’d hurt her more than it’d hurt him.

  “Quit acting like you’re a big, tough guy. Real tough guys don’t do shit like this.”

  Atticus lay down and watched his mate scold Devin. He’d never been prouder of her. She might have conquered her beast in two days, but slapping a dragon in the nose seemed like the greater feat, especially when the dragon was the size of a house and her beast was no bigger than a large pony.

  Then Frankie whirled on him. “We are going to finish celebrating the holidays like happy people. I want the two of you to learn to get along. You’re family. You need each other, even if you don’t see it.”

  Atticus had no quarrel with his cousin until Devin showed his darker side. Devin had hurt the pack and kidnapped Frankie. What was Atticus supposed to do? Offer forgiveness while she was trapped inside a metal box?

  Frankie groaned. “Devin isn’t smart enough to hurt me. He and Colton had an actual fight last night. Devin didn’t hunt Colton down to take his aggression out on him.” She paused, chewing her lip. “I know he’s a mess, but he’s not the monster he seems. He’s just a fool.”

  Atticus could agree with that. He scooped his mate up from the snow and carried her back to the office before shifting back to human form. She quickly pulled him into a hug. Her warm body reminded him that she was alive and in one piece. Devin hadn’t hurt her. All Devin had wanted was to goad Atticus.

  It’d worked. Atticus would have killed him had Frankie not stepped between them. Her courage kept Atticus’s hands clean. Atticus looked back for Devin. He’d shifted back to human form, too, and sat in the snow. He seemed lonely, now.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Frankie whispered between them. “I’m pissed about my car, and I’m going to find a way to make him pay for it. Maybe I’ll make him drive down to Maryland and pack up my apartment.”


  Atticus’s heart skipped a beat. “Pack up your apartment?”

  She grasped either side of his face and drew him into a kiss. Her warmth enveloped him, holding him tight. It was gentle in comparison to the heat that’d burned inside him only an hour ago. This was the kind of warmth he’d needed.

  “Like I’m going to leave this place,” she said after pulling back. “My heart is here.”

  He swept her up in his arms but realized quickly that he had no means to leave other than his own wings. He’d taken Colton’s truck earlier, and Frankie’s Volkswagen was now a heap of scrap metal.

  His dragon was eager for another flight. It wanted to see its territory from up above and get reacquainted all over again.

  Atticus twisted and shouted to Devin, “Have you been taking care of my house?”

  “Go find out for yourself,” Devin shouted back. “You know where the key is hidden.”

  “Are you ready to see your new home?” Atticus asked his mate. “I mean, that is if you’re ready to move in with me. If not, we can look at places for you. I don’t want to assume anything.”

  “I am all in. Just so you know, this is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

  Atticus didn’t expect his heart to go into overdrive. It pattered at her words. She, too, had given him the best Christmas.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Two days later, Frankie stared at the wreck of her car. According to Colton, the engine and all the other mechanical parts were fine. The frame, on the other hand, was nothing more than scrap. The roof looked like crumpled paper, as did the door lying twenty feet away in the field.

  They hitched it to Colton’s truck and towed it to a nearby mechanic. The guy working the shop took one look at it and raised a brow in question. Frankie didn’t know how to explain her car, but Atticus saved her.