Santa Paws: BBW Holiday Bear Shifter Romance (Christmas Bear Brothers Book 1)

by Harmony Raines

  “Not this time of year. The aurora is the only light we’ll see.” She finished doing up the buttons of her coat, and then said, “I’m ready.”

  He stood still, allowing his bear to come to him, and then he slipped from this world to return in the form of his bear. Vicky did the same, and he stood transfixed in wonder when the beautiful reindeer, his mate, stood before him in the snow. Her feet were made for this terrain, and he only hoped his lumbering bear would be able to match her pace as she leaped off into the Arctic snow.

  Magical. That was the only way to describe what he experienced as they trekked across the snow. On and on, an endless sea of white. He was only thankful that it didn’t snow; he would hate to lose her in a blizzard after they had come all this way.

  As they trekked in silence, he occasionally pressed his bear against her, reassuring her he was there. Or maybe the reassurance was for him. She was his guide, with an innate knowledge of which direction they were supposed to take; she was leading him towards their destination.

  His mind began to wonder, his thoughts filled with family. By this time next year, he hoped to have a child, for Vicky to give him a small cub so they could hang up a Christmas stocking and wait for Vicky to come with Santa to fill it with gifts, just as their child would fill their lives with love and happiness.

  Perhaps his brothers would have children too. He was sure both of them had found their mates and would be spending this Christmas as happily as he was. OK, maybe they wouldn’t be out here on the Arctic tundra.

  Ahead of him, Vicky increased her pace. They were near their destination; he could sense her excitement and anticipation, and he let go of thoughts of home. As he turned his attention back to his reindeer mate, he wished his brothers well and hoped they were as happy at this moment as he was.

  It might be freezing cold and dark as night, but he was with the most important person in his world.

  And he was about to meet Santa.

  Chapter Sixteen – Vicky

  It appeared from amongst the snow and ice: a sleigh, with seven reindeer all harnessed up, stamping the ground in anticipation. She ran faster and then slowed, once more unsure she could do this, unsure she had it in her to lift herself up into the dark night, to fly across the moon with Santa and the gifts for the people in their beds.

  Her breath came in short snorts, a cloud of vapour as she stood, her feet rooted to the spot. Behind her, Dermot gave her a nudge with his big bear snout and she took a step forward. And then another.

  Santa came to her, Rudolph by his side. “I am so pleased you could join us, Vicky.”

  She changed, her human form coming back to this world so she could apologise to the strange man in the red coat. He smelt of cinnamon and spice, of pine trees and sugar canes. He smelt of Christmas, and she knew the thing she had been searching for had never been missing; it had simply been covered up by the stresses and strains of everyday life.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” she said.

  “We have plenty of time,” Santa said, and embraced her, pulling her to him.

  “Thank you, Dermot,” Rudolph said, holding out his hand to the bear.

  Dermot couldn’t resist. Although feeling shy in the presence of the two iconic people, he came back to the world as a man. And shook hands with Rudolph, who promptly pulled him into a hug.

  “I’m sorry the whole world isn’t going to know how you saved Christmas,” Rudolph said.

  “I’m used to being the man in the background. I don’t mind at all. And anyway,” he said, pulling Vicky into his arms. “I have the best Christmas gift ever.”

  “Right. We must away,” Santa said. “Rudolph, Vicky, it’s time.”

  Dermot watched over her as she changed back into her reindeer and stood patiently while Santa harnessed her to the sleigh. Then Rudolph was harnessed to the front.

  “Wow, he really does have a red nose,” Dermot said as the last reindeer was put in place. Vicky stamped her foot and nodded, sending her bells jingling. A thrill of excitement took hold of her; she was ready to fly, ready to join her friends on this most magical of nights.

  “I’ll wait here for you,” he said to Vicky, but Santa came over, and patted Dermot on the back.

  “We’ll give you a lift. Least we can do. Then when Vicky has finished she can fly back to Bear Bluff.”

  “How do you know …?” Dermot said, and Vicky shook her head, jingling her bells with laughter.

  “Santa knows everything.” He winked at Dermot, who she was sure blushed. “I know exactly who has been naughty or nice too. And you, my friend, have been such a good boy, you got an early Christmas gift. And so did your brothers.”

  Dermot was left speechless, but under Santa’s guiding hand he got in the sleigh and with a whoop, the reindeer all began to run across the snow, until slowly, magically, they rose into the air. Vicky felt her heart swell. They were flying; she had done it. Dermot had done it. He had fulfilled his promise to her, and helped her find her Christmas spirit. Now to spread the same magic across the world.

  Chapter Seventeen – Dermot

  Santa dropped him off on the edge of Bear Bluff. He stood staring almost in disbelief as the sleigh rose back into the air. It was only when he heard “Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas,” that he came back to life and began to make his way home. He wanted to get washed and put on some fresh clothes ready for when Vicky came back.

  Every so often, he had to stop and reminded himself this was all real and it wasn’t some kind of joke. He wasn’t hallucinating, and he really did have a mate … who was a reindeer.

  Yeah. That was going to take some getting used to, and he doubted anyone would believe him. Not until they had seen her, at least. That was when he had his idea.

  Picking up his pace, he headed home. He needed a couple of hours sleep, and then he would go and visit a few people. Dermot was sure they wouldn’t mind getting up early and giving him a hand; it was Christmas after all.

  Five hours later, he was heading to the sheriff’s office, all his other preparations in place, and too excited to go back to bed. In his hand, he had two hot baguettes, and he was taking a chance Declan was already back on duty, with a story of his own to tell. Like a young boy on Christmas morning, he knocked on the door. Waiting for Declan to answer.

  He heard the keys jingling in Declan’s hand as his brother approached the door; it reminded him of the bells on Vicky’s harness. He felt so enormously happy, and couldn’t resist putting on a deep voice and saying, “Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.”

  “Dermot.” Declan opened the door, looking surprised to see his brother. “What the hell are you doing here at this time?”

  “I couldn’t sleep. Didn’t know if you would be here either. Thought you had found your mate.” Dermot went into his brother’s office. Declan seemed more interested in the food he was carrying than what Dermot had to say. But when Dermot took a closer look at him, he realised how rough he looked, and handed him one of the baguettes.

  “Thought I would bring you breakfast.”

  “Thank you,” Declan said, accepting the baguette and tucking in. “That is wonderful.”

  “You look terrible, by the way.” Dermot said, between mouthfuls.

  “It has been a rough couple of days.”

  “Tell me about it,” Dermot said nodding in agreement.

  “You have a black eye,” Declan said accusingly. “Don’t tell me you got into a brawl on Christmas Eve.”

  “I did. With a polar bear,” Dermot said matter-of-factly.

  Declan nearly choked on his food. “A polar bear. In Bear Bluff?”

  “Oh, no. I have been to the North Pole. And I take it all back. Santa is real.” Declan nearly choked on his food.

  “So now I know you’ve been drinking.” Declan thought for a moment. “Hey. Did you really get dropped off by Santa in a sleigh?”

  “I most certainly did.” Dermot grinned. “He has a very sexy reindeer called Vicky.”

  This time Decla
n did spray his food. “You have the hots for a reindeer?”

  “She’s my mate,” he said simply.

  “Then we’ve both fulfilled that pact we made,” Declan said with wonder.

  Dermot nodded. “I think Damon has too, although I’ve not heard from him since he nearly got ripped to shreds by a cougar.”

  “Was she his mate too?” Declan asked.

  “I think she was. We need to take him in for an interrogation. If we can find him.”

  “What a Christmas,” Declan said, leaning back in his chair. Then a strange look of bliss came over his face. “She’s here.”

  “Who’s here?” Dermot asked, and then the door of the sheriff’s office opened and a pretty woman came in, with a teenager behind her.

  “Oh, we brought you breakfast,” the woman said, then saw the baguettes. “I see you’ve already eaten.”

  “We were starving, and still are. Bears have huge appetites,” Dermot said, getting up and giving Declan’s mate a warm hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “Maria, this is my youngest brother, Dermot. Dermot, Maria. And this young man is Jason.”

  “Hello, Jason,” Dermot said and a flash of pain crossed his face; he remembered the car accident only too well. It was the same accident that had claimed the life of Sorcha’s father and left her so terribly injured. But this wasn’t the time to bring up thoughts of the past. They were all looking to the future now. So instead, he grinned. “I think we are all going to be one great big family.”

  “Dermot met his mate too.” Declan had finished his first baguette and was eyeballing more food. Dermot wondered what he had been doing to work up such an appetite.

  “She’s one of Santa’s reindeer,” Dermot said proudly.

  “That’s crap. Santa isn’t real,” Jason protested.

  If only you knew, thought Dermot. And then he had another idea. “Oh yes, he is. In fact, if you come with me now, I will show you. Vicky said she would be back around ten. Come on. Maria and Declan can meet us on the North Slope when they are ready.” Dermot hooked his arm around Jason’s shoulders and guided him out of the door. He turned to wink at Declan. “Have fun, bro’.”

  It didn’t take much to realise Declan wanted some alone time with Maria. Dermot was willing to do anything to help Declan and his new family find their way to happiness.

  As they left, Jason turned to him and said, “All that stuff about Santa is a lie.”

  Dermot saw the pain in Jason’s eyes, and wanted to make it right for him. But he knew that only time could do that. And this was no time for lectures, or a buddy talk.

  “You know, I would have agreed with you. Until I went on this crazy adventure to the North Pole. I fought with a polar bear, and got this,” he said, pointing to his eye.

  “I think you spent too long in the bar last night and got into a brawl.” Jason accused.

  “I promise you, it’s real. And once you see Vicky, you will believe it too.” As they walked a car pulled up beside them, and Dermot bent down to see whom it was. “Trent. Hi there.”

  “I might have known you were responsible for this,” Trent said, a twinkle in his eyes. “You look like you went ten rounds with a bear.”

  “Polar bear.” He grinned at Trent. “It’s OK, Jason is one of us.”

  “So is this for real? Because half the town is heading out to the North Slope.”

  “It certainly is. I’m just hoping someone went and picked Sorcha and her mom up.”

  “Pretty sure I saw Dr. Ben heading that way in a pickup. Like I said, would hate to be you if we don’t get to see a flying reindeer.”

  “She’ll be here,” Dermot said confidently, and Trent drove off waving.

  “When was the last time there was a lynching in Bear Bluff?” Jason asked.

  “She’ll be here,” Dermot repeated and looked to the skies, but there was no sign of her yet.

  Chapter Eighteen – Vicky

  Vicky looked down as she headed over Bear Bluff, shocked at the small crowd of people who were waiting to greet her. This had never happened before; she normally had to keep herself hidden away, landing outside of town and then walking back home while other people were snug in their houses opening their gifts with their families.

  She circled around one more time and then Dermot caught her eye, standing with another man, and a young woman. There was a teenager with them, too; he was looking up, watching for her. He reminded her so much of herself, like he needed something to believe in, something to give him hope.

  Vicky came lower, her feet touching down on the lower slope of the mountain, her step light as she drew closer to the people who stood in awe of her. She was now the worst kept secret in Bear Bluff, amongst shifters anyway. And that was the thing: she blended in just right. All the people here had a secret, or kept their loved one’s secret.

  Suddenly shy, she stopped, waiting for Dermot to come to her. She rubbed her head against him affectionately, and then changed into her human form.

  “Did you tell the whole town?” she asked reproachfully.

  “Just one or two, and then it kind of spread,” Dermot answered. “Do you know, I never noticed in the dark, but your hair is the same colour as your reindeer coat.”

  “You can’t get out of it by changing the subject,” she said crossly.

  “How about with a kiss,” he said, drawing her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers.

  “I guess that might do it,” she said, leaning on his chest briefly. “You had better introduce your family to me. I can’t wait to meet them.”

  “And they can’t wait to meet you,” Dermot said, pulling her close as they walked.

  The boy waved at them, and Dermot waved back. As they reached them, the boy blurted out, “Dermot says Rudolph is real too.”

  They all laughed, and Vicky said, “He certainly is. And it’s thanks to him that we are together, and you had Christmas.”

  “Well, one day I hope to thank him,” said Declan, “because I think we all got the best Christmas ever.”

  “I think we all did,” said Maria.

  “And not a bear humbug in sight,” Dermot laughed.

  “And not a bear humbug in sight,” Declan repeated, pulling Jason and Maria into his arms. “More of a ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas.”

  Vicky looked around at all the people who she hoped would be her friends. She had decided there was no better place to live than Bear Bluff, and then she saw Marla, standing next to Sorcha in her wheelchair.

  “There is someone we need to speak to,” Vicky said, taking Dermot’s hand. They all followed her across the slope to where Sorcha sat, looking dazed but happy.

  “I never knew. I never knew reindeers were real. Not really real.”

  “We thought you should know about the magic of Christmas, Sorcha,” Dermot said, touching Marla comfortingly on the arm. “I wanted you to both know that good things can still happen.”

  “Thank you,” Marla said tearfully. “And thank you, Vicky, for the doll. It was the exact one Sorcha wanted.”

  “Oh. That wasn’t me,” Vicky said. “That was Santa himself.”

  “Well, next time you see him, say thanks from us.”

  “I will.” She smiled and hugged Dermot. “You know, I don’t think I’ll have any trouble finding my Christmas spirit next year.”

  “Good. Because I have had enough excitement to last a lifetime. Now, we need to organise Christmas lunch.”

  “There’s plenty at our cabin. You are all welcome,” Marla said.

  “That is so kind of you, Marla. Although part of me thinks as the sheriff on duty, I should be organising a search party for Damon,” Declan said.

  “He’s big enough to take care of himself,” Dermot said. “Right now, food is the only thing I can think of.”

  “Except me.” Vicky prodded him in the stomach.

  “Except you,” he said, and held her close, taking her breath away with his kiss, but not her Christmas spirit, which wa
s full to overflowing.

  The End

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  Chapter One – Declan

  “Here we are again. Another Christmas is here and we are all still bachelors.” Declan looked at his two brothers. They were having their traditional family get-together before they all took off to work their Christmas shifts. It was three solid days of duty for which they always volunteered, because the Holidays were a time for being with mates and cubs. Something none of them had.

  “Come on, it’s not that bad. You get to spend the Holidays with other sad, lonely people,” Damon said, taking a sip of his beer.

  “Speak for yourselves—I love Christmas at work. Between calls, I get to spend time with all the people stuck on the wards. The nurses work hard to make it special, particularly for the kids who are in over the Holidays.” Dermot grinned. “I bet I could rustle up some lonely nurses for a bit of fun.”

  “I might take you up on that. I’m stuck with my crew at the fire station. And although there are the delightfully curvy figures of Kirsty and Sonia to gaze at, they are firmly off-limits. Work and relationships don’t mix,” Damon stated.

  “Unless you are bonded,” Declan said evenly.

  “Which we’re not.” Damon had that far off-look in his eyes, and Declan wondered how much his brother longed for a mate. A lot. Both his brothers did. While Declan, on the other hand, wasn’t interested ... oh, who was he kidding? He longed to have a woman in his bed and a cub running around. Sometimes he even dreamed of what it would be like. Getting up at stupid o’clock on Christmas morning with an overexcited child. To Declan it was the perfect dream. How sad was that?