Greatest Gift

by Moira Callahan

  “Yeah, they found Carson sitting out where anyone and everyone could see him. It feels like a ploy to me.”

  “If you need to go, go,” she said.

  “Nope, not happening. I am sticking close to you, little mate. If they need me down there they’ll call.”

  After a minute longer staring up at him, she pulled away and ordered him back to work. He loved the fact she had no qualms about ordering him around. She’d quite obviously gotten over her wariness in his presence at some point. He didn’t know when precisely this blessing had occurred, but he was happy it had come to be.

  He accepted the green onions and cabbage halves she passed over. Grabbing a cutting board, he got to work after receiving detailed instructions. She really was a bossy little thing. If she had been anyone other than his mate, he’d have torn them a strip off before kicking them out. It was amazing what a man would put up with when he was in love.

  That thought had him stilling with the knife in hand partway through a cabbage. Love. He was in love with Holland. Not nearly the terrifying thought he would have guessed it might be. He’d already accepted it on some level, probably why he wasn’t hyperventilating right then.

  Now all he had to do was figure out when and how to tell her. He did not want her freaking out on him and running off. His wolf would not take kindly to that. Not that he’d hurt her, he couldn’t, but she might hurt herself in the process. And that would not do. Jakob would have to be delicate about telling her. Maybe sex her up. Now there was an option he could get behind.

  Chapter Seventeen

  While he was digging in the pantry for the roasting pan Jakob’s phone began to ring. Picking it up from the counter, Holland saw Grady’s name and a goofy picture flashed on the screen. “It’s Grady,” she called out.

  “Answer it for me, please. God damn pan is wedged in here.”

  Several other and bluer words came from the space as she swiped her finger over the phone’s display. “Jakob’s phone, Holland speaking.”

  “Well, hello there, darling. At last we have a moment to speak without that overbearing ass listening in.”

  “You do realize I’ll be repeating everything you say to him later, right?”

  “What the fuck is Grady saying?”

  “Why isn’t Jakob answering his phone? Good god, have you killed him off already? Tell me it ain’t so, darling. Mainly because I’ll owe Nix a hundred bucks.”

  “He’s in the pantry attempting to get the roasting pan from where it is apparently wedged in. I fully expect things to go horribly wrong at any moment.”

  “Good, Nix can calm his ass down about the hundred on that bet. Sorry, buddy. Listen, I need to talk to him, seriously here.”

  The change in his tone told Holland way more than his words could have. Walking to the pantry, she nearly groaned at the predicament that Jakob appeared to be in. Hiked up on the shelving, he had his hands wrapped around the pan on the top shelf, and using a braced foot, was trying to haul it out from its perch. “Why don’t you get down from there before Grady or Nix wins a bet with you breaking your bloody neck and talk to him? I will get the stepstool, and try to see what is holding it in place.”

  In a sudden move that had her taking a startled step back, Jakob dropped down to land lightly on his feet. He plucked the phone from her fingers, and giving her a kiss on her parted lips, brushed past her.

  It was shit like that, that smacked her with the reminder he wasn’t human. Holland could only hope that her brain would finally get that fact nestled in deep. Otherwise, she truly wasn’t sure she could survive stunts like he’d just pulled. If she’d tried that she’d have at least twisted her ankle, at worst broken something. Not that she was a klutz per se, but she had her moments.

  Releasing a breath, Holland grabbed the step ladder and went to retrieve the pan. Unlike Jakob, she wasn’t into pulling on it until it and the shelf came at her. With a careful survey, she determined what it was caught on, and what held it up at the angle. Three minutes later, she had the pan in the sink, giving it a scrub.

  Jakob’s arms slipped around her middle a couple minutes after she’d dried it off. Tipping her head back to look up at him, she leaned into his hold. “What did Grady want?”

  “Tell me what he said first. He wouldn’t tell me and it’s bugging me enough that I need to know.”

  Turning in his arms, she slipped her hands up and over his shoulders to clutch behind his neck. “He called you an overbearing ass, and was rather happy to talk to me without you listening in apparently. Then he went on about me killing you, demanded to know that it wasn’t true because he didn’t want to owe Nixon a hundred dollars.”

  “Fuckers, those two assholes will bet on literally anything. If they see a way to make money on something they damn well will.” Jakob pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Grady called to let me know that Carson apparently wants to have a chitchat. Don’t know what he wants, frankly, I don’t care either, but I should probably go. Especially since Carson isn’t here on his own, or with reinforcements. According to Grady, he’s here under watch.”

  “Under watch? Who’s watching him?”

  “I haven’t got a clue but I’m hoping to find out. Normally, I wouldn’t ask but it sounds relatively safe. Do you want to come along for the ride?”

  Stunned, she gave a nod. “I would. Let me put some things away and then we can go.” They could finish the prep for their Christmas dinner later. This meeting took precedence in her mind over everything else. Carson was responsible for Jakob’s tension the last couple days, and for the pack being on edge. The sooner it was all resolved, the sooner things could return to normal. Or the version of normal that they lived anyway.

  When Jakob pulled his truck into a spot outside the diner nearly an hour later, Holland shot him a look. She’d been sure they were heading to wherever this Carson fellow might be. Biting her tongue, she slid from the vehicle and followed him inside.

  Seeing Grady, Nix, Tia and several other pack members in the diner, she suddenly realized they were in the right place. Not sure what to do, Holland hung back while Jakob stalked toward a corner booth where a man sat, no other diners nearby. She took a seat at the counter and looked to Grady, maybe he could provide some insight into things.

  “Carson,” was all he said.

  It was enough. Jakob would share the details when it was time. Until then, she’d sit back and watch. Should it be necessary, she would jump in, but had the distinct feeling the others would get there much faster than she could hope to.

  Startled when Leona set a cup down and filled it with coffee, Holland pressed a hand to her chest.

  “Sorry, sweetheart. Figured you might be here for a while yet.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Did you want anything to eat? Providing that these boys and Tia haven’t cleaned us out with what appears to be stomachs that are actually bottomless pits.”

  Stifling a laugh, she shook her head, and sipped at the coffee. “I’m good for the moment, thanks though.”

  “You let me know if you change your mind.”

  Leona spun away to head down to the counter’s other end. Peeking around a wolf, Holland noticed a couple older gentlemen munching on their meals while staring with fascination in Carson’s direction.

  A loud bang had her whipping her head around. Jakob’s lips were drawn back in a snarl, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he had claws happening too. Stunned to be witnessing more evidence that he wasn’t human, she discovered zero fear. The thought had her frowning while attempting to analyze her feelings, the drama at the table falling away into the background.

  Jakob had never done anything but make her feel completely safe. He was definitely overprotective, but even that showed how much he cared for her. He could be bossy. What man didn’t get that way from time to time? And if she was going to be fully open at least internally, she could be fucking bossy too when the situation called for it.

  Hell, she’d bossed him around ea
rly that afternoon. He’d seemed to like it if she hadn’t misinterpreted the expression on his face. Until today, Holland would never have considered bossing Jakob Nichols around. Nor would she have dared. She’d never been comfortable enough around him to try. Until today.

  What had changed about today? Mainly meeting the pack, or rather the majority not including the young ones who’d all been supervised for winter activities. Taking another sip from her cup, she continued to mull over the day’s events. But she wasn’t coming up with anything that stood out to explain her change in regards to Jakob. Then again, maybe there wasn’t a rational explanation for it. Love wasn’t exactly rational.

  Nearly spewing out her coffee, she ended up coughing, and a wolf patted her back. “I’m good,” she wheezed. “Went down the wrong tube is all.”

  “You’re supposed to drink it, not try to breathe it in.”

  “Ya think?” she asked, not even worrying about the snark she heard in her voice.

  The wolf let out a laugh but it quickly faded away under the buzz in her head. Holland was in love with Jakob. She didn’t know when it had happened, or how exactly, but it had. Which meant she had to figure out what to do about it, and how to break the news to Jakob. Shifting her gaze to him, she winced internally. She really hoped the, until recently, lone wolf didn’t take it too badly. Holland had gotten used to having him around.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jakob slammed his hand down on the table. He was having to fight for control over his wolf while getting into Carson’s face. He didn’t worry about the claws showing. It would be a good reminder to the traitor that Jakob was Alpha, and Carson was trespassing. Which boiled down to Jakob having the right to kill the traitorous asshole where he sat, and not a single person could ever say a word against him.

  “Answer the fucking question, you prick.” Jakob yanked on the reins holding back his wolf hard. “Why are you in my town?”

  Carson stared back at him, his expression bored. “I didn’t want to come, but someone pointed out to me that I really should. Not that it swayed me one iota. That same busybody made it a point to bring it up to the council, and here I am. Under duress.”

  The pieces started to fall into place quickly with the council mention. That meant the wolves with Carson were definitely not helping him, they were guarding him. And if they’d brought him to see Jakob there was only one reason. Deciding to wait on playing that particular ace, Jakob sneered in the other wolf’s direction.

  “Like I give a shit. If you’re not going to talk, I’m leaving. Unlike you, I have better things to do with my day.”

  “Mm, I can see that. Pretty sweet piece you got there. I’d do her, if you threw a paper bag over her head. Woof!” Carson smirked at him.

  Jakob barely held onto his temper. He knew the other wolf was baiting him. For what purpose, he couldn’t determine, he didn’t have enough to go on yet. “Good thing she has better taste than to do a reject like you. Now get on with whatever you have to say before the watchers haul you off to your execution, or I might save them the gas and do you where you sit.” Carson’s whole body froze up. “Didn’t think I’d figure it out? Shame on you, Carson. We both know I’ve always been smarter, faster, and better looking than you. It’s what had you all pissy in the first place when you started to plan your coup. I’m also better liked than you could ever be because I actually give a shit about every single member in the pack. You only viewed the pack as a means to an end. Power, that’s always been your drug, right?”

  Looking ready to dive over the table at him, a throat being cleared had Carson growling, but settling back in his seat. The glare he shot at the watcher had no effect. “You always did like to think you were the smartest wolf in the room. Too bad you didn’t have a clue. One day you will see the truth. I’m only sad I won’t be around to watch it all unfold.”

  “On the other hand there will be no one sad to hear you’re not going to be around much longer. In fact, I know a couple folks who will be downright thrilled to know you got what you’ve deserved finally. Hell, maybe we’ll throw a party.” The dig hit its mark. Jakob wouldn’t actually have a party for anything even remotely related to Carson. The asshole didn’t deserve any additional attention beyond what he’d already taken, and wasted.

  “I’m sure Mom and Dad will be thrilled. They never did have the vision to see what could be. Always too fucking cowed by the Alpha.” Carson snorted, and looked out the window.

  “Well, if that’s all, I have a dinner to get home to prepare with my mate, and some gifts to wrap.” Jakob pushed up from the table ready to be done with Carson. The wolf was the past, and his future was a damn sight prettier.

  A tight grip on his wrist had his hackles rising, and Jakob didn’t stop the wolf from pushing forward. “Get your hand off me,” he bit off each word.

  Instantly, the hand fell away. Despite his claims otherwise, Carson wasn’t Alpha material and never would be. Like every wolf in the place he was compelled to follow the hierarchy and bow under the Alpha’s will. Jakob rarely flexed that portion mainly because he hated taking someone’s choices away from them. No one deserved that treatment from another person.

  “Apologies, Alpha.” The words were nearly strangled in Carson’s attempt to cut them off. But his wolf knew its place, and had to offer them up. Digging in a pocket, Carson came out with an envelope he held up and out to Jakob. “For the parents. Whether they read it or not is their choice. It’s the only reason I came here. The rest of you fuckers don’t deserve an apology. I only did what was instinctual and what no one else had the balls to do. I failed. Now I’m facing the music.”

  Knowing it for the last request that it was, Jakob took the envelope and pocketed it. He was looking at it not like he was granting a soon-to-be dead man’s wish, but helping his pack mates close a door left wedged open by uncertainty for too long. He could have said something else but refrained. Instead, he made his way through the pack to his mate, stopping only long enough to have a word with a watcher.

  “He may have been planning a coup here, but that isn’t enough to earn a death sentence. What am I missing?” he asked, keeping his voice low enough only the watcher could hear him.

  A glance around to the others, and the man rolled his shoulders in agitation. “He tried it again with a pack who adopted him in. Only he didn’t stop at the planning stages. During the coup he injured the Alpha’s only child. She’ll heal from her wounds but won’t ever be the same. The Alpha went to the council, and given Carson’s prior history, plus some things he did between here and there, ruled he would receive a life sentence. Carson petitioned for death instead. Shocked everyone given his driving need to survive. The council argued against it but eventually conceded to his request.”

  Not sure what to say to that Jakob shook the man’s hand, and then moved to his mate to slip his hand into hers and help her off the stool.

  In the truck Jakob worked at calming himself down while attempting to process everything he’d learned. Having Holland by his side, her scent filling the cab helped greatly. The hand she put on his thigh after she slid onto the hump pushed more tension out.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “What do you want to know, sweet cheeks?”

  “He said something that upset you. Not at the beginning, but partway through before you got up. I didn’t see your wolf react, but everyone in there tensed up like they were ready to dive in to separate you both.”

  “Not hearing a question,” he commented. When her fingers tightened on his leg he blew out a long breath. “He made a snide remark about you. I had to fight to keep from ripping his heart out through his chest.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t. I know your world is different from anything I’ve known before, but I’d be quite upset if you did something with full knowledge and ended up with watchers yourself. Especially when I finally decided to move in with you.”

  Positive he’d heard wrong it took him a second to fully grasp what
she’d said. Pulling off the road, he threw on the four ways after dropping it into park. “You’re serious?” he asked turning to face her.

  “I was planning to wait to tell you until we were opening gifts, but realized you needed to have something happier to think about. You know, rather than continuing to contemplate why you let that asshole live.”

  Cupping her face, Jakob kissed her. He was beyond words. “You’re sure?”

  “You keep asking questions like that. Makes me wonder if you’re ready for me to move in with you or not.”

  “I am,” he assured her. Another kiss and then he hugged her tight. “Best Christmas gift ever.”

  He could feel her laughing. “You haven’t even seen what I bought you.”

  “Nothing could top this.”

  “We should get home before someone decides to pull over and check on us. In this weather I wouldn’t be surprised if a passerby hadn’t already thought to call emergency services.”

  Since she had a valid point, he let her go, and then got them moving again. He needed to get her home, naked, and all sweaty. Pronto.

  Epilogue

  Waking early on Christmas morning, Holland let out a gasp at the sensations Jakob was evoking sliding his cock deep into her body. She was slick with need which meant the clever wolf had been awake long enough to make her ready. All without waking her up. Gold star for him.

  “Good morning to you.” A low moan followed when he cupped her mound, and used his clever fingers to tease her clit. Wrapping a hand around his wrist to ensure he didn’t move that hand, she reached over her head to grasp his neck with her free one.

  “Getting better by the minute. Merry Christmas, Holland.” His lips skimmed lightly over her neck to her ear. A nip from his teeth to her earlobe had her jolting, and nearly coming right then and there.

  Tricky male knew all her hot buttons already. She would have replied to him but she no longer appeared able to speak. Her brain was close to shorting out from a pinch to her clit. Digging her nails into his nape, she held on for the slow ride he was taking her on.