by M. L. Briers
“Meh.”
“And cake,” Doug said and watched as her interest was immediately piqued. “Lots of cake — chocolate…”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Natalie said starting off after Saffy.
The witch hesitated in her stride the instant that Saffy started to sing, deck the halls, at the top of her lungs, but the thought of chocolate cake spurred her on.
Natalie groaned at the song of choice and Saffy’s voice, and the alpha groaned from behind her.
~
~
~
“Witches!” Rex turned up his nose at the strangers that the alpha had brought with him.
“Oh trust me, it gets worse,” Doug grumbled in his misery.
“I can’t see how — unless one of them is your…”
“Don’t say it.” The alpha dropped his head forward on his neck and gave a slow shake.
“Oh boy!” Rex lifted his hand and ran it through his mop of unruly hair. He took in a long breath and puffed out his cheeks.
“Just don’t sniff,” the alpha warned him.
“I’m not that stupid…” He bit off his words at the sound of the alpha’s low, deep growl. “Not that you’re stupid…” He tried to backpedal, grimaced, and left it there.
“I know what I did.” The alpha nodded, looking morose.
“How could you sniff?” Rex asked in disbelief.
“I lost my head. Anger got the better of me…” The alpha grumbled.
“But…” Rex offered him a look of pure disbelief. “You sniffed!”
“I know — I know.”
“And they’re witches,” Rex offered back as he screwed up his face trying to understand how it could have happened, and to the alpha of all people.
“Don’t you think I know that? If anyone knows that — I know that!” Doug growled, berating himself more than the beta had.
“A ma…”
“Don’t say it,” the alpha implored him.
“And a witch one,” Rex grimaced once more at the thought of it. Then with a slow shake of his head, he turned and walked away.
“A witch for a mate!” Tom, the eldest of the pack elders, leaned in and whispered over the alpha shoulder.
Doug groaned and allowed his eyelids to close for a long moment. He was torn between ripping the elders head from his neck and presenting it back to his lifeless corpse – and walking outside to the nearest bank of snow and face planting it.
“This should prove interesting,” Tom added like it was a bat to beat over the alpha’s head.
CHAPTER SEVEN
~
“One of us doesn’t need to be here, and the other one is chum,” Natalie whispered to her friend as they stood close by the front door of the cabin, ready to make their escape.
“Chum?” Saffy looked confused.
“You know, dog food…”
“Dog food!” Saffy shot back with a wide-eyed look of surprise.
“Mincemeat.”
“Will you stop?” Saffy scowled.
She eyed the open plan living room with its vaulted ceiling, cross beams, and open fireplace. It felt quite homely — and that was worrying, because it wasn’t home and she didn’t think she’d want it to be, not unless the pack moved away.
Her heart did race a little at the sight of the large, fine Christmas tree stood against the far corner of the room in all of its grandeur. The lights twinkled, the tinsel glittered, and the mixed baubles drew her in.
The pack certainly knew how to do Christmas.
“I hate to say this because it sounds a little mercenary,” Natalie whispered.
“Tell me when that’s ever stopped you before,” Saffy shot back and Natalie frowned.
“Fine, then I don’t hate to say it – I hope it’s you,” Natalie saw the surprise on her friend’s face and grimaced. Now she felt guilty.
“Gee, thanks,” Saffy’s tone dripped with acidity.
“Let me tell you why ” Natalie reasoned. Then she expanded her hands and motioned toward the Christmas tree. “You’ll fit right in.”
“Would you stop with your hatred of Christmas?” Saffy rolled her eyes.
“I can’t. It’s woven in my DNA,” Natalie shrugged.
“Don’t you think you have more to worry about right now?” Saffy lifted her hand and motioned towards the alpha.
Both witches stared long and hard at him. The man was pulling on a pair of faded jeans — they both tipped their heads to the side and watched as if spellbound as he covered up his lower body.
“He’s not entirely without…” Natalie started and stopped.
“Without what?” Saffy frowned.
“Without — his — charms?” Natalie frowned as well.
“You so like the alpha!” Saffy announced, and she was sure that she heard Natalie’s neck snap as she spun her head and glared at her friend.
“I so bloody well do not!” Natalie hissed out.
“You like the alpha — you like the alpha,” Saffy’s singsong tone annoyed Natalie even more.
“Have you been on the stupid juice again?” Natalie hissed in a whisper as she nudged her friend in the ribs, and caused her to catch a breath. At least the singing had ended.
“Play nice,” Saffy hissed.
“Then stop being juvenile,” Natalie berated her.
“I think you doth protest too much,” Saffy hissed back.
“I think you’ve overdosed on Christmas,” Natalie grumbled back.
At the sight and sound of the witches bickering, Tom offered the alpha a taunting chuckle. Doug groaned inwardly — he wasn’t going to give the elder the satisfaction of making his feelings public.
“Yes, very, very interesting,” the elder chuckled.
~
~
~
Doug stood in front of the open fireplace. His arm rested against the ledge above.
He was thinking, caught deep in thought and staring into the dancing flames when the front door opened, and the sound of thumping boots against the outside doormat woke him up to the fact that his pack had started to arrive for the festivities.
He groaned inwardly once more. The witches might have retreated to his bedroom, but it was only a matter of time before he would have to introduce them to his pack as a whole.
The elder had found amusement in his predicament. Rex had reacted with disbelief. The handful of females that were in the kitchen preparing a pack feast had been giving him funny looks and chattering amongst themselves as they offered him a wide berth, going in and out of the main room placing platters of food on the tables.
All that was about to change. His whole pack was about to gather for the Christmas Eve feast — and he still didn’t know which witch was his mate.
That atrocity was going to end. He was going to stalk up to that bedroom and make the witch, Natalie, remove her spell from him.
“That smells good!” Jonathan announced as he slammed the door behind him and started to shuck off his jacket.
“Don’t…!” The alpha exclaimed.
Jonathan froze in place, one arm in and one arm out of his jacket, and he slowly turned his head on his neck and narrowed his eyes on the alpha. The beta looked as if someone had just cracked his head with a baseball bat.
Dazed and confused, Jonathan didn’t move a muscle. Doug didn’t move a muscle either as he stared back at the man.
“What’s — that — smell?” Jonathan was hesitant to sniff the air once more.
“Smell?” Doug swallowed hard.
“Kind of like…” Jonathan could quite find the words to describe it.
“Like a bad smell?” The alpha’s heart raced as he urged him on.
“No — nope,” Jonathan screwed up his face and tried to place the smell. He gave a gentle sniff.
“Don’t…” The alpha grimaced.
“That’s…” Jonathan twisted his head on his neck, raised his chin in the air, and gave a few small sniffs.
“That’s
not a good idea,” the alpha chuckled in disbelief.
“Looks like you’re warning came too late,” Tom chuckled from his fireside seat.
“Meaning?” Jonathan turned his attention towards the elder, his eyes narrowed, and his head twisted on his neck again.
“Oh!” Tom offered the man a beaming grin. “Trust me; you’ll figure it out.”
“Oh no!” The alpha grumbled.
“It’s like…” Jonathan took a deeper sniff of the air. His eyes widened — his beast rose up within him — and he gave a long, hard, deep growl. “Witches!” His eyes snapped back to the elder. Then they flicked to the alpha.
“It certainly is,” Doug said as he grimaced once more.
“But it’s like…” Jonathan couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Mine…
The beta snapped his head back on his neck and gave a fast shake of his head in disbelief.
“Take your time,” Tom chuckled.
“I — just…” Jonathan struggled with the next word.
Then he raised his hand, and he held a finger out like he was testing which direction the wind was coming from, for one moment he didn’t look as if he knew what to do next. He looked more constipated than sure of himself.
He gave a loud grunt before pulling open the front door, shoving his head outside, and taking a really big whiff of the freezing cold air.
The beta snatched his head back in, tossed the door closed, and took another deep sniff. Then he groaned like a man in pain.
“We’ve got all night,” Tom chuckled. He was enjoying himself.
Two witches. Two shifters. The poop was surely about to hit the fan, and the elder had a front row seat.
“Who the hell brought witches here?” The beta would kill him with his own two hands.
CHAPTER EIGHT
~
“That would be…” Doug started, but the elder cut him off.
“The alpha.” Tom chuckled again.
“Why?” Jonathan almost begged. His hands were outstretched in front of him, and he looked like a man in pain.
“It’s a long…” The alpha started again.
“His!” Tom’s chuckling was really annoying the alpha now.
“Yours?” Jonathan’s head twisted to the side like he couldn’t quite believe what he’d heard.
The alpha rolled his eyes to the ceiling as he pushed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. He shoulders came up so high they almost met his ears. He muttered something before grumbling a growl.
“I’m sorry?” Jonathan craned his head forward on his neck, and his eyebrows shot up towards his hairline.
“Don’t worry — only one,” Tom grinned. “The other one is all yours.”
“Mine?” Jonathan said, and his beast roared within him. He bit down on a curse and then groaned as he realized his mistake.
“Oh, you said it now — there’s no taking it back. Your beast won’t allow it,” Tom chuckled.
“I know you’re an elder,” the alpha turned towards the man. “I’m respectful of that fact. But if you don’t shut up, so help me, I will kill you.” He growled.
“Well,” Tom eyed him for a long moment. “If that’s how you feel about it.”
“I do!”
“Tough!” Tom scowled back at the man. “I’ve lived a long life. I’ve seen many things. I have experiences to share. And I’m damned well going to enjoy you trying to woo your mate — even if it is the last thing I do.”
“Then could you do it without the narrative?” The alpha growled back.
“Probably not. Because, and I think we both know this to be true, you two are in for the ride of your life.” Tom warned him.
“You see — that’s not helpful,” Jonathan bit out with a small shake of his head.
“I’m not here to be helpful. I’m here to be cranky — cantankerous — a pain in the ass…”
“Check. Check. Check. Well, you’ve got those three things down to an art form,” the alpha grumbled back.
“Well good. With age comes wisdom — and hemorrhoids — so maybe you could use some that wisdom right about now.” Tom huffed.
“Go ahead,” the alpha tossed a hand up in his direction.
“They are witches – protect your balls are all costs!” He nodded to back up his words.
“You couldn’t have told me that an hour ago?” The alpha growled.
The elder’s wide beaming grin was enough to slap the alpha upside his head. He grumbled a growl. He’d shared too much.
“She got you good — right?” Tom chuckled.
“Real good.” The alpha growled.
“Which witch was it?” Tom asked.
“That’s it!” The alpha snapped his fingers as he remembered what he’d been about to do. “You,” he pointed to the beta. “Come with me.” He demanded, but Jonathan didn’t move.
“Umm,” the beta hesitated in place.
“Are you deaf?” Doug demanded as he turned toward the man and looked him up and down.
“I do have a rushing in my ears — but I think that’s more to do with the fact that — witches — the M word,” Jonathan offered back looking decidedly nervous.
“I need you,” Doug growled.
“Far be it from me to question the alpha — but why?”
“You’re going to sniff the witches,” Doug shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah, that’s not really working for me right now…”
“Well, suck it up,” Doug growled back as he turned towards the stairs once more and noted that the beta was still standing by the front door.
Doug got to the first step and stopped. He took a deep breath in and sighed it back out. His eyes went to the ceiling, and he groaned inwardly.
“Why do I need to sniff the witches?” Jonathan asked.
Doug grimaced. He knew that question was coming, and he really wanted to duck it.
“That’s an interesting question,” Tom offered.
“Whatever happened to pledging your loyalty to me? Following my orders without question?” Doug growled.
“They’re witches,” Jonathan grimaced at the thought.
“Exactly,” The alpha tossed back as he turned to look over his shoulder at his brother.
“I’m not following,” Jonathan shrugged his broad shoulders again.
“You don’t have to follow…”
“Good. I’ll stay right here then.”
“Okay,” the alpha sighed again. “I have a problem.”
“Me too. Witches,” Jonathan expanded his hands and shrugged once more.
“Mine is bigger,” the alpha admitted.
“You mean — like chubby?” Jonathan grinned. “Because chubby isn’t a bad thing.”
“I don’t think you’re allowed to call a women chubby anymore,” Tom shrugged.
“Not chubby…” Doug started.
“Well, if you call them fat they slap you,” Jonathan said.
Doug grumbled another growl. There were times when he really wanted to kill his brother — this was one of those times.
“I’d slap you too if you called me fat,” Tom grumbled.
“Nobody is fat!” The alpha growled and tossed up his hands in the air with frustration. “They have curves.”
“There’s nothing wrong with curves,” Jonathan said.
“Nothing indeed,” Tom agreed.
“I never said there…” The alpha stopped in mid-sentence and growled like he’d just spotted a vampire on his land. “I need your help. I don’t know which witch is my mate.”
The room was totally silent. The beta looked at the elder, and Tom shrugged his shoulders.
“How is that even possible?” Jonathan asked.
“What do you mean; you don’t know which witch is yours?” Tom demanded at the same time.
“She put a spell on me…”
“And you let her?” Tom demanded. “Isn’t that a song?”
“Careless,” Jonathan gave a slow shake of his h
ead in disbelief.
“Whisper!” Tom announced. “That’s a song!”
“Was this before, after, or during the time she kicked you in the balls?” Jonathon asked as he shot the elder a frown before turning his attention back to his brother.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Doug growled.
“Hey, you brought it up,” Jonathan shrugged his shoulders.
“Only because I need your help,” Doug growled.
“To sniff the witches?”
“Yes.”
“Because…?” Jonathan left the question hanging in the air. Doug rolled his eyes to the ceiling once more and grumbled a curse.
“I can’t smell anything!” The alpha rushed the words out because they were so pathetic.
An alpha without a damn nose – whatever next?
Maybe he should just bury his head in shame.
CHAPTER NINE
~
“You…” Tom considered that for a long moment. “When you say anything?”
“Bacon fat!” Doug grumbled and then growled out a long series of dark words.
“Bacon…” Jonathan slapped his hand over his mouth and laughed against his palm.
“Oh, trust me,” the alpha said. “You’ll be laughing on the other side of your face when you meet them.”
“They’re just peachy,” Tom chuckled.
“Peachy?” Jonathan asked, amusement still lit up his eyes.
“Real sweethearts,” Doug said. His eyes were just as full of amusement as his brothers at the thought of the man sharing his misery.
“Why do I find that hard to believe?” Jonathan grumbled, all the humor had died within him.
“Suck it up, boy,” Tom growled. “Don’t you want to meet your forever mate?”
“I…” He rolled his eyes to the ceiling once more.
“Come on!” Doug growled.
“I’m thinking,” Jonathan growled.
“What’s there to think about?” Doug demanded.
“Oh, you know. Death — rogue — death — rogue…”
“You’ll wish you were dead,” Tom chuckled.
