"Scott, your alpha demands that you shift back." He focused and found the connection to the pup he had as alpha. He started to pull on the energy he knew belonged to the human part of Scott and tried to draw it out.
The wolf in front of him started to whimper. Tristan hated doing it this way, but he couldn't risk an out of control pup running into the storm and not returning, or worse, ending up in the city and scaring the locals. There were already enough stories of rampaging monsters. They didn't need to add to it. He took a deep breath and pulled on that energy. In a wet snap and a cry, the curled-up body of a human replaced the werewolf. Scott's brown hair stuck up, and his body shivered. Mark came running with a blanket, and Tristan went to Scott, draping it around his shoulders.
"I've got you, lad. Let's get you inside and rested. Then we can talk about what happened."
There was a bob of the head, and Scott slowly started to stand with Tristan's help. "I've got you," he whispered as he headed toward the back door. He glanced up to see Erin standing at the edge of the house watching him.
Her arms were crossed, and her brow creased, giving him no clue as to what she was thinking about the situation. He turned his attention back to Scott and focused on getting him into the house.
Erin watched as Tristan slowly helped the other werewolf to the house. She hadn't seen an alpha be so commanding and yet so comforting when he needed to be. Her father would have left the wolf on his own. Not walked him to the house with a blanket. The pup would have been lucky not to freeze to death. As a teen, she'd come into her abilities, and it was much more of a trial by fire than a comforting guide.
She turned to go back inside, giving one more look over her shoulder as Tristan got the pup into the back door. Maybe there was more to him than just being a hard ass alpha. She couldn't imagine him wanting to go to war, but he made it clear that he'd make sure to defend his territory. She walked back inside and kicked her shoes off, put her jacket up, and shook the fallen snow out of her hair.
Molly was in the living room with a ladle in one hand and her other hand on her hip. "Everything okay outside?"
"Yeah, Tristan has it handled. Is there anything I can do to help with dinner?" She didn't want to sit around and make them think she expected them to serve her.
Molly smiled. "Sure, I've got Jared cutting up veggies. If you want, you can help him with that."
"That sounds great." She followed Molly into the kitchen and connected dining room. Jared stood at an island counter with a knife and a pile of various vegetables.
Molly directed her where to find another cutting board and knife, and Erin joined Jared at the island.
"So," Jared drawled out the word. "Do you get much snow in Ridge Pass?"
"Not like here." Erin laughed. "Most of the city would have been shut down by now. There's got to be like what? Three feet out there?"
"And there's a storm coming," Molly chimed in. "We'll likely be snowed in for Christmas. Running through the snow drifts will be fun. Not much hunting, but you know how it is."
There was no resisting the pull of the full moon. "Yeah. This will be my first time running without my pack."
"You'll have us." Jared gave her a gentle nudge. "And we'll make sure you don't get lost here."
Her father had gone on and on about how big the Monarch territory was. It was one of the prime reasons that he wanted the spot. She didn't doubt that she could get lost in these woods. "I appreciate that. It wouldn't do me any good to get lost and freeze to death."
She started to slice the carrots up, and as soon as she had a handful complete, Molly would come in and swoop them up, adding them to whatever she was cooking on the stove.
"Tonight, will be a great night to chill out by the fire." Molly stirred the pot. "Or maybe watch a movie."
"Why not a movie and a fire." Jared laughed. "You don't have to do just one. They're in the same room."
Molly snorted like the idea was absurd. "Because time in front of a fireplace is meant to be a social time. Not a stare at a screen time."
"Molly's a bit old-fashioned." Jared winked.
Erin laughed. "Old-fashioned isn't always bad, but she's right, fires are meant to bring people together."
"Oh look, someone who agrees with me." Molly turned around. "Fine, she and I will chat by the fire."
It beat having an awkward time with Tristan. "That sounds great."
Molly grabbed another handful of vegetables. "See, someone with some class. You guys just watch your war movies, and we'll enjoy ourselves."
"I don't think we'll be watching war movies if Scott got himself all worked up. Too close to the full." Jared sighed. "Poor pup."
Erin didn't say anything and focused on her task. She shouldn't be asking about the pack stuff, especially if she wasn't really part of it.
The kitchen fell silent as they worked until finally Molly let out a huge dramatic sigh. "Okay, so, you just need to like walk up and give Tristan a big ol' smooch."
Erin felt herself blush. "What on earth?"
"We all know why you're here. There's no point in beating around the bush," Jared said. "So go up, smooch him, and see what happens."
She looked down at what she was cutting up. "And what if no mark appears?"
"We all know exactly what happens. Tristan doesn't hide things from us."
That was good to know. "Then I guess I'll swallow my fear and just do it then."
"Now come on, you can't just touch his hand and not make a show of it." Jared twirled around. "You gotta give us something to cheer at if it happens."
"And if it doesn't? Are you all going to boo me out of the house and into the snow?"
"No." Molly took the rest of the vegetables. "We'll still cheer because you're flat out kissing the alpha."
"And you'll find that entertaining?" Erin snorted. "Do you guys get that bored up here?"
Molly messed with the stove for a moment before looking back. "Well, what do you guys do for entertainment?"
"There is no entertainment in my pack. Every time we get together, it's about hunting, running, war, or mating." She shook her head. "All my life I've studied war tactics and fighting. It's the best I could do as the alpha's daughter."
Jared shook his head. "How is a pack a family without entertainment and goofiness?"
"It's not." Erin went to the sink to wash off the cutting board and knife. This wasn't exactly what she wanted to discuss. "What do you do for Christmas here?"
"Well, this year it looks like we'll be snowed in. Normally we go into the city and have a big dinner with all the pack members. Then we all split off to our own families." Jared joined her for washing the cutting board.
Molly sighed. "Those of us who have blood family. Those of us who don't stay here with the pack, so we don't spend the holidays alone."
The comment about pack being family meant more now. The holidays were never a big deal in her pack. Those who celebrated were left to their own, and those who didn't, or didn't have family, were also left to do what they wanted. She and her dad spent it in awkward silence because neither of them liked to be in the same room together.
Molly stirred the pot. "Thanks for the help guys. Go relax while this finishes up."
Jared nodded, but Erin stayed behind, watching the other woman. "Do you like it here?"
Molly looked over her shoulder. "Honey, if you've seen half the shit I have, then you'd understand that the Monarch Pack is paradise compared to many packs out there."
"It seems too good to be true." Erin sighed. "Every pack and every alpha I've seen has been nothing but stone cold, violent, tense. To see you guys laughing and see Tristan so calm with the wolf outside. That's nothing I'm used to."
Molly turned and leaned on the island so that she met Erin's gaze. "You see, that's where you're mistaken. Tristan can be cold and ruthless when he needs to be. He will do anythin
g to protect this pack because it's his, and he has built it into exactly what he wanted and what we all needed. If it comes down to war, don't underestimate him."
Erin nodded. "The last thing I would do is underestimate him."
"Good, now go relax. Really, all that needs to happen is for the stew to boil for a bit."
Erin moved back toward to the living room but ran right smack into something in the doorway. She looked up and met Tristan's hazel gaze.
"Ah, excuse me, lass. I was just checking on dinner."
Erin went to step aside, but Molly started cackling. "Look up you two."
Both of their gazes went up to see the green leaves and red berries of mistletoe.
"Ah, lass, you know the rules." He gave her a devilish grin. "No more avoiding it now."
Her cheeks heated instantly. This wasn't how she imagined it happening.
Erin's eyes never left the mistletoe, but she didn't move either. This was the chance she had to kiss him and just get the touching over with. She put a hand on his strong chest, the sweater soft against her touch. Finally, she looked at Tristan. His grin melted her mind, and the tension eased out of her body. Just a quick peck of a kiss and they'd know if they were mates. The anticipation started to chase away the fear in her as she allowed her mind to wander off with thoughts of 'what ifs.'
Tristan put his hands on her hips and started to lean in. She had plenty of time to say stop or to step away, but she didn't. She leaned up on her tippy toes and pressed her lips to his. When she went to pull away, he put a hand on the back of her head, holding her there, deepening the kiss. His tongue traced the edge of her lips, and she parted them, welcoming the passion he wanted to share with her.
He moved his hands against her face, cradling her before pulling back.
Molly started whooping and hollering, and Erin could hear Jared yelling in the living room as well. Erin stepped back and tried to keep her blushing under control. "That was a hell of a kiss for a mistletoe."
"It was a well-placed mistletoe," he whispered, a faint red to his cheeks as well.
Erin waited for a moment. The way people talked about their marks showing up made it sound like fireworks, instantly all they wanted to do was jump their mate and forget everyone else. She looked up at Tristan who was looking at her like he could devour her. Other than the normal heat of passion one expected to experience when kissed by a hot Scotsman, nothing happened. There was no burn of a mark, no supernatural draw to him, even her wolf remained curled up.
She wanted to cry. It'd been a stupid mistake to try and get her hopes up. She looked down and stepped away from him.
"Lass?"
She shook her head and moved away from him to go back to her room. She needed to call her father and tell him that no mark had appeared, but she knew that meant war, and she knew that meant returning home, which wasn't something that she wanted to do.
"Erin," Tristan's voice came behind her, but she didn't stop in her steps, not until she got to the door. "What's wrong?"
She bit her lip and debated how she might be able to tell him. She could keep it simple, or she could explain it all, every emotion that was running through her right now. She turned around and met his gaze. "There's no mark."
He paused for a moment and put a hand on her cheek. "Don't let it ruin your holiday."
"Do you not remember the threat of war coming? The fact that I'm going to have to leave the day after Christmas because some stupid mark didn't appear, and it's condemned both our packs to be at war for God only knows how long?" She clenched her fists. "It's all so stupid."
He took her hand and slowly uncurled her fingers until she let them open. "Let's talk about this." He wrapped his fingers with hers and led her into the room and sat her on the bed. "Originally, the deal was, we see if there's a mark and regardless of if there was or wasn't you'd spend the week with us. You can choose to stay, regardless of your Father's wishes."
"Until he decides to attack you." She shook her head and pulled her hand away. She knew how her father worked, and it wasn't going to be as simple as telling him that she was staying.
Tristan chuckled.
"What's so funny?" She shook her head at the strange reaction. "You're on the cusp of war, and you're laughing."
Tristan took her hand and led her over to the huge window. "What do you see out there?"
She watched the fat snowflakes fall over the forest. The road was now completely covered, and there were no signs of fresh tire tracks from the pack coming back to the house. The darkening sky held a purple tint to it from the snow clouds gathering on top of one another.
"Snow."
"There's a storm coming. You can feel it in your bones if you pay attention. There's no way that he'd make it up the pass without risking a dangerous accident. And even if he did, he's not making it over that road." He kissed her cheek, and a thrill went through her down to her toes.
She watched the snow fall and knew he was right, but she wanted to stay forever. She didn't want to go back to the world of cold-hearted alphas and territory wars. She wanted to stay here in the mountains and hide from it all.
"Besides, I think that you at least deserve to enjoy the holiday since you were uprooted and sent here specifically to see if we were mated. Don't you?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I think that's the least that can happen." She forced a smile and heard Molly call from the kitchen that dinner was ready. She didn't want to face the pack that was here. There was no mark, and it would be obvious because she and Tristan weren't falling into each other's arms like mated pairs did.
He leaned in and tilted her head up to look at him. "I can sense the apprehension in you. No one is going to blame you for the mark not appearing."
"How easily you read my thoughts." She leaned up and pecked him on the lips really quick.
"It's my job as the alpha." He walked with her to the door. "Besides, judging by all the whooping Molly and Jared did, I'm assuming they just enjoyed the show." He winked, and she felt herself blush again.
She'd gotten it under control by the time they got down to the kitchen. Several others had joined Molly and Jared, and there were bowls of steaming stew sitting in front of everyone and two empty bowls for Erin and Tristan.
Tristan pulled the seat out for her and then sat at the head of the table, just to her right. He cleared his throat. "As you know, if there had been a mark that appeared, we would tell you, as of now there is no mark."
A look of disappointment and worry crossed the faces at the table. "But for now, Erin is still our guest, and I expect you to treat her as such. There will be no talk of war or negotiations until the holidays are over. I want everyone to enjoy them."
There were mutters around the table. Some of the pack shot gazes her way, and she wanted to duck and hide. Tristan put his hand on hers. "Relax," he whispered. "They'll pick up on the tension."
She tried to force herself to relax but couldn't. After a few minutes, she stood. "I'm going to go take Scott a bowl of soup."
She expected him to protest, but he simply sat back with a blank face. "If that's what you want."
"He shouldn't have to be alone for dinner time. I'm just overwhelmed and need to get out of the crowd for a few minutes."
Tristan nodded and motioned to a hallway. "Take the other hallway, and you'll find the stairs to the basement. Scott's down there. I'm not sure if he's awake. If he is, he might enjoy your company."
She went to the kitchen and fixed a bowl of stew before following Tristan's instructions to find Scott.
Tristan watched her as she left. He wanted to call her back and pull her to him. There was something about her, the way her body swayed when she walked, the worry that crossed her eyes when she was concerned for everyone else, except for her. There was something there about her pack and her past that she was hiding, and he didn't like. She feared her father
, that much was clear, but did it go beyond the fear that most wolves had for their alpha?
"Earth to Tristan." Molly's voice cut through his thoughts. "No mark, but you're watching her like you're about to go all protective on her."
He shook his head. "Not my place. I can offer her safety here, but it has to be her choice, and I have to be aware of what the consequences might be for our pack." He swirled his stew.
"Ah, but boss, that doesn't mean you can't have a bit of you know…" One of the males made a grotesque humping motion, and Tristan covered his eyes.
"Because a one-night stand with the daughter of a rival pack's alpha is always a great idea." Tristan shook his head. "No, but I told you, I don't want you guys to worry about this. There's nothing we can do while the storm moves in. Except to forget about it."
One of the other women nodded. "Yeah, forget about it and go try to woo her the good ol' fashion way."
"Who knows, maybe we'll get a Christmas miracle out of all of this." Jared winked. "Stranger things have happened."
That was the truth. After all, they were a table of misfit werewolves celebrating Christmas together.
"Go after her. You know that even if Scott is sleeping she's going to stay down there alone."
"I feel like she probably wanted some alone time." He sighed.
Molly snorted. "You men are all the same." There was some protest at the table over the statement. "She's just embarrassed because she was hoping that the mark would show up."
Acknowledging the truth of her words, he stood. "Okay. I'll go talk to her."
"Good boy." Molly mocked and winked at him as he walked by her.
What was he going to say? That he wished being wildly attracted to her was enough to make the mark appear? That it didn't matter that their failed mating meant that war was coming? He really didn't have a way of putting her mind at ease. And if there had been a mark, there was still no telling what the future would have brought.
A Werewolf Kind of Christmas Page 2