by Terry Spear
“Yeah, Dad.”
“Did you do it?”
Holly chuckled. “Yes, we’re mated wolves.”
Her mother sighed with relief. “We began to worry he would be afraid he’d age more quickly than you and would want to find a cure first.”
“No. It gives us all the more reason to find a cure as soon as we can, but we weren’t letting anything stop us.”
“Okay, good. We have a question for you, but we want you to be perfectly honest with us.”
“I always am.”
“Right, but this time, you might worry about hurting our feelings,” her mom said.
Holly wondered what was wrong now.
“Aidan secretly called us and asked if we’d like to join you all at the chalet for Christmas, because we’re a close-knit family and family should be together at Christmastime.”
Holly quickly brushed away the tears filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. She couldn’t believe Aidan had offered. She adored her wolf. “That would be so wonderful. He must have cleared it with his brother and his mate.”
“Are you sure? We thought you might want to get away from us for once in your life during Christmas.”
“I can’t think of anything nicer than you being there. I was already missing you. We’ll have a lovely time.”
“Okay, then should we keep it a secret from Aidan? And pretend it’s a big surprise for you?” her mother asked.
“I would never be able to pull it off. Thanks so much for asking though. We’ll have lots of fun. And Marianne and Greg can help babysit Toby. I hear he can be a handful.”
“Okay, we’ll let Rafe know we’re all coming. And you can tell Aidan. He’s a real keeper, honey,” her mom said.
“He is. I couldn’t be happier.” She heard people entering the lodge. “Oh, sounds like they’re starting to set up for the party. I’m going to see if I can help.” And give Aidan a big hug and kiss for being such a wonderful mate.
“Okay, have fun. Then you’re going to do what?”
“Return to the clinic in the morning. Hopefully to see patients. In any event, I’ll pack up my house and put it up for sale. Though because Rafe is into real estate, I’m hoping he can handle it.”
“He said he would. And our place too, and the business.”
“Okay, good. When are you returning home?”
“Soon. The cars and presents won’t get here until tomorrow, and we’ve given Rafe everything he needed to put our house on the market, but Rafe said he’d have us flown out there with bodyguards accompanying us.”
“Okay, good. Talk later.”
“Have a good time. We’re glad you and Aidan mated, and we’re here!”
“It’s the best thing for all of us. Oh, hey, before I let you go, I meant to ask you: Do you know what happened to the three wolf packs that attacked ours?”
“I don’t think any of those wolves survived. Ask Nick. He’d know for sure.”
“Thanks, Mom. I will.” Well, that settled that. If Nick confirmed the wolves all died, she and Aidan wouldn’t have any other wolf packs to check out that they knew of.
They ended the call, and Holly headed for the bedroom door. As she left the room, she saw Aidan helping to pull covers off platters of food. Ted and Mike were busy making hot spiced wine for everyone. She still couldn’t believe Aidan had been so considerate as to ask her family to join them for Christmas. There were really no words for how she felt about him and his generosity.
She headed straight for him, tears in her eyes and a big smile on her face. He looked quizzically at her and crossed the floor to join her. She swore everyone stopped what they were doing to see what was going to happen next. Newly mated wolves and children were prized by everyone in a pack.
She reached Aidan and pulled him into her arms, kissing him long and deep without any reservation. “Have I told you how much I love you?” she said to him.
He was smiling down at her, holding her tightly. “You have, but I suspect this is for something new.”
“Thank you for inviting my family for Christmas.”
“It was supposed to be a surprise,” he said, but he was smiling.
“They wanted to make sure we weren’t doing anything wildly exciting.”
“Oh, we’ll have our wildly exciting moments, even when they’re there.”
She smiled. “Good. My expectations are sky-high.”
Chapter 25
It wasn’t long before people from the pack began arriving and setting up food and drinks at long tables for the welcoming party at the lodge, though Holly kept worrying about tomorrow and facing Ronald. Aidan was helping to set out the food, but when he caught her eye, he came over and pulled her gently into his arms and kissed her. “Don’t worry about tomorrow. We’ll deal with whatever we have to. Tonight, just enjoy the celebration. This is so good for Nick. Tomorrow will be another day.”
She smiled up at Aidan and hugged him. “How did you know I was worried about it?”
“You were wearing a worried frown as big as the crevasse we fell into. Seriously, we’ll get through this one way or another tomorrow.”
“You haven’t called your brother for tactical support, have you?” She could see what a disaster that could be.
“No, but he knows that’s where we’re headed. Don’t be surprised if he sends some guys in rescue mode and they’re a stone’s throw from where we’ll be.”
She smiled and kissed Aidan. “I can’t promise I won’t worry, but I’ll try.”
“Okay, good show. I want you to have fun tonight. You deserve it as much as Nick does.”
“It’s beautiful, don’t you think? I think Nick will be so honored.”
“He will be. I don’t think we could have picked a better pack for him to belong to, though I kept wondering about him with one of the Highland packs and them convincing him to wear a kilt.”
She chuckled.
The pack had decorated even more than before with welcome signs and balloons. Lights sparkled off the roof of the clubhouse, all over the deck, and inside, where the food sat on the tables dressed in red tablecloths. The pack Christmas tree, stretching ten feet high to the cathedral ceilings, was lit, and everything looked so festive. Holly knew Nick would be so happy to be with this pack during the holidays and beyond.
The guests dressed in everything from Christmas sweaters and more casual apparel to cocktail dresses and suits and ties. Former Seattle pack members Everett and his sister, Tara, and their mother visited with Nick and Holly while Aidan slipped away to grab drinks for everyone. She was as glad to see Everett and his family as they were to see her.
“So, how’s our old pack leader? A pain in the butt as usual?” Everett asked.
“Yes, Ronald’s just as much of a jerk as always,” Holly said. “I’m returning to get the blood samples from the pack, and then Aidan and I are leaving for his place to work on the cure.”
“Permanently?” Nick asked, a small smile curving his lips.
“Yes,” Aidan said, returning with a tray of drinks. “If she hasn’t told you, we’re old mated wolves now.”
“Speak for yourself.” Holly kissed his cheek.
“We didn’t want to mention it when this party is for you, but I’m sure the word will get out anyway,” Aidan said.
“Nonsense. There’s nothing more important than matings and babies,” Nick said.
“Congratulations,” Everett and his family said, raising their glasses in salute.
Without further ado, Nick gave his best ho-ho-ho to get everyone’s attention, and that sure did it. Everyone smiled at him. He didn’t need to wear a Santa suit to sound and look like the real deal. With everyone listening, he announced Holly and Aidan’s mating. “There’s nothing more magical at any time of year than when a couple declares their love for each other. They have
a special place in my heart because they brought me here to be with you at the most joyous time of year. I give you Drs. Holly Gray and Aidan Denali.”
Everyone cheered them.
Holly smiled at everyone, thanking them and Nick. She couldn’t believe he’d silenced the partygoers to celebrate her and Aidan’s union. Then again, she could. She was so hopeful he’d be happy with the pack, and from all appearances, he was thrilled. It might not be long-term, but at least for now, he was really having fun. He needed to be with a pack.
“Nick, I need to ask you before I forget and you leave tonight… Did any of the wolf packs who fought ours have any survivors?” Holly asked.
“Not a one. They were all male, all wanting to take over, no matter who they hurt. Ending their miserable lives was the only way to handle such deceit.”
“Okay, so no one else is left who could have their blood tested,” Aidan said.
“Afraid not. We couldn’t have them return to retaliate.”
“I understand completely,” Aidan said.
A few minutes after Nick announced Holly and Aidan’s mating, several of Lori and Paul’s pack members came over to congratulate them personally and offer sage words of advice.
Six widowed ladies began catering to Nick, and he looked like he was having the time of his life. Holly was so happy for him. And for herself and Aidan. She noticed Victoria, the woman he was staying with, busy talking to others, as if she wasn’t laying claim to Nick. Maybe Victoria and Nick had decided it was best if he got to know as many single women as he could and not just set his sights on the first woman he was staying with. Or maybe he really didn’t like her pink-and-white house.
Holly didn’t think he was that shallow though. Then she noticed he kept glancing around the room when other women were talking to him, and every time, his gaze settled on Victoria. He seemed satisfied to see where she was and resumed listening to the other women. Holly smiled. Looked like Santa might have found Mrs. Claus after all, but he was playing it low-key for now.
Aidan filled a plate with goodies for Holly while she was talking to Lori: spicy meatballs, chicken wings, cheese squares, bacon-and-cream-stuffed mushrooms, and asparagus wrapped in phyllo dough.
“What would you like, Lori?”
Lori eyed Holly’s plate. “Same as Holly’s having. Thanks, Aidan.”
“Be right back.” Aidan returned to the kitchen.
“He’s a dream. From the first time we met him, we fell in love with him,” Lori said.
“Aidan rescued one of our pack members’ little boys at the mall from an attempted kidnapper. That’s how I met him. That was only the beginning.”
Aidan returned with two plates, one for Lori and one for himself. “What did I miss?”
“Holly was telling us you rescued one of her pack members from a would-be kidnapper,” Lori said, lifting a meatball off her plate.
Aidan leaned down and kissed Holly’s cheek. “She probably didn’t get to the part about how she saved my life when I was bleeding all over the place.”
Holly chuckled. “He’d suffered a head wound. The woman clobbered him with her purse, which contained a gun. She was in big trouble. Aidan would have lived without my help.”
“That was just the start though,” Aidan said.
“I’m glad the two of you didn’t wait. Paul took forever to realize his place was with me and leading the pack. It was always meant to be. It just took him a long, long time to get with the program.”
Paul smiled at her and winked. Holly suspected he’d overheard Lori, and she’d said it just loud enough for him to hear. She smiled back at him.
Holly could tell they were still fairly newly mated wolves.
Paul joined them with a plate of food piled high.
Lori frowned at him. “Did you leave anything for anyone else?”
Paul laughed. “You know how the ladies are. They said I needed all that extra energy for helping you lead the pack. If anyone wants some of the extras off my plate, you’re welcome to them, or else I’ll have to run ten miles tonight to work all this off.”
Holly took some of his asparagus, Aidan grabbed a couple of meatballs, and Lori took all of his chicken wings. She smiled at him. “Thanks, honey.”
Smiling, he just shook his head. “I may have to get a refill on the chicken wings.”
“Dessert, anyone?” Aidan took orders and headed into the kitchen to get plates filled with sweet treats.
Lori eyed Paul as if to say he should be doing that for her. “Hey, if I wasn’t still eating all this food, I would have gotten the desserts.”
Holly laughed. What a difference they were from Ronald and his brother. Nick would fit in perfectly.
* * *
After the festivities ended, everyone went home for the night, except for Victoria, who was trying to help Ted and Mike clean up the kitchen, and Nick, since he’d ridden over with her. Victoria had already motioned for Nick to leave the kitchen when he’d tried to help her, saying, “You’re the guest of honor. We’ll clean up here.”
He joined Holly and Aidan in the living area, and Holly privately asked Nick, “What do you think? Do you think you might want to stay with the pack for good?”
“Are you kidding?” Nick glanced at the kitchen where Victoria was playfully arguing with Ted about helping with the dishes and he was playfully keeping her from them. “Yeah. If the way I’ve been treated so far is any indication, I think this is just where I belong.”
“You let us know if you want to check out any other packs,” Aidan said. “Truthfully, I think you’d have a hard time leaving.” He pointedly looked at Victoria, laughing at something Mike said.
“You planned it like this, didn’t you?” Nick said.
“I did know about all the widowed women in the pack. But Everett and his family were also part of the Seattle pack, they knew you, and they wanted to see you again,” Aidan said.
Nick smiled at Victoria.
“A possibility?” Holly asked.
He just chuckled. “Lots of kids in the pack. If I find the right woman for me, she’ll have to be a good Mrs. Claus. And one who could put up with all my failings.”
“I’d bet there’d be one or more willing to take on the job. We want to wish you the best of luck,” Holly said. “You deserve it.”
“Well, if you won’t let me help, I guess I’ll say good night and take Nick home with me,” Victoria said to Ted and Mike.
“Night,” Nick said. “I’ll visit you one of these days to see how you are getting along. Get a little swimming in that pool.”
“Sounds like a good deal,” Aidan said, shaking his hand.
Nick gave Holly a hug, and then he and Victoria left the lodge.
“Thanks for telling me to take my mind off the issue of tomorrow. I didn’t give it any thought,” Holly told Aidan.
He was glad for it. “I’ll keep your mind off it for the rest of the night.”
She chuckled, then took hold of his hand and pulled him toward the bedroom. “You can start right now. Night, guys.”
“Night, Doc. Doc. See you in the morning,” Ted said.
“Paul and Lori are taking us to the airport first thing,” Mike said. “Night.”
“Thanks, Ted, Mike. You’re always a great help.” Aidan ushered Holly back to the bedroom because he meant what he’d promised. He wasn’t going to let Holly think of anything but how much pleasure he could give her.
Tomorrow would be another story.
Chapter 26
Early the next morning, Aidan told Ted and Mike the plan. “We’ll return to Seattle, and you can stay at Eddie and Margaret’s home while Holly and I go to the clinic. Eddie and Margaret have decided to return home to pack up their personal belongings and ready their home to show.”
“Afterward, you’ll be staying at Holly’s home
,” Mike said, a brow raised.
“Her house is only half a mile from her parents’. If we have trouble, you’ll be over in a flash. We’ll call in and let you know how it’s going until then.”
Ted shook his head. “Guarding a body means being closer to the body than that.”
“Ronald didn’t even agree to Aidan being in the area. He wasn’t going to decide that when Aidan is my mate. So you aren’t supposed to be there either,” Holly said.
“All right, but we’ll have to tell Rafe,” Mike said.
“You see what I have to put up with?” Aidan asked as they boarded the plane, leaving in plenty of time to be in Seattle for Holly’s first scheduled appointments.
She chuckled. “Yeah, they want to keep you safe.”
“Or Rafe will fire us,” Ted reminded them.
When they arrived at the private airport near Holly’s home, her father met them with his car, but he wasn’t alone. By the time they’d flown to the airport, Rafe had sent five hulking men to Eddie’s house, and they’d driven in two more cars to the airport.
“Here’s the plan,” Aidan told them. “You’ll stay with Eddie while Holly and I go to the clinic and take the blood samples.”
“Boss said we’re to be with you at all times,” Chet said.
“Rafe is my new brother-in-law, so I’m all for keeping peace in the family. You can come with us to the clinic. Ronald will possibly have a conniption, but he’ll see it for what it is. You’re there doing your job protecting Aidan,” Holly said.
“And you,” Aidan said.
“I need to return to the house. We’re still getting it ready to show to prospective buyers. Whoever wants to stay with us can,” Eddie said.
“We’ll call when we’re on our way over there, and we’ll help you do whatever you need in getting it ready to sell,” Ted said.
Eddie’s grin couldn’t have stretched any further. “Now that’s what I like to hear!”
Then they piled into the two cars while Eddie drove home.
“I was going to say the guys could wait in the doctor’s lounge. That might be a tight squeeze,” Holly said.