“Did you knock her up?” my brother asked. “I mean, no judgement if you did, I’m just wondering. Is that why you’re gettin’ married so soon? You just popped the question the other day and the wedding is already happening on the twenty-ninth of this month. That’s like what, an eight-day engagement?”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “No. I did not knock her up. We just don’t want to wait. What’s the point? She’s already my mate. We’re practically married anyway. We live together. I just wanted to take it one step further and finalize it in everyone’s eyes. I want everyone to know Mina is mine. Forever.”
“Damn, that’s sappy,” Tate said. “But I get it. I do. And I’m happy for you.”
He stepped to where I was and pulled me in for a hug.
“Okay, so divvying up the blessed willow ash in the third jar is out of the question. We’ll all just have to keep our eyes peeled, and hopefully these ghosts don’t gain any traction and become tangible at some point,” Dorian said, pushing the conversation forward. “Also, let’s hope this crap is taken care of before the twenty-ninth, because I know I speak for everyone when I say we all plan on partying hardcore to celebrate the alpha’s wedding.” He winked.
“Thanks.”
Tate motioned to the front door. “Okay, let’s get out there and do our best to act as though nothing’s going on so the rest of the pack doesn’t find out and panic. Piece of cake, right? We should all be pros at this by now.”
I squeezed his shoulder and shook my head as we filed out of my trailer. He was right, though. Putting on a brave face and pretending the world wasn’t going to shit around us had become the norm. I guess that was how it was in the supernatural world. For whatever reason, my dad came to mind. He was a hell of a lot stronger than I’d ever given him credit for.
12
Sylvie Hess had been in charge of organizing the Christmas party. Gran had been in charge of making the wreaths. Violet and some others, including Gracie, had helped decorate. But the party itself was paid for by donations from everyone in the pack.
I glanced around at everyone’s money well spent. The place looked great. Green and red garland hung from the ceilings with colorful Christmas lights woven within. Silver snowflakes dangled sporadically throughout the room, and everywhere I looked I could see Santa Claus’s face. Not an inch of the room was untouched with Christmas decor.
“Hey, there you are,” Mina said as I entered the tiny building. “I was getting ready to send you a text.”
“Wanna go for a walk?” I nodded toward the door.
She stood and started to me. “Sure.”
When we were outside, I reached for her hand and laced our fingers together.
“So, how did the talk with Glenn go? Is he okay?” she whispered.
“It went as well as it could. Glenn was upset. He was scared too, I could tell, but after I gave him a jar of the ash and explained how to use it, he seemed better. Actually, I had a spur-of-the-moment meeting with some of the guys to fill them in on what’s going on.”
“Oh. Okay. How did that go?”
A hint of irritation was embedded in her tone. I figured it was because she enjoyed being informed, and I’d left her out of this meeting.
“Better than I expected. Everyone is concerned, but they understand to keep it on the down low.” I ran my free hand through my hair. “How did it go with Gran? Were you able to fill her in on everything?”
“Yeah. All the wreaths are almost finished. Gran plans to sprinkle the ash on each and then Gracie, Callie, Cooper, and Violet volunteered to hang them on everyone’s door right after. I think the Hess twins might help too so it should get done fast.”
“Good. The sooner we get them up, the safer everyone will be.”
Mina nodded. “We made two extra to hang on the party building too.”
“That’s a good idea.” I released a puff of air. “I hope things work out soon. This sucks.”
“I know. Me too.” Mina lifted to the tips of her toes and kissed me. “Because I want to marry you without having to worry about ghosts crashing our party.”
“I feel the same.”
Mina fisted the front of my shirt and kept her eyes glued to mine. Her eyes looked bright and beautiful against the gray skies above. A gust of wind slipped over us, and in it, I swore I could smell snow. We were due for another storm soon, but I didn’t think it was supposed to hit until tomorrow. From the chill in the air, my wolf and I were thinking we might get a white Christmas after all.
“I love you,” she whispered.
I dipped my head and captured her mouth with mine. My hands came up to cup the sides of her face as my kiss intensified, and I skimmed my tongue across her bottom lip, begging for entrance into her sweet-tasting mouth.
“Hey, you two,” Sylvie yelled behind us. I pulled away from Mina, ending our kiss, to see what she wanted. She’d wrapped her arms around herself and was speed walking toward us. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted to play Christmas bingo with the rest of us. I’m getting ready to start the game now,” she said. Her gaze drifted past us to focus on something over my shoulder. “Oh look! It’s snowing! I was hoping the weatherman was wrong. I sure do love a white Christmas.”
I glanced up to see delicate flakes falling from the sky. It only took me a second to realize there was a little sleet mixed in. I could feel the tiny ice fragments pelting against my skin.
“It’s pretty,” Mina muttered.
“It is,” Sylvie said. “It looks like we’re stuck inside a snow globe, doesn’t it? I better go tell the kids. They’ve been waiting for snow.”
A few seconds later, a chorus of childlike excitement exploded through the air. The kids of the pack had rushed outside to spin in the snow.
I gripped Mina’s hand again, and we started walking back to the party.
“Care to join me in a game of Christmas bingo?” Mina asked as we maneuvered our way around excited kids and into the building.
“Depends on what’s up for grabs if I win,” I said as we stepped inside.
“A giant candy cane!” Tate shouted. He was closer to us than I thought he was, munching on white chocolate-covered pretzels. “And I’m going to win that sucker.”
Mina laughed at his confidence, and I rolled my eyes at him. Typical Tate.
* * *
The rest of the night happened without a hitch. The wreaths were secured to everyone’s doors, and no one suspected they’d been sprinkled with blessed willow ash. I felt better once they were all created and in place. It relaxed me knowing my pack was safe.
Christmas carols echoed through the tiny building while ornaments were made from foam shapes, glitter glue, and too much sequence. Tate paraded the giant candy cane he’d won in bingo around, teasing some of the little kids with it. Everyone was having a good time until the power flickered.
I glanced outside, checking to see what the storm was doing. Snow covered the ground and ice hung from the power lines. No longer did it look as though we were trapped inside a magical snow globe; now it looked as though we were in a damn blizzard.
“Maybe we should all call it a night,” Sylvie suggested. I could hear the tremor of fear in her voice.
“Yeah, I second that,” Felica, Frank’s wife, said. “It’s looking pretty bad out there.”
“Oh, man,” Tate groaned. “I was hoping to win the big chocolate Santa in the next round of bingo.”
The power flickered again.
“Here, you can have it,” Sylvie said.
She handed it to him before moving to the table where all the food and drinks were. Angela and Violet helped her put lids on everything while some of the others made their way home. No one had to drive, which was a good thing, but it didn’t mean everyone was heading home safely. A few slipped and slid across the gravel while others busted their butts trying to get home. Kids laughed, and grown-ups cursed under their breath.
Once everything had been passed out to be taken h
ome, Sylvie headed out and Mina and I followed.
“Well, that was fun.” I gripped Mina’s hand to help her across a slippery spot as we made our way home. “The party I mean, not you almost falling back there.”
“Funny.” She flashed me a go-to-hell look. “I hate it got cut short, though. I was looking forward to watching some Christmas movies. Sylvie picked out all the classics.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but someone gasping captured my attention. A low moan cut through the air next. My gaze drifted around, thinking someone had fallen and needed help. At first I didn’t see anyone, but then Mina pointed out Taryn.
“She doesn’t look good,” Mina said. “Did she fall?”
Taryn stood stock-still, gasping while gripping her stomach. Glenn was beside her, but he seemed too scared to move.
“Oh, crap” Mina shouted, startling me. “She’s going into labor!”
Adrenaline spiked through my system. “Now?”
“It’s not something she can control, Eli,” Mina snapped. She left me where I stood as she rushed to Glenn and Taryn.
I started after her, nearly busting my butt when I slipped on a patch of ice. This storm was insane.
“Her water broke. What am I supposed to do?” Glenn asked Mina when I was almost to them. His eyes were wide and his face pale. Shock. He was in shock. Me too. “There’s no way I can get her to the hospital. Not in this storm.”
Something caught my eye behind him, darting behind Felicia’s car parked in front of her trailer.
Was that what I thought it was?
Another flash of red darted across my line of vision, and I knew I was right. Regina was here again, which meant getting Taryn to the hospital during a snowstorm was the least of our worries.
“Here, come on,” Mina said. She stepped closer to them and helped Taryn stand on the icy gravel. “Let me help you get her inside.”
The three of them walked to the tiny silver bullet of a trailer they lived in. Taryn let out another groan of pain, and I swore Glenn’s face grew paler at the sound. Mina glanced around and I followed suit, searching for Regina or any others who might be dancing around thinking they would get near the baby. Thankfully, I didn’t see anyone.
“Gracie!” Mina shouted. I realized then she hadn’t been looking for ghosts, she’d been looking for help. “Gracie!”
“Yeah?” Gracie shouted from where she stood outside the party building with Cooper. “What?”
“Taryn’s water broke. She’s having the baby. Get Gran!”
Gracie didn’t reply. Instead, she bolted for home with Cooper right behind her. Cooper glanced at me and then froze. He pointed to something behind me.
“Eli!” he shouted. “Behind you! Look out!”
I spun to see what had him concerned. Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach, because I already knew a ghost would be waiting. However, nothing could have prepared me for who that ghost would be.
Drew’s dark eyes latched onto mine, and the corner of his mouth twisted into a wicked grin. The sight of him made my heart stall. Instantly, I was tossed back to his basement. Him in front of me and my hands on either side of his face. The sick sound of bones popping as I snapped his neck echoed through my mind, making my stomach roll.
“Eli!” Cooper shouted. He was closer to me this time.
With my little brother serving as a distraction, Drew lunged forward to charge me. My fists lifted into a protective move and my wolf howled. I took a swing but it did nothing. My fist went right through Drew. He wasn’t tangible. Which had to mean he couldn’t hurt me. My man understood this, sort of, but my wolf didn’t at all. He snapped and snarled at Drew’s proximity.
Someone cried out from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see who. It was Taryn. Her face was contorted in pain. She gripped her stomach with one hand and Glenn’s arm with the other.
Drew came at me again. It was a scare tactic. There was nothing he could do to me. However, there was so much he could do to the baby when it came. I glanced for something to help keep his focus on me.
The mason jar of blessed willow ash I’d given Glenn caught my eye.
It was sitting on the seat of Glenn’s truck. He’d probably forgotten he’d set it there before coming to my inopportune pack meeting earlier and then the Christmas party.
Thank goodness.
I lunged for it and spun off the lid. Without a moment of hesitation, I reached inside for a pinch and tossed it at Drew. He flickered in and out of existence before disappearing fully and then chaos exploded behind me.
“Eli, we could use some of that over here!” Mina shouted.
I started toward them, catching sight of Regina zeroing in on Taryn. Dorian fought with Shane as others tried to make their way inside their trailers across the slippery ice. As I rushed toward Mina, Regina’s old sidekick Neo appeared between us. My feet faltered at the sight of another new face being tossed into the mix. Not for long, though. I reached in the jar and grabbed another pinch of ash, before I could use it, Tate came out of nowhere. He slid across icy gravel and sliced through Neo’s ghostly form like a ninja.
“This ice is helping with my serious ninja moves,” he insisted.
I high-fived him and then continued to Mina. The three of them had stopped walking, because Taryn was having another contraction. She screamed from the pain, and Regina inched closer. She licked her lips, and I grabbed another pinch of ash. I tossed it her way, smirking at her as she flickered and then vanished. She materialized a few feet away in the span of a single heartbeat.
This stuff wasn’t working as well as I thought it should. Had Rowena hyped up its powers?
Drew appeared beside me again. This time, I didn’t react. Instead, I remained still. What could he do to me anyway? Tate, however, didn’t have the same idea. He charged at Drew with his hands up in a karate-like fashion. When he released his hand, it sliced through Drew and hit the jar of ash, knocking it from my hands. It fell to the ground before I could catch it. The glass shattered and I spun on Tate.
“Damn it, Tate!” I shouted. “What the hell are we going to do now?”
I tried to grab hold of as much of the ash as I could, but because there hadn’t been an intention when it fell from my hands there was no magic to hold it in place. Instead, the majority blew away in the wind. All that remained was what was in my hand. The ghosts of Shane and Regina disappeared for a second as the wind touched them, but there was no solid barrier created by the ash to keep them away, which meant moments later, they reappeared again looking more vicious and venomous than ever.
“I can’t walk any farther. The baby’s coming!” Taryn shouted. She breathed heavily, but it did no good. Her face was twisted with agony and her eyes wide with worry.
My fists clenched at my sides, holding tight to the small amount of ash I’d been able to grab hold of. My teeth ground together. How could I help her? How could I make sure the newest and tiniest member of my pack would be safe?
Think. Think. Think.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to form a plan. Noises from those around me made their way to my ears. Dorian grunting as he fought with a ghost. Tate making karate chopping noises while he did the same. Taryn’s muffled cries of agony. Mina telling her everything was going to be okay that she just needed to take another step. Glenn’s heart pounding hard and fast.
Think. Think. Think.
A sensation of warmth congregated on my left shoulder. It was so intense and sudden it had my eyes snapping open.
Dad?
He stood beside me with a smile twisting the corners of his lips and eyes filled with pride. I blinked, thinking this couldn’t be real, but he was still there. He didn’t move. Instead, he continued to stare at me, giving me a look I knew well—it was the one he’d always given me or my brothers when he knew we could do something. When he had faith in us.
My gaze drifted back to the chaos taking place before me. I knew what needed to be done. All it had taken to form a plan
was one look from my dad.
“Everyone, stop what you’re doing. Stop fighting. That’s exactly what they want us to do. It’s a distraction,” I said, fully comprehending the situation. “We have to get Taryn inside. Once we get her in the trailer our top priority becomes keeping that baby safe.”
“And how are we supposed to do that now that numb nuts over there destroyed the jar of ash?” Dorian asked. He nodded his head in Tate’s direction.
“I didn’t mean to,” Tate insisted. “Jesus, dude.”
“Leave that to me.” I locked eyes with Mina, hoping she’d understood with one look what I planned on doing next. “I have an idea.”
Whether Mina would be pissed or not, the only way we were going to get through this labor and delivery without the ghosts going after the baby was by using the jar we had set aside for our wedding.
“Get her inside the trailer now!” Gran shouted, startling everyone. While I might be the alpha, there still wasn’t a single person who would defy Gran. Gracie held one of her arms while Copper held the other as they made their way across the slick gravel and snow. “I’ll need clean blankets, a big bowl of hot water, and a clean sponge or rags.” She wasn’t speaking to me or Mina, not even Glenn, she was addressing the pack as a whole.
Everyone stood on the steps to their trailer or were watching through an open window waiting to help with something if needed. People started shouting at one another about what they had or didn’t. While they figured that out, I rushed to Taryn and Glenn’s trailer before anyone reached it. Remembering what Rowena said, I focused on blocking out the evil spirits as I created a rectangle around the metal steps that led to their front door. Once I was done, I made a dash for my truck. I swung the driver door open and grabbed the remaining jar of blessed willow ash we had.
The sight irritated the ghosts. Apparently, they’d figured out what it was and how it would be used. I flashed each of them a screw-you grin. Mina was helping Taryn up the steps of her place with Glenn right behind them. Gran and Gracie stood a few feet away, ignoring the ghosts as best they could while gathering supplies from pack members for the birth. Dorian and Tate stood guard on either side of Taryn and Glenn’s steps while Cooper and the others watched out for everyone else.
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