Shifters in the Snow: Bundle of Joy: Seventeen Paranormal Romances of Winter Wolves, Merry Bears, and Holiday Spirits

by J. K Harper

  Violet stepped toward the kitchen but then stopped. “Would you like me to fix something for you?” she asked, her voice soft—uncertain.

  The woman was absolutely perfect. If Joss thought Violet would accept it, he’d go over and give her a tight hug and maybe a kiss, but he wasn’t an idiot. It was way too soon for anything like that. “Sure. Whatever you’re having will be fine.”

  Her small smile and quick nod were enough to fill him with joy all over again, not that it had gone very far to start. What he had done in his past to deserve such an amazing woman, he had no idea, but he was grateful for it.

  He scrubbed the few remaining footprints with quick, efficient wipes until no trace of the incident remained. He’d deal with fixing the paint job outside later.

  When he entered the kitchen, he found Violet sitting at the table with a plate in front of her and another waiting for him. She’d prepared meat sandwiches and had a glass of juice sitting next to each one. “Go ahead and start. I’ll wash my hands.”

  “I can wait. It’s the least I can do after you cleaned up my mess.” She sipped her juice, fingers as steady as could be.

  “It was nothing.” He took his seat, pleased when his knee brushed against hers under the table and she made no move to pull it away. He took a huge bite of his sandwich. This was the first meal his mate had ever prepared for him, and he’d savor every bite.

  She’d taken her own in her hand but watched as he chewed and swallowed.

  “Delicious. Thanks for making it,” he told her once his mouth was empty. She rewarded him with her smile.

  “You’re welcome.”

  They ate the rest of their meal in a silence more comfortable than he’d imagined they would share for a long time, cementing one thing in his mind. His mate had been through more than any woman should ever have to go through, but she was strong and resilient. She was going to be fine.

  * * *

  Other than when she’d been carried to the Komoro village, which she hardly remembered due to the condition she’d been in, Violet hadn’t been out in months. She’d been a prisoner. The sounds and smells of the village were unlike anything from her recent past, but they did bring her back to a brighter time. Back before Roger and his asshole thugs took the home she once shared with her parents and destroyed it, killing them and capturing her.

  The Komoro people walked around, chatting, happy—free. Women were unaccompanied. Most of them glanced in her direction as she and Joss walked past, but their curiosity was nothing more than polite interest. She got smiles from everyone to the point where she was a little overwhelmed by all the unintended attention. She found herself walking closer to Joss, her shoulder brushing against his arm now and then. She tried stopping, but each time she did, she ended up right next to him.

  Joss pointed out the small shops along the main street. “Anytime you want to get anything, tell them to use my credits. I have more than enough. No one will question it.”

  She should protest, but it would do no good, so she nodded. Maybe she could find a way to earn some before the baby arrived. He would need clothes and other things.

  “Joss,” a deep, very male voice boomed from somewhere close.

  Violet tensed and pressed herself against him. In an instant, he lifted his arm and pulled her to his left side, sheltering her.

  “Argram. Nice to see you,” Joss said as he held his hand out. “I’d like to introduce my mate, Violet. We would have been by to see you sooner, but Violet has been a little under the weather.”

  “Understandable,” the huge man said.

  “Violet, this is our Alpha, Argram.”

  “P-pleased to meet you, Alpha,” she stammered.

  “Same.” The Alpha looked at her, then at Joss. The men exchanged a funny look, but then, before either spoke, a tall, stunningly beautiful woman came around the corner with an adorable little toddler in her arms, and the Alpha’s face softened. “And here is my mate. Miga, this is Violet, Joss’s mate.”

  Miga took one look at her and smiled. It wasn’t a polite, getting-through-introductions kind of smile, but a genuine show of joy that Violet couldn’t help but respond to. “I’ve heard a lot about you, but since I hadn’t seen you around, I was beginning to think you weren’t real. Nice to meet you, Violet. This little terror is Malec,” she said, bouncing her little boy on her hip, making his hair flop up and down on his head.

  The little guy giggled at his mother’s antics. “Again,” he demanded when she stopped.

  “Nice to meet all of you,” she said. Argram was intimidating as hell, but Miga gave off a friendly vibe.

  “When are you due?” the other woman asked.

  Her hand automatically came up to her belly. “I’m not sure. I think maybe another couple of months. I had no way of keeping track.” She wished she could have done better for her unborn child, but the truth was, surviving was the only thing she could do most days.

  “Oh, so you’re having a Christmas baby.” Miga’s smile widened further. “Remember the stories about the man in the red suit, Argram? Santa Claus? That celebration is coming up in a couple of months. Maybe the baby will be born at Christmas. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

  The Alpha looked at his mate with a lost look on his face. “That would be something.”

  Miga rolled her eyes at her mate. “Yes, it would be. Listen, Violet, we’re organizing a get-together for all the new members of the pack. It’s happening in two days. We’d love for you to come. You don’t have to do anything, just come meet the rest of the pack and have a bit of fun.”

  “I-I don’t know.” She looked at Joss, hoping he’d rescue her.

  “I think it’s a great idea. If you want to go, we will. Maybe we can wait and see if you’re feeling up to it when the time comes,” Joss suggested.

  Leave it to him to give her an out. At least if she didn’t show up, she wouldn’t look like she was trying to avoid everyone.

  Miga handed Malec to her mate, then took his free hand. “Great. Well, I have tons of things to organize, and this little guy needs a nap in the worst way, but we’ll see each other again soon.”

  “They seem nice,” Violet said once they were walking again and out of the Alpha couple’s earshot.

  “They are. Argram is intense, but he’s fair. And don’t let Miga fool you. She’s got a heart of gold, but she’s fierce in her own right. She’s the Alpha’s perfect complement.”

  “I’ll be sure to remember that.”

  The sounds of construction reached her ears before they rounded the next corner. The lot was bigger than the ones on either side of it, and it looked like the house would be larger, as well. Violet was a little shocked to see both men and women working together to get the job done.

  “What do you think?” Joss asked, his voice holding all the excitement of a child at Christmas.

  She looked around as he took her hand and pulled her onto the property. “It looks like it’s going to be a house.”

  He gave her an odd look. “It is. It’s going to be your house, Violet.”

  “What? I don’t understand.” She didn’t want a house. As silly as it seemed, she thought she would stay with Joss. What if Karak came into the village? Or one of the Komoro men showed up at her door? The ever-present panic she’d shoved aside exploded through her, making her whole body shake. Of course, he’d want her to have her own place. She was carrying Karak’s child. He wouldn’t want to deal with that on a daily basis.

  His brows furrowed, and he took her hands in his. “I’m having it built for you—for us.” Joss’s smile dropped. “I know some of the others will be returning to the old Mahehkan village once it’s safe to do so, but I’d hoped you might decide to stay here. With me. If you don’t like it, we can live in the house we have now until the spring.”

  She blinked fast as his words registered in her mind. He wasn’t trying to get rid of her. “But, the baby…”

  Joss stroked his thumb over her knuckles. “The baby will ha
ve a mother and father who love and adore him—or her.” The uncertainty in his eyes was almost her undoing. She wanted that. Wanted him. How can one man seem so wonderful? He couldn’t be that perfect—could he?

  With a smile that was more wobbly than sure, she gave him a little nod. There was still a long way for them to go, and they had to get to know one another, but maybe things would be okay.

  Joss’s face lit up, and with a loud whoop, he gathered her into his arms and spun her around. By the time he set her on her feet, she was giggling and had all but forgotten where they were.

  “Come on, let’s check out what they’ve done. The men are working on the nursery today.”

  Chapter 8

  Violet sat on the couch, waiting for Joss to come back. She’d bounced back and forth between staying home alone and going with him many times all morning. Eventually, her desire to look good for the welcome party later in the day had won out. For the first few minutes after he’d left, she’d half expected her heart to pound right out of her chest. But she’d forced herself to stay behind—barely. After many deep breaths—and one hyperventilating incident—she’d calmed enough to leave the front door. If she wanted any kind of normalcy in her life, she would have to push past her fears. Besides, if she was going to have to meet a bunch of new people today, she wanted to look her best—at least, as good as a seven-plus months pregnant woman could.

  There wasn’t much she could do with her long, straight hair, but it was clean, and the shampoo Joss had bought for her made it shine and smell nice. She dusted her cheeks with blush and put a bit of liner and mascara on, making her pale face look a little less white. Then with a simple gloss over her lips, she looked presentable. She’d have to remember to thank Delana for being so thoughtful. As kind and generous as Joss was, she seriously doubted he was responsible for those items she’d found in one of the bags.

  She stood and paced to the door, not because she was overly nervous, but because she liked the way the pretty pink dress she had on flowed around her thighs. She’d never had much of a wardrobe before Roger had taken over, but after, she’d had none. They’d barely kept her clothed at all.

  Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted him walking down the street, a smile playing on his lips. There was a quiet strength about him, one that she—and her wolf—couldn’t help responding to. One that he didn’t outwardly show but was evident in his every action. His patience and gentle care, more than anything else, were what had gotten her through her first week since the rescue. They gave her the courage to try to reclaim a life she hadn’t expected she would have the opportunity to live.

  A flicker of shame grew in her chest. In the weeks before her rescue, she’d resigned herself to her fate. It wasn’t that she’d stopped caring about what happened, but each beating and every foul touch had vanquished all hope. She’d even prayed that she’d find the strength to resist Karak one more time, maybe say something or even spit on the bastard. She knew she’d never escape, but she hoped to provoke him so that he’d go that little extra step further and end her existence. She hadn’t found that strength. As much as she’d wanted it to end, a small part of her had refused to allow it.

  When Joss looked up and found her waiting for him on the other side of the screen door, his smile lit his entire face. Her breath caught, and after a moment, she smiled back. She wasn’t that prisoner in that dingy, little shack anymore. Deep in her soul, she knew that she wasn’t responsible for Karak’s actions. She was taking her life back. Those bastards weren’t going to win.

  Before Joss could reach the door, she pushed it open for him. She should have backed up to let him through, but she stayed where she was, partially blocking the doorway.

  He looked at her—from the top of her head all the way down to the flat shoes she’d put on, and then back up again to meet her gaze. “You look amazing, Violet,” he said when he reached her.

  “Thank you.”

  Joss’s gaze flicked to her lips, and he licked his own, but when he leaned in, he gave her a soft peck on the cheek before slipping past her.

  “How did things go while I was gone?”

  She hadn’t told him she’d been scared to be alone. She hadn’t needed to. Her reactions were obvious to anyone, and Joss was extra observant, never missing a thing. At least, not that she could see.

  “Better than I thought it would. I was nervous at first, but then I did okay.”

  He reached out and stroked her cheek, leaving her skin tingling. “Be proud of all you’ve overcome in such a short time. You’re doing great. Don’t forget that.”

  When he brought his hand down to his side again, she missed the touch, but she smiled and nodded. Her heart soared at his praise, the words warming her to the depths of her soul. Maybe she shouldn’t care what others thought of her, but she did, and Joss especially. He was different. Pleasing him wasn’t about survival or lessening a punishment. It was about doing something that felt right. For her.

  “Did you have something to eat while I was gone? I don’t know what time they’ll be serving the meal at the party. I’d hate for you to go hungry in the meantime.”

  “I did. I’m good to go.” It wasn’t that she’d been horribly hungry, but once she’d showered and gotten ready, she hadn’t been able to resist the preserves and fresh bread he always seemed to have on hand. It wasn’t the most nutritious snack, but what it lacked in nutrients, it made up for in sticky yumminess.

  His smile lit his face again. “Good. I’m going to freshen up. Then we can go.”

  Violet didn’t move from her spot until he had closed the bathroom door and the sound of the shower running reached her ears. Joss was hers for the taking. She just had to be brave enough to do it.

  Chapter 9

  The pack house was almost full by the time Joss opened the door and ushered Violet inside. Tables had been set up along the outside walls for people to sit and talk, leaving the center open for groups to chat, and later, maybe even dance. The thought of taking Violet in his arms, even if only to spin her around the dance floor, was enough to send his heart racing a little.

  Although strained, her smile stayed in place as they made their way inside. Damn, she was beautiful. The pink dress she had on hugged her breasts in a demure, yet sexy way, while the skirt flared around her belly, hips, and thighs, ending above the knee. Stunning. He could happily sit there and look at her all day and night and never tire of it.

  Soft music played in the background. Later, they would turn it up, but for now, it was an unobtrusive background noise, giving the gathering a cozy feel. A few of the new pack members sat together, looking more like they were ready to flee than to have a good time, but at least they were there. Joss had to respect them for their bravery alone.

  “Would you like something to drink? I’m sure they have a fruit punch over there somewhere,” he pointed to a long table on the other side of the room.

  “Yes, please.”

  Violet’s strained voice had him focusing his attention on her again. “Doing okay? Do we need to leave?” As much as he appreciated all the effort the women had gone through to organize the event, he’d whisk Violet out of there in a heartbeat if it was too much for her to handle.

  Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. “I’m okay. We can stay.”

  “You’re sure?”

  The small smile she gave him lost some of its tightness, and his own melted away. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Is it okay if I go with you?”

  “Absolutely,” he assured her. In fact, he would have been shocked if she had stayed behind. He was completely at ease in the pack’s presence, but she wasn’t. Not yet, anyway.

  Drinks in hand, he found a spot where their backs would be to a wall, ensuring that she didn’t have to worry about anyone coming up behind her. Already the crowd thickened as more people arrived. The last time so many were present at a gathering had been when Argram had been named Alpha in his place. A small part of him regretted not hav
ing taken the position when it had been available, but it was minute, and each time he saw Argram in action, he knew the Alpha was the right man for the job. He wasn’t a beta by any stretch of the imagination, but he wasn’t a natural leader—never had been. He didn’t wish for the responsibility of the entire pack. He’d been ready to assume the role if need be, but handing over the reins once Argram came along had been a no-brainer for him. And now the pack was thriving. It had been the right decision.

  Delana was the first to stop and speak to them. She gave him a hug and Violet a warm smile. He could tell that she wanted to hug Violet, too, but she held herself back. He’d have to remember to thank her for it later. Right then, he wasn’t sure Violet would be able to handle too much physical contact. Her grip on his fingers was cutting off the circulation to his fingertips as it was, but he sure as hell wasn’t complaining. She hadn’t let go, even when he’d poured their punch.

  “Are you enjoying yourself so far?” Delana asked Violet.

  “We just got here, but yeah, so far so good.”

  Her voice was steadier now. That’s my girl.

  “I haven’t had the chance to thank you for getting all these clothes for me. And the makeup. Thank you,” she continued without prompting.

  Delana smiled. “It was my pleasure. I love shopping. Especially with my brother’s money.”

  The women chatted for a few minutes as he looked over the crowd. Khet came in, followed by Argram, both men scowling deeper than usual. Argram met his gaze and indicated the door with a quick glance, wordlessly asking him to go outside.

  Joss looked down at Violet, who was now laughing at something Delana had told her. He knew he couldn’t take her away, and he sure as hell couldn’t leave her there.

  He gave the Alpha a small shake of the head, hoping he’d understand. As always, Argram assessed the situation and nodded back. Whatever they needed to talk about would wait. Joss let out the breath he’d been holding and turned his attention back to the women.