“Not a moment too soon, either!” She smiled and wrapped her arm around the crook of his. They walked off to join the waiting crowds for the ceremonial breakfast to open the festivities.
“I got this. I can do it. Shoot, I’m the next Santa! No she-wolf should scare me.” Kris said out loud. His brother was standing right behind him and watched as he shook his arms out and jumped in place to get his blood circulating before joining the den of wolves, literally.
“Dude, why would you be scared? All of these women are here for you! You should be excited to meet them all and even steal a few kisses from as many girls as you can.” Christian smoothed out his tie. He hated wearing them, but this was a formal event. His mom told him that for lunch he could take it off. “Kris, when you become Santa, you really need to change some of these outdated policies. I mean, ties for breakfast? And why does the first meal have to be breakfast on New Year’s Day? Think about it. Your son is gonna be just like you.”
Kris turned around and laughed at his brother. “Are you worried about my future son, or having to wear a tie again in twenty years?”
Christian laughed and punched his brother on his shoulder. “Get going, you have women waiting for you. Enjoy this while you can. Once you choose one, you will forever be waiting on her.” He laughed again as he thought about how lucky he was that he didn’t have to go through all of this. But he really didn’t want to wear a tie again. If it was up to him, he would change it to be casual. Jeans and t-shirts were all anyone ever needed.
Both boys walked into the banquet room and found their seats quickly. Christian was seated between two she-wolves as well. It was his job to help weed out the less desirable girls. His plan had been to flirt with any girl he could and see who would flirt back; those he would warn his brother about. Those who resisted his charms would get some face time with Kris.
The banquet hall was located in the middle of Santa’s Village. All buildings were made of pine and oak from the trees that magically grew around their protected bio dome. Christmas magic produced a protective barrier from those looking for Santa, but even more importantly, it created the natural resources that Santa and his elves needed in order to build and maintain their operation.
The banquet hall could hold more than 1,000 people. It was designed for the heir’s celebration as well as hosting parties for all of those who lived and worked in the Village.
Christian looked to his left and introduced himself to a young blond girl named Nicolette. When he looked to his right he almost jumped out of his seat he was so happy. Isabella was beaming at him. “Isabella, you look beautiful... Have you had a chance to speak with Kris yet?” All of a sudden Christian remembered his role and hoped that Isabella flirted with him, he couldn’t stand the idea that she might become his sister-in-law. How awkward it would be at family functions, unless he could get past his attraction to her.
“Christian.” She leaned in close to him and whispered, “I don’t want to be the next Mrs. Claus.” Then pulled back and winked at him. She turned back to her breakfast plate and continued to eat her ham and swiss omelette.
Christian was shocked. He couldn’t believe a girl didn’t want Kris or the title that came with him. “Really, then why did you come?”
“My father made me. I am the daughter of a powerful Alpha, so it made sense that I should be paired up with the most powerful Alpha-to-be.” She shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of her fruit salad.
Christian’s heart was soaring with joy! The only girl he ever liked, just might like him back. He spent the rest of the breakfast chatting with her. Thankfully, Nicolette wasn’t interested in him. He would have to remember to let Kris know about her, later. For at that moment he was only interested in one conversation.
After breakfast everyone gathered outside to a winter wonderland. The elves had outdone themselves with the decorations. There were two larger than life ice wolves standing in a regal pose with crowns on their heads, to signify their status as royalty amongst the shifter community. They were carved out of ice and stood a proud eight feet tall. The male had a name tag in front of its paws, “Kris Kringle.” The female plaque said “Luckiest Female.” When Christian and Isabella made their way toward it, they had a hard time getting close since so many she-wolves were crowding around and giggling. They were all saying how they wanted to be that wolf.
“Christian, we don’t have to see it now. We can always come back later. I see the elves put up an ice castle with your father’s red banners. Can we go look at that?” Isabella put her hand around Christian’s biceps and pulled him away from the crowd.
As they walked away from the ice sculpture of his brother, they walked past a few males Christian didn’t recognize. “Do you know those guys we just passed?”
Isabella turned her head back to look at them. “No, I haven’t seen them before. But then again, this is the biggest event of our lives. We will probably see quite a few wolves for the first time this week.”
Right as she turned back to smile at Christian, they both heard screaming and yelling. Christian turned to see who was screaming. The women who had surrounded the ice sculpture of the future Santa were backing up and hysterically screaming, some were even crying.
Christian felt a chill run down his spine and he swiftly ran to the center of the commotion. Isabella was close behind him.
Everyone made way for Christian and looked at him with down-turned mouths or wide eyes. On the ground in front of his own statue was Kris with a knife in his chest. Christian stopped for only a second and then ran to his brother and dropped to his knees. He felt for a pulse, then yelled, “Someone get my parents, NOW!” He couldn’t feel a pulse on his brother’s neck, but that didn’t mean he was gone. With Christmas magic, anything was possible. His mother was the best user of Christmas magic. If anyone could help Kris, it would be her.
Christian didn’t move his brother; he knew enough to leave him lying there with the knife right where it was. He quickly surveyed the area in front of him. There were three shifted wolves from his pack watching with blood dripping from their maws. In front of them was a man who must have been the murderer. He had his throat ripped out as well as multiple pieces of his body.
“What happened? Someone please tell me what happened?” Christian cried as a tear dripped from his cheek.
One of the females closest to him spoke up, “That man ran into our group knocking everyone out of his way and he surprised us all by jamming his knife right into Kris’ heart! He moved so quickly and smoothly no one had time to react.” She pointed to the dead man on the ground.
Another girl, Julia, followed up with, “Then three of your men shifted in a second and took him down. They each took a chunk out of him at the same time. How could he have done that? He had to know that any attack would have meant certain death? There is no way anyone would have made it out of here after attacking Kris.” She cried into her hands and started to sob. The girl to her left pulled her close and let Julia cry on her shoulder.
Mark, one of the Omegas in Santa’s pack asked, “Christian, your mom can fix him, right? I mean he’s not too far gone is he?”
Isabella walked up to Christian and put her hand on his shoulder as she stood behind him. She tried very hard to be strong and not cry, but a few rebellious tears rolled down her cheeks.
Santa ran through the crowd as people yelled, “Make way for Santa.” Or, “Santa coming through.” Right behind him was Mrs. Claus and her mother-in-law, the former Mrs. Claus.
Mrs. Claus said nothing. She ran to her son, knelt next to his lifeless body, and then put her hands three inches above his body, palms down. Her hands moved around slowly, trying to find any part of his soul still inside his body. She concentrated hard, her hands were splayed so far it looked like it might actually hurt her fingers to be spread so far apart.
The air surrounding everyone was coated in fear and hope. It was a well-known fact that Mrs. Claus could bring anyone back from the brink using Christmas
magic. Many people had seen it before. Santa stood to the side of his wife while she worked her magic and he prayed for his son. He grabbed the back of his neck and held on tight, with wide eyes and lips quietly mumbling his heart-felt prayers.
Right when the current Mrs. Claus looked up to her Mother-in-law, everyone heard a loud crack and watched as the giant ice sculpture’s head broke off and fell backwards.
Mrs. Claus’ eyes were wide with fright. “Mom, please…NO! Tell me we can save him!” She yelled out and threw herself onto her son’s body and sobbed.
The former Mrs. Claus, now known as Mrs. Kringle, knelt down and patted her daughter-in-law on the back. “Dear, you know the rules. We can only save those who aren’t already dead. I am so sorry, but Kris has moved on from this world to the next.” A lone tear made its way down her cheek and dripped onto the snow and created what appeared to be a broken heart mini ice sculpture.
Santa instantly shifted, tearing his garment in pieces, and proceeded to howl. Everyone in hearing distance ran to the village center upon hearing his call. Those around him shifted and howled along with him, displaying their grief for anyone to hear.
Once everyone was shifted and in the center, Santa roared so loud that all of the buildings shook and snow fell off the roofs along with any icicles that had been hanging. It took over an hour for the howling and roaring to stop. Wolves slowly shifted back to their human forms, including the three Omegas who killed the heir’s murderer.
“Lincoln, how did this happen? How could anyone have done such a thing before getting caught?” Santa asked as he sighed and plopped down on the snow next to his son.
“The traitor was in the middle of the women, and then burst forth with the knife already in his hand and aimed at Kris’ heart. There was no one next to him at that moment. He was standing in front of his statue looking at it and laughing one moment, then the next a knife was in his heart and he fell to the ground. It all happened so fast. The assailant tried to run but we shifted and ripped him apart before he could get ten paces away. I am so sorry I failed you and I failed Christmas. If you decide to excommunicate me I will understand.” Lincoln lowered his head and ran his fingers through his hair.
Santa shook his head. “No, you all did better than I would have expected. You must have shifted faster than you ever had in order to get to him so quickly.” He pointed to the dead man a few feet from where he stood.
Lincoln stood there, thinking about it. “I…how? I have never shifted so quickly or effortlessly. I only wish I could have stopped the wolf from killing your heir. There is nothing I can say or do that could express my sadness or guilt.” He wiped his eye and sniffed.
“Yes, I feel your pain Lincoln. I feel everyone’s pain.” Santa looked at the dead man, shook his head and said, “I don’t recognize him.” He then looked up to everyone in the crowd. “Does anyone know who he is?”
In the back of the gathering a few people mumbled their apologies as they attempted to leave the assembly. Isabella’s father was near them and noticed what was happening. “Hey, you there! Stop! You know him don’t you.” He yelled really loudly, “Santa, back here! A few of the wolves from Europe are trying to escape!” The men and women who were closest to those trying to leave, reached out and grabbed them. It took two people to hold one of the guilty ones. They were trying so hard to shrug off their captors. They hit, scratched, and one even tried to kick their captors.
Santa arrived in time to see what was happening and used his powers to cause them to go into a deep sleep. He used that type of power on children when they woke up and saw him. It worked just the same on any wolf.
Those in attendance said they could taste peppermint and were totally relaxed. Some even yawned and felt like they could take a nap. Those closest to Santa felt the magic the most, but everyone tasted the sweet candy canes.
Those further away could smell the peppermint, almost like the scent was coming from a diffuser. There was even a haze surrounding the center of the village.
“Take them to the holding cells. I want at least three of my wolves watching them at all times. Any other pack want to offer up their wolves to guard the prisoners?” Santa yelled out and every single Alpha in attendance screamed out their desire to help him.
Mikey, Nolan, and Masha joined Christian and Isabella by Kris’ body as they waited for Santa to decide where they would take the body. Shifters were always burned, never buried. No one wanted humans to find their remains and discover their secret. But for a Santa, there was a special place to keep their ashes. Although, Kris wasn’t a Santa yet. He was the heir and only a couple of weeks away from being crowned the new Santa. In all their history, no one had ever attacked an heir so close to their ceremony.
“I want my son’s ashes to be buried with the family. He deserves it.” Santa rubbed his face as he slowly made his way to his son. “Christian, will you stay with Kris until arrangements can be made later today? I need to see to your mother and then question our new prisoners.”
“Yes, father. Of course I will.” Christian tried to put on a tough face, but it was difficult when tears were falling from his lashes of their own will.
Isabella’s father, Monty, made his way to Santa. “Santa, I would like to offer up my pack, every one of them in attendance, to help with the guard duty.”
“Thank you Monty, you have always been such a good friend. Please assign two of your wolves to assist the three I have already assigned from my pack. I don’t want anyone getting near those traitors until I have had a chance to question them. Would you like to be present when I do?”
“Yes, of course. Any way I can help in your time of need, just let me know. Isabella, come on. Let’s leave the Kringle family to mourn while we put together our guard list.” Monty waved for his daughter to join him.
“Father, I would like to stay with Christian and help him in any way I can. That is, if you want me to?” She turned to Christian and looked at him with love in her eyes. She had one hand on his shoulder as he stood up and hugged her.
“Yes, I would like your assistance. Thank you.” He let her go and sat down next to his brother.
Isabella looked to her father and hoped he would allow her to stay with Christian.
“I didn’t realize you knew the Kringle family.” Monty raised an eyebrow.
“Christian and I met yesterday and had breakfast together today. We don’t know each other well, but I want to help where I can.” She gave her father a timid smile.
Monty walked to his daughter and kissed her temple. “Of course, anything they need you be sure to help. If you can’t do what they need, then call me and I will see to it you get what you need. Understand?” He took his daughter by her shoulders and mentally said, “No games. Now is not the time to try and get the spot as Mrs. Claus. Give him a week before you attempt anything.”
“Father, it isn’t like that! I never wanted that role and you know it.” Isabella and her father were close enough that they could easily carry on conversations mentally, not too many wolves could do that outside of the Kringle family while they were in their human form. It was natural for all Alphas to communicate telepathically with their pack while in wolf form, but not many could do it in human form. That took an extra helping of Christmas magic somewhere along their line. Most likely several generations ago a Kringle married into the Barrow pack.
5
Over the next few days everyone stayed with Santa to show their support and mourn with the Kringle family. The day after the murder, Kris was cremated and his ashes were interred in his family plot.
“Christian, we need to talk.” Santa walked into the breakfast room and sat down next to his last son.
“What about?”
“I know you are not yet twenty, the age a Kringle becomes Santa. However, this is not the usual situation. Since everyone is still here, I believe you should take your brother’s place and choose your mate. We can hold off on officially making you the new Santa for another year, but you
must start training now for it. Since all of the eligible she-wolves are here, we should take advantage of this.” Santa poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table and motioned for his usual breakfast to be brought out.
“Father, I have never seriously trained for this. Sure, I went on a few flights with you, but I was trained for the mail room. How can I become Santa? I am not ready to deal with this. Give me some time to mourn my brother’s death. Sure we fought, but I loved him... I never wanted your job.” Christian put his fork down and used his napkin to wipe his mouth.
“I noticed you have been spending a lot of time with the Barrow girl, what was her name? Bella?”
“Isabella. Just because I like her doesn’t mean I want to marry her. I hardly know her. This week has been about Kris.”
“I see how she looks at you and how you look at her. When you two are together there is an aura of magic surrounding you. That makes me believe she is your true mate. She has Kringle blood in her family from way back. She will make a beautiful Mrs. Claus.”
Christian huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Father, I have never liked anyone before this week. How do I know that she is the one? I need more time to meet more girls and date them. I’m too young to marry.”
“Son, you’re not too young. Nineteen is a good age. And these festivities are designed to give you the chance to get to know many young ladies. Date a few of them and see if you feel anything for any of the other girls. Everyone is here now. I have spoken with the Alphas and they all agree that now is the best time. In situations such as this, a wedding is exactly what is needed. New life, new directions, that is what our packs need right now. You won’t have to marry the girl this month. We could plan a June wedding and give you time to adjust. I know you didn’t plan to marry for a long time. But trust me when I tell you that she is your fated mate. I can see it.” Santa patted his son on his shoulder and accepted his usual breakfast of bacon, sausage, ham and cheese omelet, and hash browns. On special occasions he would add a stack of chocolate chip pancakes. Maybe in a few days there would be such an occasion.
Magic & Mistletoe: 15 Paranormal Stories for the Holidays Page 10