by M. L. Briers
“Just for the fun of it…” Natalie zapped him.
“You’re never going to learn, are you, brother?” Rex chuckled. But he didn’t chuckle along when his mate zapped him. He turned toward her. “What was that for?”
Christie lifted her hand and pointed a finger at Saffy, just as Saffy said ouch once more.
“When I’m in that much pain — trust me, you are going to know about it,” Christie promised him.
Rex swallowed hard at the thought. The trouble was he wasn’t going to miss the birth of his pup for anything.
“Bed,” Doug growled.
“I can’t bloody move — ouch — if I could bloody move then I would wring your stupid neck,” Saffy growled.
Doug pushed up to his feet before reaching down for his mate with the intention of lifting her up. Saffy snapped at him.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Maybe you should have thought about that nine months ago,” Jake chuckled.
“Secret Santa or not — I will hurt you,” Saffy warned.
“I prefer your other personality — can we get back to that one?” Jake chuckled.
Two witches lifted their hands and zapped the vampire. Jake felt as if he was being torn in two as every muscle in his body clamped up so tightly that he was sure he felt them snap.
He dropped to the floor and groaned — not just from the pain — but because he was in something decidedly gooey and disgusting.
Who knew a baby needed so much water around it? Yuck!
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“Well, did anybody get any sleep last night?” Doug asked as he looked down at the bundle of joy within his arms. He grinned from ear to ear.
“Chance would be a fine thing,” Jonathan said on a half yawn.
The beta’s bouncing baby boy stared up at him from the crook of his arm. He couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
“I slept like a baby. And a Merry Christmas morning to one and all,” Rex chuckled as he lifted his cup of coffee to his lips and froze in place.
“Rex!” Christie’s bloodcurdling screech rattled the inside of his brain. His eyes slowly turned toward his brothers; both men grinned back at him with too much glee for his liking.
“I think you’re wanted, brother,” Jonathan chuckled as he watched the blood drain from his brother’s face.
“I think you’re about to become a father,” Doug chuckled as Rex swallowed down a good portion of his tongue.
“Be a man — take the pain,” Tom chuckled from the end of the table before he stuffed a whole sausage in his mouth and chewed with glee.
“Rex!” Christie screeched again. This time the beta snapped to his full height and started toward the kitchen door.
“Merry Christmas!” Doug called after him.
The sound of his brother’s chuckles followed hard on his heels as he raced from the kitchen and through the house.
Jake booted open the back door and dragged two enormous red sacks inside. He looked at the two proud fathers sitting at the table with their pups and felt full of the Christmas spirit.
“Merry Christmas!” He offered with a heartfelt grin.
This was certainly going to be a Christmas that – no matter how long he lived – he was never going to forget it.
The End.