Mated for the Holidays: A Holiday Mpreg Romance in the Hemlock Mpreg Universe

by Maggie Hemlock

  “This is perfect,” he whispered. “Some of it’s sticking. I think winter’s coming in.”

  “It’s going to be a cold one,” I said and pulled him closer.

  For a while Aidan silently watched the white fluffy flakes hit the ground and create a light blanket over the earth. I watched Aidan watching it snow and I hadn’t been that happy in a long time. I couldn’t stop smiling at how his green eyes would pick a single flake out from the flurries and follow it all the way to the ground before starting the process all over again.

  “I gotta an idea,” I said climbing over the sofa arm and making my way to the door.

  I stripped out of my mage robe and made a mental note to ask Barric where he hid my everyday clothes the next time he called.

  “What are you doing, Alpha?” Aidan leaned his elbows on the sofa arm.

  “Going out into the snow?”

  “Naked? Your dick will turn to glass and fall off even with all your Alpha immunity to the cold,” he laughed.

  I opened the door and shifted into my furry wolf form and shook to free any loose hair winter shedding caused.

  “Didn’t think of that! Why get naked before you shift?”

  “Don’t always, but this is a good robe and I don’t want to risk it,” I said over our mate link.

  Without saying another word Aidan stripped naked and shifted into a beautiful white wolf. For a moment, we stood nose to nose letting our inner beasts sniff each other. Aidan leaned in and nuzzled me before darting through the door outside.

  “Come on, Alpha!” He howled over our mate link.

  I raced outside after him and swished my tail to magically shut the door. Didn’t need snow ruining the hardwood floors. Aidan ran circles leaving circles of pawprints around the trees and bushes. After a few seconds, I surrendered to my inner beast and joined him. I chased him around the trees and between the shrubs playfully nipping at his heels and tail.

  Aidan turned around mid-sprint and slapped snow at me with his paw. I pounced him. He yipped and we rolled down the sloping front lawn turning over each other barking and making other wolf noises that didn’t translate to English. We landed in a small pile of snow on our backs looking up at the flakes falling through the needles of a huge cedar tree. I rolled to my side and licked the snow from Aidan’s muzzle and ears before lying down next to him. He moved to rest against me with his head on my back. I wrapped around him until a passerby would only notice we were two wolves and not one because of the contrast in our fur colors.

  “At least my paws don’t spark,” Aidan laughed over our mate link.

  “Has that happened today?” I asked him.

  “No, but I’ve been happy today. I did levitate earlier in the shower though when I almost slipped.”

  “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “It’ll take more than a slippery shower floor to kill me.”

  “What have you learned magically speaking?” I asked him.

  I tread carefully with the question. He was a Gilmore. He obviously knew the basics. Our mate link likely also taught him a few tricks of the trade. I needed to make sure he was okay but didn’t want him to feel as if I questioned his skill or ability.

  Aidan listed off a long line of spells and magic and talked about how curling and wiggling his toes around made the tingle in his fingers stop for a while.

  “It sounds like you found your own method of grounding extra energy. That’s a good thing. I’m not trying to treat you like a student, but if you ever need help or have questions you can ask me.”

  “I will. It’s nice to have someone around to ask besides Gloria. She over complicates everything. She’ll only use fresh sage in her spells. Dried and store-bought works just as well.”

  “She’s a purist like Rosa,” I laughed.

  “I do have one magical question,” Aidan said.

  “Okay.”

  “How do you make your servants? I’d like one to help with my programing when I’m not around.”

  “That takes a bit of practice and a lot of extra energy to spare.”

  “Oh,” he looked down in disappointment.

  The bitter emotion washed over me and I swallowed hard. I never wanted Aidan to feel like less than anyone else in the world.

  “Hey, you’ll get there. In the meantime, when you’re ready to put them to work I can make you one. You’ll have to teach them what you need.”

  “Really?” His eyes lit up.

  “Yes, really. I’m not stingy when it comes to you.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Aidan

  After a full day of running and playing in the snow I was exhausted. Gloria never let me stay out all afternoon and into the evening long after the sunset. By nature, omegas didn’t have all the same protections as Alphas did. All shifters had some cold immunity like our wild counterparts, but Alphas had more. Gloria always worried I’d catch a cold or worse.

  “You’ll catch your death!” Her voice echoed in my head.

  Lucky for me, Luc didn’t share her sentiment and we didn’t drag our wet wolf selves inside until our bellies growled for dinner. After eating we settled in front of the fireplace and drifted off to sleep cuddled up on the sofa. About midnight I woke up ready for another snack.

  “Maybe we are pregnant,” my wolf said as I wiggled out from under Luc’s heavy arm.

  It’s probably the magic. It’s too soon in our pregnancy to be this hungry.

  I headed into the kitchen and grabbed a pear before heading upstairs to find my stuff. It didn’t take me long to sniff out the room where Luc stored it. On the far bedroom hung a sign which read ‘Welcome Home for the Holidays!’ in cheerful festive green. Tinsel lined the sign. The bed was a big one like in Luc’s bedroom and had a private bathroom and a walk-in closet too. My suitcases and bags set neatly next to the far wall. Red feathers stuck out of the laptop case I didn’t bother to rezip when I was finished with it.

  “My fans,” I whispered.

  I snatched them from the bag and headed out into the long hallway. My fingers tingled as I wrapped them around the edges of the fan. With my magic awake flying was technically possible. I hovered when Zera first gave them to me. That should’ve been my first sign that my magic was close to coming out.

  “Hindsight and all of that,” my wolf yawned.

  I held my arms out and chanted the magical word.

  “Arez. Arez. Arez,” I said her name backwards until my feet left the floor.

  I turned the fans to face forward and felt the wind of the harpies flutter my hair as I glided forward. A smile pulled at my lips and I swallowed down a victory howl, so I didn’t wake Luc up. I fanned the feathers and rose higher from the ground. Soon the fans moved me in whichever direction I thought about without any movement at all.

  “We’ve got to tell Zera. We should summon her!” My wolf howled inside my head.

  Shhhhh! Don’t wake up, Alpha. Can we even do that?

  “Magic’s awake. I don’t see why not.”

  I headed back downstairs to the kitchen and opened Luc’s pantry. Most witches and mages kept a fully stocked pantry that was useful for more than just cooking. It didn’t take me long to find everything I needed to cast a traditional harpy summoning circle. Even the chalk I needed set in a basket on the counter waiting for me.

  I tested a bit on the floor and wiped it away to double check that it wouldn’t stain Luc’s hardwood floor. Technically, I sort of lived here too, but the wood flooring was from when the house was originally built. I’d kick my own ass for destroying an historical part of Luc’s family home. I drew the circle in the space between the counter and sink and marked it with all the proper herbs. I added some pumpkin spice powder, because I figured Zera would get a kick out of it. I laid the fans she gave me in the center and lit a bright red candle. Then I circled one last time dropping dried sage over the other herbs.

  “Zera, come here,” I whispered.

  It wasn’t the fanciest spell in history, but I
was pretty sure it’d get the job done.

  “Zera, I flew. Come over and talk to me.”

  Wind swept through the circle shifting the herbs and scattering them across the kitchen. The candle went out and the overhead lights flickered. A second later Zera toppled onto her butt in the middle of the circle.

  “Give me some warning next time! I’ve never been summoned before. That landing was fucked!” She laughed.

  “Sorry. Let me help you up,” I held my hand out to her and pulled her to her feet.

  “Pumpkin spice?” She sniffed the air.

  “Used it to summon you.”

  “At least you didn’t summon me to slay anyone. I was sound asleep.” Zera yawned and stretched her arms above her head. “Got any coffee?”

  “Luc made it this morning, but it has to be around here somewhere.”

  We divided up and started checking the many kitchen cabinets high and low.

  “Got it!” Zera called from the other side of the kitchen.

  I sprinted over and my mouth dropped open. Either Luc or Barric were serious coffee drinkers. My money was on Luc because he kept a mug nearby all day. The cabinet was stocked front to back on all shelves with a variety of flavored coffees.

  “You two are a match made in the heart of the Other World,” Zera grinned. “Now where is the pumpkin spice?”

  “There it is,” I pointed to the orange pouch on the top shelf I couldn’t reach.

  Zera grabbed it down and started for the coffee pot.

  “How’s lover boy?” Zera asked once the coffee was on.

  “Out cold on the sofa,” I jerked my thumb towards the living room.

  “I mean, how is he?”

  “Like in bed?” I blushed and looked away.

  “No,” Zera shook her head fast. “I meant does he treat you okay?”

  “He’s a gentleman. We spent all evening running around in the snow and he didn’t drag me inside like Gloria does. He’s lots of fun and he even said he’d make me a servant to help with the programing.”

  “Gloria told me about the prophecy. I wasn’t sure Luc knew about it. Nothing’s strange happened around here, has it?” She asked.

  “Nothing out of the ordinary as far as I know.”

  “I’ll double check the Book of Possibilities when I get home. That’ll give us a head’s up.”

  “Zera, do me a favor?” I asked looking down at the table.

  “Sure. You know I’d do anything for you.”

  “If you check the book don’t tell me what it says. I don’t want to know what comes next. I don’t want to worry about possible dangers that may never come, and I don’t want the good surprises spoiled.”

  Zera thought about what I said for a moment and then she nodded slowly.

  “I’ll find us some snacks. You pour the coffee.”

  “Snacks are in the left topmost cabinet,” Luc walked into the kitchen.

  “Hey, Alpha! Sorry if we woke you up.”

  “It’s okay. It was the harpy wind. Then I heard you two chatting and dozed back off. Thought I’d come say hi to your friend,” Luc yawned.

  “Hey, lover boy!” Zera waved from the kitchen table.

  “Zera!” I shushed her as a hot blush washed over my face.

  “You must be Zera. I’ve heard a lot about you,” he reached out to shake her hand.

  Zera blinked and stared at it for a moment. Then she shook his hand.

  “Not many mages as old as you shake hands with harpies,” she said when the handshake ended.

  “We’re all at least part harpy here,” Luc shrugged handing me down a few bags of chips and some of the rolled-up chocolate cream cakes.

  “Not many mages will admit to that either.”

  “How many mages have you met?” Luc asked handing her a pumpkin shaped cake.

  “I’ve heard stories.”

  “About me?” He arched a brow.

  “Well, no but…”

  “Not every mage is a bigot. I’m heading up to bed, but you two hang out as long as you want. You’re welcome here anytime, Zera.” Luc kissed me on the cheek as he headed out of the kitchen.

  “He’s okay with the prophecy then?” She asked me.

  “Why wouldn’t he be?”

  “His grandfather was cruel. One of his children had enough harpy blood in them to have wings. He cut them off and the baby never lived to see his first birthday,” Zera looked down at the table.

  “Luc may share his grandfather’s name, but he’s not his grandfather. He’s a good guy,” I squeezed her hand.

  “I know. He’s good like you,” she managed a smile for me.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Luc

  Days passed with the speed of a racing train and morphed into weeks before we knew it. Snow fell in heavy fluffy flakes blanketing the world in the first blizzard of the year. Springfield and the surrounding areas weren’t strangers to heavy snowfall. While most non-magical people fled mages and witches reveled in the cold climate that made most others leave us be.

  In the two centuries since my parents’ door showed up Montero Manor felt like a dwelling. It was the place I hung my robes up at the end of a ceremony and experimented with new spells and potions. It was a warm bed, a whisper of the past, and the promise of little feet and the laughter of future children. With Aidan in the den Montero Manor was home. He raced around the halls in his underwear and played with his fans when he didn’t feel like walking up or down the spiraling staircases. We worked side by side experimenting with spells and potions. Unwanted sparks flew from his fingers less often as the days passed and he grew better at determining when they might happen. We replaced the headboard with a dragon created one with engravings of mages, wolves, and trees burnt into them.

  Our lives entwined and we spent every moment together. From breakfast to bedtime we floated from room to room talking, laughing, and making love whenever the mood hit. As November drew into its last weeks Aidan still wasn’t showing any signs of conception. The prophecy lingered in the back of our minds, but we were happy to try to fulfill it multiple times a day.

  It turned out my mate was a better cook than I or my servants. Aidan enjoyed preparing meals and partaking in small housekeeping tasks. His belongings and décor started filling in the empty spaces in our home. Most of his stuff was still at the Gilmore House, but we ordered in what he needed and wanted by drone delivery. If our future included long stints of time, there he shouldn’t have to haul his stuff back and forth. The desktops arrived and set in their boxes until Aidan was ready to get back to work.

  Gloria warned me her brother was a workaholic, but that’s not the Aidan I came to know. The mate I knew was warm, loving, and always laughing. We stayed up late at night discussing history, magic, our pasts, and of course the future. Our future. The capital F future with kids, grandkids, and maybe even some sort of collaboration between our covens. Well, me and what was left of his coven that still claimed the membership.

  Each time I decided I couldn’t possibly love Aidan more he smiled or said something that drew me deeper into his world. The Montero world view was certainty. We’d find our true-mates, raise families, and the line would continue. For Aidan each day was a surprise.

  “And I thought Grandma Rosa was a packrat,” Aidan laughed as I showed him into the room that held the Montero Yule decorations.

  “To be fair, these aren’t decorations I’ve acquired. I inherited them from past generations of Monteros.”

  “So, did she. Well, I mean Gilmore generations. You know what I mean,” Aidan laughed.

  “You’re on edge today, mate,” I said and sniffed the air. “Why are you nervous?”

  “Not nervous exactly. I just realized we haven’t stopped shopping since I got here, but I haven’t bought any of the Yule gifts I need to.”

  “Tonight, after dinner we’ll sit down and remedy that. We could give Gloria the failed hearth potion that smells like a rose garden and call it perfume.”

&nbs
p; “She hates roses. Her first boyfriend always brought them to her. He broke her heart when he ran off with some bird shifter. A phoenix or a crow or something like that.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who hates roses.”

  “Gloria doesn’t like a lot of things. She’s just as much of a workaholic as I am.”

  “We’ll just have to figure out a way to make sure she likes Yule at Montero Manor.”

  “I love you. You’re always trying to make me feel at home and I do. I feel at home right here in your arms,” he said and grazed his fingers over my arms to my shoulders. His touch stirred primal desire.

  “We’re not decorating just yet, are we?” He smirked.

  “We can.”

  “Later,” Aidan rose to his tiptoes and pressed his lips against mine.

  After a quick romp we shared a shower and lunch. Over lunch we discussed where would be the best place to start decorating.

  “Where do you usually start?” Aidan asked me before biting into his meatball sub.

  “Honestly, I haven’t decorated since inheriting the manor,” I admitted.

  “That’s sad. We always decorate. Not many Gilmores show up these days, but we still decorate. I need to poke Gloria later and make sure she’s decorating this year. Just because I’m not there doesn’t mean she can buck tradition.”

  “Traditions are made to end eventually. Their ends make way for the birth of new traditions.”

  “Nah. For us Gilmores we just keep adding traditions until we can’t remember what’s tradition and what we just made up last year,” Aidan laughed.

  “Let’s hold off on the tree. We can invite Gloria and Barric over and make a party of it. Start a little tradition of our own,” I said and ran my foot up is calf under the table.

  “I like the idea. You don’t have to seduce me into it,” he grinned.

  “I enjoy seducing you.”