Tinsel: A Shifter of Consequence Holiday Tale (Shifters of Consequence Book 8) Read online

  Finally. Despite their good will, part of me had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Okay…” I braced myself.

  “We’ve been talking,” Tris went on, “and we reviewed the credit card statement while we were away—”

  “So you did know? The totals?”

  “Of course. And while this is…amazing,” Samson put in, “if we’re going to run this pack together, we’ll need to make agreements about things like expenditures.”

  “Oh!” My accounting principles class, something I’d taken to fill a math requirement and thought might be practical for personal matters, came back to me. “For example, the pack budget. Maybe I could review it and make suggestions for various categories.”

  They were both laughing so hard, they let go of me and doubled over. I propped my hands on my hips and glared. “What is so hilarious?”

  “Y-you just spent enough on Christmas decorations to finance a small country, and you want to be involved in pack budgeting?” Samson choked out. “I’m afraid you’ll spend the money we have been saving for solar panels on Easter eggs or Valentine’s balloons.”

  “Hey!” I was deeply offended. “I did this for the pack!”

  “And it was good,” Tris soothed, “but it doesn’t exactly give us confidence in you as a financial whiz. You have other responsibilities.”

  I pulled my cap lower to warm my ears. “And you don’t think I should at least see the budget, you know, as the first lady?”

  The snow underfoot wasn’t deep, but our footsteps crunched on it. “We thought maybe we needed to set a spending limit.”

  “You want to limit how much I spend?” Considering I’d only used the pack credit card once, I was already missing it.

  “Of course not, or, well, yes, but not in the way you think.” Tris grabbed for my hand again, but I tugged it back.

  “The way I think? It’s not like I spent this on myself. I didn’t buy so much as a pair of holiday socks.” I thrust out my lower lip. “And they had some really cute ones.”

  “Right,” Samson agreed. “You did only spend on behalf of the pack, and we know there will be opportunities in the future for you to do that again. So, we have a proposition for you.”

  They’d walked me out here in the snowy woods on Christmas Eve to discuss business? I was starting to get irritated. “And you couldn’t wait until after Christmas to discuss all this?”

  “We could have. Still can if you’d rather,” Samson offered, helping me over a fallen branch.

  “You know I can’t wait. I’d just be wondering.” They were too smart by half. “So what is your proposition?”

  “I’ve read human mates sometimes set a spending limit for each other. Not that they don’t spend larger amounts, but they always discuss them first.” Tris watched me carefully. “Would you be amenable to such an arrangement?”

  I still did have a little guilt from my shop-mania. I’d always been careful with money, never went overboard, never had been able to. Two big tears rolled down my cheeks, and the two of them hugged me tight. “I-I’m really sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “You’re fine!” Tris petted my hair.

  “We don’t mind what you did. We just need to make sure we all know what we’re doing.”

  I wiped off the tears. “So, it would apply to you both as well?

  If I hadn’t been so upset, I’d have giggled. They were both aghast.

  “Well, no, I…we, that is we didn’t…” Tris gave Samson a helpless look.

  “You told me you were taking a page from the human relationship book where they all have limits? Didn’t you?”

  “Yes.” Samson nodded slowly. “We did. But let me make a counter offer. We do that with our personal money, but we let our accountant continue to keep track of pack money, and you let us know when you need the pack card, and approximately how much you’ll be using?”

  I grabbed one of each of their hands and squeezed. “I think that’s perfect. Now, anyone for a moonlight run?”

  We stripped and stacked our clothing neatly on a log to keep it off the ground before shifting and tearing off through the woods together. Running with my mates was one of the great pleasures of my life, especially since we’d resolved so many of our issues together. While we would always be aware of our surroundings, our lands were ours to run and enjoy.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Good morning!” I danced in the kitchen on Christmas morning. The night before, the pack had danced and sung carols and shared treats under the tree we had all participated in decorating. Samson and Tris had taken a while to thaw, but once they did, they were partying along with everyone else. I looked over during the jolliness and saw my mates sitting together, each with a glass of spiked eggnog in his hand, talking like no bad blood had ever passed between them.

  Now, it was Christmas morning, and time for my private celebration with my men.

  I’d already put the coffee on and my special loaded-breakfast casserole was fresh out of the oven along with homemade cinnamon buns. I’d cut up a huge fruit salad and crisped up some bacon especially for Tris. The man loved bacon almost as much as he loved me, and that was saying something.

  “What has you so damned chipper at…” Tris checked his watch. “It’s not quite seven, mate. What gives?”

  Showing these two a good Christmas was like walking up a mountain in the snow, but I had to repeat it every single day.

  “It’s Christmas!” I yelled and jumped up and down. I had to be excited enough for the three of us.

  “And you get up at the crack of dawn and make every food under the sun on Christmas? Is that a thing?” Samson was next to grump at me from the top of the stairs.

  “Yes. It’s a labor of love. Now, come on down. We can eat while we open presents.”

  I’d ignored the lack of packages under the tree with my name on them. I’d convinced myself it was the season of giving and being grateful, and expecting a gift or being upset about not having one would not get me one inch in the right direction as far as bringing my mates to my side of Christmas spirit.

  Well, pretty much convinced myself.

  “Okay, fine.” Samson came down the stairs. My men were wearing nearly matching buffalo-plaid pajama pants, slung low on their hips, giving me a delicious view of the vees right above the waistline.

  See? That should be enough of a present for me.

  Each of us filled a plate and poured a cup of coffee then sat on the floor right in front of the Christmas tree. I shut my eyes for a moment and took in the scene. The scent of all the tantalizing breakfast along with the comforting scents of my mates. The feel of the evergreen branches in front of me. The sounds of soft, vintage Christmas music playing in the background. The light warmth of the rising sun beaming through the window.

  This was what Christmas was all about.

  “Here!” I gave Tris a gift and then Samson. I took a bite of my food and pretended not to be on complete edge about how they would react.

  Their reactions would be the best part. I just knew it.

  “Oh, wow. This is great.” Tris had opened his box. Inside was a cashmere dark-gray turtleneck sweater. Samson’s was the same except his was black. They both chuckled at the similarities before pulling on the new sweaters.

  Damn it. I should’ve given them those last. More time to savor their shirtlessness.

  “Next one!” I handed them their other gifts and savored my breakfast while they opened them. Joy swelled inside me as I watched them open the gifts with widened eyes and gasp a few times.

  Seemed all of my worry was for naught. They loved every single gift.

  “We have something for you,” they said in unison.

  “No, you don’t have to. I mean, I know you don’t like Christmas.”

  Tris stood and held out his hand for me. “But we know our mate does. And her happiness comes before ours. Come on.”

  They dragged me to the counter and opened one of the side drawers where
we usually stuffed random pieces of mail. “This is for you, but really it’s for all of us.”

  I opened the card and stepped back, in complete shock. They’d given me something I hadn’t even realized I wanted.

  “We really didn’t get a full-on honeymoon, so we thought a trip away, for the three of us, would be special.”

  Inside was a paid-in-full trip to Norway, a place I’d wanted to go for years. For some reason, the Scandinavian country and the surrounding areas seemed to call to me.

  Airplane tickets, room reservations, all of it. And right in front of me.

  “I can’t believe you did this and without me knowing. I mean, I’m hard to keep a secret from.”

  They nodded. “Yeah, that’s the blessing of a pack credit card. The statement gets to us online only.”

  The rest of the day was spent as every Christmas should be. We ate until we couldn’t eat another bite then managed to wander into the kitchen and ate some more. We ran together outside as wolves until the cold and the snow became too much, so we wandered inside and warmed ourselves by the fire.

  Gifts or no gifts, this holiday was everything I’d wanted it to be and more. And finally, finally, I’d convinced my Grinches Christmas was worth all the hustle and bustle for sure.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Christmas had been fun and exhausting. My thinking we’d have it to ourselves had been silly. Gigi was home, but slept in late in a subtle effort to give us privacy, but of course, she had to emerge eventually. Then we had pack members stopping by with greetings of the season followed by a spontaneous group of teenaged carolers who set up shop in the clearing and sang until the hat they’d set in front of them was filled with small bills and loose change. As the alphas and first lady, we’d had to go out and listen, clap, and contribute.

  It was an unusually warm day for December, so in another spontaneous act, everyone brought dishes to the clearing. After the carolers finished, a bonfire was built and there was lots of eating and more caroling by all of us. I was concerned my less-than-holiday-spirited mates might object or want to sneak away home to watch football on TV, but to my shock, they stayed all afternoon and even got up and sang a carol in harmony. It turned out they’d performed this together when they were very little, for a couple of elders who’d continued celebrating the winter holidays in a quiet way that somehow their alpha father hadn’t caught on to. I only kept from hating their father by remembering it was his genetics that brought these two into being, despite the fact he had no idea what to do with them afterward.

  Of course, there was lots to drink, most of it alcoholic, and while it took a lot to get a shifter drunk, it was possible if you worked hard enough at it, which many of us did. I don’t know how much mulled wine I drank, but it was fragrant with spices and had pretty apple slices floating on the top, and pack members kept refilling my cup.

  Warmth suffused me, even outside in the wintery afternoon—far more warmth than the weak sunshine could offer. I threw my arms around my mates and brought them both in close. “I love you two sooo much.” I bestowed a kiss on each cheek. “You know that, don’t you?” This time, the kisses were on their lips. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Uh-huh.” Samson chuckled and stood up from the picnic table bench where we’d been sitting for a while, picking at plates of leftover goodies. “Tris, I think it’s time for our mate to go night-night.”

  “Nooo.” I stood on the bench, spinning in a circle. “I don’t want Christmas to end.”

  Tris caught me just before I landed on a platter of cookies. He brought me to his chest and stepped over the bench “It doesn’t have to end, mate. Let’s take it home and celebrate alone for a while.”

  A half-dozen wolves trotted past us, and I shook my head. “No. I want to run in the woods. Let’s run!”

  Samson brushed a lock of hair from my forehead and gave me a grin. “Later, okay? For now, I’m a little cold.” He gave an exaggerated shiver. “You don’t want me to be chilled, do you?”

  “You’re cold? Then we’d better go inside.” I patted Tris’ chest. “Why are we standing here?

  They were both laughing and teasing me as we entered the house, but instead of stopping in the living room, Samson headed up the stairs, and Tris carried me after him. A fire had been lit in the fireplace in the master bedroom, I had no idea by whom but was very glad to see it, since I suddenly recognized I was freezing. My teeth chattered.

  My mates, who were dipping their toes into the holiday spirit but who always made me feel loved, ran me a bath and undressed me slowly before lowering me into the bubbly water. They tenderly washed me then dried me off and pulled a warm flannel nightgown in a holly-berry print over my head.

  Without my having to ask, they tucked me in bed then climbed in on either side and held me between them. I wasn’t tipsy anymore, but the amount of love I felt for them was even more dizzying. “Did you enjoy Christmas a little,” I asked, hoping for the right answer. “I know I took it a little over-the-top.”

  “Mate,” Samson said, “I enjoy every day with you. You’ve made our lives a thousand times better just by being here. Not only are you a true warrior goddess, but you are the loving force who brought us back together.”

  “Without you,” Tris put in, “we’d still be at odds.”

  “No—” I protested, but he laid two fingers over my lips

  “Yes. I came back here hoping to figure out what to do, but you taught us how to be brothers, and for that, I will be forever grateful.”

  “Me, too, mate.” Samson snuggled closer and pulled the covers up over our shoulders. “In fact, this was the best Christmas ever.”

  “Can I ask a favor?” I was fading but had one last request.

  “Anything, mate,” Tris said.

  “Of course,” Samson added.

  “Can you sing your song again? The harmony one?”

  They groaned.

  But they did it.

  Best. Mates. Ever.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two days later, I was having a heated discussion with my mates about the timing of taking down the Christmas tree.

  I asserted the idea we should keep it up until New Year’s Day and make taking it down on the first our new tradition.

  My mates wanted to start the new year with a clean slate and a glitter-and-ribbons-free house.

  They lost and offered to take me to lunch, probably to try and butter me up some more.

  “Wait, my phone is ringing.” I fished in my purse for the damned thing as it blasted out one of my favorite songs. “Hello?”

  It was Wendi, and I expected her pregnant senses had caught on I was going to lunch and wanted something.

  Instead of Wendi, it was Moss on the other line, and though what he told me sent my heart to beating overtime, he kept his tone cool and calm.

  Wendi was in labor.

  “I have to go to her!” I exclaimed, tossing any other plans out the window. My best friend needed me, and lunch be damned, I was going to be there. Tris and Samson were on my heels while we crossed the pack lands and made it to the infirmary.

  I busted in like the fucking Kool-Aid man and, heavily breathing, demanded an update even though it had only been minutes since I’d spoken to Moss.

  “Her contractions are less than one minute apart now. She’s actually been in labor since yesterday but wanted to wait until she was in hard labor before telling anyone. She’s been pacing the floors all night, trying to move things along.” Cash’s face was completely pale. “I was about to go in there now. Can you wait out here? She wanted me to tell you what was going on before I went in.”

  Poor guy. He’d been made the messenger.

  “Gigi is with her?” I was pretty sure, but just checking.

  “Yes.”

  “Yeah, of course. Go on in. Let me know things if you can.”

  My mates and I took a seat in the waiting area outside the new labor and delivery room. I expected to hear screams and yelling from the other
side, but instead, it was silent—too silent. It frightened me more than the screaming would have.

  “Is it just me or is it really quiet? I mean, are we sure she’s in labor?” Tris asked the question as Brandon came out of the clinic area, a smile bigger than the sun plastered on his face.

  “She’s here. She’s here. We have a daughter. I…Wendi asked me to tell you.”

  The three of us stood out of pure reverence for the moment. My best friend, just like that, was a mama.

  “Will you call us once she’s ready for visitors?” Samson took the words right out of my mouth. The moment had my words clogged in my throat along with overwhelming joy.

  “No.”

  My heart stopped.

  “She wants you to stay. She’s not ready to announce this to the pack, but she wanted only a few moments with her mates before you three come in. Then she wants to rest and take the day to ourselves before we tell anyone else. We hope you three can keep that in confidence, for today.”

  Of course, we could, and Tris told him so.

  Moss ducked into the room while we waited and, within the hour, Escher, Brandon, and Moss came out of the room and we went in. Wendi was there, looking worn, but I’d never seen someone so damned happy to be absolutely exhausted.

  “You didn’t scream,” I blurted, letting my mind use my mouth before thinking about whether or not the words were appropriate.

  “There was no point. It didn’t actually hurt much. Not sure if it was the healer thing or not. Mostly, it was a lot of pressure.”

  In her arms was a bundle of…well, blanket. I couldn’t see anything, but at the same time, I was afraid to approach. I felt like approaching without Wendi’s permission would be sacrilege or something to that degree.

  “Well, get over here already. Alessandra wants to meet her aunty.”

  Cash stood as Wendi tried to move the baby so I could get a better view. The baby girl in her arms was beautiful, stunning even. Her features presented the perfect mesh of all of Wendi’s mates. I thought harem children would favor one of the mates, but clearly, I’d been wrong. This child was a melting pot of Wendi’s men.