Page 14 of Beary Mated Christmas

“It is. It won’t be sad anymore.”

“I messed up Christmas for you, didn’t I?” He reached for my hand.

“It doesn’t matter. We have a lot more Christmases to come. What’s the plan for the day?”

Denali absolutely beamed. “When I came in, I saw that there’s a Christmas festival the next town over. I thought we could make some new memories. That is, if you brought real clothes.”

I scoffed. “How dare you accuse me of only bringing pajamas and comfies to wear. I brought one sweater and a pair of jeans.”

“I prefer you in nothing at all, but are you in?”

“Yes, please.”

If someone blindfolded me and didn’t tell me where I was, I would’ve assumed the North Pole, instantly. The poles werewrapped with red-and-white stripes. Lights were strung from every storefront and pole. Santas bellowed out their greetings on every corner. Doors were wrapped like presents. Little Christmas villages were lit up in the windows.

“This place is very Christmasy.” Denali laughed.

“It’s fantastic. I haven’t let myself enjoy the holidays in a while, but it’s actually great because now it’s like I’m experiencing it all for the first time, with you.”

He hadn’t let go of my hand since we left the cabin, and I hoped he never did.

“I have another idea.”

“Tell me.”

“Let’s buy our first Christmas ornament.”

“I think that’s the best idea yet.” The alpha leaned in and whispered, “When we get home, I have an idea of somewhere very naughty to hang it.” He wasn’t getting on the nice list like that. “Okay, that’s the best idea yet but this is the best idea that doesn’t take place in a bed.”

We went into several shops. Denali insisted on buying some lights even though we had a mildly rousing argument about colored vs. white bulbs We ended up getting the strings that had both options and moved to music.

Oh, the difference a mating could make.

We sang along to music and uttered not a single bah-humbug. We stopped and dropped a few dollars into the carolers’ bucket.

And then we stopped in a shop that took my breath away. The Sparkling Globe carried ornaments and nothing but ornaments. Racks of them, reaching to the ceiling. Decorated trees displaying the possible themes someone might choose.

“This is the place,” Denali said. We picked out a few sets for the Christmas tree in the cabin, then I spotted the sectiondevoted to animal decorations and made a beeline for it. Easily, I found several polar bear ornaments and had to have them all.

“No wolves,” my alpha said from over my shoulder. “Maybe they have one somewhere else.”

I laughed. “Wolves aren’t really a festive animal. Polar bears. Reindeer. Nobody sings, ‘Two turtle doves and a wolf in the forest.’”

“That’s true but this place has everything. Let’s keep looking.”

We found not a single wolf, but Denali promised he would order one online. The man at the register, who wore those round Santa glasses and had a jelly belly to match said, “You don’t look happy. Didn’t find that something special?”

“I was looking for a wolf ornament,” Denali replied.

“Is that so? Well, you’re in luck.”

The man waved his hand. “Follow me. My wife was a wolf shifter. She insisted on us having wolves. They have their own display case. I keep them to remember her.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I put in.

The man nodded. “Me too. Time is short, and you can never get it back. Remember that. Here we are. I have a howling wolf. A sleeping wolf. A wolf by the fire. You name it, I’ve got it.”

He was right. The display was off to the side, and somehow we’d overlooked it.