Page 15 of Claiming the Shifter’s Heart (The Macconwood Pack Tales #16)

K ris had been so amped up after last night, he did not sleep a wink. After standing sentinel in the woods outside her place for most of the night and morning, he went home to grab a bite, shower, and change.

His apartment was okay for now, but he longed for the day he could be with Della and the kids in her house. The old house had plenty of woodwork that needed repairing. It called to his artistic nature, and he’d already started planning what projects he would assume first, with her approval first.

His Wolf was just as obsessed as he was with the idea of protecting what he saw as his family. Fixing their house was just one way he could do that.

Christmas carols started playing through the speakers as he took his place on Santa’s throne, waving at the children in line as he walked past them. It didn’t miss his attention that Della’s perfect brood were first.

Emotion flooded Kris’ system as Della approached, pretty as a picture in her First Elf getup, Sean, and Janie in tow. His throat constricted, and it was hard to swallow.

God, they were perfect. The perfect little family. His Wolf had already staked a claim, the beast already bonded. He could deny it all he wanted, but why would he ever want that? Kris had nothing to hide. He was head over heels for Della and he loved her children so much already.

For weeks he’d stood guard, watching over them from afar. Oh, he’d talked to them a time or two, but that was mostly in passing. But today, well, he’d just lucked out.

“Hello Santa!” Sean shouted, pulling against his mother’s hand.

“Hey there, Bud,” Kris said, smiling widely.

“I knew you was real! Some big kids at school said there was no Santa, but I still believe in you,” he said.

“I’m so glad, Sean, because I believe in you too.”

“Okay! Let’s get set up for the photo,” Della said too brightly.

Kris frowned. She looked strange. Not worried, but there was something going on. He hated her distress. Everything in him demanded he fix it for her. Thank goodness he’d been reading up on relationships and dating a single parent.

Of course, that wasn’t what they were doing. And Shifters were far different from humans. Still, the ebooks he’d been checking out from the library app he had downloaded had some sage advice.

He understood that Della did not need a man to fix her life. Fact was, it wasn’t broken. She had built herself back up after everything life had thrown her way, and now she stood strong on her own two feet, fiercely independent and self-sufficient.

She wasn’t some damsel waiting to be saved—she was a woman who had learned to rely on herself. He admired that about her, respected it deeply.

But he also knew something else. Though she might need time to adjust to the idea, she did have one man she could rely on. Him.

He was going to show her that she could lean on him without fear of being let down. He could not imagine all she’d suffered.

His Sweet Girl had carried so much weight alone for so long, the thought of sharing that burden with anyone could feel like a leap into the unknown.

Kris was okay with going slow. What mattered most was that she understood the truth— the absolute truth, one that he was sure of in his soul.

Della was destined for him. He was her match, her partner, in every sense of the word. And he wasn’t going anywhere.

Not now, not ever.

He would never hurt her, never bring harm to her or her children in any way, shape, or form. That was a promise he would die keeping.

Sure, he might mess up now and then. He was only human. He was imperfect, like everyone else, and he knew that. But where Della and her babies were concerned, his heart was pure.

Every decision he made would be with their well-being at the forefront of his mind. He might stumble, but he would always strive to do better, to be better for them.

If she needed time to trust that, to believe in him, he would give it to her. He wouldn’t rush her or push her—he would wait. That was something he could give her, and not just because it was Christmas.

Kindness, attention, protection, trust, patience, and most of all, his heart. These would be his gifts to her.

He understood that the foundation of their bond needed to be built on trust, and that couldn’t be rushed. Kris thought he proved he was willing to take the time, go at her pace, until she saw that he was more than just a man who loved her—he was the man who would never leave, never fail, and always have her back.

And when she was ready to accept that, he’d be waiting.

“How about a family picture? Mama too?” he asked, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

“Yeah, Mommy. You sit, too!” Sean agreed.

“Oh, um, okay,” she murmured.

She bit her lip, trying to figure out how to sit down since Sean insisted he was too big for Santa’s lap. God help him, his mind kept wandering to dirty things every time he looked at her soft, plump lips.

Like Della’s sweet kisses and the sexy little sounds she made in bed last night.

“I know it’s against the rules for anyone else, but you can sit right here, Little Mama. You sit on me, and put Janie right here,” he said, trying to keep his growling to a minimum.

The line was building fast, and kids were whining they were taking long. Kris knew that was the only reason Della sat down abruptly.

The feel of her soft ass on his lap was almost too much, but he was just so damn happy she’d listened he couldn’t help himself. He wrapped one gloved hand around her hip, squeezing her as they smiled for the photographer like one big happy family.

It was his most fervent wish. And even if just for a moment, Kris’ heart sang with the possibility it could be his.

“Santa? Can I tell you what I want for Christmas?” Sean said, turning to face him before walking away.

“Sean, it’s someone else’s turn now,” Della chided, but the little boy was insistent.

“Sure, Bud. Go ahead,” he said, not seeing the harm.

He figured she was on a budget, but if there was a toy or trinket the little boy wanted that was beyond her spending limit for the holidays, he’d be happy to buy it for him.

“I want a real Daddy for Christmas.”

“Sean!” Della gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

Startled velvet eyes met his and Kris knew without a doubt his Wolf was visible in his gaze.

“Can you do it Santa?”

“Sean, you can’t ask Santa for a Daddy,” Della replied anxiously.

“Yes, I can, Mom. He can come for dinner on Christmas, and he can carve the turkey, and we can have a family like we’re s’pposed to! Like the cartoons have, Mommy,” he begged.

Sean wiggled out of his mother’s grasp and ran right up to Kris. His big brown eyes were so much like hers. But he knew Della wouldn’t approve of him just saying yes. Even if it was killing him not to.

“Sean,” he said, glancing at her and begging her to trust him with that one look before he dropped his gaze to Sean’s, “that’s a very serious thing you’re asking for, and we can talk about it a little bit later. I’d be happy to come to Christmas dinner, but that is for your Mom to decide. She needs you to listen to her now, Bud, and you should, like a good boy.”

“It’s okay. Maybe you’re not the real Santa,” he said, ducking his head down sadly.

Kris’ heart squeezed and his Wolf howled sorrowfully. He did not like letting down the child. Not one bit.

“Hey Sean,” Kris added, unable to stop himself. “I can promise you’re gonna have a good Christmas. Okay, Bud?”

“Okay,” he said and nodded.

“Come on, Sean.”

Kris tried to get her to look at him again, but she refused. In fact, she pretty much ignored him for the rest of the night.

When he’d gone to see about her tree, she’d already had one of the teenagers tie it to her car. His Wolf confirmed later on that she’d set it up inside the house with no help.

He called her the next day but was greeted by a message saying her voicemail was full. His texts went unanswered, too.

Fuck.

Finally, when he couldn’t take it anymore, Kris took off for the farm early. One of the larger kids who’d come to take pictures with Santa the night before had kicked one of the supporting legs of the bench and wound up cracking it.

It wasn’t the girls’ fault. She was part of a class trip to Manning Farms from a school for children with special needs. One of the teacher’s aides had stepped away to use the restroom, and the little girl had run right past the line all the way to Kris and Santa’s throne. In her excitement, she acted out, and well, she got a little carried away.

She’d even gotten him right in the shin in her exuberance. But he was a Werewolf, so it was all good as far as he was concerned. As for the bench, not so much.

Della though, she was a gem. She’d managed to settle the child down with some gentle words and breathing exercises. The school was mortified and apologized profusely, but that was unnecessary. Kris was just glad the girl was okay.

Still, the leg needed mending, and he was not doing himself any good waiting for her to answer. So, he went in early and hoped to maybe run into her before shift.

The barn was empty save for the sleigh, and he wondered if there would be a lot of requests today since Christmas Eve was tomorrow. People liked to get their rides in before the big day, even though the high temperature was expected to be in the low twenties all weekend.

His mind wandered as he worked, falling into the rhythm of gluing, sanding, stripping, and painting. He used high quality, fast acting agents with little to no fragrance. His Wolf would allow for no less.

By the time he was finished, he stood up, looking over his work for a full thirty seconds before he realized he was not alone. He turned around swiftly, catching Della just standing there, watching him like he was something she craved.

“Della, I need to apologize?—”

But he didn’t get to finish before she was pressed against him, her hungry mouth plundered his.

Mmm. So good. So mine.