Page 10

Kurt

I couldn’t remember having such a good time at the holidays…or any time before. Not that the pack didn’t celebrate. They did and in a really nice way with lots of treats and caroling and gifts and everything. I presided over the group events, most of which were held in the alpha house, my home. The tree in the front window was selected by the betas and decorated by the omegas, and it was always gorgeous.

Carrying on my fathers’ traditions and those of the alpha-omega couples before them was a truly beautiful thing. And I enjoyed it. Watching my people share joy? I’d have sworn there was nothing better. But over the past few days, I’d learned something surprising. While I sat on the sofa or in my favorite chair and everyone around me ate, drank, and danced, there was a thin veil between me and them. They all went home at the end of the party to their families, while I went upstairs to my bedroom alone. Of course there were other singles, but they hung out together, and somehow they never thought to include their alpha in his ivory tower.

But the last few days, playing games and doing the most pleasant and simplest things? I didn’t know I could feel the spirit of the season so strongly. We were sitting in front of the fire drinking tea and eating cookies when the idea occurred to me. “Wade, how would you feel about a Christmas tree?”

He set his mug down and frowned. “I don’t know. They’re pretty I guess, but I’ve never had one.” Which explained his comments on our walk. He’d looked at it so longingly, and I wanted to give him one.

I reeled back but this time I bit my tongue. I’d already tripped over my tongue more than once. Fact: His former pack sucked. No need to remind him of that. He already knew. “Then it’s time you did. Truthfully? The tree in my home is always the pack tree. I’d like one that I pick out and cut down and that you and I decorate together, if you think you are up for some more snowshoeing?”

“I’ve walked a whole lot throughout this pregnancy and for a whole lot less-fun reasons. But do you think it is okay to do that?”

“We’re going to find out.” I clapped my hands and stood. “You bundle up, and I’ll dash up to the main house and see what a person has to do around here to get a Christmas tree happening.” If they didn’t want any trees cut, maybe they had an old artificial one tucked away somewhere. The few times I’d been in the main house, I’d been awed by the decorations, including the most beautiful Christmas tree I’d ever seen.

I shrugged into my coat and headed up to ask, but before I got to the door, I found Theo on the porch. He was sipping a mug of cocoa topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a candy cane. The resemblance to that old saint was stronger every time.

“Theo! Do you have a minute to chat?”

He waved me up. “Want a cup of cocoa?”

“It sounds good, but I really just wanted to ask a question. Wade is waiting for me.”

“All right. Shoot.”

“Is there anywhere around here we can cut a Christmas tree? We’d love to have one for the cabin.”

“We cut ours from the stand just west of here, and there are plenty of other options in there. Also, it’s level walking through the grove, which might be helpful to someone who is close to having a baby.”

“Absolutely. Do we need a permit, or is there a fee I can pay?” Everything here was so easy and smooth. “I have my wallet, or you have my card on file if you just want to use that.”

“No charge. We have to thin out the forest anyway. Just be careful and don’t cut more of a tree than you can fit in the cabin. We’ve had guests cut down thirty-foot trees for an eight-foot ceiling on occasion.”

“Considering we’ll have to make our decorations, we probably will keep it on the small side.”

He chuckled, a warm friendly sound. “There should be a box of lights and maybe a few ornaments in the bedroom closet, if you take a peek. But otherwise, you’ll probably find some materials for your project. I don’t suppose you brought an ax with you?”

He ended up giving me the ax, leather gloves, a tarp, and some rope all piled on a sled then sending me on my way. His cocoa had to be cold, but when I glanced over my shoulder, I saw steam rising from his cup. I shrugged, hurrying to the cabin to pick up Wade and head for the grove of trees.

Wade, all bundled up, was watching for me through the window, and, as I approached, he disappeared behind the curtains and reappeared opening the door. He wore a heavy coat and hat, fur-lined gloves, and a wooly scarf, none of which I’d seen him in before. Overall, he looked more like a bear than a wolf, and utterly adorable. He’d worn my coat before but this time, I wouldn’t be wearing my fur.

“Where did you get all those things?” I asked.

“The closet. Do you think I shouldn’t wear them?”

I shrugged. “I think they were left behind a while ago judging by their appearance. Can’t see why you shouldn’t.”

“Is that an ax?” He gave a little bounce. “We’re getting a tree!”

I pulled the sled, although he offered to help, and side by side we walked along the road in the direction Theo sent us. It wasn’t far at all, and soon we were moving from tree to tree, discussing them as if we were going to pay city prices. They were all great, but I mentioned Theo’s warning about height. When I held up my hand next to a tree I’d have sworn was eight or nine feet, it towered at least another few feet above my fingertips.

Finally, we narrowed it down to two. Both were between seven and eight feet high, but one had defined branches and the other was bushier. “How do we decide?” I asked. “If we stay out here much longer, your nose is going to turn blue.”

“I know.” He smiled but cupped his palm over his nose, muffling his words a little. “Let’s take the one that smells the best.”

“How will we know?” Everything smelled like green and cold out here.

“Simple.” He reached out to the closer of the two trees, the bushy one, and pulled off a few needles, crushing them in his glove. “Sniff.”

I bent to inhale the fragrance. “Heady, sharp, and somehow watery? Nice.”

He brushed the needles away and did the same thing with the more defined tree. “Now smell this one.”

I sniffed the bruised needles and tipped my head back. “Smells like Christmas.”

“Exactly.” He nodded. “Now, give me the ax and…what?”

“Just step back. Maybe next time you can do it, but an ax is dangerous and I don’t want anything to ever hurt you.”

“Thank you, alpha.” His voice was thick with emotion. “I am not used to someone being so concerned.”

With everything in me, I wanted to say something, to let him know we were, but instead I chopped down the tree, wrapped it in the tarp, and secured it on the sled. All the way home, we were belting carols, and we did find that box of decorations, so the only thing we made was a popcorn chain.

Thoroughly fun, thoroughly happy Christmas outing, fun tree decorating, and my heart burst with the joy of it all.