Page 174 of Omega's Heart

He wasn’t wrong—not two minutes later a stampede of pups raced through the back door, yelling at the tops of their lungs in their excitement. Holland immediately disappeared into the living room and I could hear him trying to organize the pups and protect the still unopened presents from the voracious horde long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

The alphas showed up not long after. “Abel?” Bax called.

“I’m on it.” He grabbed Quin and they both disappeared into the living room to provide support to Holland and Raleigh.

“You two coming?” Cas asked from the doorway.

“Just going to put Felix’s meat pies in to warm up, then we’ll be right there,” Bax promised.

“You might have to fight for seats,” Cas warned him.

Bax laughed and we traded knowing looks. I was pretty sure that Kaden would have a spot for me right beside him. Abel would probably enjoy the excuse to have Bax sit on his lap.

The pies just fit into the oven beside the venison and the tray of turkey, already sliced up and ready to be eaten. Bax checked the temperature, then nodded in satisfaction. “Okay, time for presents.”

The pups had all gone first and there was soon a pile of pups in a pile of stuffed animals and mermaid blankets and Lego blocks, all happily playing with their new toys. Kaden had picked Hunter up some sort of toy that we could put peanut butter in to entertain him when we needed some adult time. I’d kissed my mate for his genius, making him preen.

Then the adult gifts began.

Raleigh got an easel from Cas and the pups, dark wood and carved with his name woven in with pack symbols on the legs, and some canvases to paint on. We oohed and aahed over it as Raleigh set it up, his excitement evident in the shining smile on his face.

In turn, Cas got a plaque that Raleigh had painted for him to put outside the door of his office, with his and Garrick’s names on it and the words, “Mercy Hills Law Office” in fancy script underneath. Cas showed it off, then immediately demanded Quin give him an office that was worthy of it.

“Next Christmas,” Quin promised with a grin.

“You say that every year,” Cas joked back.

But something about Holland’s smile told me that maybe this time it was the truth.

My turn came next. Kaden set out the big box that he’d refused to let me open this morning. I eyed it critically. “This really is overkill, you know,” I told him.

“Open it.” He looked as excited as the pups.

Carefully, I undid the ribbon holding the paper on and folded it all away from the cardboard beneath it. “It’s wonderful!” I leaned over and kissed my mate, then turned back to my new vacuum cleaner.

“I found one with an attachment for picking up fur off furniture. John’s wife claims it’s a very good name,” Kaden said modestly.

“It is.” I’d never imagined in my entire life I’d have one like this and I flipped the box around in wonder as I read all the things it could. “This is the best Christmas present I think I’ve ever gotten.”

Bax slid off Abel’s knee to come read the side of the box with me. “Wow,” he whispered and looked at me with a little bit of envy.

Kaden stretched and leaned back in his seat, his expression just a little bit smug. “So, I did good?”

“You did amazing,” I told him and passed the vacuum over so Holland and Raleigh could look at it, then turned and kissed him soundly. “I think you won Christmas,” I whispered in his ear.

“What’s my prize?” he whispered back.

I winked. “I’ll tell you later.”

He grinned and draped an arm around my shoulders, watching with satisfaction as his brothers’ mates admired my gift.

“Your turn,” I said, and gestured for Holland to find Kaden’s gift under the tree.

He passed the box to me so I could give it to Kaden. My mate peeled away the paper and opened the box. “Felix, where did you get this?”

I leaned my chin on his shoulder and looked down at the leather briefcase in his lap. “There’s someone in White River that does leatherwork. He’s never done a briefcase before, let alone one with a combination lock, but it turned out pretty well.” It was black, with a deep, rich sheen to it. Kaden’s name had been stamped into the leather on the top of it, with the Mercy Hills symbol below it. “I hope it’s big enough.”

“I don’t care, I’ll make it work.” He opened it carefully, like he was handling some sort of holy relic, then carefully closed it and pulled me to him to kiss me soundly. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Now I’m sure I won Christmas.”