Page 4 of Santas' Elf

We’d gone to family parties, and he’d been so excited to hold all the newborns. Then he had to watch as they were passed between the omegas instead. Thinly veiled excuses of alphas not knowing how to handle kids covered up the blatant bigotry—several of his relatives disapproved of our alpha-alpha relationship.

My sweet Pete had only wanted a few minutes to make the kids smile—and had been denied. The look of devastation on his face every time we drove home without him being allowed to dote on the children was enough to make me realize that I had to do something—anything—to give him what he seemed to need so much.

Pete threw himself into the role as soon as I suggested it. He researched the best Santa school, and, after we graduated, he enrolled in both sign language and Spanish classes at the community college so that he could connect with more kids.

A part of me had been terrified that whole year—watching him become more and more excited over the prospect of making so many children smile. Would we be able to land jobs as Santas?

Would Pete enjoy it?

I smiled as my fingers brushed over a shiny brass button. My Pete had been like a new man after only his first day playing Santa. He’d told me about the deaf girl who couldn’t stop grinning when she was able to talk to him using sign, and about the little boy who’d had a wishlist so long that eventually the mother had to step in so that another kid could have their turn.

He’d even loved consoling the children who weren’t old enough to understand and broke into tears at being placed on a stranger’s lap.

I zipped the garment bag and pulled our combined ten costumes from the closet.

What had once been a season of sadness—when Pete wasn’t even allowed to dote on his relatives’ kids—was now the highlight of my man’s year as he was able to give thousands of children magical memories.

He was just stirring as I made my way from the closet, giving me a lopsided and sleepy smile.

I grinned, placed the garment bags on a chair, and climbed under the covers with him. “Good morning, Sexy.”

“G’mornin,” he mumbled as I kissed him. He turned and pressed his morning wood against my leg.

I chuckled. “We should do something about that. Do you want to knot me, or shall I knot you?”

“Why not both?”

I grinned. “Both it is,” I replied as I reached over to our nightstand and grabbed a bottle of lube.

What man could refuse such a simple request from the one he loved?

Chapter 4 - Benny

~November~

Iturned one way then the other, examining myself in the mirror. I looked ridiculous in the red and green elf costume. Granted, it would have been worse if I didn’t have such a slender frame.

I snickered at the thought of some of my coworkers trying to make it work and almost lost it laughing when I imagined my brawny friend Carter trying to appear elfish.

“Welcome to Santa’s Workshop,” I said to the mirror, mimicking his deep voice. “Do you want a photo with Santa?”

I doubled over, my sides hurting from laughing. Maybe Bob had been onto something when he’d asked me to be the photographer.

Satisfied that the costume was at least on properly, I made my way out from the small changing room and almost ran right into somebody.

“Sorry,” I muttered before fully realizing what a gorgeous alpha he was. He was a bit on the larger side but had a kind face. He had a snow-white beard and hair, but couldn’t have been older than forty based on the lack of wrinkles. Then I saw thegarment bag slung over his shoulders, and I swallowed. White beard, garment bag, isolated changing room in the bowels of the mall…

This gorgeous man was going to be Santa.

I scooted aside, even as he laughed and said not to worry about it.

I scurried to the small wall of lockers and stored my regular clothes, then stood there, wondering if I should wait there to introduce myself, or if I should make my way out to where we’d be working.

I was glad that my indecision had kept me there when I heard a boisterous ‘Ho, Ho, Ho!’ from the changing room.

I couldn’t help my giggles, and a moment later Santa poked his head out and grinned at me.

“I’m Pete, by the way,” he stated. “I take it we’re working together?”