Chapter 6

Okay, so the male could kiss.

Like really kiss. And she wouldn’t have wanted to stop even if the world was ending.

He pulled gently from the kiss, sucking on her bottom lip for a moment before kissing across her jaw and then hugging her close with his face buried in her neck.

“Holy shit,” he said with a rough voice.

She hugged him, feeling the muscles as they flexed and released in his back, and the shiver of tension that made him shudder a little as she touched him.

“So that’s what you meant when you said you wanted to talk?”

He laughed and kissed her neck. Then he eased back and smiled at her, looking like the sexiest male on the planet.

How’d she get so lucky?

His eyes were pine green, and his hair was light brown and so soft she didn’t think she’d ever get tired of touching it. The day’s worth of stubble on his cheeks was just rough enough to give her a shiver as he rubbed against her skin.

It would probably feel amazing when he was between her thighs.

Her toes curled as heat flooded through her.

His nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. “What sexy things are you thinking about, sweet Winterlyn?”

“Just you.”

His eyes drifted to half-mast, and he let out a low growl. “I want to be a gentleman to you, so you know that I want you for you, and I’m not chasing a one-nighter. You’re my mate, Winterlyn. I want you to be mine.”

“Is that a question?”

He snorted. “No, sorry. My wolf is making all kinds of demands in my head. Let’s try again: Winterlyn, will you be my mate?”

“Yes.” She bit her bottom lip as worry made her heart ache.

“What is it?”

“Are you sure you don’t mind that I can’t shift? I don’t even know if it would affect our kids.”

“I promise I’ll prove to you in time that it doesn’t matter to me if you can’t shift. It only matters that you’re mine. Our kids will be fine. All ten of them.”

Her brows lifted in surprise. “Ten?”

“Oh sure,” he said, waggling his brows. “I plan to keep you very busy.”

Her stomach took that moment to growl, and she pressed her hand to her belly, but it didn’t do a thing to cover the sound.

“Hungry?”

“How could you tell?”

She slid from his lap. He rose to his feet, and she got an eyeful of the erection that strained his pants, the outline of the thick length making her mouth water and her body heat another hundred degrees or so.

“Hey, my eyes are up here,” he said. He pulled her to her feet, and she leaned against him with a laugh.

“Sorry, you’re sexy.”

“So are you. Now how about we go to the cafeteria for breakfast. I have coffee, but that’s about it.”

“Sounds good to me. Then?”

“Then I’d like to take you on a date, and I’d like to ask you to stay with me tonight. Would you like me to take you to your place to pack a bag?”

“That would be great. Then I can talk to my parents too. There’s a really nice bistro outside of town, we could go there to eat.”

“Perfect. I’ll put in a request for an escort, and you can reach out to your parents about a visit. I’m sure they’d appreciate knowing you were bringing home a wolf.”

“Not just any wolf,” she said. “My mate.”

After breakfast in the employee cafeteria, which consisted of made-to-order omelets and a buffet of every imaginable breakfast item, Winterlyn reached out to her parents and spoke to her mom about finding Declan and wanting to bring him home for a bit that day. Her mom wanted all the details, but Winterlyn said she’d explain everything in person.

She hung up the phone in the security office and turned to face Declan. “My mom wants us to have dinner with her and my dad, but I told her we’d do it after the holidays since we have a date tonight.”

“She sounded surprised,” he said.

“I’m sure she is. Plus, she’ll be even more surprised when she hears how we met. What with me being an idiot and everything.”

“You’re not an idiot,” he said. He pulled her close, his fingers digging lightly into her back. “Plus, if you hadn’t come here, we probably would never have met. The foxes aren’t part of the Guardians, just polar bears, wolves, and snow leopards.”

“I’ve always wondered why that is. Our people are great in cold weather.”

“I think because at the time the Guardians were established, ours were the three groups that were willing to send people to the North Pole to guard the Well. I think if Santa asked now, more groups would join, but it’s not necessary.”

“Are any of the Guardians mated?”

“Two, three if you count me. Storm is a polar bear and his mate is Seren and she’s human. They’re deciding where to live after Christmas—Pennsylvania or Ohio. And Knox is a snow leopard, and his mate is Ivy, an elf. Since he’s the alpha, they’re moving down to his leap after the holidays. He was filling in for one of his leopards who had an ill family member, and he’ll be back after the holidays.”

“That’s pretty neat,” she said. “Sounds like this has been a good year for mates.”

“It’s certainly been great for me.” His voice dropped low at the end.

“Hey, none of that,” Hunter said as he looked over his shoulder at them. “We all have to work still. And most of us are still single.”

“Sorry,” she said with a laugh.

“I’m not. Who’s escorting us to Arctic Pines?” Declan asked.

Hunter swiveled in the chair to face them. “I’ve got Finn and Carver on deck. They’ll meet you in about ten minutes. How long do you think you’ll be?”

“We’re going to dinner too, maybe nine,” he answered.

“Okay, you know the drill. Holler when you’ll be back at the meeting spot, and we’ll have people meet you there.”

Declan looked down at Winterlyn. She could still feel the press of his lips against hers and hear her fox in her head, chittering excitedly about finally finding their mate.

Her sexy, sexy mate.

His eyes flashed and he inhaled slowly with a low growl. “Female,” he whispered, cupping her head, his fingers sliding into her hair.

Hunter rapped his knuckles on the desk. “Get out of here, you degenerates. And congratulations again, if I didn’t say that before.”

She grinned at Hunter’s cantankerous tone.

“Let’s go,” she said. “The sooner we get down to the States, the sooner we can get back here.”

He wiggled his brows. “You have the best ideas.”

“The portal is so weird,” Winterlyn said as she walked through holding Delcan’s hand after the two elves—Finn and Carver—declared it was safe in Arctic Springs.

“Right? You’re in the North Pole but also you can see another part of the world through the Entrance,” Declan said.

“Give us about ten minutes to get to the portal and open it,” Finn said. “Have fun.”

“Thanks, guys,” Declan said.

The males stepped through the Entrance back into Northernmost, and the portal disappeared when it closed. She stared at the place where it had been, amazed at how there was no evidence that anything magical had been there.

“This place is amazing,” he said.

In the distance, the Adirondack Mountains were visible, lending a majestic view through the trees of her skulk’s territory. “When I was a kid, I used to go hiking with my dad in the mountains. They’re some of my favorite memories from my childhood.”

“That’s pretty cool,” he said. “There aren’t any mountains in Ohio, but plenty of creeks and rivers and lakes to mess around in, and all the woods a person could want.”

Over breakfast, they’d talked about their future. Because while they weren’t officially mated yet, it was simply a matter of time before it happened, and with the way her fox was harping on her to get down to business and make him theirs forever, they still had plans to make.

He was really happy in his job as a Guardian, although with Jack Frost targeting Santa to steal the Well of Magic, she was nervous for his safety. Clearly, though, her mate was a strong and protective male who knew how to take care of himself. And her too.

Although he’d told her there was time to decide where they’d live after Christmas Day, she knew for sure that she’d have to leave her parents’ skulk since only foxes were allowed. His pack would welcome her, thankfully, so they weren’t both losing their families and friends with the mating.

“Do you think your parents will like me?” he asked as his gaze dropped to the home belonging to the alphas that was visible through the trees.

“Considering they thought I might be alone forever? Absolutely.”

“Even if you have to leave the skulk?”

“Leaving for a mate is far different than being exiled for doing something wrong. My parents will remove me from the membership of the skulk, but I’ll still be their daughter and welcome to visit and bring you with me. We just can’t do skulk activities like go hunting or go to parties and ceremonies.” She was hardly losing anything because she’d always felt like an outsider at the activities anyway. “Are you sure your parents won’t mind that I can’t shift?”

This question made her stomach hurt, but she felt like she needed him to be sure. She didn’t want to lose him, but if he backed away now before her heart got fully involved, at least she could hope to heal from it.

Ah, who was she kidding? She’d never get over him walking away from her.

She hoped to hell he never did.

He turned to face her, his eyes blending from green to amber.

“Sweetheart, I don’t care that you can’t shift. And my family won’t either. When I take you to meet my parents, they’re going to love you.” He pulled her close so suddenly that the breath gusted from her lungs as she squeaked in surprise and slammed against his hard chest. He growled softly, the amber eclipsing the green entirely. His scent deepened, turning more woodsy, reminding her of fall nights, crackling bonfires, and falling leaves.

Her body responded. Immediately.

A branch snapped nearby, and he swung her around behind him with a snarl, hiding her from whoever was near them.

She peeked around her big mate and saw her dad.

“Oh, hi, Dad.”

“I hit that branch on purpose,” he said as he strode into view with an axe slung casually over one shoulder. “I heard the portal but didn’t see you two walking toward the house, so I thought I’d come and make sure you were okay.”

“We’re fine,” she said as she stepped around Declan and moved to her dad, giving him a hug. “Are you chopping wood or trying to look extra strength intimidating?”

“A little of both,” he said with a grin. “I’m Cole Brooks, Winterlyn’s dad.”

Declan joined them, shaking his hand. “Declan Knight, nice to meet you.”

“Let’s get back to the house. I’ve got a meeting with the high ranked males in an hour and we’re still in the middle of preparations for the winter solstice celebration tonight. I suspect we’ve all got a lot to discuss.”

She nodded. “We sure do.”

The walk to her childhood home took only a few minutes because her dad and Declan both had long legs and she had to walk fast to keep up with them.

Winterlyn gave her mom a hug when she’d hung up her coat in the hall closet and found her in the family room, ironing a dress shirt for her dad.

“You’re glowing, honey. You look so happy,” her mom said. Then she glanced behind Winterlyn and said, “I suspect you’re the reason. Hello, I’m Starla.”

Declan shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Declan Knight.”

“Let’s have a seat,” her mom said. “We don’t have a ton of time.” She hung up the finished shirt and turned off the iron. Then she sat next to Winterlyn’s dad on the loveseat, and she and Declan took the couch.

“So tell us everything,” her dad said. “Where are you from, how did you two meet, and what kind of shifter are you?”

Declan exhaled, then said, “I’m a wolf, and my pack is in Southern Ohio. We met in Northernmost at the Well of Magic this morning when a witch used Winterlyn as a ruse to get close enough to Santa to try to kill him on behalf of Jack Frost.”

Winterlyn was not surprised her parents’ jaws dropped at the huge amount of information they’d been given. She jumped in and filled in the blanks, including that she knew how foolish she was to try to go to the Well, but that it had worked out in the long run because she found her mate.

“Well,” her mom said after a few moments of trying to say something but being unable to. “I gotta say that it’s really wild. You went to the Well of Magic to find your shift but found your mate instead.”

“That was dangerous,” her dad said, his upper lip curled. “You could have gotten seriously hurt traipsing up there with a stranger, especially this time of year when Jack Frost acts a fool and tries to take over the Well. He might not be able to turn shifters evil like he can magical people, but that doesn’t mean he can’t use one to cause problems for Santa.”

“I know,” Winterlyn said, feeling like a scolded child. “I’m sorry that I went under the circumstances I did, but I’m not sorry that I met Declan.”

“Of course not,” her mom said, smiling. She elbowed Cole. “She’s safe and she’s got a mate. There’s worse news than her trying to use magic to get her shift to come out.”

Her dad scrubbed a hand down his face. “True. All right, well, I’m sure your mate isn’t going to want you doing anything quite so ridiculous in the future.”

“Absolutely not,” Declan said.

Winterlyn rolled her eyes. “Don’t gang up on me. That’s not fair.”

“All’s fair in keeping you safe, sweetheart,” Declan said.

He looked at her and she could see the truth in his eyes.

Well, she didn’t have plans to do anything dumb, so he wouldn’t have to worry about her.

Her dad gave an approving nod.

“I can have you removed from the skulk’s membership roll tonight,” her dad said. “I’ll add it to the new business.”

“I don’t need to be there, right?”

“No, it’s not necessary. Then you’ll have to call and get permission from us to visit, just as a courtesy, as this won’t be your home territory any longer.”

“You can come visit anytime of course,” her mom said quickly.

“I know,” Winterlyn said. “It’s a relief, actually. I always felt like such an outsider.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t get your shift,” her dad said. “But I’m not sorry that you’re my daughter. You’re a great treasure to me and your mom.”

“Aw, Dad.”

He grunted, like it was too much sappy emotion, which made Winterlyn smile.

They talked to her parents for a little while longer, until they had to get back to the business of getting ready for the winter solstice celebration.

Her mom walked them to the front door. Winterlyn gave her a tight hug.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Anytime. You’re going next door to pack?”

“Yes. We’ve got a date planned tonight. Can we borrow your truck so we can load it up and then drive my things to the woods where the portal will open?”

“Yes, of course,” her mom said. “Leave the keys in the cup holder. I’ll have someone drive it back to the house in the morning. Anything you don’t get packed, Dad and I will pack up for you. Will you come visit for Christmas Day?”

Winterlyn glanced at Declan, and he said, “We can after Santa has replenished his magic and is back to full strength.”

“Great, you can pick the rest of your things up then.”

“Sounds good. Have fun at the solstice celebration,” Winterlyn said. She gave her mom one last hug, shouted goodbye into the house to her dad, and then left with Declan.

“House first, then our date,” Winterlyn said.

“So they liked me, right? I think they like me.”

“Of course they do,” she said. She stepped off the porch and smiled up at him. “You’re pretty damn amazing.”

“You’re pretty damn amazing too.”