28. Cole

Chapter twenty-eight

Cole

The streets of Kirja look completely different on Christmas morning than they did when we first arrived. Each house is decorated in its own unique style, loosely based on the family’s favorite book.

Some streets have gone so far as to coordinate according to favorite authors or books in a series, stringing matching garlands between participating homes. It has been incredibly heartwarming to watch this community blossom over the past few months.

With the influx of fresh stories being written, families have returned to Kirja, and a few have even relocated from Joulu or neighboring villages. We have welcomed each family with open arms, hosting them at least once for a dinner at our place.

Watching my mates happily embrace this new lifestyle with me is the most gratifying experience of my life.

Today, Natalie, Jasper, and I got up way before dawn to quietly walk through the sleepy village. We stop in front of each and every house so I can sprinkle a fresh layer of snow for them to wake up to. For homes with young children, I add in some plump snowmen—one for each child living there—hoping they might enjoy the extra surprise.

“I think this is my favorite house so far,” Natalie whispers, coming to a stop in front of a creatively decorated home. The pathway is lined with giant candy canes as tall as Jasper, leading all the way to a front door with an elf-sized gingerbread man propped up against it.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jasper says softly, humor coloring his words. He stares at her with so much love, and I rub at my chest where the same emotion runs deep within me.

I strategically direct a flurry of snow onto the gingerbread man, making him look like he’s clad in a pink bikini.

“The kids are going to love that when they wake up,” Natalie says and hooks her arm through mine, directing us to the last few houses remaining.

“I aim to please, princess.” I place a kiss on her cheek and a shiver of glee vibrates down the bond.

Jasper’s spontaneous nickname he gave Natalie at the beginning of the month has kind of stuck. Even though she rolled her eyes a couple of times or pretended she didn’t care, the read we have on her real emotions is a clear indication that our woman likes to be given the regal treatment from time to time. She deserves nothing less.

Natalie is strong, brave, and unapologetic about her fierce love for us. However, underneath that tough shell is a heart so tender that we’ll quite literally do anything to keep it safe.

“Talking about aiming to please,” Jasper says, lacing his warm fingers with my icy ones before putting them in his coat pocket, “You guys ready to have a full house today?”

Natalie beams at us. “I am so ready. Quill’s making his famous chicken pot pie, and Daddy Santa is roasting a big Christmas ham. If you add in our casseroles and salads, along with whatever the Alberad boys and their mates are bringing, I think we’ll have more than enough for everyone.”

I nod, mentally adding up all the people we’re expecting. “Nick might still be tired after his busy night of deliveries, but he said he wanted to make some joulutorttu for dessert when he gets to Kirja this afternoon. I went ahead and prepped the puff pastry for him and got the prune jam and other ingredients so there won’t be too much left to do. We can just help him fold the pastry into stars and pop them in the oven after dinner. They taste great fresh.”

We stop in front of the final house and, just because I’m feeling so ridiculously joyful today, add a mini polar bear to their snowmen.

When we start walking again, Jasper slips his hand back into mine and lifts it to his mouth, blowing warm air over my cold fingers. “Bertie told me he’s bringing stollen, which I’ve kindly requested he make, and I think Everett got something from a fancy Vegas place. Rollo is probably bringing some kind of meat.”

Natalie turns and walks backward while talking. “I’m so excited to see the girls again. We text often, but to actually have Diana, Sadie, and Florence here will be so much fun! It sucks that the others from the island couldn’t make it this time, maybe next year.”

Jasper’s smile turns sly. “It’ll be interesting to see how Rollo and his brothers are with Diana. They’re very tight-lipped about their situation, but I’m sure I can needle them enough to get some kind of answers.”

“Oh, I’ll be keeping a careful eye on the four of them too. I want to know how their dynamic works. Do you think she—”

I cut Natalie’s rambling off as I fist the front of her coat and drag her into our arms. “You two are trouble.”

“But you love trouble.”

“I really do.”

***

Our house is full. Busy. Chaotic. And I wouldn’t have Christmas dinner any other way again.

The voices of fourteen people chatting blend with the clanking of utensils on plates as we finish up the most delicious dinner. Jazz carols play softly in the background, creating the perfect harmony to the cozy atmosphere.

For our Christmas meal, we wedged two tables together to create one large seating arrangement, covering it with a deep red cloth. A pine garland with glittering ornaments stretches down the center of the table, dotted with tall white candles Natalie had to have. She said something about it creating the right ambiance. Jasper added strings of twinkling lights and wove them around the center arrangement, while I stacked plates with festive napkins.

On my left, Nick smiles at the story Quill tells him about his latest ice-fishing experience. My brother gives each person his full attention, despite how exhausted he must be after a full night of work.

The two sisters, Sadie and Florence, have an animated discussion across from me. One sister is dressed in a sparkly top that resembles the silver ornaments on the tree behind her, the other in a quirky hand-knit sweater with an oak tree on the front. It’s endearing to watch two people so completely opposite lean into each other, holding hands whenever they can, while still keeping some part of their bodies connected to their mates next to them.

At the other end of the dining table, my father gently engages the wolf shifters in conversation, even if their attention keeps diverting back to Diana. He has grown out his beard since we reconnected, once again embracing his Santa heritage.

Jasper places a hand on my thigh, and says into my mind, “ Are you also enjoying how obsessed the wolf brothers are with Diana? ”

I take the last bite of my food, then put my knife and fork together. “ They’re almost as bad as I am. I’m more than obsessed with you and Natalie. ”

“ Stop,” Natalie says with gentle remonstrance as she nods along to whatever Diana is telling her. “You’re making me horny and some of these monsters have super sniffers. So unless you’re planning to eat some sugar cookies for dessert, then you’re going to have to stop saying things that’ll make me drip. ”

Jasper smothers a laugh and I cough, drawing everyone’s gazes to us. I quickly recover and raise my glass. “How about a toast?”

Everyone follows suit and raises their glasses.

“To the happiest Christmas ever.”

“To the happiest Christmas ever,” they repeat, clinking glasses and exchanging sentimental looks that mirror my own.

After dinner, our guests retire to the living room for coffee and pastries. I watch them mingle from the kitchen doorway, silently basking in the beauty of so many loved ones from such different backgrounds coming together today. In our home.

I mentally capture the image, knowing no camera can do it justice and not ever wanting to forget this sight, or this feeling.

Next to the giant Christmas tree, sent straight from Pehmolelu—with an abundance of ornaments included—Jasper sits in an armchair with Natalie in his lap. I don’t think anyone has noticed yet, but the garlands Natalie hung in the tree aren’t festive flags. They’re cutouts of our cocks that she traced onto felt for accuracy.

A snort escapes me when I realize she’s draped them strategically, placing two balls below each cock.

Nick joins me and leans against the opposite doorjamb, a serene smile on his face as he also takes in the sight of our full and festive living room.

“This is my favorite Christmas ever,” he says, turning that sweet smile on me.

“Me too. Thanks for coming.”

“Thanks for inviting me.” The genuine gratitude in his voice makes my heart so full, and I thank the fates for bringing us all together.

Needing to change the subject before I get emotional, I ask, “How did deliveries go? Checked your list twice?”

“I wouldn’t be Santa if I didn’t,” Nick says with a shy smile, his cheeks brightening with a blush. He clears his throat and turns serious. “Cole, Christmas cheer was much higher than usual this year, and I think we can expect the trend to continue now that we’re done with coal for the Naughty List.”

“That’s wonderful news, Nick. I really do hope the books make a difference.”

“I think they already are.”

“Yeah?”

“Let me show you. But call your mates over too, I think they’d like to see it.”

“Jas, Nat, can you come over here? Nick wants to show us something.”

Jasper and Natalie get up without needing any further explanation, and make their way over to us, hand in hand.

Nick shakes his head and lets out a sigh full of longing. “That’s one neat trick. I’ve started praying to the fates that they send me someone special, too. Seeing you this happy makes me believe there’s a mate somewhere out there for me.”

Natalie lays a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “I definitely believe so. They’ll show up when you least expect it.”

Jasper comes to stand behind me and pulls me into his front. “Wouldn’t that be funny, though? If someone just appears out of nowhere and falls into your lap?”

“I can only dream,” Nick says wistfully, his eyes glazing over with a faraway look.

I raise my brows at him. “Never say never.”

Nick blinks as if to clear the thoughts from his head and takes out his phone. “So, technically there aren’t any rules against it, but I took a picture that I have to show you. There was this one boy who woke up just as I left. He’s on the Naughty List and I could see he didn’t expect to find anything under the tree for him. But when he found a parcel with his name on it, he instantly unwrapped it and started reading your book.”

Nick winces before continuing. “This is probably where I should say something about how he should’ve waited until morning to open presents with the rest of the household, and how that probably contributed to him being on the Naughty List, but…”

Nick holds out his phone and we gather around it, staring at the picture of a boy completely engrossed in a book. Our book.

Rubbing at his beard, Nick says, “I shouldn’t have risked sticking around longer than was strictly necessary, but I just had to show you. He got lost in that book. Read it from start to finish, and he’s not even an avid reader.”

The smile stretching across Jasper’s face is absolutely breathtaking. “Wow. He looks… captivated.”

A single tear tracks down Natalie’s cheek, her lip wobbling with emotion. “He likes our book.”

“Cole, Jasper, Natalie—what you’re doing for the children is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. Thank you.”

I wipe at my eyes, feeling an immense amount of pride for my family well up in me. “I’m just so happy to be part of your team, Nick. Working together to make the world a slightly better place is pretty rewarding. And doing it all with my mates, and my brother at my side… Thank you.”

Nick places his hand on my shoulder, and after a moment’s hesitation pulls me into a bear hug. He breathes in deeply, and on the exhale whispers, “Brothers.”

We step back and hold each other’s eyes for a moment, before a bashful smile tilts Nick’s mouth up. “Can I give you your Christmas present now?”

“Sure. I thought we’d exchange presents later, but we can do that now if you want.”

“Let’s do everyone else’s later. I’d like to give just yours now, if that’s okay?”

“Yeah, of course.” My heart hammers in my chest as Nick walks over to his magic Santa bag next to the tree. He grabs a small box lying right near the front like it was waiting for him.

Behind me, Jasper goes still and our bond floods with gratefulness and appreciation and love, like he somehow knows what’s inside. Natalie senses the emotions too and places her hand on my lower back, shoring me up with her presence and support as Nick comes back and places the box in my hands.

I quickly unwrap the present and flip the lid before a single sob tears from me.

I’m absolutely speechless. My eyes well up as I look to my brother with immense appreciation for the significant gift he’s given me.

Tears form in Nick’s eyes and his cheeks turn a ruddy color. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of this sooner, but I contacted Adelbert to have a glamour ring made for you. You’re free to travel anywhere in the world while blending in looking human. Maybe you can go visit Jasper’s parents in the Alps, or even go meet Natalie’s mom in Arizona.”

“How about my Christmas-elf side keeping me bound to the Arctic?”

“I had that taken care of too. There are no restrictions around you, no magic keeping you here. You’re free to come and go with your mates as you please. But I hope you always come back. I’d really like to have my brother close.”

As one, we surge forward and sandwich Nick between us, squeezing him with all our love as we rain words of thanks down on him.

When we finally step back, we’re all wiping at the happy tears streaming down our faces. It’s not like we want to leave Kirja, but having that option—that freedom—is very liberating. And a vacation somewhere warm sounds like a really good plan.

“Thanks Nick. You’ve done so much for us. How about you go relax by the fire, and I’ll bring you a glass of milk?” Jasper suggests in a whisper. I’m afraid his normal voice will probably break from all the emotion it still carries.

“Yes, please. That would be lovely,” Nick says wetly, dabbing at his eyes with his handkerchief.

“I’ll bring you some of those delicious pastries you made. The next batch should be cooled down now,” Natalie adds, her voice the first to return to a stable condition.

Nick smiles and heads off to the giant armchair we had ordered to fit his large Santa frame, while we prepare his drink and a plate of joulutorttu for him, and another plate for us.

All our guests are spread out around the festive living room, decorated with nutcrackers, stockings, and of course, mistletoe. A few chat in a small cluster, some discuss the snowmen outside that I created to represent each person here, and others cuddle up on couches. It’s cozy and absolutely perfect.

I put Nick’s plate on the coffee table next to his chair, and hand him his glass. He digs into his first pastry as I join Jasper and Natalie on the two-seater couch, sandwiching her between us, before we feed each other bites of plum pastries.

Something rustles in Nick’s Santa bag, and my hand stops halfway to my mouth. The whole house stills as all the males go on high alert.

A human woman crawls out of the bag, takes one look at us and sprints toward the door, only to back up again when she sees the others standing in her way. She gapes at us wide-eyed and panicked, her gaze bouncing from Jasper’s horns to my ears to Bertie to Everett, then settles on the pack of wolves forming a protective barrier around Diana. They must have shifted the moment they sensed danger.

The stranger takes careful steps backward as low growls rumble from their throats. She doesn’t break eye contact with them and she lifts her hands. “I come in peace. I swear. I just…”

Her heel catches on Nick’s foot and she stumbles back. Nick’s hands instinctively go out to steady her, spilling his milk as the woman falls directly into his lap.

Jasper snorts. “Told you that could happen.”

Christmas wishes really do come true.