Frost ~One Year Later~

I shove another cookie into my mouth, grinning without spilling any crumbs onto the floor. Peanut butter chocolate chip, my favorite. I swear my elderly neighbors like to make up things for me to fix just so they have an excuse to fill me with cookies.

Not that I’m complaining!

“Thank you again for the cookies, Mrs. Truffle,” I mumble through my mouthful. She gives me a soft smile, patting my cheek. I might not speak with my mother or father anymore but somehow, I’ve found myself an entire pack filled with adopted moms and dads who’re all too happy to fawn over me every chance they get.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t completely eat it up.

“You’re welcome, dear. I’m so glad you could take time out of your day and fix the fuse box for us! Please tell Avery that we’re sorry to take you away but we’re glad he’s willing to share you.”

I chuckle warmly. “It’s really no problem. Avery and Suzanne were still sleeping when I snuck away so they might not even notice I’m gone.”

Mr. Truffle clasps my shoulder. “You do a great job, young man. You go home and take care of that omega of yours now, alright?”

I shake his hand before sneaking yet another cookie off the plate. I pick up my toolbox and head outside. The Truffles don’t live too far away from us, so I walked here. When I left this morning, the sky was blue and bright but now it’s gray, the tiniest bit of snow falling down. I pull my jacket a little tighter as I walk.

This morning reminds me of the morning Avery and I officially got together. We went to sleep to clear skies and woke up to snow.

As I walk down the street, one of the neighbors is outside fixing his Christmas lights. I give him a wave. “Morning, Johnny!”

“Morning, Frost!”

There’s a feeling of community here that I didn’t know I was missing when I was drifting. We all rely on each other for what we need. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I’ve accepted them right back.

“Merry Christmas, Frost!”

I startle and look up, finding Aiden driving past. He slows his car so he can say hi. I grin and wave at him. At the beginning of the year, Aiden and I sat down to discuss what it meant to be part of his pack. He laid out some ground rules and I happily agreed, reciting out loud that I was happy to submit to him as pack alpha. It was a whole thing and I don’t regret it for a second.

“Merry Christmas, Aiden!”

When my family pushed me out of the pack all those years ago, I thought that was the end of pack life. I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong. I’ve only known these people for a year now, but already they’re my family and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

I’m genuinely so fucking happy with my life. It’s baffling how much has changed for the better in the last year.

The rest of the walk back home is quick. The snow is coming down in thick sheets by the time I run up my driveway. I shake the snow from my hair as I step into the house, setting my tool box down next to the door. I take my jacket off and hang it up before kicking off my boots. The warmth of the house sinks into me and a shiver runs through me.

Ah, it’s so nice to be home.

“Honey, I’m home!”

Avery walks into the living room, our baby strapped to his chest. “Not so loud,” he says under his breath, playfully narrowing his eyes at me. “Suzanna Banana is still sleeping.”

Thanks to shifter pregnancies being much shorter than human’s, Suzanne is five months old. I’m not even sure how it’s possible to have time pass so quickly! She sleeps a lot, enjoys milk, loves pulling all-nighters, and might be one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I love her so much it hurts when I’m not at home. Yet at the same time, I love being out with my pack.

My pack .

The ring of that will never get old. The day Aiden made everything official and I swore to accept him as my alpha was a day I’ll never forget. I’ve had three best days of my life so far and I honestly can’t say which is at the top. Maybe all three are tied. There’s the day I met Avery, the day I was accepted into the pack, and the day Suzanne was born.

I am a lucky alpha. I’m surrounded by a pack that loves and accepts me, I have the most amazing omega partner, and now I’m a dad.

“How are the Truffles doing?”

“They’re fine. It was such an easy fix I could have probably told them how to fix it over the phone.” Avery gives me a knowing smile. “But then you wouldn’t have been able to get any of their homemade peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.”

“You’ve seen through my handyman schemes! I only fix things for people because I know they’ll feed me afterwards!”

I step over to Avery, leaning down in order to give him a soft kiss. Then I touch the back of Suzanne’s head. Her hair is soft and dark like my own. She hasn’t shifted yet but I can’t help but wonder if her wolf form will be black like my own or white like Avery’s. Either way, she’s going to be the most beautiful pup I’ve ever seen, I just know it.

Avery runs his thumb over my rose tattoo, catching on the little indents his teeth left in my skin. A warm shiver rushes through me.

The living room is lit up by the Christmas tree, leaving Avery’s face glowing. I’ll never get over how fucking beautiful my mate is. I’m not exaggerating when I say he could quite literally have anyone, yet he’s somehow picked me. I’ll forever be grateful that our paths crossed and that Theo and Elias put us in the same cabin.

It’s been a year since then and it’s only now that I realize no one ever did come and fill that other cabin. Those sneaky matchmakers!

“I’ve been thinking,” I say slowly, one of my hands on Avery’s cheek, the other petting Suzanne’s head. “Maybe we should buy Aiden a reservation at the lodge. Elias and Theo are really good at setting people up.”

Avery giggles, smiling up at me. “The thought may have also crossed my mind.”

“And what an amazing mind you have, baby.”

He rolls his eyes at me. “You’re biased.”

“Damn right I am,” I say, leaning down and stealing another kiss. “You’re the love of my life, of course I think you’re brilliant. And beautiful. And amazing. And sexy as fuck. And-”

Avery cuts me off, putting his hand over my mouth. “Alright, alright. I get the picture,” he says, his face turning bright red. Gods, I’ll never get over how adorable he is. I’m not sure if there’s a higher power out there, watching over us and directing our paths but if there is, they really knew what they were doing when they put the two of us together.

With Avery, I know without a doubt that I am loved. That I am accepted. I hope I make him feel the same.

“I love you,” I say when he pulls his hand away.

“I love you too, Frost. Merry Christmas.”

A happy sigh leaves me without my permission. “Merry Christmas, love.”

The End

Want more Christmas shifters from Toby? Check out Benji , a story featuring a grumpy reindeer and a sunshiny otter omega!

Make sure you check out the other books in this series starting here !

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