Chapter 13

Garrick

Noel snuggled into my arms, and I held him tight as the two of us cuddled on the couch. The TV was off, and the only sound in the place was the crackling of the fire. The lights twinkled and danced, making shadows on the wall. Noel let out a contented sigh, and I rested my cheek on top of his head, letting my fingertips trail over his biceps as I held him.

“You know, what could make this better?” I said.

“I don’t think there’s anything that could be better than this,” Noel said. He sounded tired, but in a way that came from having an incredible day. I agreed with him. Mostly.

How far my mate had come from the scared, shaking omega that I had encountered on that first night.

“I was just thinking that it’d be nice if we were upstairs in the bed instead of here on the couch. We could be snuggled and warm and naked.”

He laughed. “I could be naked here.”

“That is an idea.”

Neither of us made any move to get undressed, though. The festival had been a lot of fun, but we were exhausted. As much as I wanted to take my mate to the bed and worship his body, I was perfectly content to just hold him. I was happy whenever he was in my arms, and I was reluctant to move since we were so comfortable. We would regret it though, if we slept on the couch like this. Tomorrow we would be packing up and driving home, neither of us needed to do that without a good night’s sleep.

“If we were upstairs, we wouldn’t be able to see the tree,” he said.

“I can cut another one down. We’ll put it in the bedroom.”

I sensed his smile even before he said the words. “That’s a good idea. Multiple trees, one for every room of the house.”

I chuckled. “You and my mom will get along just fine. She decorates for every holiday. We have totes of decor in the basement that I have to haul up each season, and each season she adds more to it.”

“I bet the pack loves it.”

“They do. I love it. The whole pack has worked together to build or make custom decorations. The main pack tree is always filled with homemade ornaments made by the school-aged pups.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever decorated a tree,” Noel said.

My heart ached for him. Never again would he miss out on the little things in life. We would decorate for every holiday from here on out. We would become one of those families that kept their tree up year-round if that was what he wanted. “You did a fantastic job.” If he wanted, I’d get him one of those enormous skeletons that we could dress for different occasions.

“Thank you for this tree, Garrick. You picked a perfect one. It’s beautiful.”

Both of us stared at the glowing tree that sat next to the fireplace. It really was beautiful.

“I got lucky,” I said. “Pretty sure I just ran out there and chopped down the first one I saw.”

“That’s okay. It’s perfect.”

He was right. It was perfect because it was ours, because we had been able to decorate it together.

“Are you ready for your Christmas gift?” I asked.

“It’s too soon. And when did you get me a gift?” He turned and looked at me, his brow furrowed. “We have to wait till Solstice or Christmas Day.”

“I want to give it to you now,” I said. “Before we go home, before all the things that will distract of from each other. I think it’s fitting.” I selfishly wanted this moment for just the two of us. Soon we’d be thrust back into pack life and the next few months would be busy. I’d be learning how to be Alpha, and Noel would be learning how to be Alpha Mate. It would be a lot.

“If you insist, I suppose I won’t say no, but that doesn’t mean you get your gift now, mostly because I don’t have any money. I wasn’t able to get you a gift.”

I sensed the sadness in his voice. I tilted his chin up and kissed his lips. “You are my gift this year. I managed to find this while you were distracted talking to the man who made the chainsaw carvings. You were so engrossed in that conversation that I snuck back to a little something I had found at another booth.”

He melted into my arms. I gently lifted him and got up so I could grab the small box that was placed underneath the tree. I sat down next to him and put it in his hands. He stared at it for a long time. An array of emotions flashed over his face.

“It’s so beautiful,” he said.

“The gift’s inside the box, mate,” I teased.

He slapped at my arm playfully. “I know that! I just... I can’t remember the last time I got a gift. I’m going to savor it. I almost don’t want to open it because then the experience will be over. I just want to sit here and enjoy everything about this.”

“Savor it,” I said with a smile. “You deserve it. I have a lifetime of gifts to give you. This is just one of many.”

He unwrapped the wrapping paper ever so slowly, not allowing any ripping to happen. When the box was finally exposed, he lifted off the cover, carefully taking out the tissue paper until the ornament inside was revealed. It was a simple round bulb of blown glass, with a cabin not unlike the one we were in painted on the side. In the window sat a decorated tree.

He sucked in a breath, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “It’s beautiful. It looks like our cabin!”

“It’s a good commemorative view of our first Solstice together,” I said. “Of how we met. Next year, we’ll have another one to add to it, something that signifies that year. By the time we’re old and gray, we’ll have a whole tree of ornaments.”

A sob escaped his lips. He put the ornament back in the box, covered it with the tissue paper, then set it down carefully and launched himself into my arms.

“I love it so much. I love you, Garrick. This is everything I could have ever dreamed of. I always wanted a collection of ornaments that were just mine. Ones that I would cherish forever.”

“I love you, too,” I said, holding him close. “You’re everything I could have ever hoped for, and more. I love you, mate.”