2. Dan

TWO

DAN

"Hi, Dan."

Riley, my next-door shifter neighbor's son, greeted me as he opened the front door. My dog, Sushi, jumped up on him, and he squatted so she could lick his face. It was the morning ritual. When Riley's school holidays started in a couple of weeks, the pair would be inseparable.

Jan, Riley's mom, worked from home, and she looked after Sushi while I was at the office. Their house was as much Sushi's home as mine was.

"You're going to have so much fun while I'm at school, Sushi."

Jan called to Sushi, and she raced into the house while Riley grabbed his school bag and followed me to the car.

After dropping Riley at school, I drove the short distance to work; the advantage of living in a small town. While I'd been a resident here for five years, I hadn't grown up with snow, having been brought up in a much warmer environment. Skiing, ice skating, putting winter tires on the car, fireplaces… none of that was part of my life before getting a job here.

But I'd gotten used to it and joked to my family when we video conferenced that I was so used to the snow and icy conditions, I could apply for a job with Santa Claus.

"Does Santa need an accountant or do his elves track his expenses with spreadsheets?" my dad quipped.

My family—Dad, Mom, sister Angela, and brother-in-law Doug—adored Christmas and went overboard with decorations and traditions they'd upheld and preserved. But most years they spent it at my sister's, saying while my winter wonderland was beautiful, they preferred to look at pics rather than shiver in the snow.

What they didn't bring up, but it was inferred, was that I'd ignored pack practices and customs by moving away, and they wanted no part of my "lonely existence."

But it wasn't just the job that brought me to town; rather it was a convenient excuse to escape the smothering atmosphere of our wolf pack. Here in Winterwood Bay I could be who I wanted to be, without bowing to an Alpha's wishes; an Alpha who viewed me, a tall skinny guy who worked with numbers rather than hacking down trees or wrestling half naked, as a pitiful excuse for a wolf shifter.

My job here paid better than any other accounting positions I'd had. Also the company provided accommodation for newcomers because the town was so small, which allowed me to save for a mortgage. I'd never spelled out to my folks that I'd eventually retire here, as I'd made friends and become embedded in the community.

After tapping my pass at the gate, I drove into the company's parking lot. Shivering as I grabbed my briefcase, I swiped my employee card and dashed inside.

Welcome to Merry Elf Toys; we make Christmas presents for everyone.

The words were inscribed on a sign hanging over the lobby. While I wasn't involved in the production line, I was an accounting manager for one of the departments and could confirm we did produce items that made the perfect Christmas gift for all budgets, and preferences.

The one quirk about the company was the CEO. There was an office, a secretary, an assistant, a parking space, but no name on the CEO's office door. I'd never met the person, and if asked, people skirted around the subject. But the company was doing well, with huge profits, so I tucked that detail away, mulling it over every so often but never coming up with an answer.

"Morning, Dan," my employees chorused as I strode into the large space that housed the cubicles. I stopped at almost every one, greeting them and asking how they were.

I was an outlier in the office because everyone else grew up here, but they never made me feel like an outsider. Instead, they invited me to family gatherings, picnics, and barbecues in the summer, skiing, skating, and tobogganing when the snow lay thick on the ground.

Two of my employees, Bryce and Patrick, who had worked for the company since leaving school and were close to retirement, had their heads together, reading something on their phones. But when I greeted them, they shoved the devices away. The people in my department were hardworking, and there were no specific rules about phones in the office. Maybe they'd signed up for a dating website.

The morning passed uneventfully and I was in meetings all afternoon. When I finally made it home, it was snowing. The town presented as a perfect-picture postcard or Christmas card, and there was a business, affiliated with ours, that produced Christmas cards, wrapping paper, and decorations. During the winter months, their employees popped up in unexpected places, taking photos of white-capped treetops or roofs dripping with icicles.

I drove from my office up the hill to my house, a cute yellow building with a sloping roof, blanketed in snow. What wasn't visible was the sod, or earth on the roof. During the summer, it was lush with grass and wildflowers and helped the house stay cool, while keeping the heat in during the winter.

Getting out of the car, I turned as I always did to study the scene below me, the lake that never froze in the center of town and the buildings that ringed the water. Being winter, it was dark already, and the town lights shimmered, reflecting in the still water of the lake. It was enchanting, reminding me of towns in fairy tales, and I thanked the universe for allowing me to call this community home.

Jan opened the door, and Sushi barreled between her legs and into my arms.

"Hello, sweet girl. Did you have a good day?"

She cuddled into me, and I thanked Jan, greeted Riley, and headed next door. Sushi was wearing her outdoor gear, and I had my head down as snow plummeted from above.

But as I closed the gate and strode up the path, the wind battered my body. The motion-sensor lights turned on, and I snatched a glimpse of something green on my right.

What was that? my wolf asked. He wasn't a fan of the cold and preferred being tucked up inside me.

Don't know, but I'm not investigating.

It might have been one of Riley's balls. He fancied himself a baseball pitcher, and he and his dad, Rafe, were always playing catch. Not in this weather, though.

I'll look in the morning . Tomorrow was Saturday, and I planned on staying in bed, reading, drinking coffee, and eating a hot breakfast, something I didn't have time to make during the week.

Would it have been nice to share my bed, home, and life with someone? Absolutely. And while some in my family's wolf pack poo-pooed the idea of soulmates, saying that was legend, I was holding out for my one true love, believing the universe had put one person on earth for me.

How would we know if we met them? my wolf grumbled.

I'll be better soon .

I'd had a serious sinus infection last month and lost my sense of smell. So if my mate appeared, even with a sign around his neck saying, I'm your mate , I wouldn't scent him. But it was a short-term problem. How likely was it my one true love would land on my doorstep before Christmas?

I forgot about the green blob in my front garden and relished waking up to a warm and toasty house. I let Sushi out back, and she did her business lickety split—I would too if I were her—and we both scampered into the kitchen, me to grab a coffee and her to eat her breakfast before returning to bed and dozing until mid-morning.

My phone chirped—I loved that tone—and I studied the message on the display from Jan.

I hope this doesn't sound odd, but I love your gnome . I wish I could see more of it .

I frowned and reread the message. Was that code for something? Did Sushi have a toy that resembled a gnome?

But as I pondered it, I dropped the phone on the thick quilt and flapped my hand as if it had burned me. Could she… was she… was the word gnome used instead of a…?

Oh gods. Jan was happily mated, and I was friends with her and Rafe. I'd never heard of anyone's length being referred to as a gnome, but there was a first time for everything.

Another message arrived, and I ignored the phone. Didn't work, and I picked it up, hoping Jan had sent an Oops, that was meant for Rafe message.

So does Rafe .

I hid under the covers. Threesomes weren't my thing. If Jan and Rafe were into that scene, great. But once I'd declined their offer, it would be awkward seeing them every day. I'd have to move to the other side of town, but as it was a small place, I couldn't avoid Jan and her husband forever.

The phone dinged again, and I considered tossing it outside where the low temperature and snow would freeze its innards.

What did your phone ever do to you? my wolf asked. And what's a gnome, anyway?

While I was certain I'd regret it, I picked up the device.

Riley tossed his baseballs at it .

Huh? Whatever Jan was referring to, it wasn't my nether region. I took deep breaths in and out because I didn't have to pack up and find somewhere else to live.

I leaped out of bed and inspected the backyard. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just snow. Remembering the snippet of green last night, I raced into the living room that overlooked the front garden. There was something in amongst the spindly bushes.

I cupped my face and pressed it against the glass. That might've been a garden gnome, but they had long white beards and red hats, didn't they? Maybe I was being speciesist, and gnomes dressed in green and gold with a jaunty hat were for a new generation.

Who put it there? My wolf expected me to go out and investigate.

Maybe someone got it as a present and no longer wanted it .

Or perhaps he walked into the garden . My wolf was worried the little guy would be cold and wanted me to give him one of Sushi's coats.

He's fine . I yawned. Time for a midday nap.

But as I snuggled beneath the covers, my mind kept going to the garden gnome. I should give him to Riley. He could pelt it with snowballs. Or I'd donate it. Eventually, I hauled myself out of bed, put on a coat, hat, and boots, and ventured out to the front garden.

Sushi scampered past me and squatted just in front of the little guy. Just as well he wasn't real, because ewww, yellow snow. And there were baseballs nestled in the snow behind him.

I bent over and studied the gnome's face. He was adorable, and like my wolf, I wanted to look after him and get him out of the cold. I removed flakes from his hat and… and a force shoved me back so I landed ass deep in snow.

The gnome had vanished from beneath the bush and… and there was a guy with a hat and bell, outfitted in green and gold, standing beside me complaining.

"I'm an elf, not a gnome."