20. Derek

20

Derek

C hristmas Eve had been the longest day, between feedings and diaper changes, the midwife’s visit, not to mention getting adjusted to all the major life upheavals, so it was no surprise that by 11pm, I was drooping.

Wink had already proven himself to be the very best mate a man could’ve asked for. He’d taken care of everything—the laundry, the cooking, and even giving Eve her first bath (which I’d tried to do but had started crying so hard at how happy I was, I was worried I’d drop her).

I’d finished feeding her, rocking slowly in the chair watching her drift to sleep, her eyelashes splayed over her cheeks, but I just didn’t have the energy to stand up, so Wink had scooped her up and gotten her changed, then set her in the cradle, now in our room because the thought of being too far was physically painful.

“Come on, love. It’s bedtime,” Wink said, helping me up from the rocking chair and nudging me toward the bed .

“But—” I started to argue. “Milk and cookies for Santa?”

“Don’t worry, I took care of it.”

That wasn’t what I’d actually been thinking. And it wasn’t just that I didn’t want to miss a moment with Eve. It wasn’t Christmas yet. The ticking clock that had been silently counting down all year, forever looming in the background, an unspoken threat that my mate could be taken from me.

But Wink knew my secret fears, of course he did, and he wouldn’t hear of it. He shushed me and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll still be here tomorrow.” He said it with such certainty, and I wanted nothing more than to believe him.

Even with his assurances, I fought to keep my eyes open. Long blinks between watching the clock. 11: 25, 11:37, 11: 58.

When I next opened my eyes, the clock read 1:33am, and the bed beside me was empty. Panic gripped me, adrenaline surging, and I sat up, eyes straining in the dark, fearing the worst. But then I heard it… a familiar voice, humming a gentle tune.

Crawling out of bed, my heart still thumping far too hard in my chest, I followed the sound until I found Wink in the living room, rocking Eve. They were standing by the window, watching the snow fall. He turned when he heard me. “Sorry, Eve woke up, but I thought I could maybe let you sleep a little longer.”

I nodded, my throat too tight for words as tears dripped free, trickling down my cheeks.

Wink was at my side in a heartbeat. “Hey, it’s okay. Everything’s fine.”

“You weren’t there and—and Santa said that—” My sobs were jagged, but he was there, wrapping his arms around me, so solid and real.

“Oh dear,” a new voice said, drawing our attention as our heads jerked up. “I never meant to make anyone cry.”

A man stood there, wearing a bright red suit cuffed in white, black leather boots, and a wide black belt with brass buckle. No matter that Wink had explained that not all Santas looked the same, I couldn’t help but think there was no mistaking that white beard. “Santa!” I squeaked. I mean, I knew he existed, never doubted Wink’s tales for a second, but that didn’t make the expression any less true—seeing really was believing! This was every childhood dream come true!

I suddenly realized what a mess I must look, and I wiped madly at my cheeks. Wink, however, looked a little confused and… hurt. “This isn’t your route,” he said.

“Uh, no, you’re correct, but I asked Santa 88 if we could trade this year.” Santa approached us slowly, nearly tripping over Chewy as he wove his way around Santa’s ankles. “There was something I wanted to say to you. To both of you,” he added, looking at me sheepishly. “A little apology.”

Wink waited in stony silence; he wasn’t going to make it easy on him. As unofficial mediary, I took Eve from Wink and passed her over to Santa. He exhaled a soft “Oh!” then held her to his shoulder, sighing. “I haven’t held a newborn in a very long time. Not since my youngest was born.”

That seemed to melt the ice between them, and Wink sagged. “You know, I understand why you sent me here. I was never going to fit in with the other elves, but you never told me what I had to do, so all year, I’ve been terrified that it wasn’t enough. I helped Derek become whole, reunited him with his grandmother, helped Mr. Jorgensen start a whole cookie empire. It wasn’t until midnight that I knew for sure that I was safe. Which task did it? ”

Santa’s eyes softened. “Oh, Wink, I am truly sorry. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. You found love. You found where you belong. That’s all that ever mattered to me.”

Wink frowned. “You need to work on your communication skills.”

“You’re not wrong,” Santa agreed. “Do you forgive me?”

“How can I not? You gave me my fated mate.”

As much as I was dying to bombard the man with questions, I knew there wasn’t time. It was Christmas, after all, and there were children waiting on him. He reluctantly passed Eve back to her papa, kissing her forehead softly. Before he left, though, he reached into his sack and pulled out a gift wrapped in silver. He set it under the tree. “Just a little something for you both,” he said with a wink.

Santa stopped on his way to the fireplace and plucked a cookie off the plate Wink had left out for him. He moaned as he bit into it, then shook his head. “The cookies at the North Pole just aren’t the same without you, Wink. Do you mind if I take a few for the road?” He gestured at the rest of the plate.

Wink smiled warmly. “They’re all yours, and if you want, I’ll email you my recipe.”

“Much appreciated.”

With a ringing pop, Santa was gone with his cookies, the air shimmering briefly. Wink and I exchanged a look. “We’re not waiting to open that present,” I said.

“Hell no.”

I snatched it up and tore off the wrapping paper, then burst out laughing as I turned it for Wink to see. It was a set of naughty NSFW cookie cutters.

“Now who's being naughty,” Wink said, laughing. “Come on, let’s feed this girl then get back to bed. I have a feeling we’ll all sleep a lot better now. ”

We went back to sleep, and when Christmas officially dawned again at a much more respectable 8am, Wink was already in the kitchen, cooking up a storm. Turkey, stuffing, buttery rolls, and pumpkin pie. The house smelled amazing . And it got even better when my mate passed me a mug of my favorite cocoa, made just the way I liked it. We took turns wearing Eve in a sling, but that ended as soon as the guests began to arrive.

My adopted parents arrived just before noon, making grabby hands for their granddaughter. Fannie Mae arrived right behind them, with a bashful-looking Sedrick in tow. “Sorry to intrude, but she insisted,” he said with a shrug.

I’d simply given him a hug and invited him in for food, of which there was more than enough. I had a feeling he would officially be family soon enough. Later tonight, I’d been invited to join the rest of the shifters for a pack run in the woods.

Leander and Victor stopped by for dessert after they’d eaten with their families, and they had some exciting news of their own to share. “We’re pregnant!” Leander cried, squeezing Victor’s hand. That was just the icing on the cake to make this the most magical Christmas I could imagine.

So much had changed in just a year. I was hardly the man I used to be. For years, all I’d wanted for Christmas was to feel better. I’d never dreamed to ask for a secret raccoon, an elf mate, and a baby of my own.

“Merry Christmas, my little trash panda,” Wink whispered in my ear.

“Merry Christmas, my naughty elf.”

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