Chapter 18

I pressed my palms to the window. Pale lights glittered from strings connected to poles, lighting up the tree lot. Families stood in crowds while little kids ran through fluttering snow particles spat from the machine.

My breath fogged up the window, and I used my fist to swipe it clean. “Wait a damn minute, is it Christmas?”

“Not for weeks.” Elliot peeked in the rearview mirror at me before returning his attention to the road.

Last Christmas, I’d been busy healing from the beating and near-death experience, so I hadn’t had a chance to enjoy it, and this time . . . I may not even live to see it.

“What are you looking at, pretty girl?” Enzo stared up at me from where his head rested on my lap.

Before attending Moretti Academy, celebrating at Lucian’s had been non-existent for a time. He’d been disinterested in the whole spectacle. Understanding that he’d only taken me in to use me, it made sense. But thinking back, there had been a gradual shift in his attitude toward me. I recall pleading for a tree one year, and he’d caved. From there, it had snowballed into cookies and presents.

Enzo propped his head up to follow my gaze. “Stop the car, she wants one.”

I frowned. We needed to get back to Lucian and figure out how to find Osmodus. I should be focusing on Osmodus, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the glittering lights.

“I don’t think you guys understand?—”

I hmphed loudly enough to interrupt Beckett and shot him a side-eyed glare, not wanting him to spout lies about my teeny tiny holiday obsession.

“I’m not even dressed,” I said, trying to tamp down the bounce of my leg.

Tanner had already turned off the exit.

“ You’re not dressed either.” I wiggled my knee where Enzo’s head rested so he knew I was talking about him. A duffle flew over the top of the seat and thudded on Enzo’s dick. He shot straight with a snarl, cupping himself.

Beckett smirked and narrowly avoided Enzo’s swipe. “Count your days, fucking mutt.”

I snatched the bag and unzipped it to find folded clothing with shoes stacked beside it. The glow from the lights grew, highlighting the rest of the items within. A slight detour wouldn’t be too bad . . . I mean, Osmodus was licking his wounds somewhere, but we didn’t know where.

After all, if I ended up dying and bringing my mates with me to whatever ‘death’ consisted of, I would hate myself for not getting a tree with them when I had the chance.

As the SUV bumped into the cement parking lot, I plucked out sweats and a shirt that wouldn’t swamp me. Yanking Beck’s shirt off, I quickly replaced it. Enzo did the same while Beckett put on the t-shirt he’d lent me.

My foot tapped as the vehicle rocked to a stop, and as soon as the engine went silent, I pounced, leaving the door open.

“I tried to warn all of you,” Beckett mumbled, but everyone ignored him.

Not bothering to wait for them, I crunched over the bed of leaves and straw littering the floor, making a beeline toward the entrance of the chained-off lot. Finding Osmodus’s whereabouts could hold off one day. Meanwhile, I would enjoy this time with my mates.

“Happy Holida—” A young girl from behind the booth went silent as her gaze jumped behind me. Hearts may as well have formed in her pupils.

I snorted and quickened my stride. Four-foot trees lined the entrance, and I followed the path down the first row. They must have recently set everything up since there was such a variety.

“ Arrêt . Maya.” A long-fingered grip wrapped around my arm and halted me in place. Elliot’s hair was artfully mussed back—windblown. “You have a thing for Christmas?”

Holidays made me all fuzzy and nostalgic. Mary used to celebrate with Rita and me, more for religious reasons, but me? I loved presents, decorating, the colorful lights. Spending time with loved ones made the occasion special.

“Yeah, you don’t?”

“I’d say one of your mates doesn’t.” He poked his thumb back, and I craned my neck to see Enzo scowling at everything.

I tsked. “I respect that, but he can tag along while I pick out a tree.”

Capturing Elliot’s hand, I bounced on my toes as we waited for Enzo to catch up. I wrapped myself on his other arm. Pulling them with me, we trekked over the straw.

“That one is missing too many branches from the middle. And that one doesn’t have enough of a span at the bottom. Make sure it’s more cone-shaped and evenly spaced. You got it?” Enzo’s eyes were saucer-like as he absorbed the information. Lugging both of them along to the next section, I glanced at Tanner and Beckett behind us. “Keep your eye out for the requirements.”

“Already on it.” Of course, I could count on Beck, he knew what I wanted since he’d been on shopping trips with me.

“You are frightening,” Elliot muttered near my ear, humor seeping into his tone.

“You haven’t seen anything?—”

I whipped my head at Beckett, and he pressed his lips together, returning his attention to the trees. I sniffed. He was being dramatic; I wasn’t that bad.

“What about this one?” Tanner eyed a tree I’d already checked out.

“No. Ugly.” I released my grip on Enzo and Elliot to move forward easier. I inhaled the pine scent and studied the next tree. A couple pulled up next to me, fortunately after I’d already decided this one sucked ass.

“Maya,” Elliot called from a few feet down. He crossed his arms, and his green gaze turned to me as I approached. The hue of his eyes deepened thanks to the trees surrounding us. “What about this one?”

Not bad.

“I’ll take that smile as a yes.”

“I like this one.” A boy hovered to the left of us. When had he appeared? His finger pointed at the tree insistently. “Dad!” The shout rose a few octaves.

“ Bonsoir , little boy,” Elliot murmured softly and crouched to get at his level. “We’re getting this one, but that one right there—” He pointed at the one right beside ours. “—is much nicer.”

A complete lie. It was subpar, but whatever helped get the kid away from this one.

“I want this one!”

Elliot’s shoulders rippled under his turtleneck, and a tick started up in his jaw.

“We can find another, Elliot,” I muttered, a little disappointed.

“But you liked this one.”

I did, and if an adult had this entitled energy, then it was on , but he was just a kid.

“Too bad, it’s mine,” the boy said.

Elliot’s eyes narrowed, and he turned his head to face the kid who couldn’t have been older than six. Elliot hissed. The boy froze and suddenly shot into a screaming frenzy intermingled with calls for his father.

I yanked at Elliot’s arm, forcing him to stumble after me while he cursed in French. Stifling my laugh, I tried searching for words to chastise him, but the kid was a real pill.

Enzo stood at the end of the sixth row with his arms crossed as he stared at a tree, expression contemplative. “Maya, I found one that you might want.” Enzo scratched the back of his head, and his eyes bounced from me to the pine.

A little thinner than I liked, not enough circumference to hang an abundance of ornaments. The ‘no’ formed on my lips, but I paused at his expression. An uncertainty I hadn’t seen before softened the usual cruel curve of his mouth.

“It’s perfect,” I said, short of breath.

“Really?” A smile tilted his lips upward, and his face brightened. Goddammit, he melted my insides.

“Yes, it’s exactly what I wanted.” I tugged at the bottom of his shirt, nodding vehemently. “Grab it before someone else comes.”

Enzo still seemed unsure, but slowly nodded and grabbed the trunk, easily hoisting the fifteen-foot tree. I elbowed Elliot. “Help him, so it’s not so obvious.”

I trailed behind them as they toted it to the end of the row. Beckett strode down and frowned at the tree then turned his attention to me as they passed him.

“That’s not?—”

I stomped on his toe and dragged my finger across my throat. His mouth clamped shut and lifted his eyebrows.

“Your nose is red,” he murmured. His fingertip hovered near my hair, stopping shy of touching the ends. My chest constricted. He’d been about to tug at the ends . . . like he used to. His expression dulled, and he dropped his hand with a grimace. He didn’t look good.

I stepped up to his chest and hugged his waist. His posture stiffened, arms remaining limp at his side, and he audibly swallowed. Humming into his chest, I squeezed then extricated myself from him.

His gaze avoided mine, and he slipped his hands into his pockets. “Let’s get going.”

I hooked my arm through his as we walked toward the front. He still refused to look me in the eyes. Something was obviously bothering him. “You okay?”

He grunted, and his lips curled at the corner in a tight smile. Not convincing, but I didn’t want to push him here, so I just nodded.

Enzo and Elliot stood nearby as workers wrapped the tree in mesh. I plucked the tag from Enzo’s fingers to figure out the price before I grabbed Tanner since he was the one carrying money around most the time. The girl took the slip, her eyes lingering on the nub where my finger should be. Dammit. Enzo had tugged my glove off in the car, and in my excitement, I hadn’t put it back on. An uncomfortable sensation settled in my stomach.

“Could I get three of those too.” I tipped my chin at the rolled rope so we could tie the tree to the top of the car.

“Sure,” she said, setting them in front of me and ringing it all up. “It’ll be two-hundred and thirty dollars.” Her attention dropped to my hand again. I sighed, about to call for Tanner when he popped up next to me and slapped cash on the counter.

“Keep the change.” He collected the ties and caught my hand with his free one. He didn’t say anything, as he met my eyes and lifted my hand to press a kiss on the back of it.

My eyes widened on his, and I peeked at the girl blinking at us.

Tanner , I mouthed.

He swung his arm over my shoulder and tucked me into the crook of his arm.

“It doesn’t bother me,” I said once we walked away. Curling my fingers around his wrist hanging over my shoulder, I leaned closer.

“Didn’t think it did.” His gentle smile melted my insides.

The guys caught up to us as we arrived at the car. They quickly had the tree tied to the roof, but a screech had me wincing. Another branch scraped against the black metal body. There would definitely be some scratches.

“We have to buy decorations,” I announced when the last car door closed.

“You have tons of boxes at Lucians.”

“So?”

Beckett tossed his hands up. “So we have to buy decorations.”

Exactly.

Hooking my fingers into the end of the second cart, I pulled it closer to reach the few things that spilled out of the last plastic bag.

“It’s like the demon of Christmas possesses her when she steps into these places,” Tanner scoffed as I finished packing my purchase into the SUV. “She shopped until closing.”

“I thought le chien exaggerated,” Elliot chimed in as he angled the cart closer for me.

“I can hear you guys.” I hurled a cardboard box filled with Christmas lights at Beckett’s head. He caught it and tossed it in his palm. Show off. “We’re going to have to squish ourselves in the second row.”

I may have gone a bit overboard. A life-sized reindeer peeked at me from the exterior of the box, sightlessly judging me. I’d had to drop the third-row seats to fit it in.

Next, I worked on stuffing the contents of the second cart inside. There were a few bags left. I tapped into my speed to get it done quickly. “Haters.”

I slammed the trunk shut and brushed the dust from my hands. Fishing my phone from my pocket, I swiped to messages. There were texts from Lucian, so hopefully everything was going well at the house. I’d been leery about leaving him with the boys, but there hadn’t been much of a choice.

Shopping had been a respite from the thoughts going around and around, but with everything done . . . they once again invaded my brain.

“Relax, Maya,” Elliot murmured in my ear.“Enjoy the days before news comes. Worrying won’t make you find Osmodus any faster.”

I sighed and nodded. Good point. Resting my cheek on his chest, I wiggled as close as possible. His cock swelled against my belly.

Elliot groaned. “ Arrêt . Do not do that,” he hissed. Sharp fangs distended, and he breathed hard. His incisors caused my pulse to skyrocket. Wetting my lip, I studied the strain in his features.

“Hungry?” I smiled and pulled back. “You’re more than welcome to feed.” I hooked my finger on the collar of my thin shirt, and a cool breeze brushed my throat.

His green eyes flared wide, and a grin spread across his mouth. “Come here,” he said huskily. His eyelids lowered, and he lazily dragged his gaze down my body. It caressed my skin, and a shiver coasted down my spine.

“You think I’d make it that easy for you?” I pressed my hand to my chest, backing up. “What kind of meal would I be then?”

A smirk graced his lips, and he lunged, managing to snag my sleeve.

“I’ll get you a head start,” Enzo said and kicked Elliot’s leg out from under him. He dropped like a rock.

I made a beeline toward the cold, dark tree line.

Beckett’s laugh echoed behind me.

My shoes slapped the asphalt with rhythmic thumps. I smacked an outstretched branch, and it snapped off. As soon as I could hide behind a wide trunk, I slowed. Hugging the tree, I waited until he broke through the same spot as me to jump out at him.

He startled and gasped, his eyes wide. Anger chased his shock away, and he bunched my sweater, using it to slam me into a tree.

I grunted. Holy fuck, I’d pissed him off.

My cheek smushed against bark. Elliot sank his fangs into my neck. A rush of endorphins exploded through my veins, and my head lolled to the side.

Each hard tug spiked through my clit. My toes curled in my shoes, and I pushed my ass into his grinding cock.

He yanked his mouth free and hissed, yanking my pants down with a harsh tug, so they pooled at my feet. Wrapping his long fingers around my bare hips, he lifted me.

I braced myself with my palms splayed on the tree. Holding my hips tight, Elliot slammed inside my tight pussy. He shuddered, exhaling a puff of air against my neck. Luckily, he was so tall he could bend to sink his teeth into the side of my throat.

Sucking in a deep breath to hold my gasp, I moved my hips in a circular motion to meet his demanding thrusts.

Again and again, he slid his cock inside me. The smooth silk of his member rubbed against my clit while he sucked blood from the bite.

Yes, oh yes.

A tremble coasted down my thighs, and I detonated. If he hadn’t been holding me, my knees would’ve given out, and I’d have dropped to the ground.

I moaned, riding out the wave of release. Throb after throb of cum jutted from his cock, but his movements didn’t slow. My legs shook, the muscles suddenly weak from overstimulation, yet I couldn’t stop myself from writhing against him. The friction was nearly too much, catapulting me into another intense orgasm. My talons popped free and sank into the trunk. Using them as leverage, I slammed down to meet his frantic thrusts.

He murmured in French, nothing I could understand, but the whispered dialect propelled me over the edge again. I squeezed my eyes shut. Elliot shouted and stilled deep inside me, letting every inch of his cock push against my cervix.

I panted, my body depleted. No fucking way he made me come by whispering in my ear.

Elliot’s hand grazed my thighs and he raised the waistband of my pants in place. Unable to unhook my claws, I drooped against the tree. His chest warmed my spine as he nuzzled my neck and skimmed my arms with gentle touches. My breathing finally evened out.

“I didn’t hurt you?”

I grunted with a lazy grin, shaking my head. Not. At. All.

An owl hooted close by. Stars glittered through the canopy of branches stretching into the night sky. We should get going?—

A shuffle exploded through the foliage accompanied by heavy breathing and fearful whimpers.

“Caught you, bitch.” The faint, sinister voice didn’t sound playful. Nor was it recognizable. A crying sob came on the heels of the taunt.

I tore my claws out of the trunk, bits of bark bursting free.

“Maya . . .”

I ignored Elliot and went deeper into the forest, following the sounds of struggle.

In a small clearing, a male grappled with a woman, his open belt jingling. It didn’t take a stretch of the imagination to guess what he was trying to do.

I tsked and shook my head. “Shit humans and shit Unnaturals,” I muttered to myself. There was no escaping bad people.

The creep didn’t hear me and yanked her shirt down, exposing her breasts.

I loudly cleared my throat, and the man froze. “ Hello ,” I said with an innocent finger wave. “Do yourself a favor and let the girl go.”

Keeping his hands on the girl, his eyes landed on me a few feet away. His shoulders visibly relaxed, and a smarmy grin spread on his disgusting face. The woman struggled in his grip. Whimpering, she cast a pleading look in my direction. My gaze went back to his, and I scoffed. Color me offended at his utter lack of fear at the sight of me.

A crunch of the leaves echoed behind me, and his eyes rounded.

He saw Elliot as a threat but not me? Well, that was just plain rude.

In a burst, he ran in the opposite direction . . . and slammed into Enzo’s chest. He hit so hard, he dropped to the ground, unconscious.

“You should get out of here,” I said to the girl.

Her wide eyes bounced from me to the others. She inched back as she covered herself back up, and as if gaining strength, she took off.

“You have a hero complex.” Elliot pressed a kiss to my temple and stepped forward with his fists on his hips, watching her dash away.

“What do you mean? We stopped her from being part of a murder documentary.”

Tanner draped his coat over my shoulders.

“That you did. Now let’s get you home.”