Epilogue

Dario

Despite the cold, I dressed our little Tanny as we called her, and I peered through the window, waiting for Chris.

We named her Tanelia, an elf name, because she reminded us of an elf when she was born, and elves featured prominently in our lives. Where would Santa be without them?

It was very early Christmas morning and my mate was due home soon. In honor of our daughter’s first Christmas Eve, the reindeer had circled our house three times, dipping and soaring as they set out on their long journey. And Tanny was awake for all of it. She must have sensed that was her Daddy and how Christmas would not be the same for millions of children without him.

Now we were waiting for Santa. As silly as it might sound, we wanted our daughter to have the same experience as every other child. Why should she miss out just because her father was Santa?

In years to come, she would not remember tonight, but we would, and we’d take pics to show her when she was older.

A swishing up above alerted me to Santa’s sleigh as the reindeer’s hooves cantered through the air and created a shadow on the snow-covered front yard. Max rested his paws on the windowsill and barked.

“Listen, Tanny. What’s that?”

She gurgled and then was still as a thump on the roof told us the sleigh had landed. Cinders fell into the fireplace when Santa slid down the chimney, a sack of toys on his back and his red-and-white suit pristine in spite of the soot.

Oops. I’d need to make sure the chimney sweeper did a better job next year.

Most kids were supposed to be in their beds and not meet Santa, but we figured as our daughter was special, she deserved to see him deliver her presents.

“Ho-ho-ho. Who do we have here?”

“This is Tanelia, Santa.”

Tanny squealed and kicked her little legs as Santa kissed her brow and gave me a peck on the lips. She tugged at his white beard, and he laughed.

“Our daughter suspects not all is what it seems.” He untangled his beard from her plump fingers and kissed them until she giggled.

As Santa’s child, it wasn’t surprising because she could scent her alpha father.

“Let me see what I have in here.” Santa pulled out toys and stuffed them in Tanny’s stocking and also left a large wrapped gift under the tree. And he left a squishy toy and bone for Max.

“And what about you?” My mate pulled me close. “Have you been good this year?”

I pouted. “Sadly, no, Santa. I’ve been very naughty.” I put my hands over Tanny’s ears. “I have to be punished.”

“People think Santa only brings good cheer.” He narrowed his eyes. “But I believe you need a spanking.”

“I do, Santa.”

He played his lips on my ear. “Later.”

After more ho-ho-ho-ing, Santa filled my stocking and his and placed more presents under the tree.

“Until next year. Merry Christmas.” He slithered up the chimney, and Tanny’s mouth formed an O.

“Don’t worry, little one. He’ll be back.”

But our daughter wailed, and I soothed her by taking her outside so she could see the reindeer and the sleigh heading to the village. She raised her little fist, and I brushed the tears off her cheeks. Because they were salty, they were unlikely to freeze, but despite understanding the science, I worried. Besides, shifters and Santa defied scientific reasoning, so I’d continue to remove our daughter’s tears.

“Daddy will be home soon.”

By the time Chris arrived, Tanny’s eyelids were heavy and her head nodded. He took our daughter from me and placed her in the crib. We’d open presents when she woke.

“Hungry?” I’d made chicken soup, Chris’s favorite.

“Please.”

We sat at the table, both slurping the soup, and by the time the sun rose, we were in bed.

“Do not let me sleep once Tanny wakes up. I want to be there when she opens her presents.” Not that our young daughter was capable of opening them herself.

He yawned, asking if he could deliver my punishment for being naughty tomorrow or next week.

“Sleep. We have our whole lives. My ass can wait.”

He grabbed my butt as his eyes closed. “And a very nice ass it is.”

When Tanny woke, Chris bounded out of bed before me and changed her diaper. Sitting in the living room, she gazed at the floating snowflakes. But before we could examine the goodies in her stocking, there was a knock at the door.

“I hope it’s not someone complaining about their present,” I joked.

It was Ryfon and Sprinkles, who’d worked hard all year and were about to start their vacation.

“We made something for Tanny,” they said. “It’s for her crib, something she can look at year round.”

They held up a mobile, pointing out the hand-carved toys showing Santa, an elf, a reindeer that looked like my beast, a Christmas tree, a present, and a baby that was identical to our daughter.

“It plays a different lullaby each night, and it lights up in green and pink, mimicking the northern lights,” they explained.

We thanked them and wished the group a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Tanny cooed and squealed as she examined each gift in her stocking, and later, after I fed her and she napped, Chris presented me with a gift.

“What is it?” I shook it, hoping it would give me a hint.

“Open it and find out.”

I unwrapped it and pulled out a compass.

“This shows you my location.” He draped his arm around me. “No matter how close or far away I am, you’ll be able to find me.”

“Thank you, my darling.” I was close to tears.

I presented him with a watch, one with a secret compartment. Inside was a photo of me and Tanny.

“That’s so wherever you are, we’ll always be with you.”

Next in the series…

Sometimes the wrong number is the exact one you need.

When my favorite tree is hit by lightning and falls on my house, I remove it from my favorite list. Now my roof is leaking and there aren’t enough buckets and bowls to catch all the water. I call my cousin’s handyman, and leave a message. Please let them work weekends.

When an alpha shows up at my door saying I phoned them, I’m confused. They don’t know my cousin and aren’t even a handyman. When they show me their phone, I discover my mistake: I misdialed.

He offers to stay, to help me with the job at hand. If the house was the only job I wanted from him.

Wrong Number, Right Lion is a sweet with knotty heat MM Mpreg romance featuring an omega who nearly loses their home, the alpha lion who roars in to save the day, the wrong number that brings the two together, a dog who decides he likes cats after all, true love, fated mates, an adorable baby, and a happy ever after. If you love your alphas hot, your omegas strong, and your mpreg with heart, download your copy today.

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