Noel got to Bear Claw Bakery an hour before everyone was scheduled to get there. She started brewing up vats of coffee while trays of fresh breakfast pastries cooled in the kitchen. She was setting out the mugs when she heard a knock at the back door.

“Connor?” asked Noel. “You’re here early.”

“I wanted to see if you needed any help, given you’ll be feeding an army,” said Connor.

“You can check and see if the pastries are cool enough to eat,” said Noel. “Transfer them to the trays I’ve laid out in the back. Be careful not to burn yourself.”

“I should tell you to be careful with the coffee,” retorted Connor.

“Why does it matter?” asked Noel. “It’s not like you like me, Connor.”

Noel was playing a game, and she knew it. She’d always been good at fishing – it was hard to be a lousy fisherwoman when she spent at least a few weekends each summer angling off the coast of Miami with her brothers. She was fishing for something different from Connor, something a lot bigger than tuna.

Before Connor could answer, the door to the bakery opened. In came the seven women and the seven men, who were all chatting. They helped themselves to coffee and pastries and took seats.

“Hey,” said Noel. “I didn’t expect everyone to get here on time. My friend Pandora looked at the maps and came up with seven routes for everyone. We’re going to need people to split up into pairs. Avery and Krampus are going to be here, so, if you need to come back for more packages, snacks, whatever, they’ll be around.”

“How should we pair up?” asked Ginnie.

“Might as well do it alphabetically,” said Noel. “Annie, you can ride with Arlo. Bonnie, you’re with Bastian. Cassie and Cassius, you two are together. Dellie, go with Damien. Ellie, you and Edgar can take a car. Fannie, Finn needs a helper, and Ginnie, you’re with Gilliam.”

“Sounds good – except for one thing,” said Annie. “I’m nobody’s assistant – so I’ll drive.”

“Trust me, I know my way around my vehicle,” said Arlo.

“In the snow?” asked Annie. “Finn admitted the seven of you don’t know anything about driving in the snow.”

“Fair point,” said Arlo, hands raised. “I’m no idiot – I know not to argue with a shifter woman.”

“It doesn’t matter who drives, as long as everyone is paired up,” said Noel. “Here are your routes.” Noel passed out the seven routes, giving each of the seven women one of the maps.

“What are you and Connor going to do?” asked Dellie.

“We’re hitting some houses from the air,” said Noel.

“From the air?” asked Damien.

“I’ll explain later,” said Noel. “Anyway. We need to get all of you on the road. Gilliam, are the cars all outfitted with snow tires and such?”

“Yeah – with Ginnie’s help, we found a trustworthy local shop to get our cars in shape,” said Gilliam. “All that’s missing is the pastries.”

“Avery baked up a storm last night. The packages are in the freezer. You can put the heat on in your cars – the packages shouldn’t thaw out,” Noel assured. “Right this way.”

Noel showed her seven shifter brothers and the seven shifter women to the back of the bakery, to the big freezer. Both the men and women unloaded the freezer together. They loaded up the cars in alphabetical order. One by one, the cars were off, starting with Annie and Arlo – with Annie in the driver’s seat.

“Come on,” ordered Noel, ushering Connor toward her SUV. “Let’s get this over with.”

Noel and Connor drove to the local airstrip, an airstrip owned by none other than Santana Claus – who let various pilots from the area use the airstrip for a low maintenance fee. There was a light flurry of snow whisking around the town. The sounds of jingling bells and caroling groups filled the air. The inside of the car was quiet as Noel and Connor drove in silence to the airstrip.

Noel drove away from the main drag, toward the outside of town. Noel parked the car on the tarmac and walked outside into the snow.

“Alright, shifter – let’s see you work your Christmas magic,” ordered Noel after Connor had left the car. Connor got on the ground and shifted…

…causing his clothing to tear into a thousand pieces.

Where Connor had been, there was now a bear – not a reindeer, not a giraffe, but a full-on bear.

“Are you frikkin’ kidding me?” hissed Noel. “I thought you were a reindeer!”

The bear looked up at Noel and shrugged.

Suddenly, there was a puff of sulfur-scented smoke. A man appeared from the gray cloud. It was Krampus.

“Hey,” said Krampus. “I went back to the bakery to give you something. Change back.”

The bear motioned to the clothing in scraps around the tarmac.

“Aww, someone’s shy?” asked Krampus.

“Ugh, whatever, I’ll just turn around,” said Noel.

Noel turned away from Connor. Connor turned back into a man. Krampus waved his hand. The scraps of clothing reassembled themselves around Connor’s nude body. It was as if he’d never shifted in the first place.

“Here,” said Krampus, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the magical snow globe. “You ready to give your bear back?”

“No, but if I don’t, I’m sure you’ll manage to wrestle it out of me,” grumbled Connor. “I’d never get my shift or my mate mark back, and no mark, no fated mate, so…”

Noel couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. Why did Connor care about getting back his mate mark when he had a harem of seven women? Were none of them his mates? And why did he have a harem of seven women, if they weren’t his mates?

“You decent?” asked Noel.

“Yes,” said Connor. “Sorry you missed the show.”

“Whatever,” said Noel, turning to face Connor and Krampus. “Are you ready to fly or what?”

Connor looked at the snow globe held by Krampus. He had a choice to make. He could make a run for it, and try to elude escape, keeping his shift, without a mate mark. Krampus and Clan Marron would hunt him down, or he’d succumb to mate madness – the issue that had gotten him into this mess, to begin with.

Or, he could try to get off of The Naughty List, even if it was clear he couldn’t get with Noel, given she had a harem of seven men. He could at least make Christmas real special for a few kids that day, and for countless kids on Christmas Eve.

Connor touched the snow globe firmly. Rivulets of gold and red and magical green energy wrapped through his fingers like ribbons around presents beneath a Christmas tree, like stripes around a candy cane.

Noel gasped. She held her hands up to her mouth. She couldn’t believe what she was watching – real magic, not just something vaguely magical like a reindeer flying, but magic itself, emerging from the snow globe. She swore that for a split second, she saw a bear leaving Connor’s body and a reindeer entering it.

Noel almost forgot to breathe. When she inhaled, she swore that she could taste fresh sugar cookies in her mouth, that she could smell the scent of musty ornament boxes opened after being stored in an attic all year. She could hear the sound of children oohing and aahing at their special gifts, and the low chuckles of a man, chuckles that sounded as if they went, ‘ho, ho, ho.’

“Thanks, see ya,” said Krampus. “Oh, wait – before you do your deliveries, here.”

Krampus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green velvet pouch. He passed it to Connor. Connor opened it up and looked inside.

“They’re for the kids,” said Krampus. “Little treat from Santana.”

“We do this on the flights,” said Connor. “It’s perfect.”

“It’s not for you,” grumbled Krampus. “Don’t let me spot you with one. Oh. And here.”

Krampus reached into his endless pockets and pulled out a Santa hat, complete with white trim, red velvet, and a puffy white pom pom on top. He smushed it onto Connor’s head before adjusting it, to Noel’s amusement – Noel practically fell on the ground as she watched Krampus adjust the hat like a father adjusting a son’s prom tie.

“Do I really have to wear that?” asked Connor.

“I thought pilots loved hats,” commented Krampus. “It’s called branding, kids – Merry fuckin’ Christmas.”

He stuffed the snow globe into his pocket, where it seemed to disappear, as Noel did not see a large lump in Krampus’ pants where the snow globe should’ve been.

Krampus pulled his necklace, made of small iron chain links, off of his neck, tossed it in the air, and, as it came down from the sky, the chain expanded into a large circle. The circle enveloped Krampus and filled with green flames. Krampus grabbed the chain and used it to hoist himself into the portal formed by the chains, jumping into the air with the chain in one hand. Krampus disappeared through the portal, closing it behind himself.

“You really forgot that you weren’t a frikkin’ reindeer for some reason?” asked Noel, crossing her arms. “What were we gonna do if you couldn’t fly?”

“I’d figure something out,” said Connor. “I always figure things out. Now, are we delivering the gift baskets to the kids, or what?”

“Yeah – but how are you going to carry the baskets?” asked Noel.

“Simple – I’ll just make multiple trips,” said Connor. “I can carry the baskets in my mouth and on my antlers.”

“Are your antlers strong enough to handle that?” asked Noel.

“Look – leave the flying and deliveries to me,” said Connor.

“Whatever,” grumbled Noel. “Let me go grab the map.”

Noel went to grab the map. The house was set to deliver three packages of baked goods – some treats for that night, some goodies for Christmas Eve, and some yummies for Christmas Day. She grabbed one of the baskets and the map.

“Okay, so it looks like you’re going to have to –” started Noel, before looking up and forgetting what she was saying. In front of her was a reindeer, a big one, up close and personal. She hadn’t seen Connor like this before – standing perfectly still in the swirling snow, watching her with big, brown eyes.

“Connor?” whispered Noel.

Connor nodded his head.

“Okay, uh, so…I think you want to hit this house first,” said Noel, showing Connor the map.

Connor looked at the map and nodded. He then reached forward. Noel pulled back instinctively, but then, she realized what Connor was reaching for.

“Oh – right,” said Noel. “Here.” Noel held out the wicker basket of Christmas goodies. Connor reached forward. An odd thought flashed through Noel’s head – was Connor’s mouth too strong to gently hold the wicker basket? Connor’s furry head brushed against Noel’s wool winter jacket, making a muffled brushing sound. He took the basket into his mouth, gently.

Noel walked to the back of the car and pulled out two more baskets. She carried them over to Connor, who was standing with the treat basket in his mouth.

Noel giggled. Connor made a guttural sound that Noel swore sounded like the word ‘huh.’

“You, uh, kinda look like a trick-or-treater, is all,” said Noel. “Kinda funny – given it’s Christmas and all, and I’ve certainly never seen a reindeer at my door on Halloween – but maybe that’s because I live in Miami.

Noel reached up, trying to hook the basket on Connor’s antlers. She couldn’t quite reach. Connor grunted and started pawing at the ground.

“Whoa, boy,” said Noel, backing up from Connor. “What’s wrong?”

When Noel was clear of his rack of antlers, Connor lowered his head gently, as if he were bowing to Noel.

“Oh,” said Noel. “Smart.” She hooked the two baskets on the antlers.

Connor stood up slowly, regaining his balance, making sure the baskets didn’t tip over. Noel backed up, giving Connor space. Connor backed up a few feet, and, with a running start, made it into the air.

A single cranberry scone wrapped up in festive paper and sealed with love, fell from the sky. It hit Noel right in the head.

“Guess I have a snack,” Noel said to herself, before looking back at the car and the packages inside it, remembering others needed the food more than her. “Ugh. I hate having to do the right thing…”

Connor landed at the first house. It wasn’t hard to spot from the air – it was a rickety shack of a house that looked like it was so flimsy, it could be made of straw.

His hooves hit the ground, and he heard the front door to the house open. A child gasped. He saw a small girl at the door, and behind her, a woman whose mouth had hit the floor, holding a mug that Connor was sure she would drop.

Connor put the gift basket he was holding in his mouth down on the snowy ground. He shifted back into his human form. He was fully clothed, in his green button-up flannel shirt, brown work jacket and work pants, and a pair of work boots – with a bright red Santa hat on his head.

“Hey, ma’am – sorry, I’m just here to deliver the baskets,” said Connor, scrambling to pick up the gift baskets and carrying them to the front door.

That’s when the woman’s mug dropped.

“Holy…heck,” said the woman, careful not to curse in front of her child. “Did you just…?”

“Yeah, sorry,” said Connor. “I didn’t mean to drop them.”

“Not that. You just shifted – out of your shifter form, and you’re wearing clothes, and you, you, you flew onto our lawn,” said the woman. “I must be seeing things. Oh, gosh, and on Christmas!”

“Mommy, it’s not Christmas yet,” said the kid with a giggle. “Mister…are you a real reindeer?”

“Well, did you see a real reindeer fly down onto your lawn?” asked Connor, getting down on the kid’s level, looking back at the mom, and then at the kid. “Santa Claus noticed you’d been real good this year, and you’re on his Nice List! That’s why he sent me here to give you some early presents.”

“You’re one of Santa’s reindeer?” asked the kid. “Wow!”

“Yup, and I’d love to stay and hang out – but I have to go make more deliveries, to other special kids,” said Connor. “I hope you understand. Here.”

Connor reached into his pocket and pulled out the bag of trinkets given to him by Krampus. He pulled out a tiny pin with a pair of reindeer horns on it, resembling the small captain’s wings he used to give out to kids on his flight that toured the cockpit.

“Wow, this is for me?” asked the kid.

“Remember – whatever you want to do, you can do, if you work hard, and stay just as Nice as you are now,” said Connor. He stood up and nodded at the woman.

“You know, when the bakery called and said they were going to make a delivery, I thought that they were going to send a frikkin’ delivery van – not a flying reindeer,” said the woman. “Wow. I don’t know how to thank you. Money’s been tight, and I haven’t seen a smile on Jeanine’s face in a week! She’s watched as all the other kids have gotten special treats, but all we’ve been able to do is watch the Christmas specials on TV, and see the lights – because looking’s free, isn’t it? I’m a single mom, so, every little bit helps – but I guess the bakery’s given us more than a little bit. Is there anything I can do to thank you? Make you lunch? Get you a cup of coffee?”

“One day, if you can, pass this Christmas magic on – and if you can’t, keep on raising your girl right,” said Connor. “I do have to be going now, ma’am, – but have a very, very Merry Christmas!”

Connor exited the drafty house and took off from the lawn. He could hear the kid excitedly talk to her mom. He made sure to turn back and nod at the girl. He was not surprised to see the girl and her mom waving back at him.

Connor hit the tarmac and was given the next address by Noel. Noel loaded him up with gifts, and he was off like a shot. The second house was further away than the first house by a long shot. He could hardly spot it through the forest cover, but he found it by the smoke coming from the chimney.

Connor landed in the forest near the house. As he walked toward the house, he noticed they were out of firewood, as all they had in the woodpile was sticks. Nearby, there was a snowman, with teeny-weeny sticks for arms. This was indeed a family in need.

Never seen folks that poor – even in Nuthusk, commented Connor.

Well, at least now you see what it’s like for folk that don’t have what you have – a community that supports them, said Comet. The Wreath is lovely…but there’s still folks in need, folks that need help.

Well, at least we’re helping, said Connor.

We? Last time I checked, it was my form that was flying through the air, not your puny human body! Comet commented.

Before Connor could reply, he spotted a flash of metal. He turned toward the light and found himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun held by a frowning woman flanked by two kids.

“Guess we’re havin’ venison for Christmas dinner, kids,” said the woman.

Connor quickly shifted – a reckless move, as the woman could’ve shot him as soon as she saw him move. Luckily for Connor, she was more concerned with her children’s’ safety than with a free meal.

“Okay, what in tarnation is this?” asked the woman. “You just…and now you’re…and your clothes are still on…”

“I’m Connor, I’m from Bear Claw Bakery, I’m just here to deliver the baked goods,” said Connor, holding his hands up in the air as the two kids scrambled around him to put the pastries back in the baskets. To Connor’s surprise, the kids didn’t take the baskets – they held them up toward Connor.

“You dropped your things, mister,” said the boy.

“Here, mister,” said the girl. “We got everything back in. Didn’t steal anything.”

Connor looked up at the mom and then got down on the kids’ level.

“Actually – those baskets, and this basket here, are all for you,” said Connor. “It’s for you, and you, and your mom. I came here to make a really special delivery from Santa Claus so that you could have some sweet treats for the holiday.”

“You did?” asked the woman. “Kids…why don’t you take these things inside?”

“But I want to talk to the reindeer!” said the boy.

“Hey – be careful! It’s Christmas season, so Santa wants to know who’s Naughty and Nice,” said Connor. “You gonna be Nice for your mama, or you gonna be Naughty?”

“Nice, nice!” said the girl and boy, and they took the baskets off to the small log cabin.

“Sorry about this,” said the woman, motioning to her shotgun. “I’m protective. I’m all those two kids have got – given I took’m in after their parent’s accident.”

“I see,” said Connor. “My condolences. You did sign up for the bakery giveaway, right?”

“I did, but, to tell you the truth, a lot of folk are all talk, no follow-through, so I didn’t expect anything to come to fruition,” said the woman. “I saw a big thing with antlers, something that didn’t look much like a reindeer with those baskets hanging off its head, and to tell you the truth – the first thing I thought was, ‘wendigo.’ Why are your clothes…?”

“Not in scraps on the ground? I’m one of Santa’s eight reindeer, temporarily, and that makes me magic, and I’m doing what I can to make Christmas special for the kids,” said Connor. “Do you mind if I give the kids a special present from Santa?”

“Santa has a gift for them?” asked the woman. “That…wow. That’s something else. I thought Santa wasn’t real – otherwise, how would he forget about folks like us? Guess he didn’t forget after all.”

The woman led Connor into the warm and cozy log cabin. The kids were playing under a Christmas tree decorated with wooden ornaments.

“Hey, kids, aren’t you forgetting to thank the nice man?” asked the woman.

“Thank you, mister reindeer!” said the kids in unison.

“I got one last delivery to make today – a delivery for the two of you,” said Connor, getting down on the kids’ level, reaching into his jacket pocket, and pulling two pins out of the bag. “These reindeer pins are meant to remind you of what you saw today – Christmas magic. Remember to keep being good and Nice, and your wildest dreams come true. Trust me, I’m a shifter – I know about ‘wild.’”

“Wow,” said the girl.

“Whoa!” said the boy.

Connor passed the pins to the woman, who pinned the badges on her niece and nephew’s Christmas sweaters. The niece and nephew ran off to the bathroom to look at their new pins up close.

“How can I thank you?” asked the woman. “Perhaps some tea? We were just about to sit down to lunch. I haven’t seen Beatrice and John so happy in…well, since before, you know.”

“I need no thanks, ma’am – just keep doing what you’re doing, protecting your kin, and raisin’ them right,” said Connor. “I best be leaving now – more kids, more deliveries.”

“Kids! Come say goodbye!” ordered the woman.

The two kids came running out and hugged Connor around his knees.

“Thanks, mister!” said the girl.

“Thanks so much!” said the boy.

“I’ve got to fly off now,” said Connor, getting down on their level and hugging the kids back. “You all have a Merry Christmas.”

“Wait – you can fly?” asked the woman. “Do you mind if we…?”

“Not at all!” said Connor.

Connor walked outside and turned into Comet. The kids came out and watched as Connor took off into the air.

Connor hit the tarmac. By now, he was in sync with Noel, like the passengers on a women’s college alumnae cruise. Noel got Connor kitted out with baskets and showed him the next address. Connor flew out, far past the forest, up into the snowcapped rocky hills and mountains of Montana.

Connor had no trouble finding the house. The bright red brick house stuck out of the mountains like the giant red candy cane that marked the actual North Pole. He landed in the snow and walked his way up to the lawn. He shifted into his human form and walked up to the door. He knocked and waited.

“Hello?” called Connor, before ringing the bell. “Hello?”

A woman opened the door a crack.

“Yes, hello? Can I help you?” she asked curtly. “What do you want? Who are you?”

“I’m Connor, I’m here from Bear Claw Bakery, and I got three baskets of goodies for you and yours,” said Connor. “Merry Christmas.”

Connor turned to leave, but the woman called out for him to come back, so he turned tail.

“Do you, uh, want some coffee?” asked the woman.

“You know what? Don’t mind if I do,” said Connor with a grin, following after the woman.

“Gina! Tina! Microwave a mug of coffee for this nice man,” called the woman.

“Yes, ma,” called a pair of teen girls. Connor heard the pitter patter of feet as the girls made their way down the wooden staircase of the cozy house.

“Who’s this?” asked one of the twin girls.

“Yeah, who is he?” asked the other.

“Girls, this is Connor – the delivery man from the Bear Claw Bakery in town,” explained the woman. “He has a full day of deliveries to make, so how about we get him some coffee?”

Connor carried the baskets of treats into the kitchen. There were small things about the house that made it look more than just lived in, but needy. The tea towels were tattered and threadbare, patched – tea towels with holes would’ve been tossed in most houses. The mug that was set out for his coffee had a chip in it. The home was cozy, but this was definitely a family in need.

Connor put the baskets down on the kitchen counter.

“Is it just the three of you up here?” asked Connor.

“Yes,” said the woman. “It’s just my two daughters and me, ever since the divorce.”

“I see,” said Connor. “I’m surprised your girls still believe in Christmas, at their age.”

“And why wouldn’t we believe in Christmas?” asked one of the girls, who Connor realized was wearing a knit sweater with a big ‘G’ on the front – which made that girl Gina. That meant the other, in the sweater with a giant ‘T’ on the front, must’ve been Tina.

“Lot of kids don’t believe in Christmas as they get older,” said Connor.

“Well, Christmas is a special time of year – the one time of year we get presents,” said Tina.

“Yeah, a time where you can feel the magic in the air – and in hugs from your family, and in mugs full of cocoa,” said Gina. “What about you, mister? Are you too old to believe in Christmas?”

“Not at all,” said Connor, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out the pouch of pins. He took out two pins and held them out for the girls, as the microwave heated the mug of coffee.

“What’re those?” asked the mom.

“I’m one of Santa’s reindeer, and he wants to make sure every kid gets a special gift this Christmas,” said Connor. “That’s why he wanted to make sure kids got nice baskets of pastries – and something that lasts longer than a muffin. These pins are for the two of you. They’re reindeer horns – to remind you that you don’t need to be a magical reindeer to spread Christmas joy and magic.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” said the mom. “Living up here, away from other folk, I sometimes doubt whether there’s true goodness in the world, whether people really care, but…apparently, someone out there cares about us. It’s enough to have me believing that there might just be something special about this season, something special…about Christmas.”

“I do,” said Gina with a grin. “Thanks!”

“Thank you very, very much,” said Tina. The microwave dinged. Tina passed the mug to Connor. The black coffee was barely warm – so it wasn’t too hot for Connor to chug down.

“Thanks for the coffee, but, I really must be going, to make deliveries for all the other good boys and girls,” said Connor. “You want to see some real Christmas magic?”

“How?” asked Tina.

“Maybe it’s just easier if I showed you,” said Connor.

Connor walked to the front door, followed by the mom and her two daughters. Once he was out the front door, he looked back at the trio, and then, shifted, instantly, into a reindeer. He jumped in the air and took off, the girls behind him squealing with delight as they saw a real live flying reindeer. It was proof that kids were never too old to believe in Christmas magic.