For the last five days, Krampus had come over to the bakery to pick up his pastries and coffee, alone. Stella knew this because she was the one in charge of packing up the pastries for Krampus and passing them over to the grumpy lumberjack.

This, Stella expected. After all, she’d seen Kevin disappear in front of her very eyes. He’d gotten off of The Naughty List, sent back home. Her hopes of getting closer to the mysterious stranger that had helped fill her heart with Christmas magic had been dashed. Still, Stella had been making the best of things, befriending regulars at the cafe like a young woman named Pandora and her friend (who Stella was sure was more than ‘just’ a friend) Jack.

Stella had gotten to the bakery early that day to help Avery with decorating the space. To her surprise, Pandora and Jack showed up too. It was the kind of surprise that made her think ‘oh.’

But, when Pandora and Jack started working magic in front of her, that’s when Stella was amazed, the kind of astonished that made her have to sit down as she watched Jack summon icicles to hang down from the gutters outside the bakery, the ice daggers visible through the bakery’s wide, open windows. Meanwhile, Pandora seemed to dance around and make Christmas decorations appear out of thin air.

“You two…are magic?” asked Stella.

“Yeah,” said Pandora. “Avery said we didn’t need to hide it in front of you. Did she not explain things?”

“All I know is what I’ve pieced together,” said Stella. “Christmas magic is real — both the kind you feel in your heart, and, the kind you two are doing.”

“Technically, what I’m doing is ice magic, because I’m an elemental,” said Jack with a wink.

“I know about The Naughty List too,” said Stella. “So…that must mean Santa Claus is real.”

“He sure is,” said Pandora. “I know the guy.”

“You do?” asked Stella.

“Pandora’s being coy,” said Jack. “She’s Santana Claus’ only child.”

“Oh!” blurted Stella. “I had no idea I was in the presence of such…royalty?”

“Don’t mention it — please,” begged Pandora. “Yeah. That’s my dad. You got any questions about Christmas magic, be sure to send them my way, okay? Anything about, uh, I guess ice and elements and stuff, send those questions to Jack. His dad’s Boreas – I mean, I guess you know him as ‘Old Man’ Winter, but his name is Boreas Winter. He’s like the Santa of The South Pole except he brings storms instead of presents. So, I guess he’s nothing like my dad.”

“I have one weird question,” said Stella. “If you two were hanging out in town, doing something fun for Christmas…what would you do?”

“Caroling!” said Pandora.

“Candlelit dinner at the French restaurant,” said Jack.

“She said Christmas, not Valentine’s Day,” said Pandora. “Besides. The best thing about Christmas is spending it with friends and family — not yucky romance!”

“Well, speaking of romance, can you make sure to hang up this mistletoe?” asked Avery, walking over to the trio with a box full of extra Christmas decor. “I want to see some sparks fly.”

“And let me guess — those sparks will set the place on fire so you can collect the insurance money?” asked Pandora.

“Oh, stop,” said Avery, smiling and waving her hand. “It’s just better than any soap opera.”

“Alright, well, I can do this,” said Stella. “I don’t need magic to do this.”

Stella went and grabbed the stepladder. She found the perfect spot for the mistletoe. She was just about to hang it up when she heard the bell at the back door of the bakery tinkle. She started to turn, then, turned back to hang up the mistletoe. It was probably just Krampus, after all.

But, the mere act of turning had caused Stella to jiggle the stepladder in such a way that it tipped! Her curves and groovy moves were just too much for the stepladder!

“Ah!” shouted Stella, falling backward, but she didn’t hit a hard floor.

At first, she thought that Jack must’ve conjured up a soft bed of snow for her to fall into. But then, she remembered snow wasn’t warm, and Stella, well, she was getting quite warm indeed.

Stella looked up and found herself staring into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, set in the face of a man whose blonde hair framed his face like a Christmas angel’s halo.

That man was a stranger and was most definitely not Kevin or even frikkin’ Jack or Krampus.

“Uh…mind putting me down?” asked Stella cautiously.

“My apologies, miss,” said the man. “I just didn’t want to see the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever laid my eyes on breaking her neck, ‘specially this close to Christmas.”

“Well, thanks, but, I think you’ve helped enough,” said Stella, as the man lowered her down to the ground far too slowly for her liking.

The man was wearing a flannel shirt, in green, with work pants and work boots. He had muscles, and on his hands, dark marks, in the shape of a certain pawprint.

“You’re a bear?” asked Stella.

“That’s right, miss,” said the stranger.

“What Clan?” asked Stella.

“Clan Marron,” said the man. “What’s all this about?”

“I knew a man from that Clan once,” said Stella.

“You still do,” said a deep voice, rumbling from the backdoor entry of the bakery.

In walked the one man Stella had been hoping against hope that she’d see again — Kevin.

“Kevin, is that…is that really you?” asked Stella. “I thought you were sent back.”

“Well, I’m here now,” said Kevin, putting down the large box he’d carried from the rowboat on the dock to the bakery. The box had not only delayed his arrival, but it had covered his chest. Meanwhile, Pandora took the mistletoe that had been dropped by Stella and looked for a place to hang it.

That’s when Stella saw Kevin’s chest.

It no longer said ‘Nice’ in bright red.

It said ‘Naughty,’ in green.

Stella’s heart fell. What had Kevin done to get back on The Naughty List so quickly? Was he a bad boy after all, the kind of boy she knew it would be dangerous to fall for?

“Is this guy bothering you?” asked Kevin.

“No, not really,” said Stella, half-assedly.

“Nivek, I suggest you take ten steps away from the lady,” said Kevin. “If you can’t do it on your own, trust I can help you figure out the dance moves.”

Nivek.

The name sent a chill down Stella’s spine.

“Wait, hold on,” said Stella, turning to the werebear who had stopped her from hitting the ground. “Is your name really Nivek?”

“Nivek Durphy, in the flesh,” said Nivek.

“Nivek Durphy…of the Durphy Diaper Durphys?” asked Stella. “Oh, candy canes! I knew that trying to outrun Fate was a mistake.”

Stella rushed out to the back of the bakery. Kevin followed after her.

“Stella, what’s going on?” asked Kevin.

“It’s him,” said Stella. “He’s…the one I was betrothed to. The one I am betrothed to.”

“Are you sure it’s him?” asked Kevin. “Nivek’s a very common name.”

Stella shot Kevin a glare.

“Okay, it’s not,” admitted Kevin. “But…it is him, you are sure of this?”

“It has to be,” said Stella. “Nivek Durphy, of the Durphy Diaper dynasty, is my fiancé…a man I’d never met before this day.”

“So what do you want to do about this?” asked Kevin. “I told you, Stella — I’ll always try to help you make your dreams come true.”

“I just want to act like everything is normal,” said Stella.

“I haven’t been entirely up-front with you,” said Kevin. “I…know Nivek. We’re from the same bear Clan. He’s not a good guy, Stella.”

“He’s a bad boy?” asked Stella, thinking about who she was talking to and how he too could be described as a ‘bad boy.’

“He’s…not just bad,” said Kevin. “I could never prove anything, but, I think he was responsible for some downright ugly stuff back in high school. He was a spoiled rich boy. The Durphy family is one of the richest families in Clan Marron. I think his family made stuff just…go away. I can’t believe he’s up here.”

“Like what?” asked Stella.

“Things like being pushy, bullying others, cheating and framing other people, stuff like that,” said Kevin. “Who knows? Maybe he’s changed.”

“Maybe,” said Stella cautiously. “I should go back inside. I can’t let the fact he is here ruin my entire Christmas. I…just need a small favor from you.”

“What?” asked Kevin.

“Can you pretend that I’m your…your…your girlfriend?” asked Stella. “I know this is weird, but, maybe he’ll respect you and leave me alone. We don’t have to do anything, and if this is a bad idea, I totally —”

“I’ll do it,” said Kevin. “Come on. You just tell me if I’m doing anything you feel uncomfortable with. We should have a code word.”

“Cranberry,” said Stella. “Cranberries, cranberry, both of those work. After all, why would I say that word otherwise?”

“Got it,” said Kevin. “Come on.”

Kevin stretched out his hand. Stella saw that on his hand, he didn’t have the bear paw marks. He had hoofprint marks. Stella didn’t have time to ask Kevin about it. She took his hand and got up from the tablet. Kevin wrapped his arm around Stella’s waist.

“What are you —” started Stella, and then, she caught herself. “Of course. Right.”

“This isn’t natural for you?” asked Kevin.

“I, uh…haven’t had a boyfriend before, just hook-ups,” admitted Stella. “I didn’t want to have to bring them home, to my family.”

“Because you were ashamed?” asked Kevin.

“Yes — of how my family would treat them,” said Stella.

Kevin opened the door to the bakery and walked in with Stella, his arm around her waist.

Inside, Krampus and Nivek were helping put up decorations. Avery had wasted no time putting them to work. Pandora and Jack had already left. Avery was on a stepladder, hanging up ornaments around the rafters as Krampus kept the ladder still.

“There you are,” said Nivek. “We didn’t quite get acquainted.”

“Stella, Nivek, Nivek, Stella,” said Avery.

Stella resisted sighing. She hadn’t had a chance to tell Avery to not tell this guy her name, after all.

“Funny,” said Nivek. “I know a girl named Stella — Stella Schumacher, of the Schumacher baby shoe empire. You know – the family that owns Neverworn company. In fact…I was meant to marry her. Now, you wouldn’t happen to be that Stella, would you?”

“You must have me confused with someone else,” lied Stella.

“See, the thing is, my family showed me a picture of her, so I know that you are that girl,” said Nivek, arms crossed. “So, Kevin, I suggest you get your arms away from my woman.”

“Ain’t your woman,” said Kevin. “She’s her own woman.”

“If you two are really dating, kiss,” said Nivek.

“What?” asked Stella, incredulously. “Gross, you pervert.”

“You are standing under mistletoe,” said Nivek.

Stella looked up. The dang mistletoe Pandora had hung was right above her and Kevin!

“Well, we could, but I think Stella wants to have some cranberry tea,” said Kevin.

“Nope,” said Stella, looking up at Kevin.

“You’re saying you don’t want some of that cranberry tea?” asked Kevin pointedly.

“No,” said Stella. “That’s not what I’m thirsty for.”

Stella got up on her tippy-toes and pressed her lips against Kevin’s. She felt Kevin touch her and thought he was going to push her away, but instead, he moved her hands to his shoulders.

Kevin lifted Stella up, both hands on her hips, and then, they moved to her ass.

Stella opened her mouth and took Kevin’s tongue into hers. And then, before things got too lewd, she broke the kiss.

Stella had kissed Kevin to make Nivek back off, but instead, it made her heart beat as fast as a whisk in a bowl of omelet batter.

“All that, just to make your future husband jealous?” asked Nivek.

“I don’t see a ring on my finger,” said Stella, waving her hand. She then noticed she was wearing a cocktail ring, so she technically did have a ring on a finger. She quickly removed it and waved her hand again.

“Before long, you’ll have my grandmother’s ring on your finger, and a belly full of my kin,” said Nivek.

“Just shut up,” ordered Stella.

“You know it’s true,” said Nivek. “You’ve got those childbearing curves too.”

“She said shut up,” warned Kevin. He eyed over Nivek. Kevin hadn’t been the only one trained by Krampus. Krampus still thought Nivek was the one meant to use Donner’s power during The Ride and had been training Nivek harder than he’d trained Kevin, as time was of the essence. Nivek was bigger and buffer than before – but so was Kevin. They were two peak shifters willing to do whatever it took to fight for the woman they were sure they were meant to marry. Kevin knew that made Nivek dangerous – because it’s the same fuel that was stoking Kevin’s fire.

“Keep out of this,” said Nivek. “That’s my big, beautiful woman, and this time next year, she’ll be — “

Before Nivek could finish his sentence, Kevin shifted. He could barely control his emotions. Nivek turned too. Kevin’s clothing was absorbed into his body, while Nivek’s clothing burst into a thousand smithereens.

Stella gasped. Where Nivek had been standing, there was a giant grizzly bear, and where Kevin was, there was a giant frikkin’ animal with antlers. It had four legs, it was furry, and it was angry – but it wasn’t a bear. Bears didn’t have full racks of sharp antlers that could poke an eye out.

At first, she thought it was a moose, but then, she realized that it was a reindeer. After all, Kevin had told her that he was a reindeer – at least, temporarily, he was a were-reindeer. But, she’d found it hard to believe until she’d seen it for herself. Kevin seemed all bear – but it was clear this reindeer still had bite.

Kevin had never shifted into his reindeer form before. To be fair, it wasn’t exactly ‘his’ reindeer form — it was Donner’s. Kevin looked down. He didn’t have sharp-clawed paws anymore. He had hooves. A fluffy white ‘beard’ covered his chest and lower chin. For the wild forest ranger, it wasn’t exactly an unfamiliar look. He’d gone unshaven many mornings, especially when he was posted in a rural location doing something like fire watch, where he wouldn’t have to deal with other folks.

Kevin tried out his new legs. They were spindly but strong – surprisingly strong. They were heavy, too. The hooves made a loud thud on the floor, a sound that gently shook the floors.

What’m I supposed to do with these? asked Kevin.

What’re you supposed to do with those mallets? That could totally bash Nivek’s skull in? asked Donner. Not to mention, you have some seriously hard horns on your head — good for the stabbings and the pokings and whatnot.

I didn’t think about that, admitted Kevin.

Kevin’s train of thought was interrupted by a swat at his nose by Nivek and his sharp grizzly paws. Kevin moved out of the way clumsily, tripping over his long, spindly reindeer legs. As a grizzly, he was more of a ‘lowrider’ — close to the ground. As a reindeer, Kevin was a ‘monster truck’ — with big ‘tires’ that gave him the height advantage, but not concerning balance.

Kevin turned about Nivek, looking over Nivek’s grizzly, evaluating it. It was clear Nivek hadn’t spent as much time in his shift as Kevin had — a fact that was bittersweet to Kevin, as a werebear who had nearly fallen into mate madness.

Nivek had always been a spoiled rich boy, never spending much time with the other members of Clan Marron, so he hadn’t been close to them, even after they all got their shifts at age eighteen. He had never gone on runs with them in the woods or engaged in playful sparring on the lawn of the Clan Marron lodge.

But, Kevin had never fought with another bear over a mate.

The question was, who was more dangerous — a bear shifter looking to protect what he thought was his, or a reindeer shifter looking to protect a woman from a man who had laid an unjust claim on her curves?

Kevin recalled a fight he’d spied during his time as a park ranger. It wasn’t one of the matches where a mom was yelling at a dad for not following the directions on a map. It was a fight nearly as wild – a battle between a fully-grown feral bull elk and a wild black bear. The elk had stood its ground and protected its family from the black bear, which had turned out to be all bark, no bite. As a ranger, Kevin couldn’t get involved in matters that were between the wild animals and Mother Nature, but he was always watching, learning from the beasts.

On that day, prey had beaten predator. Who was to say that history couldn’t repeat itself?

Kevin stamped the ground, hard, causing the ornaments above him to shake. His hooves made a hard clopping sound on the hardwood floors of the bakery.

Nivek roared at Kevin, but Kevin interrupted Nivek by stepping forward, toward Kevin, with strong, loud steps.

Nivek tried to roar at Kevin, but Kevin interrupted Nivek’s roar with one of his own — although what Kevin did couldn’t really be called a roar. It sounded like an air horn having sex with a squeaky leather cushion.

Stella giggled to herself at the funny noise. She’d been so worried about Kevin that her arms had developed goosebumps, but hearing Kevin’s honking ‘roar’ made her burst out laughing.

Stella gasped as Nivek lunged at Kevin. Kevin didn’t move back — he leaned down, catching Nivek with his antlers. He flipped Nivek onto his back and held his hoof on Nivek’s chest, over his heart.

Kevin shot Nivek a look sharper than Kevin’s antlers and Nivek’s claws combined. Stella saw him do it. It didn’t take a genius to tell what Kevin was communicating to Nivek — ‘back off, or next time, you won’t leave this alive.’

Stella’s heart jumped a beat. Something filled her heart. It was like when Kevin had made her believe in Christmas magic, but, different.

That’s when Stella realized it.

For the first time in her life, she believed in true love, because what Kevin had done had made Stella fall in love with him.

Stella had known she had a crush on Kevin. After all, why else would she miss him so badly? But, until she’d seen him defend her, she hadn’t realized that she loved him.

The only problem was that Kevin was obviously a very bad boy — no, a bad man, a bad shifter, and precisely the kind of guy she should stay away from.

Sure, he’d defended her — but he’d obviously done something to get back on The Naughty List, and Stella had no idea what that was.

Nivek shifted back into his human form.

“Fine, man,” said Nivek. “I give up.”

“Smart boy,” said Krampus. “Took you long enough.” Krampus waved his hand. The scraps of fabric reformed around Nivek’s body, as if Nivek had never shifted out of his human form in the first place.

Kevin shifted out of his reindeer form and back into his human form — which was shirtless.

“Kevin —” started Stella.

“Congratulations, Kevin,” interrupted Krampus.

“What?” asked Kevin. “For beating Nivek?”

“You’re not on The Naughty List anymore,” said Krampus.

“What?” asked Kevin, looking down at his chest.

The frikkin’ label mark had changed again — and now, in bright red letters, it said ‘Nice.’

“That means you’re not my problem anymore,” said Krampus. He pulled his chain off his neck and tossed it in the air. It came down around Kevin and sparked green.

“Are you frikkin’ kidding —” started Kevin, but then, he got pushed through the portal by Nivek.

And again, Kevin landed on his ass in a random yard in Nuthusk.

At least this time, he didn’t get knocked the fuck out.