Chapter Fourteen
Aimee knew it had snowed overnight before she even opened her eyes. Delight sent her to her knees to peer through the window to confirm that.
“It snowed!” she said as she shook Mac awake and went back to the view.
He looked really good in her bed, all sleep tousled and warm.
“Oops,” she said, tipping her chin at him.
He looked down at his chest to see the love bite she’d left there. But instead of annoyance or embarrassment, he turned a look her way that made her nearly buckle.
“Never apologize for marking me. That it’s still on my skin all these hours after you gave it to me is an interesting thing, isn’t it?”
She turned from her perch at the window and didn’t deny anything. “You guys don’t mate though.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sugar, we imprint. And I am most assuredly imprinted on you. That you could leave a mark that’s lasted this long says you picked me right back.”
Aimee crossed her arms over her chest. “Imprinting is like what then? I mean, I know Katie Faith and Jace are imprinted and bonded by marriage and pack magic and stuff.” She put her hands over her mouth, eyes going wide with horror. “Please forget I said all that.”
“Why? It’s not a secret. I was at one of their wedding ceremonies and the other with the pack was similar to one we do in our pack.” Mac stretched, reaching his arms above his head, arching. His muscles rippled—she really did think that would never get old—as he did and he groaned.
How on earth did she merit this delicious bit of maleness?
One of her favorite things about being in love with a werewolf was all the stretching they did. And groaning. And fucking. Damn he really loved sex. And thank the lord above because she did too. And sex with him was mind-boggling. He made her come so hard she frequently tingled a good ten minutes later. It was raw and vulnerable and sometimes she felt so exposed it was difficult not to panic a little.
But he didn’t get panicked at all. He just seemed to always know exactly what he wanted. So. Totally. Sexy.
He didn’t need to be taken care of. He respected her abilities to handle her business. And yes, he did get pushy sometimes, a thing werewolves did that she wasn’t as enamored of as she was the rippling muscles.
Quick as lightning, he had her grabbed and hauled back into bed as she laughed, dizzy with love and snow on Christmas Eve.
Snow!
It was snowing at Christmas, which was her favorite. Aimee loved the smell of snow, so crisp and sweet. Loved the way it made everything sound and look different because it reflected the light the way it did.
“Dude, it snowed.”
He grinned down at her. “We’re already ping-ponging through topics? You only just poked me awake a few minutes ago.”
“I know. It’s the snow though. I love snow. I really do.”
Mac leaned down to brush a kiss over her mouth. “I’m pretty sure you’re like this every day. We’ll play today.”
And in the midst of her fantasy about having in-front-of-the-fireplace sex, she realized something else. It was Christmas Eve and she’d totally forgotten that when she’d invited Mac to dinner at her parents’ house.
“I just remembered what day it was. You don’t have to come to dinner at my parents’ place. I know you probably have family stuff.” And her father was a huge fan of holiday decoration so there’d be that to contend with.
“I know it’s Christmas Eve. I don’t have any other plans but to have dinner with your family tonight. Tomorrow I’ll go on over to have breakfast at my grandma’s house. Lots of little ones this year so we’ll do the present opening over there and all that business. I’d planned on inviting you but you said you were busy with work and then your family thing.”
Every year she and her family and extended family spent all of Christmas morning making things for all manner of care packages. They baked casseroles in the big industrial kitchen at Salt & Pepper to be stored in the freezer and given out as needed over the next two or three months for the senior-meals program.
Preserves, pickles and relishes, along with beans and rice would be divvied up into the baskets of non-perishables Aimee often took out as she visited folks in and around Diablo Lake.
All the people currently sewing, knitting and crocheting warm clothes would bring all those items then as well. At the high school, there was a closet where Aimee would leave many of these care packages so kids could nip in, take what they needed and not have to have a big deal made out of it.
The packs, the cats and the Consort kept it stocked over the course of the year and had done so for as long as she could remember.
At the same time, they made sheets and sheets and sheets of cookies they’d then take to neighbors and friends before their big holiday dinner, this year at her mom and dad’s house.
Aimee had grown up with this as her holiday tradition for as long as she could remember. It made her as happy as the snow did.
“I don’t give presents on Christmas Eve. So I’ll bring your presents over tomorrow night. You bring your leftovers, I’ll bring mine. We’ll feast.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“All right. My dad’s been smoking turkey and pork for the last week. Gonna be a very good time for sandwiches.”
“Now. We were talking about imprinting just a few minutes ago before you changed the subject three or four more times. I shouldn’t make light of the whole we-imprint-not-mate thing. The fact is, once that initial bond is made, that imprint where my wolf decides he likes you best of all and wants to keep you forever, it is sort of like mating. Whatever you want to call it, you’re it for me.”
“Oh.” She blinked up at him. “Even though I’m the enemy?”
Ignoring that, he continued, “I know you wanted to keep things quiet with our relationship. But I’m thinking we’re pretty much done with that. Half the town knows and everyone else suspects.”
“You can’t just announce that you want me forever and then change the subject.”
He kissed her again. “I can’t? And isn’t it really part of the same subject anyway? Our relationship and being more public with it.”
“Well.” She frowned. “I like our little privacy bubble.”
He snorted. “It’s only a matter of time. Plus I want to assure your parents tonight that I’m not trying to hide you.”
As reasons went, that was a pretty good one, she had to admit. “You don’t even want to know if I’m imprinted on you?” she teased.
“I know you have. I can smell the way your chemistry changes when you see me, or even think about me. You got it bad for me.”
She giggled. “You really need to build your self-esteem.”
He nipped the skin at the hollow of her throat.
“You promised me bacon this morning,” she said, nudging him. “I’m hungry.”
“I’ll make the bacon if you do coffee. And pancakes.”
* * *
Aimee pulled a bright red hat on after she’d zipped her coat up. Flurries had come and gone as she’d bundled up while he smirked.
Naturally he could smirk because he was a volcano and wasn’t that affected by the cold. It also made him look insolent in a nighttime-soap-opera way.
“You need gloves at least don’t you?” she asked him as they headed to the back door.
“When I said we’d play today, I meant we’d play. My wolf loves the snow.”
Excitement filled her belly as she leaned in to hug him as she danced a little. “Really? Yay! I’ve been wanting to ask you if I could, uh, meet your wolf.”
She pulled her mittens on and then he led her out back. “Just a block over is a strand of trees and the edge of the meadow. Plenty of open space but it’s private enough.”
With that, in the shadow of her garage, he got naked.
“Can I watch?”
He stole a kiss. “Yes.”
Aimee stepped back, clasping her hands in front of herself, full of glee.
He ran a hand through his hair, let his head drop back and with a shudder, it was as if the air around him opened and a wolf changed places with the man.
A wolf nearly as tall as her shoulder. Broad, rippled with muscle and a furnace-like blast of power, he shook himself, lowering his muzzle just a little.
As if she’d be scared?
“You’re gorgeous.”
And he was. Caramel with hints of gold.
“I know you can sort of understand me but not perfectly so I can deny this later. But. I want to squeeze you while giggling and telling you how fluffy you are. I also want to boop your nose. I won’t do either of those things.”
She really wanted to boop his nose though.
He approached slowly, placing himself against her so she had the opportunity to touch him as they headed the short distance to the little meadow he’d indicated. If anyone noticed them out, the witch and the werewolf, it wasn’t unusual enough to even bat an eye over.
“Thank you,” she told him as he leaned against her, giving her a brace to get over a rickety little set of steps across the creek.
Beyond, the field was full of untouched snow. It filled her with joy. So much joy she bounced around and flopped on her back, making a snow angel as Mac watched with what she thought might have been a smile.
Probably a smirk.
She rolled to her feet, careful as she could be to save the imprint she’d just made on the ground.
A few feet away, Mac waited, expectant. He dipped his nose, like, “get on with it already.” So she scooped up some snow and packed it just right before hurling it at his backside.
He yipped at her, easily dodging the next volley.
* * *
For some time they played out in the snow, running, dodging snowballs as she laughed and his wolf was dazzled by her.
Dazzled and firmly imprinted and in full-protection mode. It was cold for human skins to be out for long. She was vulnerable.
His wolf bounded over, happily accepting the hug she gave him, her arms around his neck, face buried in his fur. She spoke in her words. He knew she complimented him.
Using his head to push against her, he managed to breathe her in as much as he could as they moved back to the den she shared with him. No other smells worried him as they got back and he was ready to give way to his human skin again.
His witch dropped to her knees and hugged him once more.
Safe. Knowing he could trust her with his most vulnerable and exposed moment, the wolf let go and the man resurfaced once more. And once he had arms again, he closed them about her, holding her close.
“Your wolf is so handsome. And fast. I bet you let me hit you with all those snowballs, didn’t you?” she asked as she handed his clothes over.
He had let her land a few hits. It wouldn’t have been as fun for either of them if he’d been able to dodge her every single time.
“My wolf has scented your magic and I need to let you know he’s got no plans to ever let you go.” That’d been the absolute truth of it. The wolf saw her unique nature, her beauty and power, as well as her fragility and liked it best.
She tiptoed up and kissed him once he pulled his sweatshirt back on. “Thank you. My magic really digs your wolf and I’m honored that you trusted me enough to share your change with me.”
She understood. Understood what it had meant to him to spend the day playing in the snow with her. She didn’t want him to pretend to be human. In fact she embraced what he was. Including his wolf.
He hugged her as the snow began to fall again all around them. She giggled and he wondered if he’d ever met someone who loved playing in the snow more.
“We’ve got a few hours before we need to head over to dinner. Let’s go inside and get you warm,” he said, tugging her toward the back door.
“You’re supposed to like frolicking outside!” she accused. “You’re a werewolf.”
“We frolicked for quite a long time. Now the man wants to snuggle in front of a fire with his gorgeous woman before we have to get ready to go.”
Her nose was red, as were her cheeks, and just looking at her filled him with so much happiness he wasn’t quite sure how to process it all.
He’d muddle through, obviously, because he knew a good thing when he saw it.
“I’ll even make you hot chocolate. Come on. You know you want to.” He sent her a grin.
She rolled her eyes, but grabbed his hand and let him pull her toward the back door.
“You’re like a baby seal,” he told her as he helped her out of her boots.
“A baby seal? Is that the best you got?” she said, hanging up her coat.
“You have those big eyes and you have so much fun out there in the snow. It was the most frolicsome creature I could think of on the spot.”
“Huh. Otters frolic.”
“In the snow?”
“Sure! Why not?”
“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.”
“I know.”
“You sound so pleased with yourself.”
“I’m an experience, Mac. We already talked about this.”
He turned on the fireplace and they settled on the couch, watching the weather in the warm cocoon of the living room.
“Was that a test? Today I mean.”
“Test?” he asked as he brushed a kiss against her temple.
“Like to see if your wolf was going to be cool with me?”
He laughed, taking her hand and kissing the knuckles. “My wolf is always pressing at my skin. He wants to protect you. Wants to look at you and be around you as much as he can. That he spent a few hours playing with you while you laughed and spit out magic like pixie dust was the best day ever.”
She grinned. “Really? I had a wonderful time. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun on a snow day. I’m glad it was with you.”
* * *
“I did warn you,” Aimee murmured as they pulled up in front of her parents’ house. The big yard was decked out, every inch, in holiday splendor that glittered, sparkled, shone and blinked.
“Well, you said he likes to decorate. This is...” Mac shook his head.
“Wait’ll you get inside.” Aimee snickered as she got out and pulled some packages from the backseat while he gathered the food she’d brought with them.
Carl Benton came out to the porch and at the sight of his daughter, he lit up as bright as the front yard.
Mac realized he’d never noticed the brightening of anyone’s magic the way he had just now. Like his connection with Aimee had turned up his radar by quite a bit.
Maybe it was just her and anyone connected to her. But it was beautiful to see the wash of blues, silvers and purples in Aimee’s magic complement her father’s similar tones, his a little darker and with more reds and greens.
“Come on inside. It’s cold out here.” He grabbed his daughter up into a hug and took some of the food from Mac, shaking his hand briefly before leading the way into the house.
Nadine was in the big kitchen with TeeFaye and Katie Faith. Merilee stood at the oven, peering inside a moment before she added two minutes to the timer.
So much noise and light and love. The house positively swelled with the connection these people shared.
This was a pack in a very real sense. The wolf within approved.
It was also a riot of every Christmas color imaginable. He counted three different holiday trees on his way through the house. Aimee hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d told him her dad went a little overboard at Christmas.
TeeFaye grinned at the sight of Aimee. “Come give me a hug, darlin’. You been outside playing in that snow all day?” she asked Mac as she hugged her daughter.
“We did, yes, ma’am. Thank you so much for having me here tonight. I’m honored.” He indicated the box he’d just placed on the counter. “I, uh... I brought some jerky and some smoked trout.” He’d hunted the venison and caught the fish himself, did the smoking and drying himself.
For werewolves, presenting food or clothing to the family of their chosen partner was a point of honor. He was telling her parents that he’d always be sure Aimee was fed and protected. As Prime, he was saying she was an extended member of the pack as well as his family.
Aimee turned to him, surprised. “Thank you. You didn’t say you’d done this.” She took his hand, squeezing it.
Katie Faith said, “He’s not saying this, but a present like that, of food for his chosen partner’s family, is a big deal.”
“It’s not like I never knew a werewolf before,” TeeFaye said. “Thank you for the food. Smoked trout is a particular favorite of mine. I hope you won’t mind if I serve some with dinner tonight.”
Mac nodded, pleased they’d appreciated his offering. Definitely pleased by the look in Aimee’s eyes as he’d done it.
Jace strolled around the corner with Katie Faith’s dad, who looked better than he had since Mac had returned to Diablo Lake.
“Go on into the living room, now. Everyone will be under my feet. There’s snacks out but don’t ruin your appetite,” TeeFaye cautioned as she shooed them out with a wave of her hand.
Aimee stayed in the kitchen, sending him a good luck as he followed Jace, Carl and Avery out of the room.
Mac shook Avery’s hand after telling the other man he was glad his health was recovering so well. He and Jace nodded before clasping forearms.
Then Mac noticed another tiny tree on the sideboard at the end of the room and one in the corner of the living room.
“I like a lot of trees at Christmas. But TeeFaye and I, well we’ve come to an agreement over the years that I can have no more than five trees in the house,” Carl said, noticing Mac’s glances at the decoration. “Stingy if you ask me.”
“I kind of expect there to be a Santa for kids to take pictures with in here,” Jace murmured as they loaded up on snacks. Warm spiced nuts and deviled eggs so good Mac had to force himself away from the platter after grabbing three.
Mac snorted, but kept it quiet enough he hoped no one else heard.
“Did you notice there were two fully decorated trees out front, one to either side of the porch railings? And there are more in the backyard. Thank God the dancing Santa blew up in a tragic accident,” TeeFaye said as she came in with everyone else. “Tries to play like I’m so mean when it looks like an elf exploded in my house.” Laughing, she dropped a kiss on Carl’s forehead and plopped down next to him.
Aimee sat next to Mac, leaning in so they had more contact. Soon enough, her presence soothed his anxiety.
They all talked about this or that relative getting married or divorced. Who was graduating from high school and college, who just got a job with the county. Aimee’s brother was due to have been with them that night but he’d gotten stuck in New York City on the wrong end of the same storm that had dropped all the snow on the ground in Diablo Lake.
“Have you never dated a witch before?” she asked quietly as they sat side by side at the big table in the dining room, surrounded by the chatter of this family he’d discovered he really liked.
“What makes you say that?” He helped himself to more turkey and Carl beamed at him.
“Because you seem a little stunned by us. Or maybe it’s just me and my weirdo family.” Aimee laughed. “Dad gave you that smile when you got more turkey because he did most of the cooking, including the turkey and ham. Mom did the sides and Merilee did the bread. I mean, in case you were wondering. And you were, but I didn’t pick that up because I barged into your head.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I know you would never do that. I noticed your magic tonight in a way I haven’t before. I think part of it is our strengthened connection and another part is that I haven’t seen you this relaxed in an intimate setting with your friends and family.”
He understood then. Her magic was very much part of her upbringing and identity. This was part of her tradition and culture and he got a deeper perspective on her and what drove her after seeing her this way.
Mac needed to talk to his aunt and uncle about Aimee. He wanted her to feel accepted the way her family was trying with him. He knew his father would never allow that. Knew his father took Aimee’s challenge personally.
“Stop worrying about that right now and have another roll,” Aimee told him as if he’d said that aloud, before she went back to her plate.
She knew him too. Not just that he tossed out emotion that she could read because of her gift, but because she listened hard. Wanted to understand him too.
* * *
“What brings you here tonight instead of doing something with the pack?” Mac asked Jace as they stood out on the front porch and watched Aimee and Katie Faith play in the snow.
Aimee’s magic would catch the moonlight at times, glimmering in a way that was only hers as she held a hand out, palm up, and made bubbles that rose lazily on the breeze until they froze and then burst in a pretty shower of ice dust.
His wolf wanted to bound over and chase once more.
“We’re doing Christmas with them in the morning at their work-party thing. Katie Faith says mainly I’ll just be moving things and hauling stuff and it’s all for the town so...” Jace shrugged. “Plenty of Dooley wolves need help from time to time so I figure we can make it part of our community work. Plus it makes my wife happy.” Jace turned to face Mac a moment. “I’m doing you a favor by telling you your wolf is far happier and more at ease when your woman is satisfied.”
Aimee’s delighted laughter drew his attention away from Jace. They were so pretty together, the two friends bundled up against the weather, bits of snow clinging to their coats and scarves from the snowball fight they’d just won against Mac and Jace.
She and Katie Faith had their own magic in their friendship. The affection and humor between them sat on a foundation of trust and loyalty.
“I hope we can keep the election stuff outside this.” Jace waved a hand around. “This is part of Katie Faith’s family and Aimee is important to her. Plus, you’re not a total dumbass like some others I could name, but won’t because I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
Mac guffawed a moment. “Right. Well. Aimee’s a family-oriented person. That’s important if she’s going to be Patron with me someday.” Some people might think she was too irreverent to be serious about running a pack.
But Aimee’s strength was deep, solid and steadfast. Not always something people understood as alpha behavior at first glance. She was a calming, soothing influence even as she knew how to enjoy the little things that made life better.
Not the showy fire Katie Faith’s power seemed to possess, but potent. Deep and wide. Full of compassion and humor. She complemented him so perfectly. Challenging him to see things from different perspectives, to be as steadfast as she. As loyal. Pembry wolves would know she was soft, but not weak. They’d trust her judgment and that she’d always call him out when he wasn’t in the right. And they’d know she would also do the same with them. And they’d love her for it.
His beautiful, silly witch. Who’d challenged the Patron of Mac’s pack. The Patron who also happened to be his dad.
Jace spoke again, breaking into Mac’s thoughts. “Totally between you and me, okay? I know what this feels like, at least in part. If you want to talk as friends, I’m good with that.”
“I always figured you hated Pembry.”
“After what happened to my dad, you mean?” Jace sucked in the night air, scenting for danger, making sure his mate was content and safe. Mac had done the same. “It was Dooley who disciplined him. But no one other than him was responsible for whatever happened to him. I’m smart enough to know, in any case, that a pack is more than just one or two wolves. We can manage to steer our way through this crisis, Mac. But I don’t know if your dad feels the same. No. I don’t trust him to do what’s best for the town right now. And I don’t trust him to do what’s best for wolves. I think the way he enables your brother to be a petty little asshole is lazy and dangerous.”
Mac scanned the yard and the area just beyond. “How many guards do you have out there?” he asked.
“Two. It’s overkill but Damon insisted. You?”
“I was told it would be one, but I realize it’s two. Huston and Everett.” There weren’t any others around who’d be able to hear their conversation, which made it easier to be frank.
“You have my word that you can speak freely,” Jace told him.
Though he knew what had to be done, though he’d been planning an overthrow of his own father, he still hesitated to say the words out loud to anyone outside his inner circle.
He needed to reach out to not only stop a war but also line up allies for the time to come.
“He’s been in power so long he’s forgotten how to be patient and put his ego aside while he leads. He’s losing support. He’s not providing the strength and stability the pack needs. You’re right that he isn’t putting the town first.”
The knowledge that he was going to have to challenge his father had been with him for most of his life. It had always been a one-day sort of thing.
Sometimes the handover of power from one Patron to the next was a bloody affair. Contentious. Between rivals. Mainly though, it was relatively peaceful with an adult wolf taking over from a parent or other relative in charge. Like Jace had done with his grandfather the month before. There’d been a bloodletting, but it had been a ritual, for show more than to break or humiliate the loser.
“I expect, were I in your place, that you’re shoring up your support before you make your final move?” Jace asked, his gaze still on his wife.
“I am. We’re not so different, Pembry and Dooley. Once the transition has taken place, I hope we can work together to steer the wolves and this town out of this mess.”
“You have the support of the Dooley pack when you’re ready. I know Huston and Everett are good at protecting you, but we’ve got your back if you need us.” Jace turned to Mac and they clasped forearms.
Behind them, Carl leaned out the door and called out that it was time for dessert.
Aimee dashed across the lawn and leaped into Mac’s arms, hugging him tight. “Let’s go get some pie. And stop thinking about your dad.”
He let her go and tried his best to forget about his dad and to get back in the moment with her. He’d just made an important alliance and had more strength at his back. He was all about her for the rest of the night.
They hustled into the house after taking care to knock the snow off their boots and coats for the promise of coffee and three different kinds of pie.