Chapter 40: Chapter 12

NATALIE

“Natalie. Wake up.” Damon’s beautiful eyes and smile greet me. “Come on. Everyone’s waiting. Get your shoes and jacket, let’s go.”

“Wait. I have to change.”

He shakes his head. “I told you, it’s tradition. Brush your teeth then let’s go. Come on.” He rushes out the door still wearing his pajamas.

I rush into the bathroom then grab my shoes and jacket to meet him at the bottom of the stairs. He finger combs a few stray hairs then leads me to his jeep.

Tons of people are bustling around the pack house. I think it’s possible the entire pack is here.

“Mijo, you finally made it.” Mrs. Ramirez grabs Damon’s face and kisses both of his cheeks. “Come in, the pack is hungry and the little ones want to open their gifts.” She grabs his hand and pulls him inside.

The crowd of people make room for Damon. He takes my hand and pulls me in with him. He lets go once inside the room and I find Finn and Bianca to stand next to. They’re both in matching winter pajamas, as is everyone here. Different families have different styles, but all in pajamas.

Damon throws his head back and lets out a deep but cheerful howl. The sound sends shivers all through my body. The pack gets silent and Damon begins to speak.

“Is everyone here?” He looks around and waits for any replies. He nods once then speaks again. “Ramirez Pack, happy Winter Solstice!” Howls ring out all around, then eventually die down.

Damon continues speaking. “I am honored to be standing here as your alpha. When Luna Roberts was alive we met together as a pack. Those were some of the best memories I have as a kid, and I’m sure it’s the same for many of you. In honor of Luna Roberts’s memory, I decided to bring the tradition back.

“Food and drinks are available in the kitchen all day. Sledding on the hill, snowball fights, snowman building contest, movies all day, and hot cocoa. Tonight we run as a pack. Now, let the fun begin!”

The pack cheers and people begin to separate to the various activities. Damon looks around to the orphaned kids. “Pack house pups, come get your gifts.”

Bianca and Finn give each other gifts as do many other couples. Everyone is so happy, but I feel awkward. I don’t belong here, this isn’t my pack. I swallow and move through the crowd to head outside.

~“Where are you going?”~ Damon’s voice in my head startles me. I forgot that he linked me.

~“Outside. I thought I would get out of the way and let everyone celebrate.”~

~“Don’t you want to open your present?”~

I look through the crowd, a few people move and I see him holding a wrapped gift. ~“There’s a present for me?”~

His smile lights up his face. ~“Of course. You have a few actually, but this one is from me.”~

I weave through the crowd and finally make it to his side.

“I didn’t get you anything.”

“It’s fine, Natalie.”

I take hold of the present then look up at him. He gives me that soft smile that’s become one of my favorite sights.

“Open it.” His voice is smooth as silk and sends chills through my body.

I nibble my lip then, with shaking hands, slowly rip the paper. I knit my brows at the thin square box. I lift the top up then move the tissue paper to a beautiful ornate dream catcher.

I run my fingers over the turquoise leather then move to the white webbing, the gray feathers glide through my fingers. I get so choked up and my chin quivers.

His thumb wipes a stray tear from my face. “Do you like it?”

I shake my head. “I absolutely love it. It’s so beautiful. Thank you so much, Damon.”

“Mistletoe!” Spencer calls out, startling me as he steps beside me and Damon. Damon closes his eyes with a grunt.

“What’s mistletoe?” I ask Spencer since he seems so excited by it. He points at the ceiling above me and Damon. A little green plant with white berries, tied in red ribbon is dangling from the ceiling.

“Okay?”

Damon tilts my chin up and looks in my eyes. I lose my breath. “Getting caught under the mistletoe is a kiss.” His voice is soft and husky. His hand moves to my cheek and I swallow.

He leans forward and gently places his lips to my forehead, leaving the essence of a kiss on my skin. I open my eyes not even realizing that I had closed them. One side of his perfect lips tilts up into his breathtaking smirk and I get lost in his eyes again. He clears his throat.

“Oh, come on. That’s all you got, Damon?” Spencer tosses his hands in the air and rolls his eyes.

“Sorry, it’s…uh, more of a Christmas thing, but Spencer insisted. Shall we move from this spot?”

I look up at the peculiar little plant and take a few steps back. Damon moves with me and I’m given more gifts from the Ramirezes, Finn and Bianca, and Spencer. The gifts are so sweet, and I love every one of them, but my dream catcher is my absolute favorite.

This is the best party ever. I stay with Damon and all of his friends. We go sledding and have a snowball fight with a group of pups, then go inside to eat and drink cocoa. We take turns in the kitchen prepping more food then watch the cartoon Grinch. Damon, Finn and Mr. Ramirez leave for a little while so I stay with Bianca and Camila, as Damon’s mother prefers to be called.

DAMON

“Marlena?” I ask for the results of the testing. My dad and I brought Owen to the hospital to be checked out.

“He’s dehydrated and a little malnourished, nothing a hot meal and some fluids can’t fix. I’m going to set him up on an IV and let him rest. I’ll have a nurse help bathe him after he’s rested.” Owen is still asleep in the hospital bed.

“Let me know if he gives you any trouble. How is Stewart faring?”

She stands from her seat. “Alpha, you’re too generous with these two. I guess Owen is still just a kid…” She stops talking as she realizes that we’re the same age. “Excuse me, Alpha. You have grown so much and I forget that you’re so young.”

I give her a smile. “It’s fine, Marlena. I appreciate the vote of confidence. You’re allowed to have an opinion. And of all the members in the pack, yours is one I hold in the highest respect. So, tell me what’s going on with Stewart.”

“I had to sedate him. Our old beta seems to be losing his mind. He’s healed from most of his minor injuries, but Felix really let him have it this time. His internal injuries should be healed or close to by now, but he still has a few broken bones that are taking longer.” We stop at the doorway to the sedated ex-beta’s room.

I step in and approach his bedside. The bandages have been removed from his face. He’s not very old, but time has not been kind to him. He looks twice the age he should, but he’s had a hard life. He lost his only child then his mate was killed four years later in a freak thunderstorm.

Roberts pulled up another beta to take his place because he was so damaged. That bastard I banished, but this guy…something told me to wait.

~“Stewart?”~ I wait, but he doesn’t respond. The sedative must interfere with the link. “Let me know when he’s awake. I want to hear what he’s raving about.” I turn to look at Marlena. “Will you and your mate be joining the party?”

“I’m finishing up my shift. We’ll stop by for a little while. I’m glad you brought the tradition back. Our pack needs to be closer.” She pats my shoulder then heads back to her desk.

I contact Dec to find out about baby Jessica, while driving back to the pack house. She’s with her grandparents and Sarah willingly let her go until she can get herself a better situation.

~“What are you doing?”~ I ask my mate as I watch her dancing with Bianca and Melissa while Finn, Cameron, and a few other pack members have a jam session on the back deck. Finn is a really good drummer. He gave up the band he was in to be my beta, so it’s good to hear him playing again, but my focus is on Natalie.

Goddess, Natalie is so beautiful. Her eyes sparkle with joy and excitement. Her contagious smile is bright and cheerful. She managed to pull her golden blond hair into a ponytail. I smile and focus on her link.

~“I’m dancing. I’m having so much fun!”~

I want so badly to dance with her, but I’ll wait. The more I touch her, the harder it is to let go. She’s not ready yet. The Goddess’s warning plays in my mind on repeat. The second Natalie realizes, I’m going to kiss that pretty mouth of hers, and never stop kissing her.

The band finishes playing and I move in behind her, but make myself stop before I can grab her.

“It’s time for the snowman building contest, would you like to join in? Finn and I are the judges so we’re not participating.”

Natalie’s smile never leaves her face. “Yeah…uh…”

“I need a partner, you can team up with me.” Bianca hooks her arm and pulls her down the stairs and out into the snow. Natalie’s laugh is the most beautiful sound.

~“She is your mate, isn’t she?”~ Finn watches Bianca as he steps beside me.

~”Why do you say that?”~ I force myself to look away from Natalie to give him my attention, then look back to her.

~“The way you’re looking at her. You can’t stop, can you?”~

I shake my head. ~“I have to force myself. It’s really difficult. I’m going to have to suffer without her. She goes back in a week.”~

~“Maybe the distance will help.”~

I shrug my shoulders. ~“I don’t want her to leave. It’s going to be hard to let her go.”~

Finn claps my shoulder and gives me a comforting squeeze. We head out to check on the various snowmen. Marlena and her mate Samuel have the best snowman by far, and we award them with their prize.