Chapter 19 – Christmas Eve
Maeve
“Fall on your knees… Oh, hear the angel voices,” their voices filled the cathedral. “O night… divine… O night… when Christ was born.”
I sat in the back of the church, listening to the beautiful song the choir and attendees were singing. I didn’t know the words, but I had heard the song before. Growing up in the shifter world, we believed in and prayed to the Moon Goddess. Now that I knew I was human, I didn’t know what to believe in.
I looked up at the church's gothic architecture, which gave it wonderful acoustics. Saint Mary's Episcopal Cathedral had caught my attention with its spires towering over the city. Someone at the pub had mentioned Christmas Eve services, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was like the movies.
The pub had practically been a ghost town tonight, so I decided to walk three blocks over to the cathedral. I was passing one of the entrances when an older woman who reminded me of my Nan welcomed me at the door. I entered with a smile, thankful for the warmth, and found an open seat in the back. Families sat together, the young and the old, and their faces held such joy.
I wondered if I would have attended church if I had grown up in the human world. I sat quietly, lost in my thoughts… feeling as if I should be praying to someone but not knowing who.
The last two months had been a whirlwind for me. I lied to everyone I cared about. To help explain why I wasn't coming home soon, I told Nan and Grandad that I was working at a pub in London, and would start university in the new year. Remington owned a few buildings in London and had given me an address to give to them. More lies.
Brianna and Persephone asked if they could visit, and shame filled me as I recalled the mounting lies.
“I’m sorry,” I told them on a three-way phone call. “Now is not a good time. London is expensive, and I’m working another part-time job at the market. I don’t have much free time, and I don’t want to neglect you while you’re here.”
“I can send you money,” Persephone offered. She was such a sweetheart, and knowing I was lying to her brought me to tears.
“No,” I insisted. “It’s okay. I’m doing wellandenjoy the work. I just don’t want Nan and Grandad to worry.”
“Well, are you coming home for the Wolf Moon celebration?” Brianna asked.
“I think you have to be a wolf to fully enjoy that holiday,” I laughed bitterly.
“I don’t care if you’re a leprechaun,” Persephone said. “You’re still a member of this pack. I can send you a plane ticket or ask my father to come get you.”
“No!” I nearly shouted. The last thing I needed was Alpha Balthazar hunting me down in Scotland. “I love you both so much,” I heard my voice tremble and lowered my hand to my growing belly. “But I just need some time to do this on my own.”
It had been a week since that phone conversation with my two best friends, and guilt still riddled me.
I listened as the priest told the story about a carpenter named Joseph, who brought his pregnant wife, Mary, to the town of Bethlehem because of a census. He spoke of an angel, shepherds, wise men, and a manger. The more I heard about the baby in the manger, the more I thought about the one growing in my belly.
I was almost three months pregnant, but I’d look five or six months along to a normal human. Shifter pregnancies had a quicker gestation period than humans, but I had no idea how long a lycan would be. My hand circled over my bump, and I felt a sharp fluttering jab from within.
“Are ye okay?” The woman seated beside me asked, and I realized I had let out a sharp gasp.
“I think I felt the baby kick for the first time,” I whispered with a stunned smile.
“Praise be tae God,” she beamed.
“Indeed,” I grinned back like a fool, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill.
My heart longed for Rex. Guilt plagued me every time I thought about him. The morning sickness had eased up now, but I still yearned to feel his comfort. I wanted to feel his arms around me, holding me close and giving me strength, but I knew that would never happen.
Rex had never even called to check on me.
I thought about returning home, but I knew nothing would ever be the same. Brianna had told me he was on some pack tour to find his mate, and it wasn’t me. The last thing I wanted to do was be forced to raise my child in a pack where I’d have to see him with his mate. To see him loving someone who wasn’t me. The mere thought caused a raw hurt that burned in my chest and threatened to suffocate me.
Everyone bowed their head as a prayer was spoken, and I followed along.
I tried to think of what I was thankful for… my grandparents, Remington, and everyone at the pub. Mars had spoiled me with food every chance he got. When he wasn’t cooking, he was playing cards or chess with me. He taught me Mary Queen of Scots, and I taught him Go Fish. He told the best jokes and fried the best Mars bar I had ever had. Haggis may be the official national dish of Scotland, but the deep-fried Mars bar with its amazing crispy batter was number one in my heart.
Cadbury ensured everyone was comfortable and left me new books every week. He always prepared ginger tea in the morning to help my nausea and chamomile in the evening to help me sleep. He let me play the piano in the pub and never complained if I played the same song over and over.
Kit was a middle aged woman married to Mars. She did the grocery shopping for all of us, and managed the everyday business of the pub for Remington. Kit went on morning walks with me through Princes Street Gardens, and enjoyed talking about books. On rainy days, she sat in the pub with us and watched game shows.
I had tried to sneak Jinx into my room for cuddles, but he was a pub cat through and through. He always seemed to have his eyes on me, like a watchdog. When he wasn’t watching me, Jinx sat in the pub window watching passersby. He slinked under the tables and waited for bits of fish, chicken, or haggis to hit the floor—he didn’t discriminate.
“Amen,” I murmured with everyone else as they moved their hands, crossing themselves.
I took another good look at the inside of the church with its beautiful Christmas decorations and decided to slip out the side door before someone discovered I was a fraud and didn’t belong here.
The cold, crisp air filled my lungs and I lifted the hood of my coat over my head. A light flurry of snow floated down, and I could still hear the singing inside the church behind me. Chilling wind hit me and I looped the scarf around my neck again.
“How dae ye expect me tae see yer mate mark wit that scarf on?”
I jumped with a yelp when I realized how close the stranger who spoke the words had gotten to me. His eyes turned into dark orbs, and he smiled wolfishly. Shite! He was a shifter, and his wolf had pushed to the surface.
“You don’t need to worry about my mate mark,” I told him, wondering if I should return to the church.
“A’h dae nae scent a mate on ye, lass,” he replied. “An ye're walkin aroond alone at nicht wit an Alpha pup in yer belly.”
He was a big guy, and I knew I had no chance of fighting him off or outrunning him. “This is none of your business.”
“A’m th’ Alpha o’ th’ Lowland Pack, an it tis mah business. Yer an unclaimed female an ye’ll need an Alpha tae help ye.”
“Let me guess, you want to claim me?”
“Aye,” he said firmly. “Ye’ll die wi’oot an Alpha bond.”
“What the hell is wrong with all of you crazy fucking shifter males?” I snapped. “I don’t want to be claimed, so FUCK OFF!”
“Ye juist left church, lass, an ye're mouth is filthy,” his lips twisted in dark amusement. “A'll hae tae put it tae good use.”
He reached for my arm, and I immediately pulled back. “Don’t touch me,” I shrieked.
“Yer comin wit me.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I tried to shuffle away from him, but he was an Alpha male. The breath was knocked out of my lungs when he pulled me against him.
“Whit’s yer name, lass?”
“I think you should be more concerned about the name of the father, Lachlann,” Remington said as he stepped out from the shadow of a tree.
“Whit in th’ devil dae we hae here?” The angry shifter said in a low snarl. I pulled out of his grip and stepped away.
The air suddenly felt heavy with static and I saw a shadow pass over Remington’s face. “Touch her again, and I’ll rip your arm off.”
“She’s nae yer mate,” the man named Lachlann shook his head and took a step back.
“Are you sure?” Remington gave him a sinister grin that turned his angel face into a monster. It was terrifying, but I knew he would never hurt me.
Lachlann’s face reflected anger, but there was also fear present. I wasn’t a shifter, but I could feel the dangerous vibes rolling off Remington as he narrowed his eyes at the burly Alpha. Lachlann stood silent for a long moment, probably trying to decide if he could take Remington.
“Try it, and I’ll bathe in your blood,” Remington hissed and his eyes glowed red.
“This is hallowed ground,” Lachlann snarled.
“And you think that will stop me?” Remington looked ready to pounce as his hands shifted into massive claws.
Lachlann sucked in a sharp breath and retreated before running off into the night. I returned my gaze back to Remington, but he was his normal, handsome human looking self. I had heard that rogue wolves had red eyes and were insane. Remington was a lot of things, but he wasn’t insane.
“How did you like the church service?” He asked as if nothing had just happened.
Speechless, I turned to look at the spires reaching into the dark night sky. “It was nice. Have you been?”
His lips twitched. “I’ve never set foot inside a church.”
“Do all churches have gargoyles on them?”
“Not all of them,” he mused. “Some people believe they’re guardians of the church that ward off evil spirits and demons. Then there are those who believe they are frozen demons meant to remind humans of the dangers of hell and the need to be good.”
“Demons aren’t real,” I smiled, tucking my hands into my coat pockets.
“The ground might be slippery,” he said, holding out his elbow. “Take my arm.”
“Ever the thoughtful gentleman,” I laughed. “How did you know where I was?”
“I followed you.”
My mouth fell open with shock. I was in the church fornearly an hour. “Did you wait outside the entire time?”
He nodded. “I prefer the stillness of the night.”
Remington had stayed true to his word and provided me with shelter and safety. I had settled into a comfortable routine the last two months. I mostly slept a lot, served food downstairs, and socialized with everyone. When things were slow, I practiced the piano or helped Mars in the kitchen.
I knew there was another club in the basement, but I never saw anyone coming or going. Cadbury had mentioned there were other doors and tunnels, so it was rare to see anyone slipping in or out at the street level. That was for V.I.P’s, like the Vampire King.
“What do you know about kelpies?” Remington asked me.
“The old wives tale about a dangerous shape-shifting water creature that can come onto land as a horse?” I asked, and he nodded. “It’s a demon who entices people to ride him or snatches them up and carries them down to a watery grave. The tale was probably made up to scare little children from playing near water.”
“So, you don’t believe in kelpies or demons?”
“Considering there’s a kelpies statue near Falkirk with the massive steel horse-heads, I’d say most folks around here believe in them.”
Even Jack, I bitterly thought.
“There’s another part of the legend that most people don’t know,” he said as we continued walking. “It’s widely known that kelpies are demons, but what people often forget is that demons can be benevolent or malevolent.”
“Good or bad,” I murmured.
“Yes. Kelpies were benevolent demons taking their shape to lure bandits, rapists, and rogues to their punishment. Their victims were those who harmed others in this world. Then one day, the demon who led the kelpies came across a beautiful woman swimming in a loch. He transformed into his human form, and they soon fell in love.”
“A demon and a human?”
“It turns out she wasn’t human after all, but a Faerie Princess in human form. Both were tied to other realms, and neither could live in the other. Each night, she returned to the Fae Realm, and he returned to the Dark Realm. After a few months, the demon nearly lost his mind, swearing she was his mate, but the Demon King forbade him from seeing her again.”
“Why? Was he jealous?”
A soft chuckle caught in his throat. “Perhaps, but demons don’t have soulmates because they don’t have souls.”
“So, he turned into a bad demon and started dragging children to their watery grave?”
Remington stopped for a moment and assessed the look on my face. “No, Maeve,” he shook his head with another chuckle. “She discovered she was expecting a child, which is very difficult for Faeries, hence all the changeling stories you may have heard about.”
“Does this demon-faerie spawn visit the pub in the basement?”
“The pregnancy progressed slowly… like a human,” he continued gradually. “They had conceived in their human forms and soon realized the child would be born human. They loved each other so much that they gave up immortality and became human.”
“So they could be a family and attend church services,” I smiled as we reached the pub door.
Remington tipped his head back and laughed. “Something like that.”
He stopped with his hand on the brass door and turned to me. There was something in his eyes that told me there was more. Something he wanted to talk about, but was cautious.
“I think there’s something special about your pup,” he said.
That damn guilt filled me again, and I felt terrible for hiding the truth from him. He had done so much for me, and I wanted to tell him, but I was still unsure of myself. What if he turned me in? Or worse, turned me away?
I swallowed and took a deep breath. “The father is a lycan,” I whispered in the night.
“I know,” he nodded. “I’m trying to figure out if it's Lukas or Rex.”
A gasp stuck in my throat, and my brows pulled together. “You… you know them?”
“I haven’t exactly been living under a rock,” he nodded.
“Rex,” I admitted.
“Of course… The Goddess never misses an opportunity,” he chuckled.
“What about The Goddess?”
“She’s always protecting her beloved wolves,” he continued. “Don’t worry, Maeve, your secret is safe with me. Let’s get you back inside,” he pushed the door open.
“Do you think Alpha Lachlann will tell Alpha Hamish about me?”
“No,” he shook his head. “An Alpha pup is a big deal, and he won’t want the competition. They all need heirs to secure their packs.”
“Jack, Angus, and Ronan don’t have a pack, and they tried the same thing.”
“They have Alpha blood, and a young Alpha pup would give them thepower they need…”
“To take the pack from Hamish?”
“Possibly, but if Hamish is mateless, he might also try the same. Lachlann Wallace is a good Alpha but nearly lost his mind when he came across you tonight. Those fools would be signing their death orders because the moment the Alpha King discovers a lycan pup, he’s going to know they’re related.
“Hey, just in time,” Kit called from behind the bar. “Cadbury made hot chocolate with the Mackies milk chocolate bars I bought yesterday.”
“I have just the thing to warm you up,” Cadbury set a mug on the bar.
“Mars just pulled the goose out of the oven,” Kit announced proudly. “He’s making parsnips just the way you like them.”
“I’m going to help him in the kitchen,” I said, reaching for my mug of chocolate.
“You will do no such thing,” Cadbury replied. “Play us a song on the piano,” he insisted.
“There’s no arguing with Cadbury,” Remington said as he shooed Jinx off the piano bench.
“Anything but Scotland the Brave,” Kit called out. “I love it, but they must have played it ten times last night.”
I flipped the pages on the music book and found the song I was looking for.
Auld Lang Syne was one of Scotland’s most popular pieces of music with lyrics written by the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns. The song had become an anthem around the world to usher in the New Year. It always felt like a holiday song to me. My fingers rested on the piano keys before the calming tune filled the pub.