Thaddeus
Her sorrow, hope, and contentment were all twisted together in our bond, and it made us ache for her. The way her hand rested over mine on her belly, I knew she was thinking of our pups—our future, even if it was still shadowed by her past.
Wulfric was silent, but I felt his fierce, protective nature flare and surge through the bond. I could not fault him. I felt the same.
I glanced at the clock on the mantel.
It was Christmas Day, and Callum had accepted my invitation—a reassurance I hadn’t known I needed.
“Merry Christmas, my love,” I whispered.
Her head jerked up as she turned to look at me. I winced at the tears in her eyes—but then she smiled, bright and unguarded.
“Merry Christmas, Sassunach.”
I began to chuckle. She groaned—and clenched around my knot.
“I will show you what this Sassunach is capable of,” I murmured. “You will not be able to walk come Christmas morning.”
I slipped my hand between her thighs, and her head tipped back as a ragged breath tore from her lips. Her slick, beautiful cunt rippled around my knot, stealing the air from my lungs.
“You will be Lady Wulverton,” I said, my voice low and steady, “and we will lead our kind into a new dawn, Euphemia. Because without you, I am nothing.”
She reached back and grasped my neck, resting her hand over my mark.
The light flickered around us.
Pine. Candles. Bright red holly berries.
The scent of nature and our coupling blended in perfect harmony.
Mate, Wulfric purred, curling contentedly in my chest—serene.
“Ah’m glad Uncle Callum didnae ruin yer face,” she whispered.
“Ye wee minx. Ye’ll pay fur yer insolence,” I vowed, and she only giggled.
The sound was perfect—happy, carefree.
I loved every facet of her.
Human… and her shy wolf.
? ? ?
Euphemia and Flora were upstairs while she chose a dress. My gaze kept flicking toward the stairwell as I paced the floor under Callum and Ranald’s watchful eyes.
The children played with their new toys, sharing them with Moire, whose squeals of delight made Wulfric chuff low in my chest.
“What dae ye think, Ranald?” Callum drawled lazily. “Dae ye think he’ll do fur yer sister?”
My head snapped around so fast my muscles locked. I rubbed the back of my neck, staring at Ranald while Callum smirked, clearly enjoying himself.
Ranald looked me over with open insolence.
“I suppose she could do worse,” he said coolly. “There was one-armed MacPherson had his eye on her, remember?”
Fury surged up my spine.
“MacPherson?” I spat.
“Oh, aye. I forgot about him. Poor lad—lost his arm at the mill.”
“This one still has all his limbs,” Ranald said with a sniff, “but I’m no too confident about his blood.”
Callum chuckled when he noticed my clenched fists.
“We shouldnae tease him on Christmas Day. Poor wee Laird is beside himself.”
Ranald’s lips tugged at the corners, but his eyes were from the devil himself.
What were they teaching the children up here?
Before I could form another thought, the door opened—and my heart stuttered.
Euphemia stood there with her hair pinned to one side, the shorter layers spilling forward over her chest while the rest fell in a heavy curtain down her back, reaching her waist. The deep red of it burned against the silver and black of her dress, the long skirt catching the light and shimmering softly as she moved.
She stepped closer, hands twisting together, dark eyes peeking up at me from beneath her lashes.
“Och, don’t ye look bonnie,” Callum exclaimed.
I crossed the room in a daze, took her hand, and bowed to press a kiss to her knuckles.
“As pretty as a picture,” her aunt said proudly.
Wulfric took in the sight and her scent alongside me.
We were here—together. Surrounded by her kin. Our mate was happy. There was no lingering sorrow.
This was a celebration.
“We’re getting married tomorrow,” I told Callum, never taking my eyes from her flushed pink cheeks.
She lifted her head—strong and proud—and her smile bloomed as her fingers tightened around mine.
There wasn’t a single protest in the room.
I kept her close—from the dinner table to observing the family games. We knew we could not be parted, not after last night and this morning.
The bond pulsed next to our hearts.
This was the true miracle of Christmas.