Chapter 24 Shepard
Shepard
I have to hold back a snort of laughter as we head toward Frost on stage. He’s just tuning his guitar when he looks at the three of us, raising a brow when he sees the large bear on my shoulders.
“Looks like you’re all having fun. Meanwhile, I have to deal with the acoustics,” he grumbles.
“Yes, and fine acoustics they are, indeed, Frost,” Robin chimes next. “But a problem has arisen. And you’re the only one who can solve it for us.”
Now, both of Frost's eyebrows jump into his hairline. “A problem that only I can solve? I doubt it. You’re the brains. Whatever it is, you figure it out. I’m just about to go up on stage.”
Noelle cuts straight to the chase. “Santa is sick, and we need you to fill his seat.”
Frost’s fingers skitter on his guitar, and the strings whine in protest. Even his bandmates look at us in surprise.
He stares at us in disbelief. “What?”
Robin smirks, fixing his glasses. “That’s right.”
Frost chuckles. “You can’t be serious. You know I’m not great with kids.”
“Oh, that’s a shocker, considering you pout just like a baby,” Noelle jokes, making us all laugh.
Frost pouts at her next, proving her point. “Get someone else to do it. Someone older, jollier, and far rounder, preferably.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “But Noelle asked for you especially, Frost.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, again… Why? Look at me.”
He makes a valid point. He’s not the kind of Alpha small kids gravitate to. Meanwhile, they adore me.
The kids at the lodge love it whenever I come around and fix their room’s appliances. But this could be Frost’s chance to redeem himself. Maybe his heart will finally grow three times bigger.
“Noelle believes that it’s the only way you can redeem yourself. A way for you to earn back her trust,” Robin speaks now.
Finally, Frost looks at Noelle. She pleads with her eyes, and it seems she is serious. She utterly wants to believe that Frost is capable of change.
In the end, he concedes, handing his guitar to his bandmate. “Take care of her. I have a Santa suit to put on.”
He joins our side. “I have just one condition. Noelle will be my elf.”
Well, he’s got her there.
We all look to the Omega. She narrows her eyes at him for a moment, thinking up her response. Then she reaches across and takes his hand. “Deal.”
Frost smirks, and now we all head to the grotto.
The Santa switch went better than we anticipated.
It turns out Frost is much better with kids than he gives himself credit for, and when an adorable little boy named Noah said that he wanted to grow up to become a rockstar, my brother’s eyes lit up.
And then, he pulled out a toy electric guitar from his sack of presents.
Noelle hovers behind him in a green dress and a pair of stripy tights with Yule bells on the tips.
She looks hot as fuck, and I won’t deny that my Alpha came to life whenever she bent to get a present from Frost’s sack for the next kid.
Frost lifts little Noah from his lap, ruffling his head when he places him back on his feet. “Merry Christmas, Noah. And have fun shredding on your new guitar.”
Noah smiles, showing his gap-toothed grin as he squeals, “Thank you, Santa! I will!”
Damn… Cute kid.
I lean down to whisper to Frost. It’s all good; I have on a pair of antlers, so I just look like one of Santa’s reindeer. “You’re supposed to say Ho, Ho, Ho.”
“No,” Frost grits back, refraining from saying what’s really on his mind with young kids present.
Frost sees to several more children—a sweet little girl named Ivy who asks for a pony for Christmas, and a little boy called Harry who wants a chemistry set.
Before long, the line of waiting children vanishes, and we get to see every child. It fills my heart with joy to know that no child was left wanting.
They’re who it’s all about after all.
Robin shuts the door to the grotto just after the last family leaves, turning to Frost. Our brother finally yanks the fake beard off, grimacing. “Fuck, that thing is sweaty.”
He looks up when he realizes we’re watching him. “What?”
I smile. “Admit it. You enjoyed yourself. I saw the spark in your eyes when Noah told you he wanted to grow up to be a rockstar.”
Frost shrugs, taking off his Santa hat. “So? The kid has a vision. Who am I to get in the way of that?”
“Yeah, right,” Noelle remarks, stacking the last of the few presents on the table.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Frost asks, looking at the Omega.
She meets his eyes, smirking. “Admit that you enjoyed yourself. Noah brought a little something to your eye because he reminded you of a young version of yourself. I remember you being the exact way.”
She’s right. Frost was just like Noah. His dad got him his very first guitar when he was six. Before that, he had a toy one just like Noah’s.
Frost doesn’t even try to defend himself, and what do you know… My brother has a heart after all.
“Whatever. Don’t ask me to do this again. Get someone else next time.”
And with that, he tosses the red pants and the coat onto the chair, too. Noelle hands him his other clothes, and she averts her gaze.
However, one of her eyes peeks open as he slips on his pants, and she gets an eyeful of Frost’s tattoos.
Frost catches her staring. Noelle acts indifferent, pretending to be busy with the Christmas tree that twinkles in the corner.
He really is an idiot. It’s clear he wants her, and it’s very clear she wants him, too.
But Frost is just too stubborn. I just hope he doesn’t live to regret his choice. After all, we only get one more shot with Noelle. I truly believe we can make it work again.
Our success is just hanging on Frost now.