Wolf Beneath the Wreath (Double-Booked for the Holidays #8)

Chapter 1

DAVEY

The mountains were calling me with promises of isolation, silence, and not a single Christmas carol for miles. It was exactly what I needed.

What I didn't need was tinsel or mistletoe or awkward family dinners with everyone on my case about when I would settle down with a nice alpha and start my own family. Did they think I didn’t notice my nonexistent love life?

Trust, I was fully aware of how pathetic I was.

My phone buzzed for the fifth time in an hour, but I ignored it again and stuffed my favorite hoodie into the rapidly filling bag. When the buzzing started up again, I finally glanced at the screen.

Davey, honey, please reconsider. Christmas is about family.

Your cousins are asking about you. It was Mom.

She was a master of guilt trips, but I was getting better at ignoring them.

After reading a popular self-help book, I’d taken on the mantras of “Let her say her piece” and “Let me smile and nod and pretend I didn’t hear it. ”

When I zipped the duffel with more force than necessary, the zipper caught on a piece of fabric and I almost threw my shoulder out. Dammit.

I yanked the zipper loose and heard my phone buzz again. The woman was relentless.

Oh, actually, it was Dad. She’d called in the big guns. Don't do this to your mother, son. At least come for Christmas dinner. We haven't seen you in months.

Not gonna work, Pops.

I walked to the kitchen and grabbed my favorite mug from the cabinet then wrapped it in a t-shirt before placing it in my backpack.

No way was I drinking my morning coffee from some styrofoam cup.

I needed at least a few familiar comforts in the private cabin I splurged on at the trendy resort I’d been hearing about for a few years.

Several colleagues had spent time there on romantic weekends or ski trips with their families. For me, it was going to be a bachelor weekend of me reading, moping, and hiding from all things Christmas.

Christmas was for people who were happy and cheery. I was neither of those things. In fact, I was much more Grinchy than I wanted to admit, so isolation was also my way of not ruining Christmas for anyone else.

Especially my parents.

Speaking of, my phone buzzed again, and I couldn't help but look.

Uncle Robert and Aunt Jane are bringing their new neighbor. An unmated alpha. You can at least stop by and say hi.

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly strained them.

Every Christmas was the same with them. They figured if they could parade their spinster omega son in front of whatever unmated alphas they could rustle up, I might have a chance of not dying alone. To their dismay, it never worked.

Last year, they dragged in their newly divorced alpha dentist with bad breath and wandering hands. The year before, some alpha lawyer was seated next to me and spent the entire dinner talking about his boat. The boat he named after himself.

No, thanks.

I grabbed my heat suppressants from the bathroom cabinet and counted out enough for ten days. Better to have extras than run out. Nothing would ruin my peaceful retreat faster than going into an unexpected heat. I shuddered at the thought and tucked the pills into a side pocket of my toiletry bag.

The radio played softly in the background as I continued packing.

I reached for the volume knob when the DJ's voice cut through the song.

"And that winter storm we've been tracking is looking more serious, folks!

Expect heavy snowfall in the mountain regions starting tomorrow night and continuing through Christmas Day.

If you've got travel plans, be sure to pack those chains! "

I smiled for the first time all day. Perfect. A snowstorm meant even less chance of a busy resort. A roaring fireplace and a mug of hot chocolate were waiting for me if I could just get my ass on the road.

My phone buzzed again with a text from my sister this time. You're breaking Mom's heart, you know. Is one dinner really too much to ask? I’ll have to deal with everyone by myself if you don't come. Don’t you love me at all?

I sighed and actually replied to that one. Sorry, Liz. Cabin's already booked. Non-refundable. Tell them I've got a stomach bug if it makes it easier.

Her response came back instantly. Coward. At least tell me where you're going in case of an emergency.

I almost didn’t do it, but my parents weren’t getting any younger and accidents did happen. Fine, but if you tell them where to find me, I’ll never forgive you. This is for real emergencies only.

After sending her the resort address, I tucked my phone into my pocket and grabbed a few of my thickest sweaters.

They barely fit in my backpack, but I managed to get them in and still leave just enough room for the hand-knitted blanket my grandmother made before she passed.

It was an ugly combination of green, brown, and orange, but it was warm and reminded me that I did have a family.

It was the one my parents created, not my own.

But it was likely all I’d ever have, so I wanted to keep them as close as possible, even when I was hiding from them in a resort with limited cell coverage.

The Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge was one of the few places that offered isolated cabins as well as a more traditional hotel experience. I chose a cabin because being around happy people wasn’t what I was going for. The last thing I wanted was to be next door to newlyweds. Gross.

According to the website, Cabin 7 was very remote, perched on the edge of a small lake. There was a hot tub on the deck and no Wi-Fi. Once I got inside, I would be cut off from the world unless my sister lost a limb.

At least, that was my plan.

I tucked the printed confirmation and a copy of the map to get there into my wallet in case my phone wasn’t working. The website said GPS wasn’t reliable out there, and the last thing I wanted was to be stranded in the snow for a week.

The relief of not having to experience another Christmas like last year was all-encompassing. Never again would I spend any holiday fielding questions that just made me feel even more depressed and pathetic.

They still echoed in my head…

"When are you going to settle down, Davey?"

"Don't you want children before you're too old?"

"Being an omega means you're meant to have a family. It's biological."

"Your heat cycles will get worse if you keep suppressing them, you know."

I left my parents’ house before coffee was served and promised myself this Christmas would be different.

And it would be.

I grabbed my e-reader and charger from the nightstand and added them to my backpack. I'd downloaded twelve new books. That was enough to keep me occupied through New Year's, and not a single one had a romantic theme. Just mysteries and thrillers to keep my mind occupied.

My fridge was nearly empty, by design. On my way out of town, I’d stop at the market and stock up on comfort foods.

Frozen pizzas, mac and cheese, hot chocolate with those tiny marshmallows, and maybe a bottle of wine or two.

Or six. I had some lonely nights to fill.

After all, nothing said "adult Christmas alone" like wine from a coffee mug and pizza for breakfast.

I zipped up my bag and was about to walk out the door when my phone buzzed again. But this time, it wasn’t from my meddling family. It was from the resort.

Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge: Weather Advisory

Due to an expected winter storm, we recommend arriving before tomorrow evening if possible. Our staff will remain on-site, but road access may become limited. All cabins are well-stocked with emergency supplies, firewood, and non-perishable food items.

We look forward to your stay.

I sent a quick reply to confirm I'd arrive before dinner and grabbed my stuff. The sooner I got on the road, the better.

As I loaded my car, Mrs. Malloy waved from her porch next door. She was hanging a wreath with giant ornaments attached to it. "Heading out for the holidays, Davey?"

I nodded and forced a smile. "Just a little solo getaway."

"All by yourself at Christmas?" Her face crumpled with concern. "You're welcome to join us if you haven't got plans. My son's coming with his partner. They're about your age."

Et toi, Mrs. Malloy? Did my mom have spies all over my neighborhood? It wouldn’t surprise me in the least. "Thanks, but I'm looking forward to some alone time." I shut the trunk firmly, hoping to end the conversation.

"Well, if you change your mind..." She left the invitation hanging in the air.

Without another word, I waved and slipped into the driver's seat. Everyone in my life seemed to think being alone at Christmas was some sort of tragedy. They couldn't understand that it was actually a relief. It was an opportunity to unwind and read. Who needed companionship, anyway? Not me.

I started the car and queued up my carefully curated non-Christmas playlist. As I pulled away from the curb, a brief and unexpected moment of loneliness pricked at my chest. Was everyone else right? Was I just creating a miserable life for myself by not being open to love and romance? Maybe.

But there wasn’t anything I could change until after the holidays. Maybe my new year goal would be to go on a date. Ugh. That sounded miserable.

I shook off the melancholy and pressed the gas. This trip was exactly what I wanted. Peace. Quiet. No expectations. No disappointments. In other words, the opposite of any Christmas I’d ever had before.

My phone buzzed one last time as I reached the highway. I glanced at it at a red light.

It was from Mom. Again. Have a great time. I love you. Hope to hear from you on Christmas Day.

I sighed and typed a quick response. Love you too. I’ll try to call if the reception is okay.

Part of me felt guilty for ditching the only people in the world who actually did care about me, but I pushed that feeling down. I needed at least one Christmas to myself without the weight of everyone's expectations on my shoulders. Was that really too much to ask?

The mountains appeared in the distance as I drove north. Seeing the white peaks calmed me. Up in those quiet woods, I could just be me. Not Davey the stubborn omega. Not Davey who needed to find a mate. Just... Davey.

I stopped at a grocery store about an hour from the resort so I didn’t have to rely on the restaurant or room service.

The holiday music playing over the speakers made me grit my teeth, but I moved quickly to fill my cart with enough food to last through a minor apocalypse.

Most of it was junk food, but I threw in some ingredients for simple meals, in case I had a craving for fiber or protein.

I even added a couple bottles of decent whiskey as an afterthought.

Something to warm me up on those chilly nights.

The cashier smiled as she scanned my items. "Big plans for Christmas?"

"Just a quiet getaway." I kept my answers short to discourage conversation. My cabin was waiting for me.

"By yourself?" She looked around the store as if my partner were hiding in a corner.

I resisted the urge to snap at her because I knew she was just making conversation. "That's the plan."

Back in the car, I checked the time. If the roads stayed clear, I could make it before sunset to officially start my holiday of blessed solitude.

As I drove higher into the mountains, the world outside the car began a drastic change. The suburbs gave way to small towns, then to scattered houses, and eventually, there was nothing but snow-covered trees.

The tension that had been building inside me began to unwind. Up there, away from everything and everyone, I could pretend it was just another day. Not a holiday meant for families and couples and everyone except lonely omegas with intimacy issues.

The gas station at the base of the mountain was my last stop. I filled up the tank and checked my phone. There was only one bar of service. It would probably be my last chance to call or text anyone, but I didn’t bother.

My ideal vacation started now.