Chapter 12
Thomas
Luke and I were just finishing up when my phone rang. I glanced down and smiled when I saw it was James.
“Are we good?” I asked Luke.
“Yeah, take it.”
“Hey man, what’s up?”
“Thomas, we, um, have a situation downtown. It’s Lily.”
I groaned. What was she up to this time?
“It’s bad, Thomas. You need to come right away. And I don’t know how to tell you this, but the baby’s not with her. I’ve looked everywhere. She’s not here.”
“Relax James. Cammie’s safe. She’s with me.”
“Oh thank God. Wait, since when did Lily start letting you watch the baby?”
“I’ll explain it later, but is my mate okay?”
“I don’t know. The doctor’s on his way. The guys are trying to get the tree off of her now.”
“The tree? Off Lily?”
“Yes!”
“Is everything okay?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know.”
“James, where are you exactly?”
“The roundabout on Collier Street.”
“Okay, Luke and I are on our way.”
I was already walking down the hall towards the living room.
“Mom!” I yelled.
“Cammie’s just fine,” she replied.
I walked in to see them both on the floor. My daughter was laying on a blanket on her stomach as my mother encouraged her.
“We’re just having a little tummy time.”
“There’s been some sort of accident. I don’t really know what’s going on, but Lily needs me.”
“Go,” she said. “I’ll watch the baby.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said trying not to panic as I turned and ran for the car.
Luke was already there and waiting in his truck to drive me over. I climbed in and off we sped.
When we arrived, it felt as it half the pack had gathered around. I didn’t need to push my way through, as Alpha, as soon as people noticed me, they jumped out of my way. I only had to growl at one unsuspecting spectator.
“What is going on?” I barked when I saw James but no sign of Lily.
The ugliest tree I’d ever seen was lying on the ground. It looked diseased or something.
“Where is my mate?” I demanded, causing a few people to jump back.
“Calm down,” James said completely unaffected by my rage. “She’s over here.”
Just on the other side of the tree sitting on the curb I finally saw her. Her face was bloodied and her arms were scratched. My wolf was roaring in my head.
I dropped to my knees before her and cradled her face in my hands.
She hissed in pain.
“Is she going to be okay?” I asked the doctor, who was already tending to her.
“Thomas, I’m fine,” Lily insisted, but I needed to hear that from the expert.
He smiled. “She’s fine, Alpha.”
“What happened?” I asked a little softer.
That’s when I heard Sydney snicker.
I glared at her. Luke was already by her side and trying not to laugh.
Lily huffed. “Don’t get mad at them. I can’t even blame her or anyone for laughing.”
“You’re hurt. This is no laughing matter.”
“Don’t get all Alpha macho with me right now.
I tried to buy a tree for the town, but the lot was all out of them.
They only had one left and the Santa there gave it to me for free when I explained my dilemma.
” She sighed. “It’s a really ugly tree. I told the guys to load it back up.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it, but it can’t be the town Christmas tree. It just can’t.”
“Okay,” I said through gritted teeth trying to hold my composure.
“Well, I don’t know exactly what happened, but suddenly the tree was flying through the air and landed on top of me. I’m a little scratched up and I hit my head.”
“Just a contusion not a concussion. She’s fine to shift and heal,” Doc assured me.
“So, there you have it. I just wanted to give the Pack a nice Christmas, and for Cammie too but instead I was attacked by the tree.” She hesitated and I understood why those around us were trying desperately not to laugh.
“Well, that’s certainly a picture you just painted.”
“Oh no doubt it was far more dramatic than that. I just gave you the abridged edition. Wait, where’s my baby?”
“Don’t freak out, but my mother’s watching her.”
Lily relaxed. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I asked.
“Okay?” James echoed.
“Did she say okay?” someone from behind me whispered.
“Okay. Cora raised seven children; she can handle one little grandbaby for a few hours.”
“She’s cleared to go, Thomas. You can take her home now.” The doctor gave me a reassuring smile.
I helped lily to her feet.
She was mumbling under her breath. “I’m never going to live this moment down,” she grumbled as I tucked her into her vehicle.
“Wait,” someone yelled and four men hauled the tree on top of my car and secured it.
“Sorry Alpha, it’s what she wanted.”
I groaned but nodded. I’d figure out what to do with the damn thing later.
I needed to get my mate home. She needed to go for a run and then a long bath. But first I knew the greatest thing I could do was pick up our kid.
“Well that was embarrassing. I can’t believe that just happened in front of the entire Pack.”
“You did say you wanted the most memorable Christmas ever.”
Lily punched me in the arm.
I grinned.
“That tree didn’t stand a chance against my slugger.”