Maisie
Effie and Callum’s Christmas feast was amazing. All the Omegas who are vacationing with us took so many videos and photos and I just know this is going to turn into more business for the Heather Beag.
When I first started helping Effie, I thought I was doing this to help her strum up business, but the longer we work together, I’m realizing how much I love every aspect of it.
Granted, I have help across the board, but that’s what a community does, it’s what a family does.
I’ve learned that asking for help isn’t a failure, it’s what you do for the people you love.
Quite simply the Heather Beag is the perfect job I didn’t know I needed.
We’re back at the B I know she would have loved this.
Warm, solid arms wrap around me, the comforting scent of pine and juniper lets me know that it’s Greer.
“Happy Christmas, Maisie,” he says, resting his head on top of mine as I stare at the tree in the dining room.
I told Effie that buying tons of decorations was well worth the investment.
We can re-use them every year and the guests have been posting the decor all over social media.
We even had Santa—aka Alan—come to the B&B so tourists and members of the town could get their pictures taken with him.
My pack was not pleased when he asked if I wanted to sit on his lap for a picture. I can’t help but laugh at the memory as Greer holds me tight.
“Merry Christmas,” I reply, squeezing his arm.
He already knows what I’m feeling. Grief is one of those things that never really goes away, it just stings less over time.
“I got you something else,” he says, even though we already exchanged gifts this morning.
He opens up his large freckled palm, and inside of it sits a dainty pillar necklace. On each side it has each Alpha’s name engraved, and Fergus on the last side, which is just precious.
“I love it, thank you,” I say, as I gather my hair and he helps me put it on.
Though he can feel my happiness down the bond, there’s still that underlying feeling of missing my mom and, of course, he notices, he always notices.
“I wish I could have met her,” he says, able to identify what I’m feeling with ease.
“Me too,” I say softly, holding on tight to his arms.
He doesn’t mention anything about me using deodorizers and I wonder if he’s suspecting anything, but I don’t worry about it as Birdie approaches me and Greer kisses my head before giving us some distance.
I wrap my arms around my sister, the only person who knows exactly what this feels like, and she holds me back.
“I’m happy we stayed,” she says and I nod in agreement.
“Me too.”
“Mom would have loved this,” Birdie says, and both of us well up with tears, though both of us hold it together.
“She always made sure Christmas was special, even when things were tight.”
“Remember that year she ran around town trying to find two Furbys because there was no way we could share one?”
“Yeah, I remember. But she wouldn’t want us sulking. She would want us to live in the moment.”
“You’re right,” Bridie says as we hold each other from the side and look at the tree one last time.
We turn around to the dining table where Callum has placed a ridiculous amount of finger foods. We’re going to play games, drink, and just enjoy our evening.
The Heather Beag has become a second home to me, and Effie a second mom. This place and these people mean everything to me, and it feels so profound to be a part of something that brings so much joy.
“I love seeing you happy,” Callum says, while holding a piece of food to my lips. The man loves feeding me, and who am I to deny what he loves?
“Mmm. What is it?”
“Clootie dumpling, what do you think?”
“Good,” I say easily, and he leans down to give me a kiss.
The hard, emotionally unavailable man I met when I first got here is long gone. In his place is a loving, attentive Alpha who makes the best food, and it’s always made with love.
“I got you something else,” he whispers, and I arch a brow at him.
“You all are not playing fair with the extra gifts, you know?”
“Very good Omegas deserve all the presents,” he says, and well, I suppose he’s right. His gift is a few pieces of paper and when I open it, I can’t help but to laugh.
They’re varying coupons. One is a ‘he has to be nice to Alan pass’, a free massage, breakfast in bed, along with other things he already does for me.
“I’d say the Alan one is the most valuable.”
“I think so,” I reply, giving him a kiss. The bright glow of the Christmas tree sparkles in his eyes and I can’t believe there was ever a time I thought he was an asshole. I love him so much. He’s so handsome.
I shake my head, trying to keep my thoughts clear. We’ve got to get through the Christmas festivities and then I can let go. Even if my Alphas are making it near impossible.
“Happy Christmas, Maisie. I have a gift for you. I gave one to your sister as well. Read it whenever you feel ready,” Effie says, and I scrunch my eyebrows together.
“I’ve gotten way too many extra gifts tonight,” I tell Effie, who makes a raspberry noise with her lips as if I’m being ridiculous.
“You can never have too many gifts, and I think you really needed this one. Wait to open it until you get home.”
I’m not sure why she doesn’t want me to open it here, but I agree, slipping the card into my purse and nearly forgetting about it.
The minutes feel like hours when we finally say our goodbyes to the Omega guests, Effie and Angus, and my sister’s pack before we’re finally home.
We’ve all collapsed on the couch. Lain’s head is on my lap and Fergus rests on his legs. Callum is on my other side and Greer is reclining in the seat across from me when I remember the letter Effie gave me.
The first paper I open is a typed out letter from my mom to Effie and reading that alone has tears welling in my eyes. I can barely even pay attention to the Alphas around me as I open the next piece of paper.
Effie wrote her back.
Dearest Lorna,
Thank you for trusting me with your daughters. I hope that wherever you are, you have found peace and can rest knowing that they are taken care of. I love them as if they’re my own.
I wish you were here to see how they’ve grown and how in love they’ve fallen with Scotland.
I’m happy to report that Maisie did not work the entire trip, and that Birdie did not lose her passport.
You don’t have to worry any longer, they’re loved, protected, and happy.
Your greatest fear was leaving them alone, but I can assure you they’re the farthest from that.
Not only have your daughters’ relationship with one another bloomed, they now have a whole town that loves them, but also packs that you would absolutely adore.
Sure, they both mated with my grandsons and I may be biased, but something tells me you would agree wholeheartedly.
Thank you for raising the two wonderful women you brought into my life. You have given me the ultimate gift, and I hope I have given you the gift of peace.
Love
Effie
I full on sob reading the letter. All the men do their best to read over my shoulder while also consoling me.
“Christ, Nan. On Christmas?” Callum says as Greer rubs my leg and Lain automatically starts purring to give me comfort.
“It’s beautiful, though,” I say, sniffing and reading the letters a few more times. “She would be proud and happy, and I think that’s the best gift I could have asked for.”
“So now is probably not the time to give you one last gift, huh?” Lain says, and I’m now laughing and crying at the same time.
“Might as well,” I say.
I’m surrounded by such thoughtful people that sometimes it’s overwhelming, however when Lain brings out the gift, all my tears dry up and I just lose myself in laughter.
“I thought that maybe it would be a good idea for next time,” he says handing over a basket of hair products, there’s a silk bonnet, a wet brush, a massive bottle of conditioner along with all the hair products a girl could ever dream of.
“I also watched a lot of YouTube videos and I think I can do it next time.”
I grab his chin and he leans down for a kiss before he plops back down on the couch with me. The fire crackles in the living room, and Fergus lies belly to the air, soaking up the heat of the fire as I cuddle around my pack, soaking up their scents and affection.
“Thank you,” I whisper into his neck.
“You’re welcome.”
Never in a million years did I think I’d long for a life like this, but it’s clear I wasn’t thinking big enough. My scent matches, the magic of the Highlands, and all the people here have given me a purpose I never could have dreamed of.
This trip was supposed to be about reconnecting with my sister and grieving our mom, but we got so much more instead.
My mom is with me on some cosmic level every day, and Birdie and I are closer than we were, even when we were kids.
But finding my scent matches, opening my heart, and actually letting myself live is the best gift my mom ever gave me by sending us here.
I’ll never know for sure if my mom knew what would happen when she made her final wish, but it’s made me believe in fate. Because having my Alphas wrapped around me makes me feel safe in a way I never thought possible.
I’m no longer an island, just trying to stay afloat. I’m part of something bigger.
“Oh. I got you all something else too,” I say, my palms sweating as I regretfully remove myself from the cuddle pile and stand up.
“What is it?” Greer asks, his brows pinching.
He must already have an idea of what I’m about to say. I’ve held it together well all day today, but my deodorizers are fading. I just had to get through Christmas and now that it’s done, I can finally let myself go, because I know my Alphas will always catch me.
“It looks like we’re going to be celebrating the rest of Christmas in my nest,” I say, doing my very best to press my thighs together.
All at once, all the Alphas’ heads tilt to the side, like my scent is hitting them for the first time today.
“Thank goodness I got the hair stuff,” Lain says.
“I’ll call Ginny and get Fergus squared away,” Callum says, so much more self-assured this time in heat.
Greer grins at me and winks. “Run to your nest, sweet girl. I’ll give you a head start.”
I yelp, running to the nest with a smile on my face, because there isn’t any pain, just endless desire for my pack.
There’s no worrying about if I’ll be taken care of or what anyone should or shouldn’t do in heat.
For the first time in my life, I can truly let go during my heat without a single worry, because my pack has me.
The magic of the Highlands is an all-consuming thing and I feel it in this house, along with all the love we have for one another.
As my feet pound against the stairs, I grin and think that this trip was the best thing that ever happened to me.
The End
Make sure you check out Knot a Highland Fling (Birdie’s book) by Fallon English