Chapter 11
The following morning, Gabriel and Ana ate breakfast in the cafeteria with his cousins and their mates. Ana hadn’t spent much time with shifters before and didn’t know much about being a shifter’s mate, so he was glad she had Winterlyn and Emberlin to talk to.
Gabriel nursed his second cup of coffee while his cousins talked about being stuck in Northernmost during December and not getting to go home for the full moon, something they’d been able to do in years past. Santa had closed the Portal into Northernmost to everyone except for emergencies, like the one that had brought his sweet mate to him.
“At least we’re stuck with our mates,” Gabriel said.
“Good point,” Declan said. “My mom’s not happy about the full moon, but I think it’s more that she really loves Winterlyn and wants to spend more time with her during the holidays.”
Sebastian nodded. “It’s too bad you can’t take Ana home before Christmas Day.”
Gabriel nodded. “My parents aren’t thrilled, but they understand the commitment I made. Ana wants to see me shift because she didn’t get to see it during the fight with Nightmare and his followers. I was thinking tonight, after I plan an epic date.”
“Epic?” Declan asked with a chuckle.
“Hopefully,” Gabriel said. “Would you guys like to hang out with us? The girls can chat while we run around in the snow.”
“I’m on shift tonight, but I’ll ask someone to cover for me,” Sebastian said.
“Awesome. I’ll text you both when we’re done with our date.”
While his cousins swapped stories about the best dates they’d planned with their mates, Gabriel half-listened, his attention fixed on Ana. She glanced at him as he was gawking at her, and smiled brightly. She was so freaking beautiful. He felt like the luckiest wolf in the world.
“We should get going,” he said to her. “Santa wants to see us.”
“We’ll see you all later tonight,” she said as she pushed back the chair and stood.
“Dress warm,” Winterlyn said. “We can visit the reindeer stall too, if you’d like.”
“I’d love that,” Ana said.
They said goodbye to his family and left the cafeteria to head to Santa’s office.
“So we need to talk,” she said.
His heart skipped. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh sure,” she said with a chuckle.
“You sounded a little grave right then.”
“I didn’t mean to,” she said with a smile. “But I was thinking about living arrangements after the holidays.”
“You mean whether we live here, with my pack, or with your family?”
“Yep. What do you think?”
“I think that wherever you are is where I want to be.”
She made a face. “Don’t leave the decision up to me. I want to really talk about it.”
They stopped outside the main office, where elves were working through the naughty and nice lists.
“I’m not trying to,” he said. “It’s just that I don’t really mind where we live as long as we’re together.
I like being a Guardian, but there is also a place for me in the pack on the security team.
And I’m sure I could find work if we lived near your family.
Truthfully, as long as I get to come home to you, the location doesn’t matter. ”
Her gaze softened. “You’re so freaking adorable.”
His wolf let out a disgruntled snarl. “Bunnies are adorable.”
“Okay, you’re amazing and the sexiest guy ever,” she said, laughing. “I like being up here, but it hasn’t even been a week yet. So maybe we agree to stay here since we’re stuck anyway until Christmas Day. Then we can spend time with your family and mine and make our decision after that.”
“That works for me.”
She let out a breath as if she’d been holding it. “I think the people of Northernmost will enjoy having a dedicated dream walker here. Especially if Nightmare starts targeting us all. He seems like the kind of guy to hold a grudge.”
“Yeah, he’s definitely an ass.”
“Do you think our kids will be a combination of dream walker and wolf or lean more one way or the other?”
“I’m not sure. I would suspect they’ll lean more one way or the other, but maybe we’ll have a few combos, wolves who can use slumber magic.”
“A few? How many is a few?” she asked.
He hooked his arm around her waist and drew her close. “However many you want. I’m an only child. My cousins are only children. They feel like brothers to me, but I’d like our kids to have siblings.”
“Me too.” She went onto her toes and kissed him and his wolf rumbled in approval.
“Let’s talk to Santa and then see where the day takes us,” he said.
“I have a few suggestions,” she said, her voice dropping.
“I’m sure they’re the same as mine.”
They walked through the offices and reached Santa’s door, knocking and waiting for him to call them in.
Inside the large office, a fire crackled in the fireplace, lending a warm glow to the space. Santa was at his desk, and the male Gabriel had seen several times was at the picture window looking out at the Well.
Seth.
He turned and greeted them, then left the office.
“He looks a lot like you,” Gabriel said.
Santa chuckled and waved a hand. “Have a seat, you two.”
They took the chairs across from the desk, and Gabriel took Ana’s hand.
“I’m so thankful you both came through the fight yesterday relatively unscathed. Thank you for fighting for the Well of Magic and keeping each other, and all of us, safe.” He drummed his fingers on the desk for a moment. “Every time a Guardian finds his mate, we have a conversation like this.”
“About the future of the couple in Northernmost?” Gabriel asked.
Santa nodded. “So tell me what your thoughts are, and I’ll tell you mine.”
Gabriel cleared his throat, then told Santa they were obviously staying in Northernmost through Christmas Day, with Ana working the night shift to bring sweet dreams to the people here while he patrolled with the security team.
After Christmas, they’d visit their families and take their time deciding where their future lay.
Gabriel honestly didn’t care as long as he and Ana were together.
It sounded trite, but it was true. He would be happy anywhere as long as he had her in his arms while they rested.
He’d love to be with his pack, but they could make their own pack with her family or here in Northernmost, too.
“I’m a little worried about Nightmare targeting us,” Ana said. “But I can’t help that and will just have to deal with it when he does.”
Gabriel growled softly. He immediately thought of what it was like to see Ana trapped in Nightmare’s terror.
“I think he’ll target our people more as well, and you specifically. I have something to help.” Santa got up and went to the mantel, lifted a small box, and brought it over. The glossy wood box held a ring. The ring was made of thin gold strands braided together and set with tiny pale blue stones.
“Oh, it’s lovely,” Ana said. She took the ring and tried it on several fingers until she found it fit perfectly on the first finger of her right hand. “It feels powerful.”
“It is,” Santa said, taking his seat behind the desk.
“It will protect your mind while you work, but especially while you sleep. It’s a ward that will keep evil out of your subconscious.
I spoke to Sandman yesterday about the way Nightmare literally infects good dreams with nightmares, and while this isn’t foolproof, it will make it more difficult for him to give you nightmares and trap you in the loop of terror he seems to enjoy. ”
“Oh, wow. That would be amazing.” She rubbed her thumb on the ring and smiled, but the smile slipped quickly. “You can’t make these for everyone.”
Santa shook his head. “I’m sorry I can’t. The power needed to make a ward like this is significant, and it’s not something I’m able to do for a large group.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Gabriel grunted. “I was planning to give her a ring too, but mine won’t have magical properties.”
Santa grinned and settled back in the chair with a laugh. “Sorry, my boy. But yours will come from the heart, and that makes it infinitely more valuable.”
“I can’t wait for that ring too,” Ana said.
“Whatever you decide for your future after Christmas, just know that you both have a place here if you want it. And if I can be of any help, reach out.”
“Thank you, Santa,” Gabriel said.
“You know, I once asked you for a pony,” Ana said as she rose to her feet with Gabriel. “And I’m curious why I never got it.”
Santa’s brow arched and his eyes flashed bright blue for a moment. “Where would you put a pony? You live in a subdivision with a postage-stamp yard.”
“I assumed the pony would come with a larger yard.”
He let out a bellowing laugh and said, “I deliver toys, not zoning permits.”
“Fair enough,” she said.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Gabriel said. “I’m in the throes of planning an epic date for my mate, and then the guys and I are going to shift and run around afterward while the girls talk.”
“Sounds like a fun time. Enjoy and be safe.”
They said goodbye to Santa and left the offices. There was something magical about the time leading up to Christmas with the toy builders hustling, the wish lists pouring in, and the naughty and nice lists being checked twice.
He’d certainly gotten his wish when he met Ana.
“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.
“You are for me too,” she said.
They weren’t in danger right now, and that made his wolf settle a bit. He’d always be alert and concerned that Ana was safe, but for the first time in days, there was peace in Northernmost. And he was going to enjoy every second of it.