A Werewolf Kind of Christmas
by A.L. Kessler
Genre: Christmas Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Blood & Ink Press
Publication Date: December 11, 2018
With war hanging in the balance, Erin has one chance to stop it: Find her fated mate with the alpha of the rival pack, Tristen Kerr. But when the mating mark doesn't appear Erin has to stall while trying not to fall for the alpha she can't have. Meanwhile, her father has his own plans to take over Tristen's pack. While romance blooms between the two they fight to keep the war away and hope for a Christmas miracle.
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Long
"So," Jared drawled out the word.
"Do you get much snow in Ridge Pass?"
"Not
like here." Erin laughed. "Most of the city would have been shut down
by now. There's got to be like what? Three feet out there?"
"And
there's a storm coming," Molly chimed in. "We'll likely be snowed in
for Christmas. Running through the snow drifts will be fun. Not much hunting,
but you know how it is."
There
was no resisting the pull of the full moon. "Yeah. This will be my first
time running without my pack."
"You'll
have us." Jared gave her a gentle nudge. "And we'll make sure you
don't get lost here."
Her
father had gone on and on about how big the Monarch territory was. It was one
of the prime reasons that he wanted the spot. She didn't doubt that she could
get lost in these woods. "I appreciate that. It wouldn't do me any good to
get lost and freeze to death."
She
started to slice the carrots up, and as soon as she had a handful complete,
Molly would come in and swoop them up, adding them to whatever she was cooking
on the stove.
"Tonight,
will be a great night to chill out by the fire." Molly stirred the pot.
"Or maybe watch a movie."
"Why
not a movie and a fire." Jared laughed. "You don't have to do just
one. They're in the same room."
Molly
snorted like the idea was absurd. "Because time in front of a fireplace is
meant to be a social time. Not a stare at a screen time."
"Molly's
a bit old-fashioned." Jared winked.
Erin
laughed. "Old-fashioned isn't always bad, but she's right, fires are meant
to bring people together."
"Oh
look, someone who agrees with me." Molly turned around. "Fine, she
and I will chat by the fire."
It
beat having an awkward time with Tristan. "That sounds great."
Molly grabbed another handful of vegetables.
"See, someone with some class. You guys just watch your war movies, and
we'll enjoy ourselves."
"I
don't think we'll be watching war movies if Scott got himself all worked up.
Too close to the full." Jared sighed. "Poor pup."
Erin
didn't say anything and focused on her task. She shouldn't be asking about the
pack stuff, especially if she wasn't really part of it.
The
kitchen fell silent as they worked until finally Molly let out a huge dramatic
sigh. "Okay, so, you just need to like walk up and give Tristan a big ol'
smooch."
Erin
felt herself blush. "What on earth?"
"We
all know why you're here. There's no point in beating around the bush,"
Jared said. "So go up, smooch him, and see what happens."
She
looked down at what she was cutting up. "And what if no mark
appears?"
"We
all know exactly what happens. Tristan doesn't hide things from us."
That
was good to know. "Then I guess I'll swallow my fear and just do it
then."
"Now
come on, you can't just touch his hand and not make a show of it." Jared
twirled around. "You gotta give us something to cheer at if it happens."
"And
if it doesn't? Are you all going to boo me out of the house and into the
snow?"
"No."
Molly took the rest of the vegetables. "We'll still cheer because you're
flat out kissing the alpha."
"And
you'll find that entertaining?" Erin snorted. "Do you guys get that
bored up here?"
Molly
messed with the stove for a moment before looking back. "Well, what do you
guys do for entertainment?"
"There
is no entertainment in my pack. Every time we get together, it's about hunting,
running, war, or mating." She shook her head. "All my life I've
studied war tactics and fighting. It's the best I could do as the alpha's
daughter."
Jared
shook his head. "How is a pack a family without entertainment and
goofiness?"
"It's
not." Erin went to the sink to wash off the cutting board and knife. This
wasn't exactly what she wanted to discuss. "What do you do for Christmas
here?"
"Well,
this year it looks like we'll be snowed in. Normally we go into the city and
have a big dinner with all the
pack members. Then we all split off to our own
families." Jared joined her for washing the cutting board.
Molly
sighed. "Those of us who have blood family. Those of us who don't stay
here with the pack, so we don't spend the holidays alone."
The
comment about pack being family meant more now. The holidays were never a big
deal in her pack. Those who celebrated were left to their own, and those who
didn't, or didn't have family, were also left to do what they wanted. She and
her dad spent it in awkward silence because neither of them liked to be in the
same room together.
Molly
stirred the pot. "Thanks for the help guys. Go relax while this finishes
up."
Jared
nodded, but Erin stayed behind, watching the other woman. "Do you like it
here?"
Molly
looked over her shoulder. "Honey, if you've seen half the shit I have,
then you'd understand that the Monarch Pack is paradise compared to many packs
out there."
"It
seems too good to be true." Erin sighed. "Every pack and every alpha
I've seen has been nothing but stone cold, violent, tense. To see you guys
laughing and see Tristan so calm with the wolf outside. That's nothing I'm used
to."
Molly
turned and leaned on the island so that she met Erin's gaze. "You see,
that's where you're mistaken. Tristan can be cold and ruthless when he needs to
be. He will do anything to protect this pack because it's his, and he has built
it into exactly what he wanted and what we all needed. If it comes down to war,
don't underestimate him."
Erin
nodded. "The last thing I would do is underestimate him."
"Good,
now go relax. Really, all that needs to happen is for the stew to boil for a
bit."
Erin
moved back toward to the living room but ran right smack into something in the
doorway. She looked up and met Tristan's hazel gaze.
"Ah,
excuse me, lass. I was just checking on dinner."
Erin
went to step aside, but Molly started cackling. "Look up you two."
Both
of their gazes went up to see the green leaves and red berries of mistletoe.
"Ah,
lass, you know the rules." He gave her a devilish grin. "No more
avoiding it now."
Her
cheeks heated instantly. This wasn't how she imagined it happening.
A wonderful holiday novella - An idyllic fireside read
Erin is the bargaining chip - The practice fodder for the pack.
Her father has sent her to the neighboring pack as a peace offering in the hopes she will be the mate to their Alpha.
He needs more land, more territory and what better way to acquire it than if his daughter were to be the mate to their Alpha?
Tristan (roll that r he's a Scottish hunk) has agreed to entertain the possibility of matting with Erin and combining the packs. Agreeing to host her at his home for the holidays. Not only would it give them a chance to get to know each other better but it would be nice if the fates gave him a queen to share his world with.
Things don't quite go as anyone planned.
Enemies emerge from the woodwork putting the holidays and the tentative truce at risk.
Can Tristan protect his pack?
Is Erin being honest?
A well-developed novella that easily entertains.
Though it was a little "ruff" around the edges - some editing issues
I read a comp copy
A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance and steampunk author residing in Colorado Springs. Since she was a teenager she's loved weaving stories and spinning tales. When she's not at the beck-and-call of the Lord and Lady of the House, two black cats by the names of Jynx and Sophie, playing with her daughter, or killing creepers and mining all the things with her husband, she's either reading, participating in NaNoWriMo, or writing in her Blog Writing Rambles.
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