Page 18 of Merry Cris Moose

Together, the three of them moved outside, positioning the projector near the entrance of the workshop. Keely adjusted the targeting mechanism, her hands trembling slightly as she lined up the shot. Further afield, Cris and the other defenders were still battling Frost’s forces—hulking abominable snowmen that were hurling shards of ice in every direction.

Keely took a deep breath and activated the projector.

A beam of pure, shimmering light shot out from the device, cutting through the snow-filled air like a hot knife through butter. The beam struck one of Frost’s minions directly in the chest, and the creature let out a guttural roar as the light engulfed it. The ice creature was disintegrated in a matter of seconds, leaving nothing but a puff of mist behind.

“It works!” Keely shouted, adrenaline surging through her. She quickly recalibrated the projector, aiming it at another approaching creature. This time, when she fired, the beam sliced through not one, but two of the monsters, dissolving them into nothingness.

Tinker cheered beside her. “You did it!”

But Keely didn’t have time to celebrate. More of Frost’s forces were closing in. Cris closed the distance between them and kissed her. “You are amazing.”

Grabbing the gun, he repositioned the projector, his hands flying over the controls as he fired shot after shot. Each beam of light tore through the icy minions with precision, turning them to mist before they could reach the workshop.

As he continued to fire, her eyes flickered toward Cris. His movements were quick, fluid, and powerful—there was something undeniably captivating about watching him fight. The way his muscles flexed, the raw determination in his eyes... her breath caught in her throat.

She realized she was in love with him. Completely, hopelessly in love.

Cris was more than just Santa’s Chief of Staff, more than a moose-shifter with a protective streak. He was the one who had shown her the magic of this place, the one who had believed in her ideas and trusted her to help save Christmas. And now, seeing him fight so fiercely to protect everything they both cared about, she felt drawn to him with an emotion that was undeniable. Could they befated mates?

Her mind swirled with questions, but before she could dwell on them, another ice arrow whizzed past, shattering against the side of the workshop. Keely snapped back to reality, focusing once again on the battle. Cris aimed the projector at the source of the arrow and fired, obliterating another of Frost’s minions in a burst of light.

The tide of the battle was turning. The defenders were rallying, pushing back against Frost’s forces with renewed strength. Cris, Holly, Tinker, and the others fought fiercely, and with the help of the laser cannon, they began to drive the icy creatures back toward the edge of the battlefield.

Finally, after what felt like hours of fighting, the last of Frost’s minions crumbled under the force of the defenders’ combined efforts. The battlefield grew quiet, save for the howling wind and the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet.

Cris lowered the projector. Keely’s heart was still pounding, but the adrenaline was beginning to fade, leaving her exhausted but relieved. They had done it—they had held off Frost’s attack. For now, at least, the North Pole was safe.

Cris appeared at her side, his breath coming in short gasps, his dark eyes searching hers. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough but full of concern.

Keely nodded, her heart fluttering at the intensity of his gaze. “I’m fine. Thanks to this.” She gestured toward the projector, giving him a small, tired smile. "And thanks to you."

Cris’s expression softened, and he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. The simple touch sent a jolt of warmth through her, a reminder of the connection between them that had only grown stronger since they’d met.

“We couldn’t have done this without you,” Cris said softly, his voice low and full of meaning

Keely’s breath hitched, her chest tightening with emotion. The weight of the battle, the magic, the undeniable bond between them—it was all too much to ignore. She looked up at him, her heart pounding, her voice barely a whisper.

“I don’t know what happens next,” she said, her eyes locking onto his, “but I know that I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose you.”

Cris’s gaze darkened, and the air between them crackled with unspoken desire. He stepped closer, his hand lingering on her cheek as his thumb brushed over her skin. “You won’t lose me, Keely,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “You’re my fated mate. I love you. I knew it the moment I met you.”

Keely’s heart soared, her fears melting away in the warmth of his words. There it was—confirmation of the bond she had felt growing between them from the start.Fated mates. It was real. “I love you, too,” she said softly.

And then, before she could say more, Cris leaned in, his lips brushing against hers, soft at first, then deepening as the heat between them flared to life. Keely melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as she let herself fall completely into the moment.

In that kiss, there was no battle, no danger—only them. Only the magic that had brought them together.

Chapter

Nine

CRIS

Cris stood in the North Pole’s command center, the screens in front of him glowing with activity as his eyes darted between the figures shown. The miniature figures of reindeer shifters and elves moved swiftly, coordinating their defenses against Frost’s latest attack. His brow furrowed with concentration as he strategized, giving rapid orders to the team. Every instinct told him this was far from over—Frost was still out there, plotting his next move, and the North Pole's defenses had to be stronger than ever.

But even as he focused on the task at hand, Cris couldn’t shake the gnawing anxiety that had taken root inside him. His mind kept drifting back to Keely. She had thrown herself into the battle without hesitation, her creativity and courage turning the tide in their favor. He admired her for it, loved her even more for the way she embraced this magical world so completely.

She was his fated mate; he’d accepted it. What he hadn’t counted on was the way she had so completely captured his heart. She was the woman he had been waiting for all his life. There were times he woke up early in the morning just so he could watch her sleeping in his bed. There was something profoundly satisfying about that. The bond between them wasundeniable, like gravity pulling him toward her every time they were near. And when they kissed, everything else faded away and Cris felt that deep connection solidify. She was his, and he was hers.

---