Page 19 of Merry Cris Moose

As much as he loved her, as much as he wanted her by his side, Cris couldn’t ignore the fact that Keely was in danger—and it was because of him. Frost wasn’t going to stop until he had drained every last drop of Christmas magic from the North Pole, and Keely, with her creative spark and boundless determination, was now part of the fight. He had brought her into this world, into the heart of a war she hadn’t asked for.

He had put her in harm’s way—his fated mate, the woman he was supposed to protect above all others. He should have kept her out of this, should have found another way to stop Frost without dragging her into the conflict. But instead, he had brought her here, to the front lines of a battle that was growing more dangerous by the hour.

And it wasn’t just the physical danger that worried him. Frost was more than just a foe—they had once been allies. Friends, even. Cris had confided in Frost about the pressures of being Santa’s Chief of Staff, the constant weight of responsibility that came with ensuring Christmas ran smoothly year after year. And in a moment of vulnerability, Cris had shared his plans to bring Keely to the North Pole, believing Frost to be someone he could trust.

Now, that trust felt like a cruel joke.

How could I have been so blind?

Had Frost used Cris’s own words to formulate his plans, knowing exactly how to exploit his weaknesses? The thought made his stomach turn.

A soft knock on the door pulled him from his dark thoughts, and Cris looked up to see Keely standing in the doorway. She looked different now—stronger and more confident, but therewas still a softness in her eyes when she looked at him, a warmth that settled the storm inside him, if only for a moment.

“Hey,” she said softly, stepping into the room. “I thought I’d find you here. Everything okay?”

Cris nodded, though his heart was far from settled. “Yeah. Just making sure the defenses are holding.” He gestured to the glowing snow globe in front of him, where tiny figures moved in and out of view. “Frost’s forces are regrouping. We’re preparing for another attack.”

Keely’s eyes flicked toward the snow globe, her brow furrowing with concern. “You think he’ll come back sooner rather than later?”

Cris sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’re all working against the same clock. Frost isn’t done yet. He wants to destroy Christmas, and he won’t stop until he does. We’ve bought ourselves some time, but not much.”

Keely moved closer, her presence a comforting warmth in the cold room. “We’ll stop him, Cris. We will.”

Her words were strong, confident, but Cris could see the small amount of doubt that lingered in her eyes. She was brave, no doubt about that, but she had never faced an enemy like Frost before. And that was what scared him the most—he had brought her into a world of magic and danger, and now he wasn’t sure if he could protect her from what was coming.

Cris turned toward her, his eyes locking onto hers. “Keely, I need you to know something.” His voice was low, heavy with emotion. “When I brought you here, I didn’t think it would get this dangerous. I didn’t know Frost was behind all of this. And now... I’m worried about what could happen to you.”

Keely’s eyes softened as she reached out, placing her hand on his arm. “Cris, I would have chosen to come even if I’d known everything. My place is here with you. I’m a part of this, whether you like it or not.”

Cris shook his head, his heart aching. “Don’t you get it? You’re my fated mate, Keely. I’m supposed to protect you, to keep you safe. But I feel like I’ve put you in harm’s way instead.”

Keely stepped closer, her hand sliding up to cup his cheek, her touch gentle and grounding. “You didn’t put me in danger, Cris. Frost did. And I’m not some helpless human or little fox shifter who needs to be shielded. I’m your fated mate, remember? Like it or not, we’re in this together.”

The raw intensity of her words cut through his guilt. She was right—they were fated mates. They were supposed to be stronger together than apart. But still, the fear lingered, the fear of losing her, of failing to protect the person who meant more to him than anything else.

“You’re stronger than I could’ve ever imagined,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “But that doesn’t stop me from worrying.”

Keely smiled softly, her thumb brushing over his cheek. “I worry about you, too, you know. You’ve been carrying the weight of the North Pole on your shoulders for years, and now you’re facing Frost—a man you trusted, a man you once called friend. He betrayed you. He betrayed all of you.”

Her words sent a shot of warmth spreading through his system that dulled the edge of his concern. He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes for a moment as he allowed himself to simply feel her, to let her presence soothe the turmoil inside him.

“I love you, Keely,” he murmured.

Keely smiled. “I know. I love you, too,” she whispered.

For a moment, the world outside disappeared—the battle, the danger, all of it faded away, leaving just the two of them in that quiet, intimate space. Cris leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was filled with all the love and longing he had never even allowed himself to imagine. Keely wrapped herarms around his neck as she snuggled against him, her warmth melting the coldness inside him.

The kiss deepened, their connection flaring to life with a heat that was undeniable. Cris’s hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer as he lost himself in the feel of her, the taste of her. It was as though everything he had ever wanted, everything he had ever needed, was right there in his arms.

But even as the heat between them built, a small voice in the back of Cris’s mind reminded him of the danger still looming outside. Frost was still out there, still planning his next move, and the North Pole wasn’t safe yet.

Reluctantly, Cris pulled back, his breath ragged as he rested his forehead against hers. “We’ll get through this,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “I promise.”

Keely smiled up at him, her eyes full of understanding and acceptance. “I know we will.”

Cris took a deep breath, steeling himself for the battle ahead. He was no longer just fighting for Christmas, for the magic of the North Pole—he was fighting for her. For them. And he wasn’t going to let Frost take any of that away.

With one last lingering kiss, Cris turned back to the defensive screens. He was determined they would protect the North Pole, defeat Frost, and secure the futures of Christmas and themselves.

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