Page 9 of Merry Cris Moose

“No.”

“Yes,” said Sienna, laughing.

“Oh lord,” said Keely as Sienna continued to laugh. “I guess I’m going to the North Pole. I don’t know what’s waiting for me there, but I’m done playing it safe. I need to take a chance.”

“That’s my girl! And who knows? Maybe you’ll come back with more than just a new job. I’m sensing some serious ‘romance of the century’ vibes here.”

Keely laughed despite herself. There was something bigger at play here, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that stepping into Cris’s world was about to change everything.

The next day, Keely found herself standing at the small private airport just outside of town, her suitcase in hand, staring at a sleek private jet with the North Star Toys logo emblazoned on the side. The chill in the air was sharp, biting at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the nervous energy buzzing inside her.

What was she even doing? This was madness. She was about to board a jet to the North Pole, to work on a mysterious project with a man who made her heart race in ways she hadn’t thought possible. A man, she reminded herself, who had left her bed without a word but had somehow pulled her into his orbit with such force that she couldn’t seem to break free.

The jet door opened, and a flight attendant smiled warmly at her. “Ms. Blake, we’re ready for you.”

Keely nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the jet, her mind swirling with uncertainty and anticipation. This was it. She was leaving everything behind—her job, her life, her comfort zone—and stepping into a world she knew very little about.

As the jet’s engines roared to life and the plane began to roll down the runway and lift off, Keely gazed out the window, watching the ground fall away beneath her. Her breath caught in her throat, a mixture of excitement and fear rushing through her.

Whatever awaited her at the North Pole, she knew one thing for sure—there was no turning back now.

Chapter

Five

CRIS

Cris paced along the edge of the North Pole’s airstrip, his breath forming soft puffs of fog in the crisp, frigid air as snowflakes drifted down lazily from the sky. His boots crunched against the frozen ground, his body humming with a nervous energy he hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever. He’d faced countless crises, managed the magic of Christmas through storm and strife, yet the idea of bringing her here, to this sacred, hidden world, set him on edge in ways he wasn’t prepared for.

The swirling storm of thoughts in his mind made him doubt his decision. What was he thinking? Bringing someone he barely knew—but was that really true? Didn’t it feel like he’d known her all his life and had just been waiting for her to arrive?—to the North Pole, the very heart of what most people thought of as Christmas? Bringing in outsiders was rare. There were strict rules about keeping their world hidden from the human realm. And now, here he was, waiting like a giddy schoolboy for a woman who had no idea how much her life was about to change.

Keely wasn’t just anybody though. She was his mate—his fated mate. The realization still hit him like a punch to the gut every time it crossed his mind. He could feel it in his very core, an unshakable pull toward her that defied logic, binding himto her in ways he couldn’t fully explain. And yet, it felt oddly comforting, as if his entire being recognized she was finally here.

Cris ran a hand through his dark hair, staring out into the snowy expanse. The hum of the private jet approaching reached his ears, and his pulse quickened. It was too late to turn back now.

Moments later, the sleek jet came into view, its lights cutting through the falling snow as it descended toward the landing strip. Anticipation and excitement were swirled together with a bit of dread. What if she rejected him? Rejected her place here at the North Pole or with him? It had only been a few days, but the memory of their night together—her soft skin beneath his hands, the way she’d called his name—burned bright in his mind.

The jet landed smoothly, and the door opened, revealing Keely’s silhouette. Even bundled up against the cold in her thick winter coat, she looked as breathtaking as ever, her cheeks flushed from the biting wind, her eyes wide with a mix of wonder and uncertainty. He had to remind himself to breathe as she stepped out onto the snowy ground, suitcase in hand. It was as if he could feel the connection between them snap into place the instant their eyes met across the snow-covered expanse, electric and undeniable.

Cris forced himself to keep his distance, maintain control, even though his instincts screamed at him to close the gap between them. This wasn’t just about him and Keely. The future of Christmas was at stake, and bringing her here was already a gamble.

Scanning the landscape, Keely approached. “This is… incredible,” she breathed, her voice barely audible over the wind. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s like something out of a dream.”

Cris allowed himself a small smile; he was reminded of why he had been so drawn to her in the first place. Keely had a wayof seeing the world that was rare—unique—and that perspective might be the key to saving Christmas.

“Welcome to the North Pole,” Cris said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside him. “It’s a little colder than what you’re used to, but I promise you’ll get used to it.”

Keely met his gaze, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Cris’s cock stiffened behind the fly of his jeans. The air between them was thick with the same magnetic pull that had been there since the moment they met. He fought off the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her like he’d been dreaming of since the moment he left her bed.

But he couldn’t. Not now. Not yet.

Keely finally broke the silence, her breath visible in the frigid air. “I have to admit, I’m still trying to wrap my head around all this. I mean, the North Pole? You weren’t joking.”

“I wasn’t,” Cris replied, his tone softening. “But there’s a lot you still don’t know, and I’ll explain everything. For now, let’s get out of this cold, and I’ll show you around.”

As they walked, Cris led her through the snowy landscape, the towering pines dusted in white like something out of a holiday postcard. They reached the massive, intricately carved wooden doors of the North Star Toys workshop. Cris hesitated for a moment before pushing them open, allowing the golden glow of the workshop to spill out into the night.

Keely’s eyes widened as she stepped inside, and Cris couldn’t help but watch her, captivated by the enchanted look that crossed her face. The workshop was bustling with activity—elves working at their stations—their pointed ears covered by their caps—as they created toys and gadgets with an energy that buzzed in the air. Cris had asked that at least for now they try to keep the magical elements out of sight. He wasn’t sure Keely wasready for the whole truth. Even shifters sometimes had trouble believing in magic at first.

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