Page 14 of My Omega's Gift

“Anytime. I figured you could go out with your wolf.”

“Oh, my wolf can’t—” Then it dawned on me what he was saying. “Oh. He’s not…” I snapped my mouth closed, unsure how to back out of this conversation and opted the flight mentality.“I’m gonna put these in the other room.” I left him where he stood.

When I came back out, Kurt and Elias were deep in conversation about some glitter project at the main house. Apparently Theo was worried about it getting everywhere. He had every right to be.Glitter perseveres.

Before long, Elias was on his way, and Kurt and I were getting ready for a walk through the snow.

“Have you ever snowshoed before?” Kurt asked.

“No.” My wolf loved the snow, so there’d been no reason to.

“I don’t think it’s that hard.” He didn’t sound so sure.

“I don’t know. It’s worth trying.” And now that we were doing this, I was full-on excited.

“Let’s get you buckled up and warm. And before you even try to stop me, I’m giving you my coat. It’s longer than yours, and it’ll keep you warm.”

“I gladly accept.”

Ten minutes later, we were walking through the woods together, his wolf beside me. I chatted his ear off about the trees and the types of birds I imagined lived there in the warmer months.

We came to a small pine.

“I used to think how nice it would be to have a Christmas tree like this one.”

He rubbed his head against my leg in response.

“You would, too, huh?” I reached down to pet him, my gloves brushing his fur. I longed to pull them off and feel his fur with my bare hands, but I didn’t.

That wasn’t something for now—probably not ever. This would have to do.

Chapter Ten

Kurt

I couldn’t remember having such a good time at the holidays…or any time before. Not that the pack didn’t celebrate. They did and in a really nice way with lots of treats and caroling and gifts and everything. I presided over the group events, most of which were held in the alpha house, my home. The tree in the front window was selected by the betas and decorated by the omegas, and it was always gorgeous.

Carrying on my fathers’ traditions and those of the alpha-omega couples before them was a truly beautiful thing. And I enjoyed it. Watching my people share joy? I’d have sworn there was nothing better. But over the past few days, I’d learned something surprising. While I sat on the sofa or in my favorite chair and everyone around me ate, drank, and danced, there was a thin veil between me and them. They all went home at the end of the party to their families, while I went upstairs to my bedroom alone. Of course there were other singles, but they hung out together, and somehow they never thought to include their alpha in his ivory tower.

But the last few days, playing games and doing the most pleasant and simplest things? I didn’t know I could feel the spirit of the season so strongly. We were sitting in front of the fire drinking tea and eating cookies when the idea occurred to me. “Wade, how would you feel about a Christmas tree?”

He set his mug down and frowned. “I don’t know. They’re pretty I guess, but I’ve never had one.” Which explained his comments on our walk. He’d looked at it so longingly, and I wanted to give him one.

I reeled back but this time I bit my tongue. I’d already tripped over my tongue more than once. Fact: His former packsucked. No need to remind him of that. He already knew. “Then it’s time you did. Truthfully? The tree in my home is always the pack tree. I’d like one that I pick out and cut down and that you and I decorate together, if you think you are up for some more snowshoeing?”

“I’ve walked a whole lot throughout this pregnancy and for a whole lot less-fun reasons. But do you think it is okay to do that?”

“We’re going to find out.” I clapped my hands and stood. “You bundle up, and I’ll dash up to the main house and see what a person has to do around here to get a Christmas tree happening.” If they didn’t want any trees cut, maybe they had an old artificial one tucked away somewhere. The few times I’d been in the main house, I’d been awed by the decorations, including the most beautiful Christmas tree I’d ever seen.

I shrugged into my coat and headed up to ask, but before I got to the door, I found Theo on the porch. He was sipping a mug of cocoa topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a candy cane. The resemblance to that old saint was stronger every time.

“Theo! Do you have a minute to chat?”

He waved me up. “Want a cup of cocoa?”

“It sounds good, but I really just wanted to ask a question. Wade is waiting for me.”

“All right. Shoot.”

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