Page 5 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
“Her name is Mariska Belmont. And you’ll see why when you meet her.” I didn’t doubt for a second the other two Alphas in my pack would be as enamored by her as I was. “Over.”
“A woman?” Jasper sighed. “Seriously? Over.”
“An Omega.” The Omega. Our Omega. I didn’t say it out loud, because I was aware of how ridiculous it would sound. I’d just met the girl, but my instincts had never failed me before. “Over.”
There was nearly a thirty second pause before Jasper said, “Alright. We’ll be there. Over.”
That was all I needed to hear. I put the radio back on my belt and strode off in the direction Mariska’s tracks led me.
For the past eight years, my wish for Christmas had been for a mate. I was almost thirty, and while I had a fantastic pack, I needed an Omega to make my life complete. I’d dated an even dozen, but never had any of their scents hooked me. None of them hit me so hard and completely as Mariska had.
This was going to be the best Christmas ever.
CHAPTER THREE - Mariska
It was a little cowardly of me to use the distraction of the other person to slip away from Balthazar, but the longer I was around him, the more I wanted to touch him and let him have his way with me.
No way. Not happening. No Alpha would have that sort of control over me again. I wouldn’t repeat what happened two years ago with Jack. Besides, I was leaving for California on the twenty-seventh. No one, especially not a Christmas tree farming Alpha, was going to stop me from chasing after my dream.
I followed my friends’ footsteps in the snow, but I would have heard them even if there wasn’t any obvious path where they went. Artemis loped along beside me, still energized by the sled ride. She liked it more than riding in a car. I would have to consider getting a bicycle with a trailer for her after we moved.
Miss Eloise was instructing the girls to shake off snow from the branches of some trees when I rounded a corner and found them. There were five other trees free of snow and forgotten behind them.
“This tree has the right height, but this one has better branches.” Miss Eloise knocked a few icy bits off one branch and tested its springiness.
“I like the bushy one.” I motioned to the one on the left.
They all turned and smiled. I let go of Artemis so she could run up and greet them.
“Hello, dear. You do walk a fast mile.” Miss Eloise examined the one on the left. “It is a very nice tree, but I don’t think it’s the right tree.”
Lyla shared a knowing smile with me and gave a tiny shrug of her shoulders. All the firs looked basically the same to me in terms of being a Christmas tree. It wasn’t as if wewere going to see much of the tree underneath the mound of decorations that would be put on it.
“Maybe you should use some of your Christmas magic, Miss Eloise. Put all your holly jollies into the snow, and wherever it lands, that’s the tree we take home.” Emberlee bent and picked up a handful of sparkling snow. She tossed it into the air and let the wind toss it around in a dramatic swirl.
Scooped up by a gust, the snow did a cartoonish twist and turn. I spun around to see where it hit and my jaw dropped.
Oh no.
Balthazar swiped a hand over his face which glistened with what remained of the magic snow. His piercing green eyes met mine, and he grinned.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” Emberlee’s face went bright red, and she attempted to hide it behind her scarf. Lyla patted her back and barely held back a laugh.
He followed me. My stomach flipped and twisted. I bent to grab Artemis’ leash, but she already bounded up to Balthazar and licked the hand that wasn’t holding the saw. Traitor.
Miss Eloise, smiling as my dog greeted the Alpha, didn’t hold back her laughter. She chuckled and walked right up to Balthazar. “Well, you aren’t quite the perfect Christmas tree, but since Artemis has given you her approval, you’ll do to help us cut one down. I’m Eloise Koch, and it’s a pleasure to meet one of the farm’s lumberjacks.”
Balthazar scratched Artemis’ head before shaking hands with Miss Eloise. “The pleasure is mine, ma’am. Artemis loves me because I just gave her the sled ride of her life. Along with Mariska there.”
All my friends’ gazes turned to me. I curled my fingers up in my gloves and pressed my nails to my palms to keep from blushing. Yeah, the sled ride turned out to be a lot of fun, but he would never get me to admit it.
“So you didn’t walk.” Miss Eloise raised her brows at me with a look that said we would be talking about this situation later. She didn’t lose her smile though, and motioned to each of us as she introduced us. “These are my charges. You’ve met Mariska, and that’s Lyla in the reindeer sweater and Emberlee who threw snow in your face.”
“I really am sorry!” Emberlee turned redder than her hair.
“Don’t worry about it. I got more snow blown into my eyes riding my snow machine here. The beard helps with the cold.” Balthazar gave his black beard a stroke, and while he was trying to soothe Emberlee with this fatherly act, something in me warmed in a very non-parental way. “It’s nice to meet all of you. I’m Balthazar Cole, one of the owners and operators of Silver Tree Farm. I’m happy to help you find the exact tree you want.”
Lyla and Emberlee gave a little ooh at hearing he was an owner. Miss Eloise pursed her lips. “You know, I thought I recognized you. You’re the spitting image of your father, except he had started to go gray. I knew your parents. Well, I knew them because my family and I came here every year to get a tree. You’d be just a boy then. Liz, that’s your mom’s name, right?”
