Page 32 of Opposites Attract
“Things are changing.” Tim sighed his troubles into the bottom of his glass. He wasn’t complaining about the quality of the beer, so I ignored the rest of his rant.
Besides, a pretty girl just walked in.
The place was popping for a Thursday night, but the crowd fell away into a dull roar as my raven-haired goddess came through the front doors. Shifters parted like a rushing tide, either aware their Luna was in the building or unsure of what to do with the dominant push of power she was throwing their way.
My beast thumped his tail as she smiled at me.
“Are you ready to go?”
I finished off my beer and tossed it into the trashcan, moving around Andrea as she tended the bar. Crossing the hardwood floors, I met the owner of the bar halfway, then scooped her up into my arms. “You missed my show.”
I didn’t care if I sounded pathetic; Fallon was the one who insisted I put on a festive performance each Thursday night for the month of December.“We need more fun in this territory,”she’d said.“Make them want to stick around.”
Fallon was a tough Luna, but she had a vision. It was something beautiful to watch it come alive. Because that’s what she’d done. Slowly but surely, she’d brought more life into this pack.
A public playground sat by the new elementary school. She’d recruited some small businesses and created a boutique shopping center right outside the resort. Shifters were coming back and bringing their families with them. Especially now that Chase and Kimberly Williams were running the Detroit territory and sending the younger wolves up here to learn to hunt. It’d been less than a year, and everywhere you looked there was a new change from the Luna’s hands. She was born for this role. And you either learned to accept it or got out of her way.
Thankfully, she liked me.
“I did not and I would never miss you playing.” Fallon swatted me away after she’d stolen a chaste kiss. “Just the last set. Amber and Colton swung by before heading to the lodge.”
“Guess that means it’s a full house.” I sighed as I tucked Fallon by my side, opening the door of the warm bar and meeting the blustery winter wind.
“It’s not too late to run away.” She laughed as she burrowed into my warmth.
I held her close, making sure she didn’t slip on the ice in those damned heeled boots, and got us to my truck. “I think we’re far past running,” I told her as I buckled her in, smilingwhen she let me without fuss. “And you were the one who sent the invitations, my domestic goddess.”
“I guess you’re right.” Fallon rolled her eyes. She was even pretty when she was mean. “Let’s go host Christmas.”
*
A twenty-foot tree decked out in gold and white ribbons took up a huge part of the sitting room in the lodge, forcing the rest of us to get comfortable closer together around the roaring fire. Fallon’s touches were everywhere. A little more black in the décor. Some new paint here and there. A bigger couch. Softer blankets. Less flannel. More knit. She was making this her home.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Bryant stood at the bar counter near the dining room, shaking the mixer and pouring drinks. I sat near him, watching the Hallmark holiday scene spread out before me.
“That’s for Uncle John,” Amber said, taking a gift from Colton and arranging it under the tree.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Amber smiled and I couldn’t help but see the buck-toothed pup she’d once been. “You’re going to love it. It’s from Maine. I got Momma some stuff, too. But we’ll drop it off on our way back home.”
“I’m sure I will. And so will she,” I said as Bryant handed me a drink. Rachel wasn’t here this year, choosing to stay with Danielle in upstate New York for the first winter holiday with the new pup. I couldn’t believe she was old enough to be a grandmother already. Having my own pups around was still a dream for me.
I eyed Fallon’s smooth belly as I sipped the glass of peppermint bullshit Bryant mixed up.
One day.My wolf grinned, happy with the warmth and laughter in the room.
Fallon caught my eyes and cocked her head to the side as if she’d heard my beast.
Not yet,I told my wolf. We’d had this conversation a few times. I was content to practice for now while Fallon wanted to wait.
The knock at the front door had my mate wanting to bounce on the balls of her feet, but she didn’t show it as she made her way across the room with a sultry grace fit for a queen. I met her there, getting one last moment alone to sneak in a kiss, before we opened the door to welcome our visitors from the west coast.
Ranger and Aspen McCaw stood on the front stoop as snow whirled around the pair. Behind them was the coyote Clara and the cheetah Jesse. I had no clue why they insisted on traveling with a whole zoo, but one look at their thin clothes and the blue tint to Aspen’s lips had me opening the door wider and ushering them inside.
Aren’t they shifters?My wolf shook his head.