Just a few more days and she’ll be gone,his bear reminded him mournfully.
Christopher’s chest tightened. How could he let her leave when every instinct told him she belonged here, with him? The weight of exhaustion pressed harder, his eyelids growing impossibly heavy as the fire’s warmth enveloped him…
A blast of cold air jolted him awake. Christopher’s eyes flew open, the coffee mug nearly slipping from his grasp as he jerked upright. Three familiar figures stood in the doorway, snow dusting their shoulders and boots.
“Hi there, Sleeping Beauty,” Daniel said with a broad smile, stamping his feet on the welcome mat to knock off the snow.
Christopher blinked, trying to clear the fog from his mind. “Hi,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand. He sat up straighter, embarrassed at being caught dozing. “What are you guys doing here?”
Michael closed the door behind them, shutting out the cold. His dark hair was flecked with snowflakes that were alreadybeginning to melt in the office’s warmth. “We thought we would come and give you some moral support since you have met your mate.”
“You told them?” Christopher looked at Daniel, though there was no real accusation in his tone. Of course, his friends would find out. Bear Creek was small, and shifter news traveled fast. Especially when that news had to do with a shifter finding their mate.
“Teddy kind of did,” Daniel admitted, unwinding his scarf. “He could tell when he saw you and Sorcha together earlier.”
“Of course,” Christopher nodded, not really surprised. Teddy might not have experienced his first shift yet, but those shifter instincts were still there. He held out his empty cup as Michael offered a refill. “Thanks.”
Michael filled Christopher’s mug before pouring cups for James and Daniel. The rich aroma of fresh coffee filled the small space, momentarily chasing away Christopher’s fatigue.
“I brought pastries,” Daniel announced, setting a white bakery box on the desk. He flipped open the lid to reveal an assortment of his signature treats, still warm enough to release tendrils of cinnamon-scented steam. “But you look as if you need sleep more than anything.”
Christopher cradled his refreshed coffee, the warmth seeping through his stiff fingers. “I was on duty here last night, and then I went out with Sorcha for the day…”
“And now you’re doing another shift,” Michael finished, his voice tinged with concern.
“Yep.” Christopher nodded, the simple movement requiring more effort than it should have.
“Well, it’s a good thing that you have friends like us,” James said, settling into one of the visitor chairs.
Christopher eyed him warily. “It is?”
“Yeah,” Daniel grinned, giving Christopher’s arm a light punch. “We are here to help.”
“You are?” Christopher asked, his tired brain struggling to process their words.
Michael chuckled as he reached for a pastry. “You really do need sleep, don’t you?” He bit into a cinnamon roll, making an appreciative sound. “Oh, cinnamon roll, my favorite.”
James leaned forward, his normally serious face softening with concern. “We’ve come to help you finish your chores so that you can get some shuteye.”
“Hey, guys, you don’t have to…” Christopher began, but Daniel cut him off.
“We do,” he insisted, selecting a pastry from the box. “This is important to you, so it’s important to us.”
“Yeah,” James added quietly. “You would do the same for us.”
Christopher couldn’t argue with that. “I would,” he agreed, reaching for a pastry. He bit into the flaky, buttery dough, sugar, and cinnamon exploding across his tongue. “Oh, this is just what I need.”
For a few minutes, they ate in companionable silence; the pastries disappearing one by one. The simple act of sharing food with friends was already reviving Christopher’s spirits.
When the box held nothing but crumbs, Michael stood and reached for his coat. “All right, let’s get to it. What’s left on your list?”
Christopher pulled the crumpled paper from his pocket, squinting at Gretel’s neat handwriting. “Paths need clearing between Cabins 3 through 7, the generator for the main building needs checking, and there’s more firewood to chop and distribute.”
“Divide and conquer,” James suggested, always the strategist. “I can handle the generator.”
“I’ll take the woodpiles,” Michael offered. “My truck’s loaded with split logs already.”
“Which leaves us with snow clearing,” Daniel nodded to Christopher. “I’ll help you with that, and we’ll be done in half the time.”
