Chase had always loved Christmas, but he knew this was going to be his favorite one so far.
With the snowman crushed back into snow and a beaming Riley returned to his mother, Chase headed up into the attic. He’d been saying for a couple of weeks he’d get the tree put up, and then with work being so busy, Christmas Eve had come flying around and then there hadn’t seemed much point in decorating. But now there was a kid in the house—not to mention his gorgeous, brilliant, perfect mate to impress—he wanted their Christmas to be everything a perfect Christmas should.
Yes, provide for mate. Impress mate.
His reindeer was possibly even more enthusiastic about this plan than he was as he dragged a couple of boxes around the attic, and almost dropped one from a tall stack on his head.
“Chase? Is everything okay?”
He shoved his head through the hatch and saw Hailey’s stunning face looking up at him, an adorable furrow in her brow.
“All good. Just, uh, getting some boxes down. I thought Riley might like a Christmas tree. And you.”
Her brow smoothed out and her lips flowed into a smile.
“That’s so sweet of you. Do you want some help?”
“Sure.”
He offered her his hand as she climbed the ladder, and she took it with a smile. Tingles ran the length of his arm at her delicate touch, and he held it just a moment longer than necessary. Then he cleared his throat and gestured to the attic.
“I’m afraid it’s a bit of a mess up here. Christmas stuff should be in those boxes.”
They started sorting through the boxes he’d indicated, some of which did indeed have baubles and tinsel and tree decorations in, and others which were a mismatch of items his parents had left behind when they’d moved to the coast. His mother was something of a hoarder—his father often joked she put dragon shifters to shame—but he’d managed to convince her to take only what they needed, and Chase had never gotten around to clearing out the rest.
His search turned up old crockery, linen, even some photo albums that had never been filled. And then he opened a faded old box, and he blinked at its contents in surprise. He’d had no idea his mom had kept his old childhood toys. He smiled slowly, an idea forming.
“Hey, Hailey? I know you weren’t able to get any presents for Riley this year, but maybe we could wrap some of this stuff for him to open? If you think he’d like it, I mean. I know it’s not much…”
“Are you kidding?” Hailey said, peering over his shoulder. She plucked old an old red train from the box and her face lit up like she was the one who’d just been told she was getting a load of presents. “This is amazing. Are you sure though—doesn’t any of this stuff have sentimental value for you?”
“Nothing I’d value as much as seeing the look on his face.”
She flung her arms around him in a hug and he froze for a second, startled, then wrapped her in his arms and held her close.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “I wanted so badly to do better for him.”
“Hey,” he said, gently pulling back so she could see the sincerity burning in his eyes. “No-one could have done better than you did. You kept him safe, Hailey, and we’re going to make sure he has an amazing day today.”
“Why, though?” Her gaze flickered over his face, her expression tinged with hesitance and uncertainty. “I don’t understand why you’re being so nice.”
His heart broke a little bit right there. What had her ex put her through that she didn’t expect to be treated like the goddess she was every single day? To be loved, and cared for, and given everything she could ever want or need. To be told every day that she was perfection itself, and that he would lay down his life for a single moment of her happiness. He stretched a hand out and cupped her cheek, smoothing his thumb across the delicate skin.
Mate.
His reindeer’s bliss was evident in the single word, and it harmonized with his own in a beautiful symphony of joyous love and hope.
She was his mate, and he was hers, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. And that meant telling her the truth. All of it. His heart squeezed in terror of this perfect moment slipping through his fingers like melting snow, but if he didn’t show trust in her, then how could he expect her to trust him in return?
“Hailey, there’s something I have to tell you,” he said, letting his hand drop away.
“Uh-oh, why do I feel like you’re about to tell me you have a wife and a dozen kids tucked away somewhere?”
“No, I don’t, I swear.” He took a steadying breath. “This is something good. Or at least, I think it is.”
He took her hand, and steeled himself, shuttering his mind against the idea she might think him crazy, or worse, monstrous.
“I—”
