I allowed Angelo to take the lead, following him as he ran and gasped at all the beautiful adornments. I found it endearing that he literally worked at a Christmas-themed event, yet could still be so enthusiastic about a wreath or a garland of tinsel.
"You must be in heaven right now," I remarked with a smile as Angelo gazed at a lamp pole decked out in lights.
"I'm having tons of fun," he agreed. A small flicker of hesitation made him pause, and he murmured, "There's only one thing that would make this better..."
I almost didn't hear his last words—if I didn't have my keen shifter hearing, it would've slipped my attention. But Ididhear it.
"What's that?" I asked.
Angelo pointedly avoided my gaze, like he didn't want to tell me the truth. But as his head turned in the opposite direction, he saw a big paddock at the end of the street and gasped loudly.
"Oh my gosh, Karl, look! Reindeer!" he cried.
His gloom forgotten, Angelo dashed towards the reindeer enclosure like a kid running down the stairs on Christmas morning. I quickly caught up with him. He stood a foot from the fence, respectfully giving the animals space while he gazed at them in wide-eyed wonder.
"They're so beautiful... and so big!" Angelo said.
I smiled, glancing between him and the furry beasts in the paddock. I felt like I was looking at a herd of my long-lost cousins. Maybe I should've taken Angelo's liking to fuzzy, hoofed creatures as a sign of good luck.
"Look, Angelo, there's a feed dispenser," I pointed out.
Vibrating with excitement, Angelo rummaged through his pockets. His face fell. "Oh... I don't have any change for the machine."
"I've got you covered."
When I slipped him a few coins, Angelo gave me a grateful look. "You really are like Santa. Thanks, Karl."
Angelo turned the knob and gathered the pellets in his palms. "Here. Let's share."
I wanted him to have fun, but I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to participate together. Since I wasn't wearing gloves, Angelo's bare skin brushed mine.
That same spark ran through me. Did he feel it, too? Dammit, hewasmy fated mate, I just knew it.
But most humans had no concept of fated mates. If he felt anything, it might be a crush... I could only hope.
"Here they come!" Angelo said.
We offered our palms as the reindeer approached. Angelo bounced on the balls of his feet until they came close, then he calmed himself so he didn't scare them. But I sensed the reindeer's mood like a vibe in the air. They were cool and calm, very used to this type of environment.
Angelo giggled as the first reindeer brushed its lips against his palm, sucking up the pellets.
"Their lips are so soft, like velvet," he said.
I wanted to tell him thatmylips were velvety soft too, and that I'd kill to be in that reindeer's position, licking at his palm... but that probably wasn't appropriate.
With Angelo's food hoovered up, the reindeer turned their attention to me. Their ears flicked forward with interest. Other members of the herd noticed and ambled towards me. Soon about ten reindeer crowded against the fence, their focus on me.
"Whoa," Angelo said. "Karl, are you some kind of reindeer whisperer?"
I chuckled and offered them my pellets. "Nah. I just have a kinship with ungulates."
Although it was technically the truth, I assumed Angelo would take my comment as a joke. Instead, he nodded seriously, like I'd told him a great secret. As if he couldn't get any cuter.
The closest reindeer stuck her head forward and sniffed me. Then she nuzzled my face.
I gave her a pat. "Yeah, yeah."
Angelo lit up with delight. "Karl! The reindeer really like you!"
