“Did I apologize to you?”
“Several times,” Cannon replied, dropping a kiss on her temple as he sat down next to Eira on her couch.
They were both dry and dressed and being formerly grilled by her parents while three of her brothers searched for beer in her fridge. Good luck with that, she thought, grinning when she heard their disappointed groans.
Eira was not a beer drinker, preferring scotch and soda or red wine, if she was indulging at all. Taking pity on them, she called out to where they could find a bottle of Merlot in the kitchen.
“Thanks, sis,” Veejay yelled back.
“So, mates then?” her mother asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yes, Mrs. Sidak,” Cannon answered, and his hand squeezed hers.
“And what is it you do for a living? Or will my daughter be the sole breadwinner here?” her father asked, rudely.
“Dad!”
“No, it’s fine,” Cannon said before turning to her father. “Eira would not know this yet, as this all happened quite suddenly, sir, but I am a trained Chef and I also own the Wolf Down Diner here in town. My parents are both deceased, my father when I was very young and Mom more recently, but he had set up a trust for me, and I was her only surviving relative. My inheritance was not much, but it was more than I had dreamed, though I would rather have them back, of course.. If you like, I can send you a copy of my current financial portfolio. I have some contacts in Barvale, that’s a nearby Bear town, who are real geniuses when it comes to making money from money,” Cannon informed them helpfully, and Eira was beside herself.
First, she had jumped into bed with the Wolf so fast she hadn’t even bothered to find out any of this. Second, her family was being completely rude.
“Dad! Mom! Stop this right now. It is none of your business what Cannon does for a living or doesn’t do. He’s my mate. Mine. Do you hear me?”
“Eira—”
“No, no, Cannon, our daughter is correct,” her mother said, giving her father a side look that meant trouble for the older Wolf.
Ha! Served him right.
“What? She is my daughter. What do you want me to say?” Her father asked his wife and mate.
“Oh shush! Go empty the car with the boys,” the tiny human woman ordered her husband of thirty-five years, and smart man that he was, he moved.
“I’ll help,” Cannon offered, following her father outside.
Crap. That would not be good. She watched after him worriedly, before her mother’s incessant staring started to bug her.
“Mom, why are you all here?” Eira asked, rubbing her forehead.
“It’s Christmas,” she said, as if that explained everything.
Eira huffed out a breath. Truth was, she loved her family to bits, but she had been looking forward to spending the night, and staying in bed with her new mate.
“You drove in this weather?”
“It wasn’t that bad until a few miles back, actually. Besides, your father would not hear of you missing Christmas,” Mom said, adjusting the festive green shawl she had on over a pair of black leggings.
“Well, now what? I only have two spare rooms,” she began.
“We know. Your father and I will have one, and the boys will share the other. They can duke it out over who gets what bed. Still have that air mattress?”
“Yes, Mom,” Eira said and sighed, giving in to the inevitable.
“Oh! I just realized your mate can help with dinner tomorrow. How lovely!”
* * *
The winter storm broke Christmas morning and Maccon City was blanketed in white when the sun finally peeked through the clouds, its rays making it almost impossible to look out the window.
“Everything is so bright,” Eira said, shielding her eyes from the glare.
“Mmm. Beautiful too,” Cannon said, but he was looking at her.
Silly man.
“Think they would hear us?” she asked, climbing up his body and settling herself atop his engorged cock.
“Definitely,” he replied, moaning softly, and kissing her lips. “Maybe the shower can muffle the noise?”
Grinning, she nodded, and Cannon shot out of bed, scooping her up and bringing her inside the shower. He brought the box of condoms with them.
“Fuck, I love kissing you,” he growled, taking her mouth as he pressed deep inside her tight body.
“Mmm,” she moaned, her fingers scratching him as he slowly fucked her up against the tiled wall.
Together they flew to heights untold, finding bliss and pleasure in each other’s bodies until neither could hold off any longer.
After they dressed, they both made their way downstairs to find Eira’s mother already in the kitchen.
“Happy Christmas!” she called. “Tea and coffee are ready! Cannon, love, when you are done, we can talk turkey,” she said brightly.
Somehow, a small tree had been erected in the living room area, and beneath it were several brightly wrapped packages.
“Wow,” Cannon said, standing behind Eira and wrapping his arms around her waist. “This is surprisingly nice.”
“What? Being invaded by my nutty but well-meaning family?”
“Well, yeah,” he replied, laughing and nuzzling her neck. “But I meant all of it. Having you, a family, and a real Christmas for the first time in ages. Thank you, Eira,” he said, slowly turning her around to face him. “I have nothing for you, no present or gift, but I can offer you my heart, my soul, my body, and my vow that I will love you and try to be the best mate I can be to you for as long as I live.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and before he knew it, she was wrapped around him like the strings on the tree.
“Oh, Cannon, you have given me everything and I offer my promise to give the same to you. If we try, I know this can work.”
“Of course it will, Doc. You’re the only thing this Wolf has ever wanted. My very own winter wish.”
The sound of clapping and some sniffles sent them both spinning to face Eira’s parents and brothers who were watching them, the younger Wolves, of course, looked uninterested, but her mother and father were beaming.
“Welcome to the family, son!”
They said, coming forward and embracing them both. Eira wanted to hide. She was bright red with embarrassment, but Cannon wouldn’t let her. After all, he had been without a family for so long, and now he had both a mate and a family of his own.
It truly was a wonderful life, he thought, and grinned.