A Christmas to Remember Read online

  Everyone waited as the play of emotions ran across this face, before he nodded. “Fine, I’ll give it one week, but I doubt it will change my mind.”

  After the man jumped down, Bo escorted her to her seat, where Buck waited with a plate of food. “Do you think he’ll show up?” She looked up at Bo as he stood behind her.

  “He’ll show up. Carl is usually very level headed.” He looked around the room which was almost full. “It’s time we made the announcement.” Squeezing her shoulders, Bo made his way to the podium and tapped the microphone.

  The noise drew down to a whisper. Shelly had only taken a few bites before pushing away the plate. “You need to eat.” Buck pushed the plate back and pointed at it.

  She growled, but took a bite. “I’m a little nervous here, you know.”

  Placing his hand on her shoulder, Buck squeezed it. “I know, but it will be fine.” They both turned as Bo started to address his pack.

  It seemed like hours, when it was actually thirty minutes by the time Bo got done talking. At first there had been grumbles about the upcoming party Shelly would be giving, but when he announced about the Reticulon cheers had actually gone up. Someone had even yelled, “It’s about time!” which in turn had made her face burn with embarrassment.

  With half of her plate gone, she looked up as the room grew quiet and all heads turned toward Nikola and Lissa as they walked towards the front table. Lissa was beautiful with her long dark hair and Nikola could give any woman wet dreams just thinking about him.

  “You do not need to be thinking like that,” Bo snarled in her ear and she laughed.

  “Bo…” She threw her napkin on the table and turned in her seat to stare up at him. “I might find others attractive, as you do, but you hold my heart and love. There is no comparison.”

  The slight flutter inside her head told her that even this amazing man was unsure of her feelings. She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. “I love you, wild man, you and only you.”

  The tension seemed to melt off of him and he sighed. “Thank you, Little Wolf.” He kissed the top of her head and she turned as their guests stepped up to them.

  “I hate to disturb you, but I wanted to inform you that Trent is not a threat anymore.” He turned his gaze on her. “I also wanted to say congratulations. With all the excitement last night I forgot to tell you.”

  “You mean about the Reticulon?” He shook his head and his eyes got big.

  “You mean you don’t know?” Nikola looked down at Lissa, who laughed.

  “Not everyone has your powers, Nikola,” She rolled her eyes and turned to her. “You have your wish, Shelly. I’d say you are about a month pregnant?” She looked up at her husband and he nodded.

  “I hear at least two heartbeats. It seems this entity we live on wants children born here. So far every woman that has ended up pregnant has at least two children.” Nikola kissed Lissa’s head.

  “Are you sure?” Shelly looked down at her stomach, and tears rolled down her face. “I didn’t think…”

  “What my wife means is she’s been afraid of hoping. Thank you, Nikola, Lissa, you have made our day. Please allow us to inform her family.” Both of them nodded and Lissa winked at her.

  “Tomorrow at noon, right?” Lissa asked and Shelly nodded as she wiped the tears off her face. “I’ll be there. Thank you.”

  As they left the room, she turned and looked up at Bo. “We’re going to have babies!”

  “I want to have our doctor to look at you before we announce it, but I couldn’t be happier. You still want Anna, don’t you?” he asked as Argo slapped him on the shoulder.

  “God, yes, she needs us,” Shelly said, her hands shaking against her belly. Bo placed his hand on top of hers.

  “Where are you going tomorrow?” Bo asked.

  “The leading women get together to discuss things to help each other. We have many different projects going on. I want to go visit Anna. Then I want the doctor to check me so I can go tell our folks.” She smiled, never so happy in her life.

  * * * *

  Bo looked at Argo, who nodded. “I’ll find the doctor and meet you at the orphan house. An hour?” Bo nodded as he escorted his pregnant wife out of the building and into the tunnel. Both White Eagle and Buck took up guard. Nothing could happen to his woman and children.

  “Bo, we’re still going to have the Reticulon?” she asked as they turned down the tunnel which led to the center of their little compound.

  “Yes, it’s for the best. We’ll need added protection for the children,” he said and she nodded.

  “I’m glad.” She reached up and pulled him down so she could whisper in his ear. “They’re kind of growing on me, but don’t let them know.” She winked at him, knowing full and well both Buck and White Eagle had heard.

  In front of them Buck snorted, while behind them White Eagle laughed. “I didn’t realize your woman was such a comedian,” White Eagle said.

  “Did you know I was so bored the other day I made an actual dog house?” She looked over her shoulder grinning. “Be careful, little kitty, you might find yourself there.”

  He laughed so hard Bo had tears running down his face. “OMG, I can’t believe you just called him little kitty.”

  “Shut up, Bo,” White Eagle snarled, but he had a huge grin on his face. “And Little Wolf, I’ll show you how big I am later.”

  With all of them laughing, Bo didn’t notice one of the men he knew was going to challenge him coming up in front of them till he was almost on top of Shelly. He would have been on her if Buck hadn’t stopped his progress.

  “You think calling a Reticulon is going to save you? Well, guess again. I challenge you tonight up top,” Daniel snarled and tried to get past Buck.

  “So be it, but Daniel, when you lose—and you will lose—I accept a full apology to me and my woman. Eight o’clock at the old grounds.” Bo stepped into the man’s personal space. “You ever get that close to my female again, challenge or not, I’ll kill you.” Bo was tired of the men around her disrespecting his woman and tonight he would make an example of him.

  “Fine,” Daniel snarled before turning and leaving.

  “Well, wasn’t that pleasant and what all is entailed with this challenge?” she asked, looking up at him.

  Bo flinched as he looked at Shelly, then at White Eagle. “We’re going to have to perform the Reticulon before the challenge. We’ll do the formal one later,” Bo announced.

  “What am I missing here?” Shelly looked at him, then at White Eagle.

  “If Bo, by any chance, loses a challenge his mate goes to the winner, unless there is a Reticulon, which would stop this since you belong to all of us. No one would be able to take you away from us,” White Eagle explained.

  “But if he loses, will we all still be a family?” Shelly looked up at him. “You’d better not lose or I’m so going to kick your ass,” she snarled.

  “Really?” he said before yanking her to him. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Bo leaned down and bit the top of her nose.

  Smacking at his chest, Shelly glared at him. “If I didn’t think you could take him, you’d have no balls right about now for putting me and our children on the line. But that does not get you out of the dog house!” She spun out of his arms and stomped towards the orphan house, Buck laughing, but following her.

  “Man, you are so lucky. That woman is hot even when she’s pissed at you,” White Eagle said as they followed right behind his woman.

  The two of them stopped at the path that led up the orphan home. Bo had to admit, the Fey and the ship sure did know how to construct a home in the ground. Standing in front of the home, it looked exactly like any normal house.

  However, the only problem here was the woman who came out onto t
he porch, Melisa Randle. Without a word, Buck moved up the stairs and ordered the woman to pack her belongings.

  His Little Wolf stood where they had stopped. She bit at her lower lip, watching the scene unfold. Bo slid his arm around her and hugged her. “Relax. All will be well.”

  She looked down at the ground and sighed. “I just hate seeing people hurt and I know inside Melisa wouldn’t do anything to hurt the children, but, well, I just don’t like it.” Shelly looked up at him. “Another sign of being weak,” she mumbled and earned a hard smack on the ass from White Eagle.

  “Don’t let me ever hear you say that. A good leader always has compassion. If you didn’t, then I’d be worried,” White Eagle said as he turned to see the Whitefields coming up the path with two men carrying a few boxes each.

  Mrs. Whitefield smiled at Shelly and held out her hand. “Thank you for allowing us to do this. We’ll miss our children, but this will give us purpose.”

  “White Eagle is the one who suggested it, but I couldn’t have picked a better couple. I’ve talked with the other Alphas and we’ve decided to have one home for all of us. Is this going to be okay with you? They will start work on expanding this home since it’s the largest.”

  The woman beamed up at her husband. “No, that is such a wonderful idea. All children should be together to help with such a loss. You are a smart woman and our Alpha was very lucky to find you.” She bowed her head to Little Wolf and Bo smiled as her face turned a pink color.

  “Please, enough of that. I’m just glad we’ll have someone here that the children will look up to. The other Alpha women and I are having a meeting tomorrow at twelve. Why don’t I swing by and you can accompany me? We’ll be talking about this project and a few others.” Shelly hooked her arm through Darla Whitefield’s and moved them up the stairs.

  Bo shook his head and nodded for Mr. Whitefield to precede his wife, but he held back and lowered his head to speak to Mr. Whitefield. “Thank you. You and your wife have put a little spark back into my woman’s eyes. This is just what we needed and, White Eagle, you are a very smart man,” he said, grinning.

  His friend just shrugged. “I know what it’s like to lose a loved one. Nothing can replace them, but others can make the loss seem less painful.”

  Chapter Eight

  Before moving into the house, Shelly looked back over her shoulder at White Eagle. His words to Mr. Whitefield came from experience. The haunted look in his eyes was one she had seen too many times, but hopefully she would be able to ease some of that pain.

  She turned and Darla nodded to her. “He lost his sister and Mom a few weeks before my boy.” Darla patted her arm. “You and Bo will be good for him. He needs to take care of someone and having you around will help. Now come, show me around and introduce me to the staff. Then you can go spend time with your Anna.”

  “I’m sorry about your children. So many have lost people that are close to them. It’s another reason why we have the ladies’ meeting. Every month we meet to discuss new problems that are popping up.” Both of them stepped aside as Buck escorted a furious Melisa out the door.

  “You think you won? Well, just wait! You’ll get yours, wolf!” she screamed. Buck picked the screaming woman up and forced her outside away from the children, but it was too late.

  Behind her, children lined up on the stairs staring, but Darla jumped right in. “Now, that is a way not to behave. Hello, my name is Mrs. Whitefield. My husband and I will be your new in-house parents. Who’s the oldest here?” She asked and at once a tall girl in the back raised her hand, stepping forward.

  “I’m Trish Valley, fifteen years old,” the girl announced, coming down the stairs.

  “I see Mrs. Whitefield has the problem in hand,” Bo said in her ear behind her. “Sorry about the scene. Buck honestly didn’t believe she’d go off like that. Which one is Anna?” Bo asked and she frowned scanning over the children.

  “That’s weird. She’s not here.” Shelly placed her hand on Darla’s arm. “Excuse me, Darla. Trish, have you seen Anna?” Her heart was pounding hard, Shelly knew something wasn’t right.

  The girl shook her head. “Last time any of us saw her was last night. Ms. Randle said they found her a home. All her stuff is gone too.” The last part of the sentence didn’t matter to Shelly. Anna was gone and it felt as if someone had ripped her heart out.

  She nodded and spun away from everyone, moving for the door. Tears rolled down her face as Shelly stepped outside, Bo and White Eagle right behind her.

  “We’ll find her,” Bo tried to reassure her, but she was already shaking her head.

  “How? Trent could have taken her to Earth, anywhere. God, what if they hurt her just because I was interested in her?” She turned and buried her face into Bo’s chest.

  Not giving her any chance to object, Bo swept her up in his arms. “I promise we’ll find her, and soon.” He moved down the stairs to where Buck now stood. “Find Anna. I don’t care what you have to do.”

  Buck stepped up to her and brushed her hair out of her face. “I’ll find your little girl, I promise.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  For some strange reason, Buck gave her a flicker of hope. “Thank you. Let’s just hope she’s alive.”

  Flicking her nose, Buck leaned down. “Think positive. Now, go have the doctor check you out.” She rested her head on Bo’s chest as he moved back into the tunnels.

  For over a month straight, the Fey people had worked miracles. The tunnels below were amazing wide enough to fit at least four adult humans to walk through at the same time. Some kind of stone covered the wall which lit up the tunnels. Fresh air moved freely through them, also through special vents.

  “Bo, you’re not worried about the challenge, are you?” She looked up into his handsome face.

  Slowly, a smile formed on his wide sensual lips. “I’m well aware of my capabilities and I will win this challenge, but I will never take a chance with your life, Little Wolf.”

  * * * *

  For ten minutes his Little Wolf said nothing. She nodded at those they passed, but inside Bo could feel the pain and worry she carried for Anna. White Eagle walked next to him. Even he kept looking down at her, worried.

  Already an idea was forming in Bo’s head, but first he would need to speak with his new family without her finding out about it.

  In front of their home, Argo stood with the den’s doctor. The woman had been with the pack for more than thirty years and Bo trusted her with his woman. She’d also helped his mother deliver his new siblings. “Hello, Doc Marsh. Thank you for coming in such a short period of time.” She waved her hand and looked to Shelly.

  “I’m here if you need me. Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “I’m fine. My husband just has this thing for carrying me everywhere.” Shelly tried to squirm her way out of his arms, but he held tight as he stepped into the living room.

  On the couch curled up into a ball was a little bundle. “Anna!” Shelly jumped out of his arms and ran to the little girl, who was now rubbing her eyes.

  The blanket fell away from the girl and her striped hair flowed down her back as her eyes lit up, seeing Shelly kneel next to her. She threw her tiny arms around her. “They took me to a bad place, but I got away.” Tears flowed down Anna’s face.

  “Can I stay here please? I’ll be good,” the little angel cried and instantly Bo knew they had a new member of their family.

  He moved slowly over to the couch and knelt next to Shelly. Anna scooted back away from him and Shelly, afraid. “I would never hurt you, Anna. I’m Shelly’s husband and she’s told me all about you. We even went back to the home to see you.”

  Scooting up on the couch next to Anna, Little Wolf lifted Anna onto her lap. “We want you here. I’m just sorry you had such a bad time, but you’re safe now and no one w
ill hurt you.” She frowned and looked down at the child. “Did they hurt you?” Shelly lifted up one hand and he saw the bruises on her upper arm.

  Anna shrugged. “I didn’t like them and they didn’t like me.”

  “Well, then, it’s a good thing I’m here,” Doc Marsh said stepping up to the both of them. “I was brought here to take a look at our Queen, but I can look at you both. Shall we go into the bedroom, away from prying eyes?” She smiled and winked at the child, who nodded.

  “Anna, would you let me carry you in there? I don’t want Shelly lifting anything right now till we make sure everything is okay.” He held out his arms waiting, knowing this would be the first step.

  The little cat sniffed the air and looked around him before nodding. She held out her arms for him and a lump filled his throat. “If I stay here will you be my new Daddy?”

  Lifting the little bundle in his arms, Bo took a deep breath, imprinting her scent to his brain. He would be able to find her if need be. “Would you like that? I know you don’t know me, but I would love to have a bright little girl like you as my daughter.”

  He placed her on their bed and stepped back as Shelly sat down next to them. “I’m going to go and talk with Argo. We’ll make sure from now on she’s here. There is no sense in taking her back where she’s not safe.” Bo cupped Shelly’s cheek. “You do what the doctor says. I’ll be right outside if you need me.” His gaze went to Anna. “For the both of you.”

  She smiled up at him and it brought tears to his eyes. “When the doctor is done, why don’t you get her into the tub? I’ll have White Eagle get her some clothes for now.”