A Siberian Werewolf Christmas by Caryn Moya Block

with you. I need to speak to Dmitry at the
lodge.”
    Slava kept his senses on high alert
and hurried Maggie down the small road to the path into the woods.
Illarion ran ahead. Kolya followed a few steps behind.
    “My packages at the toy shop?” Maggie
asked as they hurried by.
    “Vikenti will bring them to the lodge
tonight when he closes the shop,” Kolya said.
    Maggie looked over at Slava, a
question on her face. He smiled in reassurance and squeezed her
hand. He hated that their trip had been ruined this way. But he
understood how dangerous the situation could have become. To the
others, Maggie was unclaimed. All of them wanted to touch her and
see if the mating bond could be triggered. Finding a mate was their
only chance at having a family.
    The pain in his head increased, and he
shuddered. He needed to run as the wolf before it incapacitated
him. He stopped on the path and turned to Kolya. “Forgive me, I am
not feeling well. Could you return Maggie to the lodge and Illarion
to his mother?”
    “Of course, is it a headache?” Kolya
asked his gaze concerned.
    “Yes. Maggie, please forgive me for
not returning with you to the lodge. I will see you soon.” He
brought her gloved hand up to his mouth and kissed it. How he
wished to take her into his arms and kiss her goodbye. Her eyes
looked so sad and confused. It killed him to leave her. But if he
didn’t, he could end up in bed, unable to function at all. He
reached over and brushed her hair off her cheek. “I hate leaving
you like this.”
    “Go. Take care of your headache. I’m
sure Kolya will see me home. Today was perfect, I’m sorry we had to
cut it short due to the weather. But I understand.”
    Slava nodded, and before he could come
up with an excuse to stay, walked away.
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Maggie stared in the mirror and ran
her hand down the emerald green velvet dress she’d chosen for the
Christmas Ball. She sighed and slipped on the matching pumps.
Tonight was the big Christmas dance, and all she wanted to do was
see Slava again. It was silly, but butterflies swirled around in
her stomach.
    The last few days had flown by with
arrangements for the Christmas Ball and preparing food baskets for
the elderly in the village. Even when Slava came over to help
deliver the baskets, she was never alone with him. He would look at
her and then quickly look away. One moment he made her feel hot all
over, not to mention their kisses, and the next he ignored
her.
    Illarion reported that his uncle
worked with the horses. Maggie didn’t know the village owned
horses. Sighing again, she paced back and forth in front of the
window. Violet had tried to warn her about Slava. But every time
she saw him, her heart caught on fire. Warmth would spread
throughout her body until she feared she might melt the snow around
her. His eyes would turn a molten gold, and she knew he felt the
same heat, the same passion.
    “Are you ready? It’s time to go,”
Violet’s voice came muffled through the door.
    “Yes, I’m ready. Come on
in.”
    Violet opened the door. “You look
beautiful. I love your hair down, and that emerald brings out the
color of your eyes.”
    “That’s all well and good, but one
step outside, and I’m going to freeze without my boots,” Maggie
grumbled.
    “No you won’t. We aren’t walking to
the party. Come on, our ride is coming. Can’t you hear
them?”
    Hear them? Maggie stopped and listened. Off in the distance,
she could hear a chiming sound. “Bells? What is it?”
    “A surprise. Now come on.” Violet
grabbed Maggie’s hand and pulled her out of the room.
    A young man and girl stepped out of
the twin’s room up the hall. Violet dropped Maggie’s hand and
hurried over to the couple.
    “Okay, remember, only one glass of
milk before bedtime. If you give them more, they will need to be
changed and will wake up crying in a couple of hours,” Violet said.
“I can’t thank you enough for babysitting tonight,
Alain.”
    “Isabelle