Sebastian’s eyes got wide and he reached out for the Christmas cookie, grabbing it with both hands before immediately bringing it to his mouth and beginning to gnaw on the edge of it.
“Maybe, I’ll just give you a piece of cookie,” Riley decided, trying to ease the cookie out of Sebastian’s hands.
Sebastian’s brows locked down over his little eyes, he wrinkled up his nose, and growled at Riley.
“Whoa! I think maybe you should let him have the whole cookie,” Travis said, laughing.
“Hey! Don’t you growl at me! I’m Doddy!” Riley said. He stayed where he was staring Sebastian in the eye until he finally looked away from his Doddy and started chewing on his cookie again.
Riley stood up shaking his head.
“Strong little booger,” Travis said on a chuckle.
“Yeah, that’s the wolf in him,” Riley said.
“Yeah, you tell yourself that. Both his parents have a stubborn streak,” Travis said with a grin.
“Gotta stare him down sometimes, make him break eye contact first so he knows who the boss is,” Riley said, looking down at his son proudly. Riley looked back up at Travis, who was sharing a secret look with Libby, who was still moving among the crafting tables. “Your time is coming,” Riley said.
“What?” Travis said, looking over at Riley.
“You’re a mated male, now. Natural progression of things is a child is next,” Riley said.
“In time. All in time. Just managed to win my female back. Want to cherish her a little before we start that journey,” Travis said.
“I get it,” Riley answered. He smiled at all the people who meandered around the socializing area of the Christmas Village, and took note of all those wandering through the trees searching for the perfect tree to be the centerpiece of their holiday season.
“Looks like you got a hit on your hands,” Riley said.
“It does, doesn’t it?” Travis asked. “It’s all Libby’s doing. Scotty said he wanted to try to pull it off, but, Libby’s the one who planned it all. I mean right down to the tiniest detail, it was Libby.”
“She’s talented. And she clearly loves what she’s doing,” Riley said, smiling while watching Libby laugh and interact with everyone near her trying to make Christmas crafts.
“She’s something,” Travis said, watching his mate with pride as she effortlessly made anyone she interacted with feel like they were her sole focus.
“She is. You’re a lucky male. Speaking of, she’s one of my pack, and I have yet to congratulate her. I’ll see you in a bit,” Riley said. He pushed the stroller over to Libby and waited until she finished her conversation. The minute she turned to him, he grabbed her up in a hug. “I’m happy for you, Libby. You’ve never looked happier,” Riley said.
“Thank you, Riley. I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy,” Libby answered.
“Anything you need?” he asked.
“Not a single thing. We decided that I’ll move my things in here, and eventually rent my place out. I just can’t part with it.”
“That makes good sense. Besides, it gives you another income,” Riley said.
“Exactly. So, instead of being close by, I’ll be here. Will that be a problem?” Libby asked.
Riley shook his head. “Do you know that Maia is still a member of her father’s clan? And her brother’s pack? We’re a family, Libs. Do you stop loving, protecting, and watching over a family member because they move away or get married?”
“No, of course not,” Libby answered.
“Same. We’re a Pride, and there are rules and we have an alpha because when a group of shifters get together, one has to lead or there will be problems. But the first rule of my Pride is, if you don’t want to be here, you don’t have to be. Second rule is as long as you want to be one of us, you are.”
Libby smiled at Riley and hugged him tightly.
“Hey! Hands off my man!” Maia called out jokingly as she walked out of the tree line and toward them.
“Damn! She always catches us!” Riley teased.
“I know! We never get a dang break!” Libby agreed.
“Ya’ll know if I thought for a second you were serious I’d have to kill ya, right?” Maia said, walking up to Riley and ducking under his arm as he raised it for her to walk under. She pressed herself against Riley and hugged his waist as his arm came down around her, pulling her near.
“Where you been?” Riley asked.
“Picking out a tree. I found the perfect one!” Maia answered. “I hope Cristie likes it, if not, we’ll go with whatever she likes. I promised her she could pick one out as long as it’s straight.” Sebastian started cooing at her and she looked down at him, let go of Riley and squatted down beside the stroller. “Hi, little man! Who gave you a Christmas cookie?” she asked.
“I did, why?” Riley answered.
“Because his face is blue, yellow and red, and he’s got a death grip on what’s left of that cookie,” Maia said laughing.
Riley looked down at his son and smiled. “It’s a good cookie, huh Bastian?”
Sebastian lifted what was left of his cookie and waved it at his Doddy.
“He agrees,” Riley said snootily, looking out over the crowd.
“Mama! Doddy! I finished my ornament! Look!” Cristie called out, hurrying over to them.
“It’s gorgeous,” Maia said, taking the still wet ornament from her.
“Let’s go pick out a tree then,” Riley said, taking Cristie by the hand.
Chapter 19
Riley and his family, accompanied by Lucas, walked through the trees that were available as they talked and laughed. They were basically following Cristie as she meandered from one tree to another. Eventually they made it into the section of trees furtherest out from the barn and the house. “This is where I found the one I really like,” Maia said.
“Which one?” Cristie asked.
“I’m not telling. You get to pick out this year’s tree,” Maia said. “So, get to picking, baby,” Maia said. Cristie ran first one direction, then another. Maia followed her, then would pop up to play peekaboo from behind a tree with Sebastian, who’d then laugh like crazy at his Mama.
Lucas walked with them, smiling at the baby and Cristie having so much fun, but he was also keeping his eyes on the trees far off in the distance — the ones that were not ready for harvesting.
“Is there a problem, Lucas?” Riley asked, noticing right away that Lucas was distracted.
Lucas gave a single shake of his head, then grimaced. “I don’t think so.”
“Think so?” Riley asked.
“Just got a feeling. Feel like I need to pay special attention to…” he waved his arm back and forth across the trees in the distance, “there,” he said.
“Somebody out there?” Riley asked, raising his nose in the air to scent as best he could with all the people and kids roaming about, and the refreshments and their scents hanging in the air.
“I want to say no, but, something’s off. Can’t make myself say no,” Lucas said.