Shifters of Silver Peak: A Very Shifty Christmas (11 page)

Valerie felt someone patting her on her back, and she looked up in surprise.

Nelda.

“She’s a keeper, son,” Nelda said with a decisive nod. “Now if we could just do something about her taste in clothing, she’d be the perfect mate.”

Nelda legally adopted Teddy. Morgan decided to make Silver Peak his permanent home. The Rosemont pack followed him there, and Nelda and her children moved to a house near Morgan’s. Nelda helped the shanty town residents incorporate into their own little city and start their own business making mail-order Christmas decorations. She was named co-president of the Ladies Benevolent Society.

Nelda started dating Arthur, and thought nobody knew. Actually, the fact that Nelda and Arthur were dating was the worst-kept secret in the Rosemont Pack, in the history of ever.

Festus recovered from the poisoning. He was deeply hurt by Elmira’s rejection of him, but Morgan made sure to invite him and Camden to Christmas dinner, New Year’s, and all his family holidays. He and Camden are closer than ever, and without Elmira’s influence, actually became pleasant and responsible members of the pack. Morgan recently gave them both promotions in his company. Honoria and Homer were accepted into Harvard.

Valerie’s birthday, six months after Christmas

“Birthday breakfast in bed? Oh, you should have,” Valerie said, sitting up and yawning hugely.

Morgan set the tray down in front of her with an enormous grin on his face. She looked over the tray for a moment before it dawned on her what he’d done.

There was a vase full of daisies on the tray. He had a big mug of cinnamon latte sitting next to it. And wrapped around the mug was a cozy made of…herringbone tweed.

“You remembered,” she said, blinking back tears.

Her favorite flower. Her favorite drink. And herringbone tweed, the half-joking guess he’d made at her favorite color the day she’d tried to quit.

“There’s also a whole buttload of jewelry and other stuff,” he assured her. “And my family is coming over for lunch.”

“Oh, Morgan. I appreciate the buttload of jewelry, but this…” She gestured at the tray. “You have no idea what this means to me. You’re the best mate ever.”

“I am, aren’t I?” he said smugly, sitting down next to her.

“Don’t ruin it,” she said, laughing. “Or I won’t give you
your
present.”

“My present?” He looked surprised. “What is it?”

She moved the tray out of the way, flashed him a wicked smile, and dropped the sheet to reveal her naked body.

“Mmmm. I don’t even have to unwrap it,” he said, moving in to kiss her.

THE END

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