Page 29 of Naughty Elf: Shimmersnap

I placed a hand over my tummy, still flat, but I carried a life in there. A little spark of joy and happiness that would be the best of both me and Walter. What of them? Santa wouldn’t confine me to an elf figurine forever if I was pregnant, would he?

I sat down on a bench. The festival market was cleared out by now; all that was left were the twinkling lights and the powdery snow. Everyone had gone home. I leaned my head back andgazed up at the stars. In just a few days, Santa would be making his big journey. All the Santas would be, and everyone at the North Pole would celebrate. I was once a part of those joyous occasions. I thought there was no greater joy in the world than those moments. I knew better now that I had met Walter.

Every day with him had been a joy. Whether we were volunteering at a holiday event or cuddled on the couch watching movies, we were happy. Though he didn’t know I was me the time we’d watched movies together.

Could I go back to the North Pole? Now would not be the best time to speak with Santa about my little conundrum. But eventually, I had to talk with someone. I didn’t wish to bother Dancer—I knew how busy he was right now. All my other friends were, well, more acquaintances than anything else. I had no one.

I was stuck. Well and truly stuck. I could conjure up some human money and stay at a hotel. Should I report to work tomorrow? How did this all work?

Existence as a human was hard.

Thankfully, when I had popped out of Walter’s house, I was smart enough to grab my boots. I sat crisscross on the bench, staring out at the twinkling lights of the town square. The Christmas tree at the center stood tall and bright. It was the most perfect time of year, and if I had Walter at my side right then, it would be the most perfect night. But here I was, completely alone.

I didn’t think I could conjure up any sparkle if I tried, and I wasn’t in the mood to try. I wasn’t sure there was any sparkle left in me.

“Chin up, Shimmersnap.”

I startled and looked up to see my former supervisor, the same one who had fired me weeks ago.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Well, we got a code red. Someone lost all their Christmas spirit. All hope was lost. When that happens, you drop everything and go help them.”

I sighed. “That’s rough.” That happens sometimes during the holiday season. People down on their luck or with things out of their control get brought down and only a Christmas miracle can help them. “Are they okay? Is there something I can help with?”

He sat down next to me. “It’s you, Shimmersnap. You’ve lost hope.”

My stomach twisted and tears gathered on my lashes. “It didn’t go very well when I told my mate about being an elf. I’m not sure if he can accept me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

A tear slid down my cheek. “It feels like a lost cause.” I voiced my deepest fear. What if Walter really couldn’t accept me?

“I can see how it could feel that way. But you’ve never shied away from a challenge before, Shimmersnap.”

“I’m a failed elf who was fired.” My shoulders slumped, and it was like my world went grayscale. There wasn’t a sparkle in sight.

“You are an elf who was fired. That is true. But can you honestly say that you were ever truly happy making toys?”

“Of course I was!” Wasn’t I? I was an elf. I made toys. Yet, in the past year, had I missed it at all? The past few weeks, I was happier than I’d ever been. I was working, volunteering, and most of all, I was spending time with my mate.

Between working with Walter during the week and doing the volunteer events, I was really enjoying the Christmas time away from the North Pole. I hadn’t given any thought to things I might be missing out on, because I never felt like I was missing anything.

“I like it here. I want to stay. With my mate. I don’t want to be a figurine.”

My boss patted my shoulder. Ex-boss. It seemed I was perfectly content to leave that life behind me.

“That’s what we thought. You are a good elf, Shimmersnap. A little peculiar, but a good one nonetheless. And you’ll make a great mate.”

“Not if my alpha doesn’t accept me!”

“See, it’s thoughts like that that made me have to come down here. Chin up, Shimmersnap. If you mate truly rejected you, you’d be a figurine by now.”

“Really?”

“Really. Did we give up the year the conveyor belts all broke and we needed three times the number of elves in the workshop to get toys made?”

“No.”

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