Page 12 of How the Orc Stole Christmas
When I returned, it was to sullen looks and outright glares from both orcs and humans alike. Most barely spoke to me, and only by necessity. I ate dinner on my own in my hut and collapsed into bed grateful for the warmth and comfort of hut. Yet, sleep eluded me, as it had since I left Jules. I had only slept beside her for a night but my body craved her, my soul called for her, and I tossed and turned all night.
The next morning, I kept my appointment with Kharag at his kennels where his raised his hounds. Nuar, his male stud, looked on over the latest little with pride. They were an ugly breed, black scaled with red eyes, and tiny nubs for their horns. But they were fierce fighters and loyal to their masters. Jules would have loved these ugly beasts.
Shoving that thought aside, I greeted Kharag. “How is your son?”
Kharag beamed. “He’s a lusty lad, with a healthy set of lungs, especially at night, and a fierce appetite. Thank goodness for Jules who has been assisting in his care. Olivia has been exhausted.”
Concern flared for Jules, that she might be overdoing it, but I tamped it down. I had no authority to dictate her life any longer. “I would like to see him, if I may.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea, my friend. Jules is often at our hut and you are not in her good graces right now,” Kharag said bluntly.
I nodded once, even as the mating instinct inside of me demanded that I go to her. “I understand. I will keep my distance.”
“Why did you do it? Why did you distance yourself? She is a fine woman. She would make a fine mate.”
“She would make the best mate. She deserves the best orc in the clan,” I replied.
Kharag cocked his head. “And you do not believe that’s you? You’re one of our leaders, a fierce fighter, a trainer of our young, and our best hunter. What more could she ask for?”
“Someone younger to protect her and be with her all her days,” I growled. “I am old, Kharag. I have lived many winters. I am set in my ways. She is young, sunshine and light. She will resent me after a time.”
He sighed heavily. “I do not know what went on in your past, my friend. But I do not believe Jules is so fickle as to do that. She suffers. You broke her heart and I do not think there is another for her.”
We studied the pups playing for a while then Kharag spoke again. “I’m older than Olivia, as is Jarrus. I almost did not take a mate, was going to leave the auction. But something drew me to Olivia. I do not believe the heart sees age, but instead sees our souls. You need to ask yourself if Jules is the other half of your soul. If you can be happy with her. Because you have never been happy, except the few times I saw you with her. And you deserve happiness.”
He pointed to a pup alone in the corner, not playing with his littermates. “That is the pup I chose for you. I thought he needed a friend, just like you do.” He picked up the pup and put him in my arms, where the pup immediately began wiggling and lickingme. “He is reaching out for you, not backing away. He just needs you to meet him halfway. These pups only give their loyalty once. He has given it to you. Jules is the same. She will never love again, I fear.”
And Kharag walked out, leaving me with much to consider.
CHAPTER EIGHT
JULES
Ihad come to dread evening meals. I had been taking them with Olivia and her mates to give them time without their orcling demanding so much attention. But tonight, they wanted to try on their own. So I had two choices. Try to cook on my own or go to the communal fire. My own cooking skills were a disaster, and I didn’t want to poison myself so I chose the fire.
It was also the night we were celebrating Christmas Eve, though I wasn’t in the mood anymore. I just wanted it all to be over. But I had to put on the happy face for everyone else. I pulled out my elf costume, a little the worse for wear, added a fur cloak, and headed for the fire where everyone was already gathered.
We ate and drank and made merry, as the saying went, though I felt like nothing merry. I did my best to put on a brave face, though I know I failed. My former suitors tried to cheer me up with presents and choice foods but it all tasted like sawdust in my mouth. Someday I would get over the heartbreak. I just wish it would happen sooner rather than later.
When it came time for the present exchange, I heard a commotion across the fire. Klas stood there with a pup thatlooked like a mini-version of Nuar, Kharag’s weird-ass dog, next to him. He wore a fur cloak, similar to something he wore the day we met, his vest and pants, and a hat. He almost looked like Santa Claus, just not in red.
“I’d like to say something.”
Everyone quieted down, staring at them expectantly.
Kharag stepped into the circle, his eyes focused on her. “Apparently I have been a grinch this season. Well, all along. It has been pointed out that I prefer to be grumpy and I enjoy my misery a bit too much, so that I will avoid being happy even when it’s offered to me. Jules is my mate, the other half of my soul. And I rejected her most cruelly because I was afraid.”
The crowd gasped. They all had known something happened between us, but not that he was my true mate. Hell, I hadn’t even known that. What was he doing?
“I was afraid to be happy. Every time I am happy, something goes wrong. I lose my family. I lose friends. Being happy always means loss to me. But it was pointed out to me that I could choose to be angry and unhappy or I could take a chance and be happy once more.”
He took another step towards me until he was right in front of me and dropped to one knee. “Jules, you are sunshine and light, brightening my every day. You are everything to me and I never want to dim your light. I was afraid that I would destroy you with my darkness.”
Tears were rolling down my cheeks at his words and I leaned forward to grasp his cheeks in my hands. “You silly man. Light always breaks up the darkness. The sun is too powerful for dark.”
He kissed my palms. “I know. Can you ever forgive me? Will you be my mate and be with me forever?”
I nodded. “Only if you dress like that every Christmas.”
He smiled, the first true smile I had ever seen from him. “I will dress like this whenever you want, my mate.”
I pulled him to me and kissed him. His lips met mine with a tenderness that made my heart ache. This wasn't like our first desperate kiss in the darkness, or our passionate encounters since. This was a promise, sealed with the gentle press of his mouth against mine. I could feel his smile, and mine answered it, making the kiss messy and perfect all at once.
The fur of his vest tickled my palms as I slid my hands up his chest. His heart thundered beneath my touch, matching the wild rhythm of my own. When his arms wrapped around me, I melted into him, knowing with bone-deep certainty that this was where I belonged.
He tasted like ale, and when his tongue swept across my bottom lip, I opened to him with a sigh of contentment. His tusks, now as familiar as my own reflection, pressed gently against my cheeks. One of his hands tangled in my hair, cradling my head as if I were something precious, while the other spread across my lower back, holding me close.
The kiss deepened, each stroke of his tongue against mine spoke of apologies and forgiveness, of future mornings waking up together and evenings spent by the fire. When he pulled back just enough to press his forehead to mine, I could see his dark eyes catching the firelight.
"My mate," he whispered against my lips, and the words settled into my chest like coming home. I stretched up to kiss him again, knowing I finally had my home, my place to belong.
