Page 6 of Naughty Elf: Alfie
My heart poundsas I look for a good hiding space under the shelving units. Damn me and my need to clean. Only just two days ago I had a nice big pile of newspaper I could run into, but no, I had to recycle it.
“Wait! Come back! My name is Alfie. He/him please and thank you. I’m an alpha elf from the North Pole, and you’re my fated mate.” He drops to his knees and looks under the shelves. “There you are.”
I crowd against the back wall. Alpha. Elf from the North Pole. I always joke about getting a gift from Santa every year, but it’s just a joke. Do I actually believe? I shake my head and hop toward the front of the row, towards the front door. I have a cat door I should be able to escape from.
I stop as he watches me. Alfie is handsome with honey eyes. His hair is a curly dark blond mess.Mate.My tiny rabbit heart pounds so fast I wonder if I’ll pass out.Mate.
Fated mates, Idobelieve in, but I doubt I have one of my own. My parents didn’t want me, why would I have a fated?
“Please come out. We can talk. I didn’t mean to scare you. I don’t know what activated the magic.” He swoops his muscular arm under the shelf as if to catch me, and I bite him when hishand comes too close. “Ow!” He pulls his arm back. Serves him right for trying to steal me. I run to my freedom.
Alfie sniffles behind me, causing me to pause.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’d like to meet you before you reject me, though.” Tears shine in his honey eyes, making the color darker. Despite the tears, he gives me the most endearing lopsided smile. “I’ve always wanted to meet the person that gets crystals every year. I love them, too.” He rubs his finger along the concrete floor and drops his eyes. “I don’t think I have afavoritefavorite, but I can narrow it down to my top five.”
I take a tentative step toward him. Maybe he isn’t so bad if he likes crystals.
“Amethyst, because purple is one of my favorite colors. Blue lace agate because it’s so freaking calming. Rose quartz, because who doesn’t need more loving energy?”
I snort and take a few steps closer still.
“Gold sheen obsidian is pretty and I like getting lost in the shimmer in sunlight. And finally, fluorite because it helps my creativity.”
I bound back to where I shed my clothes and bite down on my shirt, then snuggle under my pajama pants, hoping they stay on my back as I find a spot behind shelves to dress in private. I awkwardly walk to my destination with the alpha staying in place, watching me. I’m not sure if he’s too scared to offer to help, but I’m grateful he’s not moving.
I shift and scramble to dress. My ears twitch as I pull my shirt over my head. The alpha, Alfie, smells divine. Like roasted marshmallows and cinnamon with the tiniest hint of evergreen. Do all elves from the North Pole have the scent or just Alfie?
I smooth my shirt and bottoms, hoping I’m presentable, and walk out to meet him. His smile stuns me and I can’t find words until I realize I can’t just stand here and stare at him.
“I’m Pisces. Also, he/him. Uh…” I wave to my head. “Rabbit shifter omega.”
Alfie gives me the biggest grin and bounces to his feet. He’s so much taller than me, I have to look up at him.Wayup. It takes everything in me to not take a step back.
He holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Pisces.”
The moment I take his offering, electricity wraps around us and sizzles up our arms. His eyes go wide and I’m sure mine do as well.
“See? Fate!”
I step back, nodding, trying to wrap my head around it all. “Fate,” I whisper.Fate. Mate. “I don’t know what this means.”
Alfie’s brows scrunch and he opens his mouth, but I continue, “Iknowwhat it means, but don’tknowwhat it means. You know? What now?”
He opens and closes his mouth a few times as he thinks, and I have to keep from giggling. His brows scrunch again before he speaks. “I don’t know. But if we don’t fall in love by next Christmas, back in the bag I go because I’ll be stuck as a figurine forever.”
“Why?”
“As punishment.” His honey eyes drop to the floor. “I’m not the best at being good. I’ve done some things my fellow elves frown upon.”
I take a step back and my heart pounds frantically again. “Are you a serial killer? Shit. You’re a serial killer.” I back up again. “Maybe just a thief. That’s it. Just a thief.” I laugh as I hold my hands up. “Please don’t?—”
Alfie looks as if I’ve struck him. “Nothing like that, no. I have the habit of rearranging the fridge magnets in the mailroom. The other elves thought it was naughty, and I got in trouble. Now I’m here.”
“What? I need more information than that.”
“The alphabet magnets. My last messagemayhave been monster fudging… but not fudging, if you know what I mean, is fun. On the communal fridge.” He cringes. “That is bad. No one wants to see that at work.”
“It’s not great, no. Probably warrants a visit to HR.” I fight my mouth to keep from smiling. “Okay, but it is funny.”
