Page 28 of A Collier First Christmas
Unbeknownst to her, I already had it all planned out.
*****
With a full belly and a cup of hot chocolate in my hand, I stood on the stage proudly looking out across my Pack. There had been a gingerbread building contest – prepared by Kate and Peyton as I forbade Lily to ever attempt baking gingerbread again. There had also been cookies to decorate or just eat.
The kids had battled it out in a fake snow ball fight. We hadn’t gotten any real accumulation yet, but Lily had arranged to have buckets full of large cotton balls for them to throw at each other. There had even been a Jingle Run for those whose wolves had not yet come in. Our youngest pack members hadgone all out dressed up like elves complete with jingle bells on their costumes as they raced to the finish.
That wasn’t all either. After the indoor festivities wrapped up, Lily moved us all outside where dozens of firepits were blazing and there was a table full of baggies of s’more fixings. Kids and adults alike loved all of it.
I could see their happy faces as I looked out across the lawn.
“When my mate came to me just a few weeks ago with her plans for Christmas this year, I feared she was taking on too much. I know, you’re all shocked to hear that Lily would dive right in and overdue it all.”
I paused to let everyone chuckle as Lily shot me a look promising payback later.
“There were of course a few hiccups along the way. Need I mention the town’s first Christmas tree?”
She covered her face with her hands and shook her head causing even more laughter to ring out.
“For a while there it felt like everything that could possibly go wrong was going to. I am so proud of how my mate, your Pack Mother, rose to the challenge, and persevered to ensure we would have the most perfect Christmas that Collier Pack has ever seen.”
Clapping and cheers filled the air. I raised my hand to settle them back down because I wasn’t done.
“I know she didn’t do this alone. So, my sincerest thanks to the Christmas committee.” I turned and waved to where a group of them were standing just offstage. “For not only coming through for us, but also putting up with Lily through it all.”
“Hey, I wasn’t that bad!” she protested to the amusement of everyone.
I winked at her.
“And most especially a huge thanks to all of you.”
Lily walked over to stand next to me with Cammie in her arms.
“He’s not kidding on this. Each and every one of you pulled together to make this holiday season something extra special. From the lights around town, to my rescue after a certain tree incident. You stepped in while I was quite literally down and found the perfect tree for all of us. Tonight wouldn’t be happening if it had been left entirely up to me.”
Tears started to glisten in her eyes. I wrapped an arm around her as she sniffed before continuing.
“You all know I set out to do this in order to give my daughter the absolute best first Christmas any little girl could ask for. I wanted everything to be perfect and I had planned to document every second of it. Which I didn’t, so if any of you have pictures or videos, please do pass them my way. Anyway, my vision of a perfect Christmas was what I thought it would be. It wasn’t the tree or the lights, none of that stuff, that made this year so precious to me. It was each and every one of you and the way you rallied together like never before to make this happen. Merry Christmas!”
She rested her head on my shoulder trying not to completely give into her emotions in front of everyone.
“With that said, I’d like to officially kick off the first annual Collier Pack Christmas Eve run.”
Without hesitation I shifted on the spot, letting my clothes tear from my body as my Pack cheered and then followed my lead. Once the majority had shifted, I lifted my mouth to the night sky and I howled. There was a hauntingly beautiful chorus that echoed as I took off running through the golf course and towards the open fields of Collier Ranch beyond, leading my Pack as I was born to do.
Lily
Chapter 15
I stood there holding my daughter as hundreds of wolves took off with Thomas leading the Pack. Normally I would be by his side, but tonight I was staying behind with our daughter.
I was so proud of him and everything we’d accomplished, though my thoughts immediately turned to the night ahead. I had so much still to do if I was going to pull off a Collier First Christmas for Cammie.
Internally, I was berating myself for getting so caught up in everything external that I had neglected plans for the three of us. I had no idea where I was going to get a tree at this hour, but somehow, even if I had to go cut one down myself, it was going to happen.
There were presents to be wrapped and a few new toys to be built.
My celebratory mood was dissipating fast. I was ready to pack up and get my daughter home and in bed so that I could get things started.
