The Omega’s Beary Special Christmas (A Bear Under The Christmas Tree)

4. Hugo

FOUR

HUGO

He can’t leave .

If he did, I’d have to get back to the coast before him. I’d just flown east to west, and now I’d have to do the journey in reverse.

There was another shout from inside the house while my bear sat on the porch complaining about the cold, saying he wanted to be by the fire.

My wild cousins are hibernating right now. I shouldn’t be here . He was dreaming of life by the ocean and shading himself under an umbrella.

“I have to leave, Hector. Can you take me to the airport” My shifter hearing picked up Ferris’s cry.

That couldn’t happen. I had to stop him, so I took my skin. Gods, at least my bear had fur to protect him. I shivered as I tore into the house yelling, “You can’t leave. You’re my mate.”

Hector was standing just outside the kitchen door wiping his hands on a dishtowel. Or he was. His hands froze midwipe, and he mouthed, “What the fuck?”

I didn’t know what his problem was, but my gaze went to Ferris. He was the one I was here for. My mate half stood, leaning against the sofa, his ankle wrapped in the elastic bandage I’d put on him when I carried him into the house and before I got Hector to pretend it was him who’d rescued Ferris.

But my mate’s face was equal parts drained of color and beetroot red.

That doesn’t make sense .

It doesn’t have to , I told him.

But Ferris’s eyes weren’t fixed on my face but lower. Not my waist. Much lower. His mouth was gaping because my cock was aroused and pointing straight at him. Shit, I was naked.

And when he did finally move, it was an eyebrow, just one, that shot up in a sharp V shape.

He pointed at my crotch. “You… you’re… you’re not at the beach.”

I glanced at Hector hoping he’d help me out, but he rolled his eyes, folded his arms, and waited, maybe expecting me to come up with an explanation.

“I had to come back.” That was all I had.

Hector sat in the bigger armchair and crossed his legs. I suspected he was enjoying my fuck-up.

“What?” Ferris sat down and hugged a cushion. “I’m trying to get back home and you did the same. Why?” He too glared at Hector, but my friend held up both hands as if to say, “Leave me out of this.”

When Hector finally spoke, it was to make a suggestion. “How about you put some clothes on, Hugo, and I’ll make hot chocolate.” He didn’t wait for Ferris and me to agree about having a hot drink and left the room.

“Why are you leaving?” I asked Ferris when I came back wearing track pants and a sweater. Perhaps sweatpants weren’t the best choice because I didn’t bother with underwear. They were a little revealing.

A little? My bear facepalmed or as close as a shifter animal could get.

I sat in the chair Hector had vacated. “I had to come back regarding urgent business.”

Hector yelled, “Pinocchio.”

“Yeah, I’m not buying it.” Ferris hugged the cushion tighter. “At Christmas? What was so important?”

“Ummm.” I rifled through a list of excuses in my head but none was good enough.

“And what’s this about wanting to be friends?”

“Friends?” My voice was louder than I wanted. “I don’t want to be friends with you.” I sat thinking about what I’d just said. Perhaps that gave Ferris the wrong impression.

His eyes filled with tears, and his lower lip trembled. He looked down at his lap and wiped a tear sliding down his cheek.

Fuck, I’d really messed up. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

Hector came in with a tray of hot chocolate. He glared at me and jerked his head at my mate.

“Is… is it Charlie?”

Is what Charlie? my bear asked.

“He was fine when I left him.”

Ferris shifted his butt and grimaced.

“You should put your leg up.”

“I should do a lot of things,” he snapped.

Hector stood in the middle of the room. “Let’s put a pin in this conversation until we’ve all had a good night’s sleep. I’ll sleep on the couch in case you need anything, Ferris.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Ferris furrowed his brow. It was kinda adorable, but I couldn’t say that as he was angry with me.

“Of course you don’t, but you’re in a strange house in a town you’re not familiar with and you’re injured.” Hector took a sip of his drink. “If you still want to leave in the morning, I’ll drive you to the airport.”

“This is my house. I’ll sleep on the couch,” I said as I clenched my jaw.

That’s not good for your teeth , my bear informed me.

Hector sighed and gave me one of his exasperated smiles he was so good at. “There’s no need for both of us to be here.” My friend waved his free hand at my crotch. “You and your appendage can stay at my place.”

I was fuming at Hector for interfering but said nothing as he insisted Ferris sleep in the third bedroom which was on this floor. No way was I leaving and I refused to sleep upstairs, especially if Hector was staying down here, so I grabbed bedding and a blow-up mattress for myself, as my friend was taking the sofa.

The night stretched on, the hours ticking over so slowly. Hector slept, but I lay awake listening in case Ferris needed me. He spent a restless night, tossing and turning, and there were frequent groans as his head or ankle hurt. Or both.

When light peeked under the living room curtains, I gave up on sleep and made coffee, making sure to tiptoe around, as Ferris had fallen asleep judging by his deep, even breathing.

Hector wandered in yawning, his hair sticking out, and took out three mugs from the cupboard.

“If you take him to the airport, I’ll be on the next plane,” I whispered.

“You have two choices. Either let him go or tell him the truth. No more stalking. Look what happened last night.”

I wasn’t proud of myself or my beast, hiding outside the house and scaring my mate-to-be. But as we stood in silence and sipped our coffee, Ferris hobbled out of his room, using crutches I’d given him. Not that a shifter would suffer a sprained ankle. Or if they did, they’d shift and be cured. But I’d bought them for a Halloween party.

“I’m going to call a cab once I’ve showered.” He glanced at his ankle. “Or had a wash.”

“I’ll drive you.” Hector helped Ferris into the bathroom, but just as he was closing the door, there was a banging and a shout outside the front door.

“Please tell me no one else is going to rush in here naked.” Ferris limped out of the bathroom.

“Ferris, are you in there?”

“Charlie?” Ferris yelled.

“Charlie?” My mate’s friend? “What’s he doing here?”

“Charlie? Is this a group holiday?” Hector looked from me to Ferris.

“I sent a mayday message last night, as he’s a good friend ...” I didn’t miss the emphasis on the last word. “He came to save me.”

There was more banging on the door. “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow this door down.”

“Is that…?” Hector looked at me.

Ferris shrugged. “He has a thing about fairy tales like Three Little Pigs. Also Goldilocks is one of his favorites.”

Hector rolled his eyes. If Ferris ever saw my Christmas decorations, he’d understand how we felt about Goldilocks.

“Will one of you open the door or do I have to do it?” Ferris’s strained voice suggested he was close to tears.

“I’ll do it.” This was my house, though after last night, I felt like an unwelcome guest. “Charlie.”

“Where is he?” Charlie pushed past me, and I raced ahead of him, wanting to get my side of the story out before he dragged Ferris home. But Charlie froze after taking two steps. “Whoa!”

“Oh my gods!” That was Hector.

“What is that delicious scent?” Charlie sniffed the air.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Ferris waved a crutch at his friend. “I sniffed it first.”

“Ferris, no.” This was weird, but my mate had the wrong idea.

My mate swung his head toward me. “Is that why Charlie came here? For you?”

“Huh?” Charlie didn’t look at Ferris or me. “I’ve kind of forgotten why I came, but I’m so glad I did.”

“Me too.” Hector gave Charlie a silly grin, something that was so un-Hector-like.

Charlie panted, “This may sound really strange, but I want to see you naked.”

“Oh gods.” Ferris muffled a sob with his hand.

“Me too.” That ridiculous grin was still plastered on Hector’s face.

“What?” Ferris glanced between his friend and mine.

“I’m Hector. Would you like to come back to my place?” My friend extended his arm to Charlie.

“Can we get naked together?” Charlie grinned as he took the proffered arm.

Hector leaned close. “We can stay in bed until the new year.”

Charlie squeed, Ferris fumed, and I tipped my head to the side, thinking of the amazing coincidence.

Charlie and Hector walked out the door as Hector said, “You’re my mate,” and the door closed behind them.

“Will someone tell me what’s going on?” Ferris collapsed into the smaller armchair. “And why is everyone talking about being friends?” He banged a crutch on the floor.

“Well, it’s like this.”