Read Online A Siberian Werewolf Christmas by Caryn Moya Block - Free Book Online

the back of
the building with a huge roaring fire burning brightly. Maggie
removed her coat and gloves. “What are we going to do with the log?
It’s too big to use as a table decoration.”
    “We’re going to burn it, silly. The
bonfire starts at sundown.”
    “Seems like a lot of trouble to burn
it.”
    “Well, we have a ceremony to thank the
universe for all of our blessings.” Violet found a place at the
table with two chairs. “Then, those who want to can write out a
Christmas wish and place the paper under the ribbons on the log.
When the log is burned, the wishes are delivered up to the divine.
Don’t forget to grab a paper and write out your own Christmas
wish.”
    Christmas wish? Why did her thoughts
immediately go to the amber-eyed man who took her breath
away?
    She looked at the women’s animated
faces. Each one took meticulous care in their work. And in a few
hours, the log would be burned, and all of their work would go up
in flames.
    Sighing, Maggie picked up a jar of
glue and a piece of red ribbon.
     
    §
     
    “You’re looking a little green there,
Mags. What’s upsetting you?”
    Maggie turned to find Violet gazing at
her questioningly. What should she say? That the moment she walked
up to the gathering she had been looking for a certain man whose
mere presence sent her heart pounding? A man who was right now in
deep discussion with another woman on the other side of the fire
pit. That the woman placed her hand on Slava’s arm and snuggled up
to him, and worse, that he’d let her. He wrapped his arm around the
woman and laid his head over hers.
    Violet had said he was alone. Well it
appeared that he wasn’t any longer. God, she’d been such a fool.
She’d even written one of those stupid Christmas wishes Violet
talked about. She blinked and swallowed, trying to keep the
moisture welling in her eyes from showing.
    “I guess I’m tired, Vi. I haven’t been
myself all day. Don’t worry about me; go have fun with your
ceremony.” Would Violet buy the act? She couldn’t tell her friend
how she was feeling. It was silly—one stolen kiss, an afternoon
with the children, and she thought Slava might be the one. How
naïve could she be?
    “Are you sure? Did something happen?
You seemed fine a minute ago.”
    Maggie needed to do something to throw
her friend off. Violet was closer to the truth than she
realized.
    “Violet, I am not your little girl.
Put your mommy senses away and go have some fun. I see Dmitry is
over by the food table. He’s looking over here.”
    They both turned, and Dmitry waved
Violet over. A look of longing came over her face. She hurried
away, and Dmitry enfolded her in his arms and kissed her. Maggie
closed her eyes, unable to watch any longer. She wanted that. A
love like that, the longing, the tenderness, the love.
    Maggie looked to where Slava still
stood with the other woman. Their eyes met. The pain of seeing him
with someone else was so bad she tried hard not to throw up. She
did the only thing she could think of. She ran.
     
    §
     
    Slava kissed his sister on the cheek
and excused himself from the gathering. Maggie had taken one look
at him and run off. What was wrong with her? He rushed to follow,
smelling her sweet scent of vanilla overlaid with the salty smell
of tears. Had someone hurt her?
    His wolf flashed to the surface,
wanting to protect the woman. Instead of pushing the wildness away,
he embraced it and pulled on the strength and speed that being
lycan gave him. He caught up to her in minutes. It helped that she
had stopped.
    He found her sitting on a log, rocking
back and forth, her arms around her middle. Her quiet sobs made her
body tremble.
    “Maggie, what is wrong? What has
happened?”
    She looked up at him, her face ravaged
by sorrow. “You happened.”
    Her words cut him like a knife. “I
don’t understand. Tell me what’s wrong.”
    She brushed the tears from her face,
her stare lit up with temper. “I didn’t realize you were