Free Santa Paws: BBW Holiday Bear Shifter Romance (Christmas Bear Brothers Book 1) by Harmony Raines

time with Maria. Dermot was willing to do anything to help Declan and his new family find their way to happiness.
    As they left, Jason turned to him and said, “All that stuff about Santa is a lie.”
    Dermot saw the pain in Jason’s eyes, and wanted to make it right for him. But he knew that only time could do that. And this was no time for lectures, or a buddy talk.
    “You know, I would have agreed with you. Until I went on this crazy adventure to the North Pole. I fought with a polar bear, and got this,” he said, pointing to his eye.
    “I think you spent too long in the bar last night and got into a brawl.” Jason accused.
    “I promise you, it’s real. And once you see Vicky, you will believe it too.” As they walked a car pulled up beside them, and Dermot bent down to see whom it was. “Trent. Hi there.”
    “I might have known you were responsible for this,” Trent said, a twinkle in his eyes. “You look like you went ten rounds with a bear.”
    “Polar bear.” He grinned at Trent. “It’s OK, Jason is one of us.”
    “So is this for real? Because half the town is heading out to the North Slope.”
    “It certainly is. I’m just hoping someone went and picked Sorcha and her mom up.”
    “Pretty sure I saw Dr. Ben heading that way in a pickup. Like I said, would hate to be you if we don’t get to see a flying reindeer.”
    “She’ll be here,” Dermot said confidently, and Trent drove off waving.
    “When was the last time there was a lynching in Bear Bluff?” Jason asked.
    “She’ll be here,” Dermot repeated and looked to the skies, but there was no sign of her yet.

Chapter Eighteen – Vicky
    Vicky looked down as she headed over Bear Bluff, shocked at the small crowd of people who were waiting to greet her. This had never happened before; she normally had to keep herself hidden away, landing outside of town and then walking back home while other people were snug in their houses opening their gifts with their families.
    She circled around one more time and then Dermot caught her eye, standing with another man, and a young woman. There was a teenager with them, too; he was looking up, watching for her. He reminded her so much of herself, like he needed something to believe in, something to give him hope.
    Vicky came lower, her feet touching down on the lower slope of the mountain, her step light as she drew closer to the people who stood in awe of her. She was now the worst kept secret in Bear Bluff, amongst shifters anyway. And that was the thing: she blended in just right. All the people here had a secret, or kept their loved one’s secret.
    Suddenly shy, she stopped, waiting for Dermot to come to her. She rubbed her head against him affectionately, and then changed into her human form.
    “Did you tell the whole town?” she asked reproachfully.
    “Just one or two, and then it kind of spread,” Dermot answered. “Do you know, I never noticed in the dark, but your hair is the same colour as your reindeer coat.”
    “You can’t get out of it by changing the subject,” she said crossly.
    “How about with a kiss,” he said, drawing her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers.
    “I guess that might do it,” she said, leaning on his chest briefly. “You had better introduce your family to me. I can’t wait to meet them.”
    “And they can’t wait to meet you,” Dermot said, pulling her close as they walked.
    The boy waved at them, and Dermot waved back. As they reached them, the boy blurted out, “Dermot says Rudolph is real too.”
    They all laughed, and Vicky said, “He certainly is. And it’s thanks to him that we are together, and you had Christmas.”
    “Well, one day I hope to thank him,” said Declan, “because I think we all got the best Christmas ever.”
    “I think we all did,” said Maria.
    “And not a bear humbug in sight,” Dermot laughed.
    “And not a bear humbug in sight,” Declan repeated, pulling Jason and Maria into his arms. “More of a ho, ho,