Stephani Hecht - A Shifter Christmas

Finally reunited, Noah and his siblings are celebrating their first holidays together in two decades. Not only that, but it will be his first Christmas with the love of his life, Seth. In other words, Noah has just about everything a Jaguar shifter could need. In fact, hes so happy that it almost doesnt matter that his sister is fighting with her wolf shifter boyfriend, two of his brothers are at odds because one shot the other and their city has been hit with one of the worst blizzards in Michigan history.

Everything changes though, when something from the past comes back and threatens to ruin the holidays, forcing Noah and his siblings to realize some issues arent behind them like theyd all hoped. Then when one of his brothers, Andrew, pulls a vanishing act, they all have to act together or risk losing him forever. Will Noah be able to get over his problems in time to save Andrew, or will this Christmas be the last one either of them ever live to see?

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A Shifter Christmas

Copyright 2010 Stephani Hecht

ISBN: 978-1-55487-745-4

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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Lost Shifter Book Eight

By

Stephani Hecht

To Grandpa Bucholz

If Im a good boy, will you take me to see Santa? Noah asked as they walked into the crowded mall.

Andrew paused only long enough to shoot back an irritated glance. Something Noah noticed his brother did with alarming frequency whenever they hung around.

Mitchell made me swear to keep an eye on you and make sure that you stayed out of trouble. Somehow I dont think letting you grind on Santas lap is on our leaders list of approved activities, Andrew replied in a cool, clipped tone.

Andrews gaze swept the interior of the large shopping center as he pulled his ankle length, black trench coat closed a bit. Noah didnt want to contemplate the weaponry his littermate probably had tucked away in the pockets. Andrew loved his knives and guns and didnt go anywhere without at least a half dozen of his babies within easy reach. The guy probably slept with a Glock under his pillow.

A few people passing by shot Andrew wary looks as they gave him a wide berth. Not that Andrew had a huge build or anything. He was thinner than most of the soldiers in the coalition and only stood a couple inches taller than Noah.

However, Andrew managed to shoot off a dont-fuck-with-me vibe that both humans and shifters heeded.

Who said anything about grinding on Santa? Noah replied as he tried to assume his own tough-guy pose.

He failed miserably, probably because he wore a red puffy coat and a tight as snot Lady Gaga tee. He did earn a wink from a passing man though. Not that he had any interest in flirting back since Noah was madly in love and happily mated with Seth, one hell of a sexy Tiger shifter.

Not even Im twisted enough to try and give Santa a lap dance, Noah protested. Before Seth, he did like to play around, but now nobody could tempt him to stray, even a guy in a red suit.

If you sit on Santas lap, Ill take a picture and post it on your Facebook page. You can use it to replace the profile picture of you dressed in all leather and doing obscene things to that teddy bear, the third member of their litter, Keegan, teased as he came up and fell in step with Noah.

It was your mate, Carson, who dared me to put that up in the first place, Noah pointed out.

Keegan threw his hands up in the air. He dares everyone to do stupid stuff like that. Youre the only one whoever takes him up on it.

Keegan unzipped his brown, leather coat to reveal the very sensible, blue sweater he wore underneath. Noah wondered, not for the first time, how the most vanilla member of their litter ended up mated to a Goth, IT, Cheetah shifter who had an attitude bigger than the Flint River.

It gives Carson something to live for besides you and his computers, Noah defended.

Keegan cocked a brow. And here I thought it was because you could never refuse a dare.

I can so.

Even Andrew paused long enough to shoot Keegan a look of disbelief at that claim.

Damn, you run naked around the parameter of the compoundone time and they want to slap the label of daredevil on you. So maybe Noahs lack of discipline had gotten him in a few pickles in the past, that still didnt mean he could change who he was or anything. No more than Keegan could stop being smart and Andrew could stop being so menacing.

Keegan gave him a playful punch. Dont get that look on your face.

What look is that?

The one where you start to doubt yourself. I like how spontaneous you can be. Before you came back home, things were so dull at times I was tempted to run around in the nude, just to get some excitement.

Noah laughed. While he had just as little in common with Keegan as Andrew, Noah felt way more comfortable with the intellectual one of the litter. Keegan wasnt just intelligent either, he had a smart-as-shit IQ, plus a photographic memory. Where Noah realized he should have felt awkward and dumb around Keegan, instead he felt as if theyd been close all their lives. That said something since theyd only been reunited a little under a year ago.

He tensed up as they walked deeper into the mall and the crush of bodies grew. Since Christmas was only a couple of days away, it appeared that they werent the only ones who waited until the last minute to shop. He tried hard not to gawk in wonder at the huge trees, red tinsel and other various decorations surrounding them. Growing up, there hadnt been very many holiday celebrations and he still couldnt get used to all the cheer. Going by the expression on Andrews face, he didnt feel any more happy to be surrounded by the Christmas spirit. He even transferred some of his scowls to the decorations as if their mere presence offended him. Going by what Noah knew about his brothers past, he hadnt celebrated the holidays as a kid either. Ah, finally something we share in common.

Only Keegan acted thrilled. He smiled as a sparkle came to his amber-colored eyes. He pointed to a six-foot red figurine. Look, a nutcracker!

Ouch, that sounds like it would hurt, Noah quipped without missing a beat. Hed never been one to let any opportunity slide by where he could shoot off a juvenile comment.

Andrews lips twitched, but he didnt outright smile.

Noah still considered it a victory though. The only time hed ever seen Andrew laugh had been when he was around his mate, Vapor. Even that was rare since Andrew and Vapor were both the quit, broody, could-be-a-meanie types.

As if sensing Noah was thinking about him, Andrew shot off a dirty look. Remind me why we allowed Keegan to talk us into coming here again?