Page 12 of Awakened By Her Guardian

“Thank you,” Ana said.

The couple said goodbye and walked over to the buffet, and Gabriel said, “I should take at least the day off so we can spend it together.”

“Just one day?” she asked, her eyes glittering with humor.

“It is our busy season with danger, but I will definitely make it worth your while.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear.”

After breakfast, they went to Santa’s office and spoke to him about the next few weeks. He asked Ana not to go home for the time being and suggested that Pixie could stop and pick up a few things for her because she was protected with wards.

“And,” he said thoughtfully, “so is Aralyn. If Pixie can’t make time to stop at your home, Aralyn could do it when she goes out reaping.”

“She’s a reaper?” Ana asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Santa said. “Her mate is Maverick, and her uncle is Grim. Frost has sworn to leave Aralyn alone, and she has a special ward to keep herself safe as she travels. I wouldn’t trust my brother in any way, but he is definitely afraid of Grim.”

“Anyone in their right mind would be afraid of Grim,” Gabriel said.

Santa nodded. To Ana he said, “Would you be willing to use your magic around Northernmost? You and Gabriel could work the same shift and you’d be safe, not just with a Guardian as a mate but because the territory is protected with magical wards.”

“That sounds good to me,” Ana said. “After we take the day to ourselves? Since we just met.”

“Of course,” Santa said. “Take a few days if you’d like, it’s still early in the month and we have the staff to cover.”

They left his office and stopped to visit Aralyn, the reaper, and her snow leopard mate, Maverick. Aralyn was happy to stop at Ana’s home to pick up whatever she needed when she headed out that night for her shift.

As Gabriel took Ana on a tour of Northernmost, she said, “I’d like to video chat my family so I can tell them about you.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” he said. “My family will be so happy to know I found you.”

Once they reached the apartment, she video chatted with her family first, and her mom offered to pack a suitcase with clothes and toiletries. “Promise you’ll keep each other safe,” her dad, Jared, said. “Nightmare is on the prowl with his people. There are more bad dreams than we can shield people against.”

“I wish I could be there to help,” Ana said with a sigh.

“No, you need to stay in Northernmost and be safe,” Meadow, her mom, said. “He targeted you because you’re special and powerful. It would be foolish for you to be out and about. We’ll manage. Hopefully Santa will be able to stop Jack Frost sooner rather than later.”

“I hope so, I miss you guys,” she said.

“We miss you too, honey,” her mom said. “It was so nice to meet you, Gabriel. Be safe, you two.”

“You too,” Gabriel said.

When he called his parents next, they were equally thrilled to know he’d found his truemate and were excited to see them on Christmas Day.

“Well,” he said, as he put his phone on the coffee table and stretched with a groan. “Both our families are happy.”

“For sure,” she said, snuggling into his side. “I wish we weren’t stuck up here and could go meet them in person, but if I had to be stuck anywhere, I’m glad it’s with you.”

“Me too,” he said, pulling her close and kissing her. “I’d like to take you on a date, but since we can’t really go anywhere, I have an idea for a fun night out, if you’re game.”

“I’d love that. I can borrow something from Aralyn.”

“Give her a call. You’ll want something warm since we’ll be outside.”

She giggled and fished her phone from her tunic pocket.

He watched as she called Aralyn and made plans to get together with her to find something to wear before the female left for her overnight shift reaping souls, during which she’d be able to stop at Ana’s home to get her things. He decided he was the luckiest wolf in the world to have such a beautiful and powerful mate. He loved the way her hair shone like moonlight and how her pale gold eyes grew luminous whenever she was turned on.