The Knot Before Christmas

Elijah folded colorful paper around a LEGO set for Oliver and tried to tune out the conversation happening next to him.

"I've wrapped the biggest package," Kade said. "Bear shifters, man. Now those are some packages you need two hands to hold."

Aran shrugged. "And I've wrapped way more packages than you have."

Elijah sighed for the hundredth time in the last hour. "You volunteered to wrap presents so you could torture me, didn't you?"

"Uh, no," Aran said. "We volunteered because, as we've been discussing, we both know how to handle a package. Torturing you is just a perk."

Kade nodded solemnly. "If we wanted to torture you, we could talk about how, later tonight, you'll be helping Victor empty his sack."

"As he comes down your chimney."

"He'll stuff your stocking."

"Or maybe ride you like a reindeer."

"Dude, speaking of handling packages and emptying sacks," Kade said, and Elijah didn't bother suppressing his groan. "Did you see Richard and Hunter's latest video?"

"Could you guys not? Would it be too much to ask for a Christmas miracle here and go one day without a play-by-play of whatever p*rn you've most recently gotten off to?"

"Are you wanting something a little more traditional tonight?" Kade asked.

"We can totally do that," Aran agreed. He cleared his throat. "'Twas the knot before Christmas."

"Oh god, no." Elijah gave up on the present in front of him and buried his head in his hands.

"When all through the house, something was stirring, but it wasn't a mouse." Kade paused and looked at Elijah. "And by that, I mean dicks."

"Yep. I got that. Thanks."

"The alpha was hung and in need of some care," Aran said.

"Please don't talk about Victor's—"

"In hopes that his mate would soon have his ass in the air," Kade added.

"Jesus f*cking Christ."

"The alpha was nestled all snug in his bed," Aran intoned. "While visions of his mate's bum danced in his head."

"Victor," Elijah yelled. "They're doing it again!"

"Like I'm ever able to stop them?" Victor replied.

"Liam?" Elijah tried in desperation.

"Oh, no," Liam said. "Don't drag me into their antics. I learned my lesson after it wasn't Rudolph's nose that was red. I'm not sure I can handle more of my childhood being officially ruined."

"And thinking of hitting it hard from the back," Kade continued, "he'd just settled in for a long winter's fap."

"I hate you both."

"Wanna skip to the best part?" Aran asked Kade.

"Hell yeah."

They nodded decisively, then declared in unison, "With that bulge in his pants, so long and thick, I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Dick!"

Elijah groaned as they fist-bumped. "I'm leaving!"

"That's cool," Aran said. "We'll finish this; you go finish Victor instead."

Elijah slapped a hand against his face. Why were these his friends?

He'd never admit it to them, but he was glad they were there. Even if some of them were obnoxious jackasses, it was good to be together for the holidays. Excessive dick jokes aside, they were family, and he wouldn't want them any other way.

* * *