Prancer an mm mpreg holi.., p.1
Prancer: An MM Mpreg Holiday Shifter Romance, page 1
PRANCER
AN MM MPREG HOLIDAY SHIFTER ROMANCE
TOBY WISE
Prancer© 2023 by Toby Wise
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations for book reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Book cover by Morningstar Ashley
Beta Services by Kirk from LesCourt
Proofreading by Alee
Formatting by Pumpkin Author Services
CONTENTS
Prancer
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
More From Toby Wise
About the Author
Acknowledgments
PRANCER
Can a mis-booked hotel room be the makings of a Christmas miracle?
Dominic Prancer comes from a long line of reindeer shifters responsible for pulling Santa’s sleigh every Christmas. When he’s not flying the sleigh, he’s helping keep the sleighs in tip top shape. He works too hard, which is why Santa demands he take a mandatory vacation.
Silas has been planning this vacation for six months and refuses to let something as silly as a breakup keep him from enjoying it. When he overhears Dominic’s room has been double booked and the omega has nowhere to stay, he offers to share his room with the reindeer shifter.
The two spend an entire week together, enjoying a vacation they both desperately needed. When they need to go their separate ways, Dominic back to the North Pole and Silas back to his suburban home, they realize just how deep their feelings have grown. Can they find each other again in time for Christmas?
Prancer is the third book in the multi-author M/M Shifter Mpreg Christmas romance series Mated at the North Pole, featuring Santa’s reindeer who find their mates while on a mandatory vacation.
Prancer features an omega reindeer, an alpha who takes care of everyone but himself, a hotel mishap, and the best kind of present ever—true love, fated mates, an adorable baby, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
PROLOGUE
SILAS
“You can’t be serious right now.”
“Of course I’m serious, you ass,” I say, my voice coming out more shrill than I meant for it to be. “Get the fuck out of my house. We’re through.”
“Babe, come on.”
“Don’t call me that. You’ve lost the right to call me anything other than my name.” I run my fingers through my hair, my body tense with frustration. “I don’t understand you, Roy. You literally told me you didn’t love me anymore and that you’ve been seeing someone else. Did you think I’d just look the other way and pretend everything is fine?”
“Whatever,” he finally says, showing his true colors. “I was trying to save your feelings so we could go on that stupid trip together still. Your parents forked out a lot of money for that.”
“I’ll go by myself. Now fuck off.” I huff in frustration, opening my door and watching as he finally picks up his bags and leaves. I shut the door behind him, letting out a long breath. I step away, wishing I could send the ache inside my chest away as well.
After making sure the door is all locked up, I head further into my home until I find my sofa, flopping down on it face first. Burying my face against the cushion I let out a long groan that feels like it comes from my very soul. I let myself sit there for a long time, just feeling incredibly sorry for myself.
I wonder if I should feel sadder than I actually do. Roy and I were together for three years. When we first got together it was fun and easy. We mostly fucked if I’m being honest with myself. Can’t really talk and notice our differences if our mouths were always busy. As time went on, it was obvious we weren’t compatible outside of the bedroom but we held on. Emotionally, I think we’ve been checked out for a long time but hearing the words I don’t think I love you was enough to finally stir me into breaking things off officially.
The only thing I wasn’t expecting was for Roy to fight so hard to stay together just a little bit longer. Why the fuck would he want to stay if he doesn’t actually love me?
I flip over onto my back, rubbing tiredly at my eyes. That damn vacation is next month. Do I really want to experience an entire week at a resort all by myself? Couple spa day, couple massage, couple amenities. Fuck.
It’s been over three years since I’ve been on a proper vacation and I deserve this time off, even if I have to do it alone. Honestly I’m not even sure how I found time to stay in this relationship. Maybe that’s why it was so easy for Roy to find someone else, because I’m never around.
Being a doctor means I have crazy hours and that’s without adding volunteer hours in our free clinic. I’ve given my entire being to that hospital without much thanks, but that’s never bothered me before. I don’t do it for thanks, I do it for my patients. They need me.
I’ve been planning this vacation for six months now, letting my patients know I’ll be gone and making sure there’s other doctors around to cover any emergencies. I have to go.
If I’m lucky, I’ll meet a cute omega who’ll distract me from all of these worries. I deserve a little fun. I deserve some time off to kick back with a mojito or three. Plus, my best friend will never let me live it down if I don’t go. She’s been badgering me to get out of the hospital more.
Groaning, I pick up my phone to send her a message. A moment later my phone rings.
“Hey, Cora.”
“Oh, Silas. I’m so sorry you’re hurting,” she says, her voice coming out soft. “Are you doing okay?”
I let out a long breath. “Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“I think I’m okay.”
I can hear the smile in Cora’s voice when she responds. “Good. You were always too good for him, Silas. I wanted to be supportive, but I never liked him. You’re so much better off without him!”
I can’t help but grin right back, overwhelmed with gratitude that my best friend is beside me through thick and thin. No matter what, she’s got my back. “He wasn’t all bad.”
“You’re right, he had a fantastic ass,” she says, making us both burst into a fit of giggles. I lay back against my couch, staring up at the ceiling as I tell Cora what happened and what he said. My chest still aches but it’s distant, something I know will heal quickly. I’m going to be okay.
CHAPTER ONE
DOM
The air swooshes across my fur and I close my eyes for just a moment, enjoying the coolness of it washing over me. My stomach swoops with excitement when I open my eyes again, looking down to see just how far up I am.
I love flying. Ever since I was a little boy and only just discovering that I was capable of flight like my father before me, I couldn’t seem to get enough. My poor omega father was always catching me by the ankle, pulling me back onto the ground so I wouldn’t get lost, flying away while daydreaming in the sky.
Right now, I can’t daydream the way I wish I could because I’m leading a team behind me. A practice flight with a team of reindeer. I move my front right leg, pointing my hoof a certain way, signaling my next move. As I dive down, I feel a bit of resistance against the harness I’m wearing, knowing someone wasn’t paying attention and didn’t notice our pattern shift. I’ll have to talk with them once we’re landing and we’re in bodies with proper lips.
We’re closing in on Christmas and need to make sure we’re at our best to help deliver everyone’s presents. This is a pretty important job, one I take incredibly seriously. Not only do I want to do the best I can for everyone expecting gifts, but I also want to make my father proud.
I come from a long line of reindeer shifters with the ability to fly. I’m the head of my sleigh, just like my father before me and his father before him. I’ve known this would be my role since I was young and I looked forward to the day when I would finally start training and learning how to lead my very own sleigh. I’ve been doing this just over a decade now and still feel lucky every single year I get to do it. I can’t think of a more fulfilling job.
With a nod of my head, I signal the reindeer behind me to bank left and start our descent. Thankfully, everyone seems to be back on the same page and the movement through the sky is flawless. We fly lower and lower before I tip my head back, signaling we’ll be hitting the ground.
I let out a huff as my hooves make contact with the ground. I run forward, feeling each pair behind me also hit the ground before my running slows to a jaunt before coming to a walk. Finally, we all come to a complete stop. Not a bad landing, but then again, we’re not pulling a heavy sleigh so landing should be slightly easier.
Elves are already there, helping us out of our harnesses with gentle and practiced hands. I kneel one leg down, tipping my head in thanks, careful my horns don’t hit Joy as she helps us. She ruffles the fur between my horns,
I shake out my fur, getting used to having hooves on the ground instead of floating effortlessly through the air. Once I properly have my bearings, I head over to the stables we have for shifting and changing. Ducking inside, I pull against the link I share with my reindeer skin, pushing it away and instead embracing my humanity until I’m straightening on two feet instead of four. I raise my hands over my head, my back cracking as I go.
I quickly find my clothes, getting back into my jeans, black shirt, green flannel, and finally my wool socks and boots. I have my jacket, hat, and mittens here as well but I pick them up instead of putting them on, knowing it’ll be a while before I head back home.
Waiting for everyone else to join me, I pick up my phone and unlock it. There’s nothing. No notifications or anything which isn’t really surprising. I don’t have anyone waiting for me at home. I’m a bit of a workaholic, not getting out unless it’s work related. In my defense, why would I want to leave my house when I have everything I need all in one place?
My omega dad keeps giving me giant, pleading eyes lately, wondering when I’m going to get out and date, but when do I actually have time to date? And meeting someone would mean actually leaving my apartment.
Once my fellow reindeer have gotten dressed they meet me outside the stables. “Alright, everyone, that was an excellent run. There was just one moment when we missed an instruction.”
“Sorry, Dom,” Periwinkle murmurs, his cheeks rosy from more than just the cold outside. “I’ve got a lot on my mind lately. It won’t happen again.”
Ah, I should have known it was Periwinkle. He’s the youngest of this group and only just started his training. The only reason he was part of today’s fly was because Bell was out sick with food poisoning. He’s good for only being 18, but he’s still only just learning.
“That’s alright, Periwinkle. No harm done. And now you know what to expect for next time,” I say, trying to give him a friendly smile. “That’s enough for today, you’re dismissed.”
Everyone disperses, off to other jobs around the shop or heading to the kitchen for a quick break after so much flying. Periwinkle lingers though and my heart tugs at me as I notice the wrinkle of his brows.
“Hey, Periwinkle? You got a minute to help me with something?”
“Of course, Dom, whatever you need.”
I place my hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze and leading him into the building. Instead of heading towards the kitchen, we go in the opposite direction, to the part of this giant building that holds the sleighs.
This was my favorite part of my job. Sure, I adored flying, I had a blast delivering presents, and it was an honor to lead a sleigh. But fixing the actual sleighs? Getting my hands dirty as I worked on making them better and better with each passing year? That’s what I loved the most.
I know I should check with Dasher before I break out the paints but after being here for over a decade, I know what colors the Santas will eventually okay for their sleighs. It was the same every single year; red, green, and gold. They always wobbled over the decision but ultimately never decided anything different. It’s kind of comforting, knowing what to expect from them.
I pull a chair over to the first sleigh in line, patting it for Periwinkle to sit down. “You much of an artist?”
I pick up a can of red paint, sliding it beside Periwinkle’s seat and handing him a paint brush. He gets the idea, dipping it into the paint before touching up the red on the side of the sleigh. It’s not hard work but work that needs to be done every year nonetheless. “I may not be an artist but I’m very good at following instructions so if I start messing things up, just let me know.”
I give him a friendly smile, getting myself some paint and a brush as well. I set on the opposite side of him, painting the golden accents.
“What’s on your mind? You seemed distracted today,” I murmur, my eyes never leaving the sleigh. I hear Periwinkle let out a deep sigh.
“I’m really sorry about that. I promise next time you let me fly won’t be like that.”
“Hey, I’m not upset,” I tell him quickly, finally turning and looking at him. “Have you heard what happened the first time I flew?” He shakes his head and I can’t help but chuckle. “My father was the head of the sleigh and he wanted to lead the day I was given clearance to fly. He was so sure I was ready, especially because I couldn’t shut up about it since I was like nine.”
I dip my brush into the golden paint again, following the accent slowly, making sure my lines look perfect. “I was so excited that I forgot to have someone double check my harness. Once we were up in the air, the damned thing fell right off. All the other reindeer couldn’t stay in formation because I panicked and forgot to keep flying. The one behind me bumped into me which made me fly forward into the person in front of me and it was a horrific domino effect that led to everyone getting all tangled. We had to make an emergency landing on the roof of the shop.” I chuckle fondly, thinking about the memory. “When we were finally back on the ground my father forbade me from flying ever again. Obviously that didn’t last very long.”
“Thank goodness for that. Your presence would be sorely missed,” Periwinkle says, his demeanor softening now that we’ve started talking. His shoulders are no longer slumped. I understand feeling that disappointment when things don’t go exactly how you plan, but hopefully he’ll see that one mistake doesn’t make a reindeer.
“Thank you, that’s really kind of you to say.”
I flip on the radio, letting music fill in the gaps of our conversation. It’s a nice afternoon of painting and chatting. I’m not someone who enjoys lots of attention or being in places filled with people but one on one conversations? Intimate get togethers? This is nice and reminds me of my omega dad’s insistence that I need to get out more. He’s worried I’m lonely. As much as I’d like to reassure him his worries are for nothing, I’m man enough to admit just maybe he’s right.
At the end of the day, Periwinkle cleans our brushes. “Thank you for today, Dom. I really needed that.”
“You’re welcome. If you need to talk about whatever was making you upset earlier, there are a lot of people around here who’ll give you their ear, including me. Okay?”
Periwinkle nods, giving me a small smile before he’s heading out. After putting everything away and sliding the chairs back into place, I get into my jacket, mittens, and hat.
Outside, I take a deep breath, the fresh winter air making me smile. This is so much better than the paint fumes from earlier. I start heading towards my apartment, watching a few snowflakes falling from the sky. My boots crunch on the sidewalk as I go, making me smile. I love the sound of snow under my boots, it’s one of my favorite things about living in Christmas Village. I know most of my fellow reindeer shifters live outside the village, but I’ve never wanted to own a house, not by myself anyway.
I like my little bachelor pad. What more would I need? I have a bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. It’s more than enough space for just me. Plus, I get to decorate it with all of my nerdy hobbies without anyone judging me.
During my walk, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out, surprised that it’s not a message from either of my dads, but instead the Santas.
Dom, ever since you were a teenager, you’ve put your heart and your soul into your job here at Christmas Village. We commend and applaud you for everything you do including helping the trainees, volunteering hours to help with odds and ends, leading a team on Christmas Eve, and of course all the hard work you put into our sleighs.
