After the Happily Ever After: Paranormal Romance & Fantasy Short Story Collection - Vol. 1

By Lisa Kessler

15 Short Stories previously only available on Patreon featuring new fiction from the Moon Series, Sedona Pack, Night Series, Sentinels of Savannah & more...

Moon Series Shorts
The Christmas Surprise – Wolf Moon
Anniversaries – Hunter’s Moon
Balance and the Beat – Blue Moon
Birthday Wishes – Blood Moon
Ohana – Harvest Moon
Trick or Treat – Moonlight
Shopping for Shifters – New Moon
We Need to Talk – New Moon

Sentinels of Savannah Series Shorts
In the Shadow of the Tower – Magnolia Mystic
The Equinox – Agent Bale from the Sentinels of Savannah Series

Night Series Shorts
The Blink of an Eye the Beat of a Heart – Night Walker
Treasure Hunting – Night Child

Sedona Pack Short
Home for the Holidays – Micah from the Sedona Pack Series

Beg Me to Slay Shorts
Alternative Christmas Gifts
A Demon Slayer’s Union

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Kessler
• Release date: Mar 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005312305

Lisa Kessler

Stay up-to-date on new releases and giveaways by subscribing to Lisa's newsletter here: https://goo.gl/56lDla Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She's a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. When she's not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego. You can learn more at http://Lisa-Kessler.com

Book preview

Stories from the Moon Series

Moon Series Logo

The Christmas Surprise

Luke & Raven from Wolf Moon

—By Lisa Kessler

Luke

Christmas Eve.

Damn, a few days ago, it seemed like it would never get here. Time crept by at a snail’s pace, but now that it was finally here, I was scrambling around to be sure I was ready. I wanted everything to be perfect for her, for us.

Tonight, I was going to ask my mate, Raven, to be my wife.

It wasn’t that I was nervous she’d say no. Our love for each other was the one constant I could count on in the world that often seemed addicted to chaos. We’d been living together for three years now, and I loved her more now than I did when I first found her in Sedona, Arizona running away from that messed up wolf pack.

The jittery nerves stemmed from my burning desire to make tonight live up to how much I loved her. It didn’t have to be some grand romantic gesture, she’d love me anyway, but the night we agreed to leave Sedona in the rearview mirror and make our home in Reno, Nevada, with my pack, I’d promised her we’d make new, happier memories.

I wanted this to be one of the happiest.

Since getting back to Reno, to my pack, we bought a house. Raven’s pick really. We could’ve bought something a little bigger, but she fell in love with a smaller bungalow type home, small enough that we constantly bump into each other like she’d wanted. All I wanted was to see her happy and see the shadows of the past that haunted her at times to recede.

The future looked bright ahead.

My horse training business was growing. I’d ridden Sabrina to a second world championship in western pleasure in a row, and it looked like I’d have two more horses coming in for training after the first of the year.

Raven was working with my folks at their Full Moon Bar and Grill. At first, she just tended the bar, like she had in Sedona, but now she could run the whole place on her own if my parents chose to take a vacation. She’s even started night school two nights a week to learn accounting and marketing. They loved her, and she seemed to enjoy learning more about running a small business.

But I wanted more. Call me old school, but recently when late-night conversations began about starting a family, I realized I wanted to be her husband first. The trauma she’d suffered from the Sedona Pack had left scars that might never fade, and whatever happened in the future, I never wanted her to ever think for a second that I only married her because we had kids.

I loved her more than I ever dreamed I could. And I would be the luckiest man alive to be her husband. And tonight, I’d ask her to be my wife.

My cell buzzed beside me, and my brother’s name lit up the screen. I grinned, accepting the call. My twin brother Logan was the songwriter and lead singer of Logan and Howlers, and he owed me a favor. Hey Logan. Are you all set up?

Yep. Someone was running through a drum solo in the background. Logan’s footsteps came through the connection as he went on. It’s starting to snow up here, so bring a coat. I’m freezing my ass off.

I smirked making the final turn into the parking lot of my parent’s restaurant. We should be up there before seven o’clock.

See you then. He ended the call.

I parked in front of the Full Moon Bar and Grill and went inside. Raven smiled from behind the bar and looked over at the clock. You’re early.

The restaurant was empty as I made a beeline for her. I went behind the bar and pulled her into my arms. And you’re beautiful.

I dipped her for a kiss. Her lips were so damned delicious. When we straightened up my folks came out of the kitchen.

Luke! My dad said as he crossed to the bar. You’re here early.

So, I’ve heard. I raised a teasing brow at Raven and rounded the bar to give my mom a hug. As I stepped back, I looked over at my dad. Everyone’s meeting at your place for Christmas breakfast tomorrow morning, right?

He wrapped his arm around mom’s waist, pulling her in close as he nodded. That’s the plan. He glanced at Raven, doing a damned fine job of keeping his heart rate even as he lied through his teeth to his hopefully future daughter-in-law. We’re going to try to get to bed early and give Santa plenty of time to fill our stockings tonight.

Raven grinned, stowing her apron under the bar. Luke’s taking me up to Virginia City tonight. They have some old time Christmas festivities going up there. I’ve been promised a carriage ride.

My mom met my eyes with a knowing smile, before turning to Raven. You’ll have to tell us all about it. I love visiting up there. It’s like stepping back in time.

I took Raven’s hand, eager to get on the road. I love you guys. See you tomorrow.

Raven waved and we ducked out. We’d actually see my parents and the rest of the pack up at the historic Piper’s Opera House. I’d rented the place for a big Christmas slash engagement party. I figured that way if popping the question didn’t turn out the way I hoped it would, we’d still be able to celebrate Christmas without everything getting too weird.

Fuck, I was starting to get nervous. What if she said, no?

She kissed me before opening the passenger door of the Mustang, shoving all my doubts away. Her smile warmed me all over as she looked up at me. I’ve been excited for tonight all day long.

Me too. I waited for her to get in and closed the door, before jogging around to my side. The biting winter wind stung my face, but nothing could wipe my smile away.

Virginia City sat on the eastern side of Mount Davidson, southeast of Reno. The ghost town had fascinated me as a kid. The Comstock Lode had made many men rich, but a string of deadly accidents, fires, and explosions led to the silver mines closing and gradually the booming city that once boasted twenty-five thousand people became a ghost town. These days about eight hundred people still resided on the mountain top town where a reporter for the Territorial Times newspaper, Samuel Clemens, first used his penname, Mark Twain.

While tourists enjoyed visiting for the history, I choose the spot for my proposal because the first time I brought Raven up to visit, she’d fallen in love with the tiny mountain city.

Hopefully tonight, we could make another happy memory.

We were halfway up the mountain when Raven stopped telling me about her day at the restaurant and patted my leg. You’re awfully quiet. Is everything okay?

I nodded and glanced her way. Yeah, I just don’t want to be late for our carriage ride.

She grinned. I’m looking forward to seeing the town all decked out for Christmas. I bet it’s gorgeous.

There’s music too. I brushed my hand over the box in my jacket pocket, reassuring myself that everything was right where I wanted it to be."

She leaned over, resting her head on my shoulder. Can’t wait to give you your Christmas presents.

You’re all I need. I kissed the top of her head while keeping my eyes on the winding road ahead. I love you, Raven.

She peered up at me. I love you too. She raised a brow, giving me a close inspection. Something’s up with you.

My heartrate was getting the better of me, and Raven had the same heightened sense of hearing that I did. No way she’d miss it. She was going to figure out I had a surprise planned unless I could come up with a way to cover.

I glanced her way with a sheepish smile. Can’t blame me for wanting to unwrap you.

She laughed, shaking her head. Who said I was your gift?

Best gift I’ve ever gotten.

She squeezed my thigh. Right back atcha, Reynolds.

We drove into the city limits just as snowflakes started drifting down. She gasped, pointing up at the dark sky overhead. My racing heartbeat instantly forgotten. White Christmas!

Seeing her happy still did something to me. I wanted to spend the rest of my life giving her reasons to smile. Starting with tonight.

I parked the classic Mustang on the shoulder of the main street and jogged around to her side to help her out. She took my hand and stepped out onto the wooden sidewalk. Lighted garlands decorated the storefronts and light posts, managing to be festive and old-timey all at once.

We walked, hand in hand, our footsteps echoing on the planked boardwalk. My brother’s voice carried on the wind, and Raven turned in the direction of the music, smiling. Sounds like someone up here is a Logan and the Howlers fan.

I quickly agreed, and turned to peer into a shop window, hoping to distract her before she noticed the song he was singing. My alt rocker brother, known for his songwriting about love and heartbreak, was currently singing White Christmas.

And he’d never recorded a Christmas album.

I pointed out a black Friesian pulling a red antique carriage with candlelit sidelights. There’s our ride.

She gripped my hand tight as we jogged through the snow to the carriage. The driver wore a very Dickens themed coat and hat. He took my tickets and waited for us to get settled in behind him. Keeping my pulse rate even was a losing battle.

Raven kept peeking my way as the driver told stories about the buildings and gave his version of the town’s colorful history, from the Bucket of Blood Saloon to the Silver Queen Hotel. She ran her hand up my thigh. Are you sure you’re okay?

Yeah. I leaned in close and kissed her ear, whispering, "Just excited to give you an early