The insistent sound of knocking roused me from my slumber. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking away the lingering blur from my vision. As I surveyed my room, my gaze fell on my bedroom door, slightly ajar. My mum's head peeked around the door.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," she greeted, her voice bright and cheerful.
Grinning, I propped myself up in bed. "Merry Christmas, mum," I returned, my smile reflecting hers.
"See you downstairs in a bit," she said, casting one more smile my way before gently closing the door behind her.
Today marked the joy of Christmas, with the anticipation of the Mating Ball lurking just three days away. Rising from my bed, I moved to the bathroom to freshen up. A quick brush of my teeth and splash of water on my face later, I sat down at my dressing table. My special Christmas onesie was laid out, evoking a content smile. With a few strokes of the hairbrush, I allowed my hair to fall naturally down my back.
At nine in the morning, it was time to unwrap the presents. Descending the stairs, I headed towards the living room. The sight of our massive Christmas tree, adorned with green and red lights, stationed by the window, brought a smile to my face. A beautiful angel topped the tree, overseeing the sea of presents at its base. Festive tinsel extended from each corner of the room, meeting at the center, enhancing the Christmas atmosphere. Outside, the soft fall of snowflakes graced the morning view.
My parents had made themselves comfortable on either side of the Christmas tree. As I entered, they glanced up, matching smiles on their faces. I reciprocated their smile. This day, just me and my family, was something I cherished. Settling down between them, I looked forward to the unfolding morning.
"Merry Christmas, darling," my dad greeted, his smile mirroring my own.
"Same to you, dad," I responded.
He handed me a present, wrapped in vibrant pink paper and tied with a golden ribbon. I carefully undid the wrapping, revealing a sleek black box. Inside was a beautiful golden locket. On opening it, I found a picture of the three of us. A warm smile spread across my face as I looked at the locket.
"Thank you so much," I expressed, pulling both my parents into a hug.
My gift for my dad, a new Nintendo Switch and some games, was well received, his laughter ringing out in the room. "You know me too well," he chuckled.
I then turned to my mother. With my impending departure to live with my future mate in three days, my mother, left to care for an empty nest, would appreciate her gift.
"Mum, your present is in another room. I need to fetch it," I informed her.
The room in question was our garage, locked for the past few days to keep my mum's curiosity at bay. Unlocking it, I walked in and headed towards a cushion placed in a corner. Next to it were a water and food bowl, and the peaceful, sleeping form of an adorable Shih Tzu puppy, its coat a mix of tan and white. This was my mum's present. The puppy began to stir from its sleep, its small tail wagging enthusiastically as it noticed me and trotted over.
In case you were wondering how I kept the puppy a secret for three days, I spent that time either in the garage or taking the pup out into the woods, ensuring my mum remained oblivious. I picked up the small puppy, gently stroking behind its ears.
"Hey buddy, ready to meet your new mummy?" I said softly to the dog.
I fastened an adorable little blue bow onto its collar. The puppy's tail seemed to wag endlessly, amplifying its charm. Carrying the pup, I reentered the living room where my mum was engrossed in a conversation with my dad, her back to me.
"Here's your present, mum," I announced before setting the pup on the floor.
The excited puppy scampered towards my mum, who turned around to be greeted by a beaming smile and enthusiastic licks. The room filled with laughter and smiles as my dad gave me a knowing look.
"Seeing as I'll be moving out in a few days, I thought you might need some company," I explained. "So, when I saw these puppies for sale, I decided to get one for you. He's a boy."
"Oh, Gia, he's simply adorable. Thank you, sweetheart," my mum said. Her laughter resonated with delight as she cuddled the puppy. "I think I'll name him Merrick."
We proceeded to unwrap the remaining presents before deciding to move on. Suddenly, the reality of the situation hit me-this was my last Christmas in this house with my family. My smile faltered, a change my parents noticed immediately as we all stood up.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" My mum asked, cradling a snoozing Merrick in her arms.
"This will be my last Christmas like this with you," I sighed.
In response, both my parents enveloped me in a warm hug, a moment I etched deep into my memory. I didn't want to forget this, not for a second.
"Alright, I need to finish up with the Christmas dinner, and you need to get ready for Kendrick, Luna, Griffin, and Holly's arrival," my mum directed, her voice faltering slightly at Griffin's name.
Kendrick and his family always spent Christmas dinner at our house. Holly, Griffin's eight-year-old sister, was like a sister to me. As for Griffin, I made it a point not to interact with him during Christmas. It had been this way since I turned sixteen. You can imagine the tension around the Christmas table.
After picking up my presents and placing them in my room, I turned my attention to the clothes I'd be taking to the Mating Ball, organized neatly on one side of my room. My ball gown was hanging next to the suitcase, while the rest of my clothes-save for the essentials I'd keep out until moving day-filled two more suitcases. Pictures and other keepsakes were packed into boxes, while my presents found their place among them, except for the locket.
Dressing for the day, I chose a knee-length red dress, thick black tights, and black flats. After a spritz of perfume, I sat at my dressing table and began applying light makeup, then curled my hair into loose waves that cascaded down my back. I pinned some of it back, clearing my view of my reflection. Satisfied, I donned a thick woolly cardigan that fell to mid-thigh, spritzed some more perfume to mask my scent, and was just about ready when the doorbell rang.
Already? Time really had flown. I hurriedly repacked my makeup bag and curlers into the suitcase, then navigated my way to the corner of my room where I'd kept the presents for the Alpha's family. Each gift was tagged with a card. Collecting them all, I dashed downstairs, placing all the presents on the living room sofa before heading towards the front door. Kendrick and Luna were engaged in conversation with my parents. As I came into view, a little girl with vibrant blue eyes and blonde hair - a mirror image of Kendrick - darted towards me.
"Gia!" Anna squealed, launching herself into my arms.
I scooped her up, spinning her around before setting her back down.
"What's my favourite 'big' girl doing?" I asked, taking her hand.
"I am eight now and got so many presents. You must come and see them," she gushed.
I couldn't help but laugh, noticing the gazes of the others. Griffin glared, but the rest responded with warm smiles.
"Would you like to see your gift?" I asked Anna, her excitement reflected in my own smile.
"Yes, please!" She exclaimed, her energy palpable as she hopped up and down.
Taking her hand, I led her to the sitting room. She eagerly nestled into one of the sofas as I fetched her presents. The adults - my parents, Kendrick, and Luna - had already claimed spots on the other couches, leaving Anna and Griffin to share one.
"Here you go, sweetie. I hope you like them," I said, handing her the brightly wrapped packages.
Anna's face lit up as she tore into the first gift, coincidentally the larger of the two. Upon seeing the gift-a plush, pink teddy bear donned in a white princess dress and fabric tiara-her smile widened even further. She hugged the teddy tightly.
"Thank you, Gia!" she gushed, bounding off the sofa to wrap me in a hug. Her joy elicited laughter from the room, except, predictably, from Griffin.
"I'm glad you like it, sweetheart. Why don't you sit next to me and we can open the other one?" I suggested.
With a nod, she joined me on the sofa, quickly unwrapping her second gift. It was a beautiful silver photo frame adorned with delicate gems, holding a cherished picture of Anna and me.
"Oh, it's so pretty," she whispered, tracing the gemstones with her fingers.
"This is so you can remember me, no matter where I end up in a couple of days," I explained softly.
Her smile faltered slightly as she asked, "You will come back to see me?"
"Of course! Now, let's turn that frown upside down," I reassured her, prompting another radiant smile.
The sight of her admiring her gifts warmed my heart. Just then, Merrick trotted into the room, his playful energy drawing laughter from everyone. My mum scooped him up, cooing softly as she stroked his fur. After sharing a final smile with Anna, I stood up and handed Kendrick his gift.
He opened it to find a sophisticated watch accompanied by a note,
"For an exceptional trainer and Alpha J. Thank you."
Seeing him read the note and smile, I felt a small sense of satisfaction. I then presented Luna with her gift - a playful pink t-shirt emblazoned with the words "Luna at Work." Her light laughter and thanks brought a grin to my face. Lastly, I handed Griffin his present. It was a simple gift: a silver keyring shaped like a howling wolf, accompanied by a heartfelt note.
"For a once cherished friend xxx."
A subtle smile touched his lips as he read the note, before carefully tucking it away. He thanked me quietly, attaching the keyring to his car keys as his customary cold gaze returned.
In return, Kendrick's family bestowed upon us their own thoughtful gifts. One particularly stunning present was a painting by Luna - a striking depiction of a silver wolf howling beneath a full moon in a forest. A personal note was elegantly inscribed in the bottom left corner.
"For a unique and powerful girl, destined to change the world x."
Touched, I couldn't help but admire it. The painting was truly a work of art.
Eventually, Luna and my mum retreated to finish preparing our Christmas dinner. As we gathered around the table, Kendrick claimed one end with my dad opposite him. I was seated next to my dad, with my mom to his left. Luna sat to Kendrick's right, with Anna between her and my mom, who left Griffin to sit on his dad's left, right next to me. Joy.
Remarkably, the dinner proceeded quite smoothly. I managed to avoid interacting with Griffin completely. The meal was simply delicious, and my mum received abundant praises for her culinary expertise. In the end, Christmas turned out to be enjoyable, despite Griffin's presence. As he left, Kendrick hugged me and mentioned he would see me in a few days, at the Mating Ball.
The anticipation was now building; the Mating Ball was imminent. My heart fluttered at the thought of finally meeting my mate. I couldn't wait. I yearned for the change that was coming. The prospect was thrilling, exciting - my mate was just around the corner. I could feel it. Change was on the horizon, and I was ready.
