After their amazing meal, Aaron went to his sound system and looked for softer music to put on. Diwa, meanwhile, walked around his apartment, looking at practically everything he had.
"Oh, what is this?" she asked, surprised.
"Oh, you found it. It's my collection of rare items. When I have some time off, I like to go to antique stores and specialty shops. When I find something really odd, uncommon, or anything that I haven't seen before, I buy it. There have been a few times in which the store owners tell me impressive stories about my purchases. For example, this small colorful clay pot…"
Aaron took out a lidded rounded object with small but detailed ornate drawings, barely the size of his hand. He took off the lid so she could see inside. "This one was painted by hand, and it's full of foreign gold coins!"
Di gasped in admiration. Aaron grinned proudly and picked up another item…
"This pocket watch is said to have never stopped ticking, no matter how old it is. I've had it for about ten years, and yes, it has continued to run. It was one of the first items I ever collected. It came from London, and it's mostly made of gold."
She looked at him, happily going through his treasures while telling her stories.
How many surprises could he be hiding, I wonder?
"And this is my fountain pen collection. This matters a lot to me, but I try to keep it within a certain number. I love all of my collected items, but I buy them only on very special occasions since they are expensive. To be honest, I prefer that my extra money is spent on other, more useful, and significant… activities."
"Like what, buying another expensive car?"
"Oh, no… I… Well, I don't really talk about it, but someday I'll bring you with me… There's a place for orphaned children I like to visit. You'll like it there, I think," he finished a little shyly, not used to talking about things nobody usually knew about him…
Those things that people wouldn't believe if they heard what he had done or currently doing.
"But please, don't mention this to anyone, okay? It would ruin my reputation," he said with a smile and a sly wink.
"What?!" Diwa laughed in disbelief. "So, you would rather keep the "charmer" reputation instead of creating a better one for yourself?"
"Honestly, I don't care much about what people say about me. It's just that when you have a bad rep, usually people have fewer expectations. It's harder to disappoint them."
"Oh… Well, I don't think you can disappoint me," Diwa firmly stated as she placed both arms around his neck, then pulled him into a tender kiss.
It took a while for the kiss to end.
"I really hope so. You're the last person I'd like to disappoint," Aaron murmured in between kissing her ear, her jaw, her neck…
* * *
Ring… ring… ring… click!
"Any news, my friend?" said a low, grating male voice.
"She is finally home, buddy. I saw her with the guy you call your 'hated rival,' and they look very happy. Maybe you're wrong with your assumptions about her…" answered a low but more animated masculine speaker.
"I am NEVER wrong about her, and nothing I know about her are assumptions! I know her more than she even knows herself. She is just deluded by his position, power, and prestige. But she will awaken to the truth once he is out of the way."
"Okay, I'm sorry if I sound like I don't believe you, but I saw with my own two eyes how close and happy they are together. They even had a small 'scene' inside the elevator, and the witnesses couldn't shut up about it to their friends. They were so loud that eavesdropping on them was a breeze. Please, bro, just think about what I said, ok?"
"Noted, Bren. I'll take your suggestion under consideration," the caller huffed as he ended the call.
It was his way of saying he'll completely ignore what he just heard.
* * *
Meanwhile, the couple mentioned by these two mysterious strangers were currently - and happily - spending their last few hours under the covers of the Beta's bed.
At around midnight, he stopped what he was doing for a moment, "Wait, wait, wait…" "What?! What happened?" she snapped, startled.
"What time is it?"
"I think it's close to midnight. Why?"
"Let me check," he said, reaching for his mobile on the bedside table nearest him, all the while staying inside of her, without moving…
Which made her increasingly turned on by the second.
"Yup, it's midnight, lamb chop."
"You tease. You really stopped just to tell me that?" she asked, smirking.
He rewarded her with a hearty masculine laugh that increased her desire for him even more. In response, she tried to move her hips to get more of him inside her. He countered by shifting his weight to keep her pinned and immobile under him. All the while, he remained inside of her, still not moving… Still hard.
"Aaron, for the love of…"
"Di, this is the first Christmas that I have my mate with me. I just wanted to tell you how important you are to me by being the first to greet you… Merry Christmas, Cherry Pie."
Diwa was suddenly rendered speechless. She looked up at him, forgetting the cuss words she was planning to throw at him.
"M… Merry Christmas, Aaron," she finally managed after a while. Despite her smile, she could feel the knot forming inside her chest due to the intense bliss and her deep love for this amazing and beautiful man.
This couldn't get any more perfect, she thought, completely giving herself up to her mate's expert and delectable lovemaking.
They kept at it the whole night and early morning. Both finally fell asleep while cuddling by 4:00 AM.
* * *
Vince and Siel were happily snuggling in his bed when the familiar sounds of footsteps brought them back to reality.
"They're up," she giggled, widely smiling at her mate.
"Then let's go greet them. But before that… I'd like to invite you and the kids to join me at the Packhouse for the next 24 hours or so, since you already know that I'm a werewolf and have even met the higher-ranking members of my pack. We will be celebrating our traditional 'After Christmas Bonfire' later today, and I'd like to have you there since you will be the Luna of the pack, eventually."
"A bonfire… and wait, what? Luna?" she asked, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"Yes, and I see it fitting that my pack gets to know you more. But if it's too much to grasp right now, just tell me you'll come with me… please?"
"When are we going?"
"Well, it's kind of a long drive, so we'd need to pack and go, kind of immediately," he told her, getting up and quickly putting on his robe then rushing to his bedroom door. The concerned Alpha threw the double doors wide open to see his little Christmas angels, now roaming and giggling in his living room. V quickly joined them before anything happened to his mate's adorable twins due to their very curious natures.
Meanwhile, Siel got up and dressed before joining her mate and babies, who were now playing gleefully on the living room's carpeted floor. She silently admired him as he effortlessly swung a squealing baby Rosie up while managing to keep a cheering baby James hanging on to his broad back.
"Since we don't have work for several days, dear CEO, I will be happy to go with you. Just need to go home to pick a few things for the babies and me after we have breakfast," she said.
"Really!? Awesome!"
* * *
Di woke up to an empty bed. Checking her phone, she noticed that she had slept throughout the morning, and it was about 11:00 AM now. She tried to wake herself completely, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee from outside the bedroom helped a lot.
"Good morning, love," Aaron smiled as he peeked from the kitchen. "What do you like to have for breakfast?"
"I usually don't have breakfast, so I'll eat whatever you have. Wait, you didn't cook for me again, right? Please don't. You're overworking yourself just to spoil me."
"Candy cane, if I don't overwork for you, then for whom should I?" Di bit her lip since his answer took her by surprise.
"Ok, what do you have there? I'm now feeling hungry for some reason."
Aaron laughed and removed his apron as he walked back into the bedroom, "Oh, I know the reason. We can keep at it if you want, once we've finished our meal."
She giggled aloud as he fell back into bed. He playfully hugged her naked body and buried his face into her neck, getting high on her scent of adenium and lemongrass. His wolf was going crazy at this point, and he had only one thing in mind… Aaron, let me out! PLEASE! I want to be with Opal!
"Onyx is asking me to let him see his mate, cheesecake. What do you think about going for a run to get your wolf out for a while? There's still time before the bonfire later tonight."
"Well, I don't think I should deny her seeing her mate. She has been shamelessly begging me for the chance since we have been at it for hours. So maybe after breakfast…"
"Only if you want to, cupcake. Not pushing you at all, okay?"
"Thank you. But it's not you who's pushing," Di laughingly said.
It was an hour and a half later when they were finally running as wolves into the more forested area of the pack's property. And of course, there were more things to do than just run…
As Onyx and Opal spent those long amazing hours together, one or two shadowy figures were positioned downwind from where they were. These hidden watchers were carefully taking shots, both video and images, of the two unsuspecting wolves.
Well, they didn't stay unsuspecting for too long…
Wait, I smell someone nearby, Onyx mindlinked to Opal. And I don't think I recognize them… Instantly, both Aaron and Onyx merged and shifted to werewolf form!
This werewolf still sported Onyx's dark brown fur and Aaron's amber eyes. His height and size, however, were obviously larger than either one. The same can be said about his fangs and claws…
And looking at his ferocious pose, it's easy to see that he was ready to use them.
Meanwhile, Opal found herself whimpering behind her mate, memories of an attack in the far past suddenly crowding her thoughts. She was unable to shift to her werewolf form since her human now huddled in one corner of their mind due to a paralyzing fear that her memories ignited inside them.
Diwa, please merge. I can smell danger in the air…
No, Opal. I never… wanted to go back to wolf life… because of this. Please… don't force me…
Suddenly, the she-wolf found herself in the arms of her werewolf mate…
And was now being carried against his wide, muscular chest while being swiftly rushed back to the Packhouse.
Did you feel her fear, Aaron? asked Onyx worriedly.
I did, and it's more like terror, Onyx, replied Aaron.
Later, upon arriving at his apartment, with the light-brown wolf still trembling in his arms, he immediately shifted back to human form and coaxed her to do the same. It took a while, but when she finally shifted back, Aaron carried her like a baby and placed her on the bed.
He then tossed a thick blanket on top of her then sat beside her on the bed, his hand feeling her forehead and face. She was so cold and shook like a leaf, so he decided to get warm compresses from his first aid kit.
However, he was stopped by five frigid fingers holding his wrist…
"Aaron…' he heard her muffled voice under the sheets. "Can you please hold me…"
He was quick to obey, the worried look in his eyes very obvious to his mate. She was quick to embrace him tight, the terrified look in her eyes very clear to her mate.
"Diwa… shhh… it's okay, I'm here… I won't leave you alone, don't worry…" he whispered.
"Is that a promise?" she sobbed.
"It is, angel cake. I swear it. And if I forget this oath, feel free to punish me for it. " * * *
Nighttime had finally arrived!
The bonfire was now lit. Most of the pack members were already milling among their friends and family as they enjoyed free food and drink, care of the pack's kitchen staff. Siel and V stood together in a special spot reserved for the Alpha, with the babies in their arms. The Alpha greeted the people as they made their way to him and his newly found mate.
Siel found it a little overwhelming as pack member after pack member was introduced to her by her proud and beaming mate. However, the warmth of each individual that approached her created an odd sensation within her…
A sense of familiarity, even a sense of belonging…
"Oh, my Goddess! Elena, I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!" said a squealing feminine voice behind her.
Siel whipped around to find herself face to face with V's sister flanked by her family, "Lena? Oh, my gosh! Hello kids! Sergei, how are you!? I'm so happy to see you all again!"
"Actually, all of us are," chuckled V as he watched James trying to climb down from his arms just to greet one of Lena's two small boys.
Lena couldn't stop gushing, "How long will you be staying? Don't go home at once, ok? Now I can take you to the pool… and the gardens with the children's playground… they will love it! Oh, have you toured the Packhouse? My goodness, I can't wait for you to come live with us!"
"Live with us? Like here?" Siel thought, momentarily freezing with Rosie still in her arms.
Lena felt Siel's uncomfortable pause. "Don't tell me my brother hasn't asked you to come and live with the pack?"
"He has… Well, not directly… It's just…"
"It's too soon, Lena…" V interjected. "I'm letting her take her time. After all, it's not that easy to leave everything you know and exchange it suddenly for something you never even believed existed before."
"No, it's fine, V. And it's ok, Lena. The place is huge, and it's beautiful. The kids are loving it as soon as they got out of the car. I just… well…"
"Oh no no, don't worry, you don't have to say anything. Let's just enjoy tonight, then we can have the kids enjoy the day with us, alright?" Lena smiled, in an effort to ease Siel's discomfort.
Siel nodded, but the awkward feeling wouldn't go away. She just wished she could talk to someone here who would understand her better…
Di, I'm missing you badly. V said you would be here. Please, I hope you really are nearby… * * *
"Hey, Di…" Aaron soothingly whispered to his mate, who had fallen asleep in his arms.
The woman, still wrapped like a cocoon in a silvery-whitish blanket, slowly opened her green eyes. She found a pair of light brown eyes gazing worriedly at her.
"Love, would you like to go with me? I need to just be seen since I am the Beta, and then I can come back to you. Unless you wanna come with, that is…"
Can you manage, Diwa? If you can't, you better stay here, Opal suggested.
No, I want to be near him… all the time while I'm here… I can't feel safe without him. Di answered her wolf.
"You know, I've been thinking that it would be nice, since I'm here, to say hi to my parents. I think I'll go with you," she replied with a brave smile.
Aaron smiled widely. He felt relieved that his mate was better now. And her even suggesting to join him after that weird incident and her unexplained panic attack…
That's good. But I still need to find the time to ask her why she reacted the way she did. I
would ask Ma'Heron but he still hasn't made himself available for his promised "man-to-man" talk with me…
"Then, let's go get ready. Wanna shower with me?" he joked flirtatiously.
Her small smile was a treasure to see. "If we do that, we're not going anywhere."
"You're right," he chuckled, kissing her. "Then I'll be back in five minutes."
"Ok, A. I'll get dressed while waiting for you."
Aaron suddenly turned around. "What did you just call me?"
"A, since I am called Di, your Alpha, V, and the Gamma, M. I think it fits that you should have that nickname, too."
Her mate, with his tousled light brown hair and neat, light beard, along with his naughty smirk making him look more roguishly handsome, looked at her with amusement. She watched him heave a sigh, expanding his brawny chest even more, and she felt herself melt and go warm…
And he noticed.
"Don't get dressed yet, Di," Aaron growled, the amused look now replaced with an intense stare. "I don't think I need to shower either."
"Just as long as we can still go to the bonfire, A, then that's fine with me," she replied in a husky, longing voice.
It took them about 15 minutes to stave off their own fires so they could finally get to the pack's bonfire with clearer heads and wider smiles.