8. Hello, Paris!

Chapter eight

Hello, Paris!

*AURELIA*

O ur Christmas celebration is always small and relaxed, just with the family around. It's probably one of the last chances we have to celebrate all together. All my brothers are attending and their mates. Nox is invited, too, as he doesn't have a family of his own. Dad has always included him in our family life so he wouldn't feel lonely.

Together with Nox, Dario, and Felix, I set up the tree. Dad and Beta Vincent brought it from the forest—we always have an actual tree. None of us are fans of the plastic trees that have gotten popular in some areas. Vincent himself won't celebrate with us this year even though, as my dad's beta, he is part of the family and always invited. But this year he is celebrating with his mate. They have tickets for a ballet and then want to have a fancy dinner. It's funny because Vincent is a huge, bulky guy with tattoos all over, but he has always enjoyed watching theater pieces and, now apparently, ballet.

"So, what's the plan for this year?" Nox asks me.

It's always been the four of us decorating the tree, a yearly tradition. When we were smaller, Mom or Dad made sure to help us, but once we were old enough, decorating the tree was completely on us. Needless to say, we went completely crazy at times. One year, we had one completely in pink. Another year, it was yellow. Marius claimed it looked like someone had peed on it.

"How about we make it with memorabilia pieces?" I ask. "You know, Mom bought ornaments every year one of us was born. We only used them once."

"I like that idea," Dario says. "Although, it makes me a bit sad."

I pat his head. Recently, he and Felix had quite a growth spurt, but I am still taller than them. "It scares me that everything is changing," I say. "But at the same time, it's also beautiful."

Dario looks at me skeptically. "You really think that?"

"Yes, without change, we wouldn't have Annie and Celine in our lives. And look how well Marius, Finn, and Liam are doing. We have two nieces. And thanks to the work everyone is doing, a lot of people have new opportunities."

"You're not scared of change?" Felix asks me.

"Not really," I admit. "It's part of life."

"Auri, the ever-so realist." Felix laughs. "You are so practical. Where is the romance?"

I raise my brows at him. "Are you really trying to teach me something about romance? How many girls did you woo again with flowers?"

"None," Felix admits.

"He doesn't need flowers. They see his beach bod and are all over him," Dario teases.

Felix just laughs at his words and elbows him. "If you would join me more often, they would be all over you, too."

"No, thank you," Dario mutters. "Your friend group is full of extroverts."

"I get you," Nox tells him. "I also prefer the quietness."

"Not all of our friends are quiet, though," I point out.

"But we balance each other out," he says. "Half of us are chatty, the other half more quiet." He looks at me curiously. "So, you're really not into the romantic stuff?"

I shrug. "I just can't see myself as a romantic person," I admit. "Being showered with flowers and gifts just doesn't sound appealing."

"Mom would say that's because you grew up surrounded by so many gruff men," Dario says.

I grin. "She would totally say that, so let's not tell her."

"What makes you think we won't rat you out?" Felix dares me.

I just snort. "I know so many secrets about you. You wouldn't dare to."

It seems I caught him off-guard because he looks at me like a deer caught in the headlights. "What do you know?" he asks, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

I definitely won't give up my upper hand, so I just smile at him. "Well, you can test your luck and find out or keep my secret."

"I think it's better to be safe than sorry," Dario tells him.

Nox just looks at me, amused. You have no clue what they are hiding, have you?

No idea, I say. Though, I bet it is the usual stuff they don't necessarily want Mom and Dad to find out about.

As expected, the Christmas celebration feels warm and cozy. Mom and Dad always have dishes prepared that they used to have for Christmas, when they grew up. It seems like Mom's grandma always went out of her way to celebrate with them. Dad never talks about his own family, only about Mom's, but it seems Mom's side was always very sweet and kind to him.

So, thanks to my great-grandma, we usually have fish and then a variety of French dishes.

Mom's eyes glisten when she sees the tree we put together. Unlike her usual fun and relaxed attitude, she just looks at it for a while before hugging me. "It's beautiful," she whispers before she turns to my father. "Elden," she exclaims, running towards him and throwing her arms around him. "We need to make more children. I can't let go."

Seems like she is still on it.

Felix and Dario both look horrified, while Liam and Marius just exchange an amused gaze.

"First," Mom exclaims. "Liam goes off to lead Red Claw. Then, Marius disappears."

"I didn't disappear," Marius says. "I am still very much here."

Mom ignores him. "Then, Finn runs off," she continues.

Finn looks like he wants to say something, but Liam just whispers something to him, making Finn chuckle in amusement and nod.

"Now, my baby girl will become alpha and is already so independent."

"Yes, it's terrible," Dad agrees to my surprise. "I feel the same, but I'm not sure a baby will help."

"We can share Titan," I tell her.

Mom tilts her head. "A furbaby," she mutters. "Well, it's better than nothing, I guess."

I can't believe my approach worked. Judging by my father's completely stunned expression, he didn't think so either. The remainder of our Christmas evening is peaceful and fun. The best part is watching my serious and strong dad sitting in front of the tree with Liam's and Annie's twin girls crawling over him. Aurora keeps drawing, with watercolors, on his face while Asteria plays with his hair. I bet when they are old enough, he is going to play princess with them.

Later that night, Nox and I excuse ourselves for an hour to finish packing our bags for Paris. We are both on the more practical side, so it doesn't take us long. Since I chose Nox as my beta, his standing in the pack changed, and he has moved into the suite that belonged to my dad's old traitorous beta.

The one who betrayed my family and hurt one of my brothers.

I can never forgive him for what he did.

The moment he was imprisoned and deported, my mom had his whole suite emptied and tossed everything away that had ever been in there. Every single item. The furniture she donated to a shelter in town, the clothes to a homeless shelter.

What she couldn't donate or gift to the pack, she then burned.

For months, the suite stayed empty until my father offered it to Nox. First, Nox wasn't over the moon to inherit the place a child molester lived in, but Dad saw it more as a new beginning. A fucked up, evil beta left, and a new trustworthy one arrived.

Nox, our friends, and I spent weeks renovating the whole place, ripping down walls and remodeling everything. There is no trace of that old fucktard left. Now, it has become Nox's place.

He knocks at my door, half an hour later. "Are you finished?"

"Yes, I'm done," I say.

"I am sure I forgot something," he mutters.

"It's not like we can't borrow or buy something in Paris," I reassure him. "Just make sure you have your passport with you."

"That's the first thing I packed," he says.

We spend a bit more time with my family before heading to bed. Dad volunteers to take us to the airport very early the next day. Mom hugs me goodbye for minutes, whispering to me to enjoy my trip and Paris. What I didn't expect was Marius and Finn to wake up early to send us off.

The sun hasn't risen yet when we make it to the car. Terry, Tori, and Lion are already waiting for us, their eyes widening when they see our entourage.

"Don't ask," I say to Lion, who raises his eyebrows at me. "I don't question their shenanigans."

"Why do you think we are up to something?" Marius asks with a grin, while helping Tori with her suitcase like a gentleman. He has always been nice to my friends, even as a teen. Finn never really hung out with us first because he felt he was too cool for us. I can't blame him. He and I aren't so far off in age. Looking back now, he probably just didn't want to hang out with the younger kids.

Meanwhile, Liam was like everyone's bigger brother. Lion and Terry, in particular, looked up to him.

Meanwhile, Tori used to have a crush on him and Marius, and used to be all flustered around them, but now she just smiles at Marius. "Thank you, Marius," she says.

When did you stop being so shy around him? I link her.

Tori giggles. He is a mated and marked man. They are off-limits.

I like that you see it that way, I beam. See? You are a sweet and kind person.

Tori smiles at me and squeezes my hand shortly before climbing into the car.

Before we can take off, Marius and Finn look at me. "Please call us when you arrive!" they command in unison.

"Wow," I state dryly.

Marius sighs. "Yeah, that was a bit weird now."

"Don't worry." I chuckle. "I already promised Mom I would call."

Dad finally takes off and maneuvers us out of the pack lands and towards the airport. Like my brothers, he has always been kind to my friends and welcomed them anytime. They stopped feeling anxious around him long ago.

Once we arrive at the airport, Jazz and Marilou are already waiting for us. Liam's beta and Jazz's mate, Aryanna, brought them. Jazz is the only one of us who has already met her mate, and when she hugs and kisses her goodbye, I feel it for the first time… that I'm longing for this type of bond, too. I'm in no hurry, but it must be nice to have met the one person destined for you.

Dad hugs me goodbye before I can disappear through the security check. "Have a great time, Aurelia," he says. "You truly deserve this break."