Chapter 12

DAVINA

I don’t know why I’m so nervous walking to my family home, flanked by the three alphas who have spent every second with me for the last few days. They’ve helped me through the pain, catering to my every need and more. I needed them, and they showed up in every way.

Kai must notice the shift, threading his fingers through my own as we get closer, giving me a reassuring look. His touch helps more than I care to admit, my mind still swirling with everything that has been the last few days. Before we even get to the door, it’s thrown open, both my mother and theirs bursting through with me in their sights. They’re dressed in head-to-toe Christmas, including horrible sweaters I’m sure they are about to force me to wear too.

With no words, they both hug me, my mom kissing my cheek while the two of them all but squeeze every breath from my lungs. Who would have thought being fucked within an inch of my life for days would have this kind of reaction?

“Let’s give her some space and get out of the cold,” Hunter laughs from beside me, taking my other hand. Elias is behind us, his hand on the small of my back, all three alphas feeling the need to be touching me. Not complaining at all, though; I like the feeling, something I could certainly get used to.

The house is full of people, all three of the boys' fathers standing in the lounge room chatting to my dad, my brothers gaming, Ledger punching Felix in the arm the moment we step in the door. They all pause, everyone looking our way for a split second before returning to their conversations. I suck in a deep breath, relieved that the awkward moment passes quicker than expected. How exactly does one walk into Christmas with one’s entire family after something like this?

Elias takes a seat in one of the huge armchairs, pulling me to sit on his lap. I don’t even think it through before I nuzzle in closer, thankful the clothes they’re wearing are all their own. Someone must have dropped a package at some point over the last few days. The light vibration in his chest has me at ease instantly, those niggling thoughts wisping away in his embrace. He draws circles on my lower back, planting kisses on the top of my head, simply holding me.

I take in the room around me, Kai making himself at home next to my brothers, stealing the controller for whatever game they’re playing. Hunter is talking business with Dad and all his fathers, his gaze moving to me every few minutes with a bright, white smile. There’s an intensity in his stare that has my thighs clenching— not the time.

“Try keeping those dirty little thoughts to yourself, or you might not be able to spend Christmas down here after all. Maybe we need to lock your ass up for a few more days to fuck the rest of the need outta you,” Elias whispers, low enough that no one else can hear. The words have my core clenching, and I try hard to stop the heat working its way through my stomach. A low growl rumbles from Elias, with the twins both looking our way as well. Shit .

“Food is ready, everyone! Come eat while it’s hot,” Reyne yells from the dining room, everyone dropping what they’re doing at the first hint of food.

Elias helps me up, and we venture into the main dining room to see the biggest Christmas dinner I have ever seen. Every type of meat and side you can dream of is here in droves, making my mouth water. It has been days since I last ate a full meal; I didn’t even get to devour the Christmas feast that night before my traitorous body had other ideas.

Kai moves first, pulling out a chair for me and sitting to one side, Hunter and Elias on the other. My brothers say nothing as they sit opposite us, taking in everything they see. I wonder if they would be okay with this, given time. If I could be okay with this.

Chatter moves across the table as everyone loads up plates, mine doused with so much gravy, you can barely see what it’s covering. I stay quiet, picking at my meal while I watch everyone interact. Felix and Ledger don’t take all that long to drop their icy facade with the twins, their banter and shit talk business as usual within minutes.

Taking a sip of wine, I try to center my thoughts enough to just be in the moment, but it’s hard. These last few Christmases have dulled its sparkle a little for me, spending them solo while everyone else was surrounded by love and joy. Looking over to Elias down the table, I find him already looking at me. He has hardly touched his food either, unlike the rest of the ravenous animals at the table, who have gone back for seconds or thirds already.

There are so many words still to be spoken, a lot of pain to air out, but in this moment, I want to be closer to him. It’s as though my body is being pulled like a magnet, fighting against invisible ties to stay away. Abruptly pushing the chair back, I clamber onto his lap in front of everyone, not giving a shit who sees.

The moment my head connects with his chest, it’s like the noise just disappears. The chatter, the clinking of silver on plates and deep bellied laughter… It all becomes nothing but the thump of his heart against my ear. I in no way forgive him yet for the things he did to me—it’s a grudge I will hold for a long time to come—but fuck, if my body doesn’t know what it wants. To be honest, it’s all three of them.

We sit there like that until the rest of the table is done and the mess is cleared. Then, Elias stands up and pulls me closer to walk us into the lounge. Dad has the fire roaring in the corner, as well as the fake fireplace on the wide-screen television on the wall.

“They’re starting presents, little Omega. You might want to watch this part,” he whispers against my ear. Everyone seems so incredibly happy, Ledger donning the traditional Santa hat this year while he hands out all the presents. Small gifts from my brothers and parents start to pile up beside me, but I’m too busy basking in the room’s warmth to open them just yet.

“To Davina, from Kai,” Ledger says, placing this one directly in my hands.

“As soon as we heard you were coming, we put in a few rush orders. I know it’s not much in the way of a courting gift, but...” Kai says, kneeling on the floor in front of me. Pulling the ribbon, I separate the tape and am left with a small black box. “Open it.”

Nestled inside is a beautiful gold necklace, a howling wolf pendant dangling from it. The eyes are set with a silver stone that’s almost the same color as their eyes. I unclip it instantly, threading the delicate chain under my hair and clasping it around my neck. It hangs beautifully on my chest, glinting in the flashing lights of the Christmas tree.

“Thank you,” I whisper, rising off Elias’ lap to kiss him. It’s soft, nothing too wild, lest my body have other reactions I don’t exactly want to deal with right now. Hunter approaches next, his gift wrapped in silver paper. It’s bigger and squishy, the paper tearing with ease to reveal a midnight black, faux fur blanket. All three of the brothers have black wolves, huge and imposing, and this is almost an exact match to their fur. I sink my fingers into it, loving the way it feels under my touch.

Everyone in the room is completely quiet, nothing but the crackling fire roaring off to the side and faint carols drifting in from the kitchen. Mom has tears in her eyes just watching us, as does Reyne. My brothers’ hard stares have softened over the course of the night, their scowls now looks of indifference.

Ledger walks up again with one last gift, his stare set on the man behind me. This one is wrapped in black and gold, with little moons on the paper. I pull out what’s inside, covered by a satin bag. Loosening the drawstring, I slip the cover off to find a jet-black helmet, the word mine stamped across the back with a sticker of a little brown wolf and three bigger, black wolves behind it.

It’s no use trying to stop the tears at this point, the emotions too much to hold in. Days ago, I never would have thought I would be here, enjoying Christmas by the fire after the most intense heat of my life, let alone that the alphas I grew up with, my brothers’ best friends and my bully, would end up being my mates.

“Now is the time for us to show you we deserve you, that we’re yours entirely. Let us show you. Let us give you the world. We will go anywhere you go, no questions asked, if you give us the chance,” Hunter posits, the twins kneeling in front of me, each touching me in some way.

“Yes,” I manage to get out before a sob works its way through my chest. I’m completely overwhelmed, my emotions running high as I hold my arms out for one of them to take, needing to be close to them. It’s Kai who scoops me up, holding me close to his chest. His calm heartbeat soothes the panic in my own, helping to ground me.

“C’mon, let's go back to the cabin for the night. We can come back tomorrow once things have calmed down a little. Maybe you can spend some time with your family without us there so we’re not hogging you,” he whispers into my hair, walking us out of the main house. A low whine works its way up, not wanting to be separated just yet. My heat may be almost gone, but hormone remnants are sure as shit still working their way through my body.

We make it back to the warmth of the cabin, the entire space smelling like the four of us. That pang of need heats my stomach, intensified by the hulking figures stepping through the doorway, their chests heaving. Slick pools between my thighs, soaking through my jeans.

Kai sets me on my feet, all three of them standing before me with intense heat in their eyes. They look me up and down, settling on the darkened denim between my thighs.

“I may not have had time to get you a present,” I purr, stepping toward them with a grin, “but I think I know of something I can give you: me.”

THE END