Chapter 7

Noel

Within an hour of getting that tree set up, we were officially snowed in. Outside, the wind whipped by so fast that all we could see was a swirling wall of white. Garrick’s truck was covered, as was most of the porch and the steps. Getting out of the cabin was no longer an option.

Thanks to the fire Garrick had built (well, mostly him—I hadn’t exactly been much help), the cabin stayed warm. In the closet, we’d found an old tree stand, and now the tree stood proudly in the living room, filling the space with a fresh pine scent.

Garrick was lounging on the couch, watching me as I organized the decorations and started placing them on the tree. I couldn’t hide my excitement. My skin buzzed with it, and I couldn’t tone it down. It didn’t seem to bother Garrick, so I let myself enjoy it. This little Christmas surprise was everything. I’d never been allowed to decorate a tree before, though I had dreamt of doing one for years. I didn’t have my own ornaments or special decorations, but I’d thought about what sorts of things I would have if I were allowed.

I preferred blues and silvers, with just a hint of purple for holiday decorations. Red and greens were great, but blue was my favorite color, and it paired so nicely with a shiny silver.

“Does your pack have any Christmas traditions?” I asked, eager to know more about Garrick’s life back home. I was drawn to him in a way that I’d never experienced before. He showed me kindness in my moment of need. I was indebted to him. But it was more than that. Garrick was magnanimous in his presence, and the way he looked at me and listened made me feel like I was the only omega in the world.

With just the two of us in this secluded cabin, we could pretend we were the only two in the world.

“Actually, yeah. We have a few,” he said with a smile. “On Christmas Eve night, we always do a pack run, even if it’s not a full moon. The littlest kids all get new pajamas, and we convince them to go to bed early, all in matching pajamas made of fleece that everyone pitches in to sew.”

“That’s so cute!” I said, imagining a group of children all dressed alike. “It must take a lot of work.” Sewing was a skill I had but didn’t enjoy. I could mend a button or a rip with the best of them, but making clothes from scrap was not my forte.

“It does, but everyone enjoys it. We also have a big blanket, and each year we add a square of fabric from that year’s chosen pajama fabric. We’ve been doing it since I was a kid. My dad started the tradition.”

“I’d love to see that. It must be huge.”

“It is. We had to buy a special tote to store it in. We bring it out during the holiday season, and it is set up in a public area for everyone to see.”

“That sounds wonderful. Is that your favorite part of the holiday?”

“It’s fun,” Garrick admitted. “But my favorite part is Christmas morning. As a member of the Alpha family, we always open gifts later in the day. My dad wakes up early to check in on everyone in the pack, making sure everyone has what they need. Only after that does he come home, and then we have our meal together. You’d be surprised the kinds of last-minute things people need on Christmas morning. Mostly batteries and tools. People seem to forget the kids’ new toys need batteries. My dad always makes sure we’re stocked up.”

“Your dad sounds like a really great Alpha.” I could hear the pride in Garrick’s voice when he talked about him. Garrick probably took after his father more than he realized.

“He is,” Garrick said, a soft, faraway look in his eyes.

“You’ll do a great job, too,” I said, meaning every word. The man was the epitome of what it meant to be a strong, capable Alpha who was also kind. His pack was probably loyal to him and his family. They’d support him through anything. He would lead them well.

He smiled at me. “Thanks, Noel. I’m nervous to take over, but I’ve been training my whole life for this. Failure’s not really an option.”

I could tell he was worried, which made sense; maybe that’s why he’d needed this time away. And here I was, taking up his precious time that he had carved out to prepare for taking over his pack.

“I’d definitely keep those traditions,” I said, “and maybe add a little something of your own to make it yours.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?” He raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.

My cheeks flushed. “Oh, I don’t know—maybe something for the day after Christmas. Like a big gathering for everyone to just enjoy each other’s company. Or something else to mark the transition from the holiday back to regular life. Maybe the families could all talk about what Father Snowcoat brought them, whether or not he ate the treats that they left. They could write thank-you letters or something. After all, the holidays are about giving and being thankful, it’s important for the kids to see that.”

“That actually sounds good,” he said, looking thoughtful. His gaze shifted to the tree, where I’d started absent-mindedly hanging bulbs. “That’s starting to look really nice.”

“Thank you. There’re plenty of decorations for the mantle, too.” I glanced over at him. “Not that we have to use all the decorations. I just thought…” I trailed off. If I kept talking, I was likely to babble on about the Christmas decor.

“What about your pack? Any special traditions?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing worth sharing,” I said quickly, brushing off the question. The truth was my pack had traditions, but I was never a part of them. My pack Alpha was a cruel man who led with fear rather than kindness. My father spent his whole life kissing the Alpha’s ass and hoping for scraps. The Alpha was the one who’d instilled the belief that omegas were inferior. And my parents were oh so eager to go along with it. Their three alpha sons, my brothers, learned from their behavior. It wasn’t their fault they were terrible, they were raised that way.

“I’m sorry that your pack was less than ideal, Noel. I promise that we’ll find you a place where you can be safe and appreciated the way that you should be. Not all packs are like yours.”

A lone tear trailed down my cheek, and I brushed it away. I smiled at Garrick, determined not to let memories of the past tarnish the amazingness of this day. For the first time since leaving my pack, I truly felt hope for what the future would bring. “Thank you,” I said. “For everything.”