2. Sage

Chapter two

Sage

“ N o, I know. You’re right,” I reply, my thoughts elsewhere, far from the phone conversation on my screen. I walk into the kitchen with my phone still in hand and turn on the electric kettle.

My mom sighs. “Honey, you shouldn’t be spending Christmas alone.”

I close my eyes and patiently count to five, my inner fox counting with me. This conversation has been a daily occurrence since November. “Mom. I won’t be alone. I told you I’m coming over for brunch and spending the whole day at your place.”

She means well, but my mother doesn’t realize how much being single hurts this holiday season. For as long as I can remember, my mother has been the overprotective sort. I get the feeling she’s been that way since my alpha father passed away, though I don’t know for sure. When I was a teen and shifted into an Arctic fox for the first time, she only got worse. Since my mother is human, she could never help me with my shifter side, and I think she’s overcompensating.

“But don’t you want to wake up in some alpha’s arms? Maybe spend the morning snuggling and opening presents before seeing your boring old mother? When was the last time something like that happened to you?”

The last time I woke up in someone’s arms. Maybe never? At least, not that I can remember. And as for the last time I woke up in bed with an alpha? That would be the same morning I kicked my long-term boyfriend out of our bed when I discovered he’d been cheating on me.

I rub absently at my chest before steeling myself against those horrible memories.

“You aren’t boring,” I huff. My mother is far from boring, having been a wild spirit in her youth, and I don’t think she ever fully grew out of that stage.

“And you’re purposely avoiding my point.”

I bite my lip and glance away from her knowing gaze. Even on video call, the woman knows how to stare me down. I walk back into my kitchen.

“Of course I want to find an alpha.” I want to find love and companionship. All my omega friends are independent and swear off alphas. They’re all more into the hook-up culture. Which is fine. Hell, I wish I could function like that, but I’m different. Always different.

The idea of hooking up with someone in the back alley of a club or finding someone on an app seems so cold. I want an epic meet cute. I want to get to know my alpha before falling into bed with him. And yes, I want to wake up in his arms. Not find cold, empty sheets the next morning.

As a chubby forty-year-old omega who looks more alpha than anything, it’s not like anyone is knocking down my door. I know my clock is ticking, but some things just can’t be forced.

“Have you heard from Paul?”

A little zap of pain hits my chest when an image of Paul cheating on me pops into my head.

My phone beeps and I see my best friend calling. “Mom, I gotta go. Mark’s on the other end. I’ll see you tomorrow. Okay?”

“All right, honey,” Mom pauses, studying me through the phone. I already know I’m going to miss Mark’s call. Still, I’ll have to thank her, anyway; his timing has saved me more heartache and embarrassment. I know Mom will just fuss over me tomorrow.

When my mom and I finally get off the phone, my water is boiling. I stir two hot chocolate packets into a large mug, then add extra marshmallows and whipped cream on top before making my way out to the living room and flipping on the TV. Christmas movies and sugar sound like the best way to spend my night.

A knock on the door causes me to pause with my mug halfway to my lips. My eyes widen when I see Mark and my coworker Jill waving at me through the front door. They are both absolutely gorgeous and dressed for a night at the club. Oh crap.

Swinging my legs over the sofa, I set down my hot chocolate and rush to the door. “Oh no. Guys, I’m so, so sorry. I completely forgot.”

Mark smirks and gives my candy cane pajama pants a knowing glance before brushing past me. “I told you he would forget.”

I step aside and Jill walks past me. Her eyes land on my hot chocolate before settling on the Christmas movie on my screen. Meanwhile, Mark walks into my bedroom like he owns the place.

“Sure, come on in. Uh, can I grab you anything, Jill? Hot chocolate, maybe?” I glance at my mug longingly and notice all the whipped cream and marshmallows are melted.

Jill shakes her head, taking a seat on my sofa. “No, thanks. How on earth did you forget about tonight, Sage? It’s literally all I talked about at work this week.” Tonight, Jill’s long red hair tumbles down past her shoulders rather than her usual tight bun for work. Jill and I are both financial consultants for our local firm.

She crosses her legs, causing the sparkly miniskirt to ride up higher on her toned thighs. At least she’s wearing leggings and boots. I really don’t know how she isn’t a popsicle with all that snow outside.

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s been a rough week, first with Bootsie getting sick and throwing up all over the place, then you know how bad it got with all our clients scrambling around since it’s the end of the year. Not to mention, my mother has called me every single freaking day asking why on Earth I’m still single. She seems to forget this is the first holiday I’ve spent without my ex in five years.”

“That sucks. I’m sorry, hon.” Jill glances around. “Where is the poor kitty?”

“He’s around here somewhere,” I reply, sitting next to her. “He’s finally feeling better, thank goodness.”

Mark sashays out of my room with a hanger dangling from his hand. On it is a sheer green dress shirt I don’t recall ever seeing, and a pair of jeans. “Well, don’t just sit there. Chop-chop. Get dressed.”

“I—uh.” I peer down at my comfy pajamas and over at my large mug of hot chocolate.

As if seeing me for the first time, Mark’s shoulders slump. “Ah, shit. You aren’t going to the club with us, are you?”

Exhaustion hits me like a tidal wave. I shake my head and stare at my hands in my lap.

“Oh, Sage. Don’t tell me your mother called…again.”

“Yeah.” My bestie knows me so well.

“You need to tell that woman how much her words are hurting you. This is your first Christmas without that asshat. She just wants you to be happy—”

“Don’t forget the grandbabies,” I murmur. “She wants grandbabies.”

He nods, tossing the clothes over the back of my loveseat, shrugging out of his leather jacket, and making his way onto the sofa. He sits on my left, while Jill is on my right.

“And grandbabies,” Mark whispers. “But you need to tell her why you broke up with him. She needs to know that he cheated on you.”

I wince. “I’m so embarrassed, though. If I tell her one thing, I’m going to confess everything. And then she’ll find out that he found the perfect little omega who looks nothing like me. My appearance is already a sore spot between us.”

“You’re attractive as hell, Sage. Knock it off. You totally have these sexy Daddy vibes going for you.”

I scoff. “Yeah, well, I’m no Daddy. Even if I can find an alpha who is attracted to someone who looks like an alpha, most of the time they just like my looks because they assume I’m going to be all aggressive with them or something. I’m not like that. I’m an omega through and through…I just wished I looked like one.”

Jill’s arms come around me at the same time Mark holds me from my other side. Tears spring to my eyes. “Guys.” I try to push them off, only to have them hug me tighter. Their warmth feels so damn good, and my fox agrees. My mom’s words come back to my mind, and I’m left wondering when the last time I had anyone’s arms around me was.

“There’s no way in hell we are going to the club tonight,” Mark says, “Lend us some PJs. We are cuddling up on the couch and watching movies with you.”

Jill nods her head eagerly. “Psh. No way. Why the hell did they think people would be dancing in a club the night before Christmas? Mark and I would probably be the only two omegas there.”

“Oh, no. Guys, I’m okay. Go have fun.”

“Nope. You’re stuck with us.” Mark grins. “Maybe we can watch a horror movie.”

“No!” Jill and I exclaim at the same time. We share a glance before erupting in laughter.

I give them a watery smile. “Thanks, guys. I love you both.” My fox twirls with happiness, eagerly considering them our family.

***

Two Christmas movies and several spiked hot chocolates later, we are curled up on the sofa when we hear a crash.

“What the—?”

The three of us glance around, trying to spot where the noise came from.

Jill giggles. “It sounded like it came from the TV.”

“Actually, it sounded like it came from next to the bookshelf,” Mark replies.

Both my friends glance at me. I laugh, feeling the effects of the alcohol warming my stomach. “Don’t look at me. It sounded like it came from the door.”

Jill smiles and shakes her head. “I’m so glad we ignored Mark. I’d be scared out of my mind if we were watching horror movies.”

Mark smirks. “Well, since we’re watching Christmas movies, does that mean Santa Claus was making all that noise?”

We giggle again. Unlike my human omega friends, I know Santa is real, and he’s not just one old jolly man up at the North Pole. No, there are at least a hundred Santas, surrounded by the sweetest elves and the funniest reindeer shifters.

When I was a teen, I needed help to understand my shifter side. In my research, I discovered that my Arctic fox heritage, also known as a Snow fox bloodline, had ties with the Christmas creatures up north.

By that time, Mark’s phone beeps, meaning that their ride is here, and my friends give me a lingering hug before happily stumbling outdoors. As soon as the door closes, Bootsie appears by my side and headbutts my leg. I lock the latch and scoop up my cute little tuxedo cat.

“There you are! Was it you who made that crash earlier?” I run my hand down his black fur before scratching under his chin. “Were you being a good boy?”

He slow-blinks at me and begins purring.

“I’m so happy you’re feeling better.”

I carry Bootsie to the kitchen before placing him down on the floor next to his food dish. My stomach growls and I mentally go through a checklist of something quick I can eat. Once I give Bootsie his food, I oil up the pan and make myself an omelet.

When it’s ready, I place the omelet on a plate and lean my hip against the counter to eat it. An explosion of flavor hits my tongue, and I hum in appreciation as the melted pepper jack cheese hits my tongue. I wish someone was here to share my food with. I can’t really cook, but I at least know how to make a mean omelet.

Movement catches my eye right as Bootsie darts into the living room. Crash. I jog into the room expecting to see items all over the ground; instead, Bootsie’s cozying up to a doll, or maybe a figurine, and he’s sitting on a magazine. That’s odd.

I pick up the plastic figurine and almost drop it when its warmth tingles against my skin. Turning it around, I smile when I see his face. He’s kind of cute. Actually, no—he’s kind of hot. Dear lord. I hope this isn’t a children’s toy.

“Where did you come from?” The elf figurine is shirtless, with a cute red-and-white striped scarf around his neck. He’s wearing skintight black pants that are literally painted on, and there’s a knowing smirk on his face.

He’s surprisingly detailed for a toy.

Bootsie hops up from his spot and starts batting around a Christmas bow, his cute white paws shuffling around so quickly that I’m not even sure he knows what he’s doing. That’s when I notice the sexy man on the magazine cover.

He’s easily the hottest alpha I’ve ever seen. Broad, wide shoulders, well-defined arms, slim yet strong looking. He has the sexiest well-trimmed beard and thick chestnut hair, long on top and shaved at the sides. He looks like a movie star from one of those Christmas romances we just watched.

I bark out a laugh and glance at the figurine again. “Oh my gosh. Is this you?” I read the title out loud. “Wow, aren’t you a sneaky little thing? ‘Sexiest Elf Alive! Red-Hot: in and out of Santa’s Village.’ My, my, I didn’t know they had such naughty elves up in the North Pole,” I joke to myself.

“Good lord. Now, I’m talking to a damn toy—a ridiculously sexy toy, sure—but still.” Talk about an all-time low.

Bootsie continues to run back and forth, swatting at the bow. I chuckle. This must be a white elephant gift from Mark and Jill. Walking back over to my sofa, I curl up on the couch with my new little elf and spend the next hour reading the gossip magazine.

I must admit, whoever put this magazine together was freaking brilliant. There are several articles featuring the latest gossip amongst the elves in Santa’s Village, and even some info on each of the Santas themselves. Apparently, my elf, Xavier, is some kind of bigshot. According to the article, he’s a sexy and smart businessman with a love for all things Christmas. He’s single and searching for his fated mate. Right .

If only there really was such a perfect alpha out there.

Eventually, I get sleepy, but instead of moving over to my bedroom, I toss the magazine on the coffee table, reach for my large throw blanket, and curl up with my new little elf. It should probably freak me out that the plastic is still oddly warm, but for now, I’m going to just go with it; because this is the first time in a long time that I don’t feel uncomfortable cuddling with an alpha.

“You wouldn’t judge my appearance, would you, my sweet alpha?” I murmur before sleep takes me under. “I know you wouldn’t.”