I'm getting more animated now, remembering each experience.
"And we've done tons of outdoor winter activities! Skiing at Pine Ridge Resort—where I fell approximately forty-seven times but finally made it down a bunny slope without crying! Snow tubing at Frostbite Hill where we went so fast I thought I was going to die! Snowshoeing through the nature preserve where we saw deer and foxes! Ice skating on Mirror Lake where Nash had to hold me up the entire time because I have zero balance on ice!"
Every date has been perfect in its own way. Every moment has felt like something from a dream. Like I'm living someone else's life. Someone who deserves good things. Someone who's allowed to be happy without waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"It's also made me so much closer with the guys," I continue, my voice softening with genuine affection. "Nash actually put his entire motorcycle business on pause for the holidays early—like weeks before he usually closes—so he could spend more quality time with the pack. And Theo wasn't deployed this holiday season for the first time in years, so we actually get to spend Christmas together, which is amazing and means everything to me!"
I glance at Grayson, who's standing just off-camera looking proud and slightly embarrassed about the attention.
"And Grayson has been focused on finalizing his first romance novel! He put Knotty Christmas Wish up for pre-order shortly after the blizzard in Millbrook, and it already has almost 1,000 pre-orders! Can you even believe that?! A thousand people want to read his book!"
I lower my voice conspiratorially, leaning closer to the camera. "He also secretly put The Omega's Nest Cafe up for pre-order scheduled for May of next year, thinking nobody would find it until he officially announced it. But somehow his readers found it anyway through the retailer algorithms and are going absolutely wild. Pre-orders are climbing every single day. It's this cozy, sweet omegaverse story about found family and cherry blossoms and healing from trauma, and I'm completely obsessed with it. I've read the draft like three times. But shh, you didn’t hear it from me,” I say with a wink.
I'm in complete disbelief that his career is going to explode like this. Two major publishing houses have already reached out with serious offers—real traditional publishing deals with advances and everything.
But Grayson wants to see how the self-published launch performs first before making any big decisions about his future. If the ranking is good enough and the sales are strong, he might become a traditionally published author with a major house.
My pack mate. My Alpha. Published and successful. I'm so proud of him I could cry.
"And my social media has completely blown up in ways I never imagined!" I add, trying to keep my voice steady despite the overwhelming gratitude threatening to choke me. "I've gotten multiple brand deal offers…like serious companies wanting to work with me! And I’m so pumped to share it all with you. You’re going to be getting some personal recommendations as well as those where I’ll try the brand and you guys can see the results on live!”
My voice gets more excited and breathless.
"And because of that success and the following I've built, we've been invited to the Jingle Bell Jubilee tomorrow night and the Oakridge New Year's Eve Ball Drop at the end of the month! These are like the biggest, most exclusive events in town!"
I'm so proud of what I've been able to accomplish in just the last few weeks. It feels like my entire life changed overnight. LikeI went to sleep as one person—scared and alone and worthless—and woke up as someone completely different.
Someone successful, wanted who has value beyond just being useful.
I start scanning the comments that are flooding in rapidly, hundreds per second scrolling so fast I can barely read them. Many are positive—heart emojis, congratulations, excitement about the win, requests for the gingerbread recipe, people saying I inspire them.
But there are negative ones too.
More than usual. Way more than there used to be.
And they're getting meaner, more personal, harder to dismiss.
The negativity has definitely gone up significantly lately. I've noticed it building steadily over the past two weeks. Started small with a few questionable comments here and there, but has gotten progressively louder, more insistent, more coordinated, harder to ignore. Theo, Nash, and Grayson have been doing everything they can to moderate and address it—blocking the worst offenders, reporting harassment to the platforms, hiding offensive comments—but on live streams, it's nearly impossible to control what people say in real-time.
The comments just keep coming.
I keep smiling at the camera, determined not to let anyone see how the comments affect me. Don't want to show weakness or disappoint my loyal followers who have been so incredibly supportive and kind.
But then the comments start swarming with arguments.
People defending me passionately. People attacking me viciously.
The chat becomes a battlefield of conflicting opinions and escalating hostility.
"She only got popular because of pretty privilege, not talent"
"She's obviously using her Alphas for fame and money"
"Bet she's not even really with them, probably all staged for content"
"Gold digger energy, she trapped them with an Omega contract"
"How convenient she suddenly has brand deals after getting with rich Alphas"
