~REVERIE~
Itear open the official-looking envelope that just arrived in today's mail delivery, scanning the legal document inside with increasingly quick eye movements.
My heart does a weird uncomfortable flip thing in my chest.
"Our court hearing is tomorrow!" I announce loudly to the living room, my voice probably louder than necessary, looking up from the intimidating legal paper with wide shocked eyes.
All three of my Alphas are literally in the middle of putting the last ornaments on our Christmas tree—a gorgeous eight-foot Fraser fir that we picked out together last weekend from the local tree farm. It smells amazing, like fresh pine and winter magic and forest and Christmas, filling the entire living room with its presence and scent.
They've been at it for the past hour and a half, carefully hanging ornaments with meticulous attention and stringing lights in perfect spirals and debating the proper aesthetic placement of tinsel. There's been a lot of discussion about color coordination and spacing and whether the lights should bewhite or multi-colored. Grayson advocated strongly for classic white lights. Nash wanted the old-fashioned colored bulbs. Theo suggested alternating. They compromised on warm white lights with a few colored accent lights mixed in.
The ranch house living room is wonderfully warm and cozy right now. Fire crackling merrily in the massive stone fireplace that takes up most of one wall. Christmas music playing softly from the speakers mounted in the corners—currently Bing Crosby crooning 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' which feels both appropriate and slightly ironic given our current legal circumstances.
The whole space smells incredible. Cinnamon from the candles I have burning on the mantle. Pine from the tree obviously. Vanilla from the sugar cookies I baked this morning that are cooling on racks in the kitchen. And underneath it all, pack scent—that perfect harmonious blend of maple-honey and gunpowder-pine and motor-oil-leather and my own vanilla-caramel all mixing together into something that smells uniquely like home and safety and belonging and family.
Decorations cover every available surface. Garland wrapped around the staircase banister. Stockings hanging from the mantle—four of them now, each with our names embroidered in red thread. A nativity scene on the side table. Snow globes arranged on the bookshelf. Fairy lights strung across the windows. It looks like Christmas exploded in here in the best possible way.
This is my first real Christmas in years.
The first one where I actually want to celebrate. Where I have people to celebrate with. Where I feel safe and happy and excited instead of anxious and miserable. Kael hated Christmas. Said it was commercialized nonsense. Refused to let me decorate. Mocked me when I wanted to bake cookies or watch holiday movies. Made the entire season miserable.
But this year is different.
This year I get to have the Christmas I've always dreamed about. With a real tree and decorations and cookies and people who actually want to celebrate with me. Who get excited about traditions. Who let me play Christmas music constantly. Who help me bake dozens of different cookie varieties. Who watch cheesy holiday movies without complaint.
Theo groans from where he's standing on a step ladder, red and gold ornament in hand.
"At least it isn't on Christmas Eve itself. That would be truly terrible timing."
Grayson huffs indignantly, setting down the silver snowflake he was about to hang.
"It's the day before Christmas Eve, Theo. That's barely better. And frankly, I thought the game plan for tomorrow was to go on our puppy adoption adventure. We've been planning this for weeks."
My face falls dramatically.
My lower lip actually juts out in an unconscious pout that I don't even try to hide or control.
"Wait. Does that mean we can't get our puppy before Christmas? But I already picked out names! And bought toys! And a bed! And food bowls! And a collar! And a leash! And?—"
I was so incredibly excited about getting a puppy. A pack puppy.
Our first pet together as a family.
I've been researching breeds every night for weeks. Scrolling through shelter websites before bed. Reading articles about puppy care and training. Watching YouTube videos about positive reinforcement techniques. Making lists of everything we need to buy.
I found the perfect one too.
A golden retriever mix named Biscuit at the Oakridge Animal Shelter.
He has the sweetest face I've ever seen. Big brown eyes and floppy ears and this goofy smile in all his photos. He's eight months old. Already house-trained. Knows basic commands. The shelter description says he loves everyone and everything and is great with other animals and children.
Perfect for our pack.
I wanted to bring him home before Christmas so badly.
So he could be part of our first holiday together. So he could be in our Christmas morning photos wearing a cute festive bandana I already bought. So he could have his own stocking on the mantle next to ours. So he could wake us up early wanting to play with his new toys. So he could be there for our first Christmas as a complete pack.
I've never had a dog before.
