"MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!"
"WE LOVE YOU!!!"
My eyes well up with tears reading the comments flooding in faster and faster.
These people stuck with me. Through everything. Through the lies and the harassment and the defamation and the death threats and the doxxing attempts.
They stayed.
They believed.
They defended me.
They waited.
They never gave up on me.
They're my real community.
"Hey everyone!" I say to the camera, waving enthusiastically with my free hand. "Merry almost Christmas! We're here in Oakridge at the incredible town Christmas tree because at midnight—" I check my phone quickly. 11:54 PM. "In six minutes, something really special happens that we've been planning for weeks!"
Biscuit barks on perfect cue, jumping up and trying desperately to get into frame, his little paws scrabbling.
I laugh and scoop him up effortlessly, holding him in my arms so everyone can see him properly in all his adorable puppy glory. He's eight months old but still small enough to hold comfortably without my arms getting tired. His golden fur is soft and fluffy and smells like puppy shampoo from the bath we gave him earlier. His brown eyes are bright with puppy energy and curiosity about everything.
"Yes, this is Biscuit!" I announce loudly to the camera as the comments go absolutely wild with puppy emojis and heart eyes. "We adopted him today from the Oakridge Animal Shelter! He's eight months old! He's a golden retriever mix! He's perfect and sweet and smart and we love him already and he's going to be the best pack dog ever! He already claimed all of our beds as his!"
Biscuit licks my face enthusiastically, his tongue warm and slobbery. The comments fill with crying emojis and messages about how adorable he is and requests to see more puppy content.
"And you guys," I continue, my voice getting more emotional and thick with gratitude. "Thank you so much for sticking with me through everything these past few weeks. The court case isofficially over. We won. I'm free. I'm officially legally bonded to my real pack. And none of the lies Kael spread were true. None of them. Harrison Gregory Markif himself—one of the best lawyers in the entire state—proved everything in court with actual documentation and evidence. It was epic. Charlotte's going to post the official court recordings on her website so you can all see exactly what happened and how thoroughly we destroyed his case."
The comments flood with congratulations and celebration messages and people saying they knew I was innocent the whole time and people cursing Kael and people saying justice was served.
"But tonight isn't about dwelling on the past," I say, grinning widely at the camera. "Tonight is about celebrating! Because at midnight—" I check my phone. 11:57 PM. "In three minutes, it officially becomes Christmas Day. December 25th. And at 12:01 AM Eastern Time, Grayson's debut romance novel goes live on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Apple Books and everywhere books are sold around the entire world!"
I turn the camera toward Grayson, who waves awkwardly at the screen, clearly not used to being in front of the camera despite living with someone who livestreams regularly.
His cheeks are pink from cold and embarrassment. His gray eyes are nervous but excited. His whole body language screams 'please don't make me do this but also I'm thrilled.'
"His book is called 'Knotty Christmas Wish' which yes is a play on words," I explain to the camera, barely able to contain my excitement and pride. "And it's about an Omega who gets snowed in at a luxury lodge with three Alphas during a massive blizzard. And it's loosely based on us. On our actual story. On how we really met. And it's absolutely beautiful and romantic and steamy and perfect and I cried reading it multiple times. Pre-orders have been insane. Over two thousand copies alreadysold before the book even officially launches. His second book, 'The Omega's Nest Cafe,' comes out in May and already has over a thousand pre-orders even though he tried to keep it secret!"
The comments absolutely explode with people saying they already pre-ordered both books, people asking desperately for direct links, people saying they can't wait to read it, people congratulating Grayson enthusiastically, people asking if he'll write more.
"Link is in my bio!" I tell the camera loudly. "Go buy it right now! Support independent authors! Support romance novels! Support omegaverse fiction! Support Grayson because he poured his heart into this book!"
I'm so proud of him.
Someone in a professional-looking coat approaches us from the side.
A woman in her forties with a fancy camera hanging around her neck. She's smiling warmly.
"Excuse me," she says politely. "I'm Sarah, photographer for the Oakridge Gazette. We're doing a feature on midnight Christmas celebrations around town. Would you folks like a photo in front of the tree? It's almost midnight. Perfect timing for a Christmas photo."
"Yes!" I practically shout, startling Biscuit who barks in response. "That would be perfect! Our first Christmas as an official pack! We need a photo for our Christmas cards!"
"Wait, we're sending Christmas cards?" Nash asks.
"Yes! I already ordered blanks online! We just needed a photo!"
