Luna Chelsea gasped, “This is a stunning necklace.” Yeah… well… it didn’t come from this realm… and I’d made it. Xander admitted, “I’ve never seen a stone like that.” I hummed, “Yeah… so it’s… umm not from around here.”
Kai shouted, “A REMOTE CONTROL CAR!” Tristan snorted, “You definitely went overboard, but I love it, Ladybug.” Alpha Peter gasped. Dalton shouted, “No way!” Luna Chelsea asked, “What?” Alpha Peter held up the game Dizzy Dizzy Dinosaur.
Dad gasped, “You found Dizzy Dizzy Dinosaur?!” Marissa Kyle shouted, “No, she did not!” Grandma Esther smiled at me. Alpha Peter whispered, “Melanie.” I picked at my sleeve, “You… always talked about how much you loved that game… and… ummm… well we all know what happened.”
Marissa snorted, “It was accidentally donated and I took the blame since it was all my fault, but we’ve never been able to find it. Where did you get it?” I answered, “Umm… around… places… and stuff.” Addison snorted, “She went into every single vintage game store she ever saw.”
I hummed, “I found it… in San Diego… and I just… ummm yeah… I bought it.” I thought it would help him understand thatI still loved him. Alpha Peter said, “I never doubted you loved me, Melanie Jane,” I grumbled, “Freya, teach me how to have inside head thoughts.” Freya said, “I would but it’s truly a lost cause.”
Alpha Peter got up and gave me a hug whispering, “You were always listening, and I sincerely love this.” I bobbed my head, “You’re welcome… .so… yeah.” Kai shouted, “NERF GUNS, COOL!” Alpha Peter squeezed my arm and then went back to his seat.
Dad told me, “There’s a stack for you too, Mel.” I squeaked, “Uhh what? Me? Huh?” Xander chuckled and popped me to mine. My husband linked me, “They never forgot you either, Lovebug.” I turned and cried quietly into his chest because I didn’t want to ruin this moment.
I felt my family surround me and join our hug. Kai shouted, “GROUP HUG!” He ran over and hugged us all. Kai said, “Ok, I’m going to keep opening my presents. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!” Several people laughed. Grandma Esther and Grandpa Ben squeezed me. I glanced over at Uncle Duncan’s section.
Dad linked me, “Your Uncle will get his presents too.” I nodded, “Ok, dad.” I sat down and started to open my presents. I opened the first one and jolted. Mom groaned, “I meant to take those out.” I pulled out some custom dance outfits.
Mom explained, “Your not teachers, apparently, sent us videos of you dancing, and we know it was actually you. No one dances like you, and I thought these outfits would match the dances.” I stood up and hugged her tightly.
I declared, “I love them.” Xander linked, “I can think of plenty of uses for these. You danced in outfits like these?” I replied, “All the time.” He growled possessively. We all opened our gifts, and it got less awkward while remaining deeply meaningful.
The Kyle’s were all glancing at me, and everyone was crying… except Kai. Everly gasped, “You got me and T ticketsto Istanbul?!” I winced, “Ok so, I did think it was Jase… but…” Tristan growled, “I’ll just be glad there no name on the ticket.”
I continued, “Yes…so Istanbul… like you… said… it was your top photography destination…. that you wanted to take photos in… and I just umm… well… the answer was yes. I’m capable of saying just yes… that’s a thing I could do.
Freya replied, “You are quite literally not capable of doing so.” Everly told me, “Thank you so much.” Tristan squeezed her, “I guess our fund for that trip just became vacation spending money.” Everly snorted, “T, there’s spending money in the present.”
Tristan said, “Ok. Ladybug, how much damn money do you have?” I answered, “Umm… a lot… technically speaking.” Xander chuckled, “I feel like our combined net worth is quite something.” It easily was.
Jason asked, “Are we talking millions?” Addison coughed, “Wrong.” Dad asked, “Are you billionaire?” I replied, “I mean… yes. I have a diverse portfolio and several businesses, so… my net worth is easily a couple billion.”
Tristan shouted, “A COUPLE!” I answered, “Yes… so… anyway.” I kept opening my gifts and Kai’s squeals distracted everyone. Once we wrapped up, we all walked out and joined the big group which had dwindled down.
I saw Caine and Dax and hugged them both. I whispered, “Thanks for coming.” Dax teased, “We can’t miss picking a tree with you guys. It’s literally the only tradition we had for Christmas once you showed up.” Caine added, “We did adopt the ornaments and giving them to our siblings though.” They had and Addison and Sierra loved it.
I linked Freya, “Ok, but seriously… next Christmas we get to do this ON Christmas… or you take me Selene, and I’ll kick her butt… again.” Freya snickered, “Deal.” Xander told me, “I have had a gift for you for a long ass time.”
I snorted, “You got me a lot of gifts.” Xander winked, “I just had this idea that I’d give you this particular on Christmas.” I grinned, “Then give it to me next year, my wolf and I have an understanding about how we are celebrating on the day of.” Xander chuckled, “Alright then.”
When we went upstairs, I asked Xander, “What’s the plan for the New Years?” Xander smiled answering, “We’ll be going to Faerie for New Years. Then we are staying for our honeymoon. My Uncle has several houses, but I want to stay at the one in the Fire territory.”
I tried to calmly say, “We are staying in Faerie?” Xander nodded, “Yes, and I love that you’re so excited.” So… I was not calm. Freya snorted, “Your voice squeaked.” My mate continued, “My mom has outfits she’d like you to wear since she’ll be opening her store. Plus, you wanted to see the library.”
My eyes lit up because I did say that and he remembered. Freya chuckled, “He has an excellent memory.” I knew that but we’d been really busy, and life kept throwing things at us. I admitted, “I really do…. want to see the library.”
I added, “I mean Jared took pictures and showed them to me, but… we had this whole plan about going together… and obviously that didn’t happen. I miss him.” Xander replied, “You can always go talk to him, Lovebug. He loves and misses you too.” I whispered, “I know… but in case you didn’t notice… I’m awkward.”
Xander replied, “You’re wonderfully you. Jared is more than aware of that. I know he’s family to you, and you’re that to him. Take your time. We have centuries to sort everything back to rights. You and Jared can see the library in Faerie together sometime. That doesn’t have to be tomorrow or while we are there, but it can happen one day.”
I said, “Maybe later… but I like the idea of someday… I mean we always said someday… so it’s not like he lied… or I did…which you know… since he can’t lie.” My husband chuckled and leaned down to kissed me.
I pulled back and put my forehead on his. I whispered, “Thank you for today. I’m sorry I got all emotional and just left the house after my heat.” Xander kissed me again gently. My husband pulled back to look into my eyes.
Xander said, “I’m sure it was unsettling seeing the date. You can always wake me up though. I do understand the need to be alone sometimes. Or if you just need your girlfriends. I get it.” I laughed, “Oh do you?” Freya growled, “If he means that Cheyenne bitch, it’s on sight.” I snorted, “He doesn’t.”
Xander flushed, “I mean for me it’s my brothers, uncles, cousins, or guy friends. I do get it though. If you ever need me though, I’m here.” I admitted, “I know that. I just panicked… because I had all these ideas of my first Christmas… if you wanted me.”
Xander growled and pulled me into him declaring, “I have always wanted you with every single part of my being. I hate that someone made you question that and made it seem like your dreams were reaching for the stars. I’m holding onto you and I’m never letting go.” I snuggled into him, and we fell asleep intertwined together.
