Payment To the Alpha
Chapter 26

Avery's POV

"Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way,"

I was skipping down the stairs and on my way to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate while singing Christmas tunes, as much I knew anyways.

It's December 24th, and Christmas Day is tomorrow. If there is any time of the year that all my problems magically disappear, it's around Christmas. The only emotions allowed inside the doors are happiness, relief, gratitude, and love. All other problems, issues, frustration, and disputes will have to wait until the 26th.

On the 1st of December, my Christmas mode was already on, and I asked James how they celebrate here. His answer, however deeply I felt for him, was not acceptable.

"We decorate a little, and on the 25th, everyone celebrates with their families. Alex, Amber, and I haven't celebrated since our parents died."

So I made it my mission to bring the Christmas spirit back into the lives of some of my favorite werewolves.

Amber and I went downtown and did a little Christmas shopping along with one of the pack guards named Emilio. However, Amber more or less used him as a bag holder, and with each bag she put on his arm, I removed and put it on my

own.

We bought everything you can imagine from Christmas carpets, drapes, snow globes, Santas both big and small, snowmen, Christmas lights, Christmas bows, Christmas tree decorations, smaller trees, Christmas cups, and so, so much more. The funny thing is, I'm not done.

I have put up two thin trees on either side of the entrance and decorated them with red bows and lights, nothing too much since I want to leave the rest for the main room. A few of the omegas and I have changed the curtains in every room on the downstairs' floor and put up beautiful red drapes with small snowflakes on them. In the main room, where there's a huge U-shaped couch and other seating areas and a big flat-screen TV along with an open fireplace, we have put out the big red Christmas carpet with green stripes on either end.

Above the fireplace are four stockings hanging, waiting to be filled. We also bought the most magnificent tree we could replace. It is 4 meters high smells like cinnamon roasted apples. Or that may be the candle I bought. Anyhow, the tree is decorated with bells, bows, glitter, Christmas balls, and lots of lighting. The whole nine yards. On top of this beautiful tree is the most enchanting full moon. I thought it would be a fun little touch.

As I made it to the kitchen, I saw that the only ones there were Alice and three omegas whose names I had yet to remember. But then, I remembered that the others all had practice. I asked James once before if I could join them and learn a little self-defense. However, he said he liked me better alive than dead, and thereafter that conversation dropped.

Alice was preparing breakfast for the pack member, so after greeting everyone there, I took the liberty to prepare some hot chocolate for everyone. When I was done, I poured it into five thermoses and put forward some canned whipped cream and marshmallows on the kitchen island for everyone to make their own.

After I had made mine, I decided to take my cup and sit outside on the bench for a while. It was snowing, and right this second, everything just felt so right.

After Natasha put up the barrier, there had been no altercations, and I was in complete control of myself.

I put on a jacket and then wrapped a blanket around myself before grabbing my cup and heading out. I sat down on the bench right outside the main entrance and watched the snow twinkle down from the sky. There is something so calming about the way the snowflakes fall. So gracious.

James and I are still sleeping in separate rooms while I'm figuring out everything. Some nights we sleep together, but when we don't, I barely sleep. I don't know why. I can't replace peace when he isn't beside me. I preferred having him close all the time.

Perhaps it was time to take the next step with him.

"Hey. What are you thinking so hard about?" I jumped when I heard his voice from behind me and quickly turned around.

"Hey. Nothing really, just admiring the view." I said as I flicked my head to the big apple tree in front of us covered in snow and frost.

"Isn't it beautiful?" I asked

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Yes, It really is beautiful." I looked up at him and noticed he was looking down at me, and I felt my cheeks heat up despite the cold weather conditions.

"You must be hungry. Let's eat." I stood up and grabbed his hand. Leading him back to the house and into the kitchen.

He thinks I am beautiful.

"Wow, there, cupcake, you shouldn't be out in the cold so much your face looks like a tomato.'

I took my free hand up to my face and covered it as much as possible. I heard James chuckle beside me, making me close my eyes in shame.

"Cupcake?" No one had ever called me cupcake before. I can't say that I like it either.

"Yeah. Cupcake."

"Why?"

"Because you're sweet and ..." He looked over at James, who was pursing his lips together to keep himself from laughing.

"And what?" I put my free hand on my hip and glared at Alex, sensing I already knew what he meant.

"And...you know... innocent." He said the last word as if he had won the jackpot. Clearly thinking right on the spot.

"That's not what you were going to say." My glare intensified as I pierced through his eyes with my own.

"Oh shoot, breakfasts gonna get cold, gotta go!" He scurried away into the dining hall.

"THE FOOD IS IN HEAT CONTAINERS!" I yelled after him in vain.

James put his arm around my shoulders, which I quickly shook off.

He answered by grabbing my hand and spinning me around, making me bump into his chest.

He leaned his face down, dangerously close. How badly I wanted to kiss him right now, or always for that matter.

"Don't be mad. And don't ever push me away again. Alex is the dickhead, not me."

"You laughed." I tried sounding strong and annoyed, but my voice betrayed me when it sounded like I was out of breath. Which he probably noticed, seeing as a smirk crept upon his lips.

"I laughed because you're cute when you get mad. I'm sorry. Now let's get you some food...."

"Don't you dare!" I lifted my finger, pointing it to his nose. He pursed his lips again so he couldn't speak. He was going to call me cupcake, and it would not have ended well.

I don't want to get annoyed, not when I can prevent it.

I turned around and started walking with James' hand on my lower back, doing crazy things to my body.

I turned to look at him, and again, he was already looking at me. However, now there was something different in his eyes. They were dark, with lust. But, unfortunately, that did not make it easier.

We grabbed our plates and filled them. On my plate, there were pancakes with syrup and berries, and bacon. It was the same as mine along with sausages, hash-browns, fruit, two sandwiches, and two bagels on James' plate.

We went to our table and sat down before I said hi to everybody.

"Hi again, cupcake." Alex greeted so kindly with an annoying smile, making everyone at the table laugh.

"You know what, it's Christmas, so I'm going to let it pass. I don't want to be annoyed or angry, and I will not waste energy on such insignificant things." I straightened my back and held my head out, sticking out my chin, feeling very confident. "Sounds like a good plan cupcake."

A growl left my mouth, and a frown felt permanently stuck on my face. And again, everyone started laughing. Again, I pouted, stabbing my pancake with my fork.

"Hey babe, that pancake has done nothing wrong. Alex's hand is right there on the table." James winked at me and put his hand on my thigh, calming me. Not that I needed it, and honestly, I was still uncomfortable with how my body responded to his touch.

Alex jerked back his hand and hid it under the table before continuing his breakfast, making me chuckle. Okay, good, the frown wasn't permanent.

After breakfast Amber, Lisa, and I headed into town again. This time to shop for Christmas gifts. Another favorite of mine during Christmas time, buying people gifts. Nothing fancy or expensive but rather meaningful and personal. Something that shows that you truly know the person you're giving the gift to.

We went into five different stores. Lisa found some things for Jackson, a shirt, a watch, and some lingerie.

The lingerie was gorgeous. It was red lace with pin-up socks and a furry white ball above the ass. Very Christmasy and sexy.

Amber bought some new workout clothes and a watch for Alex and new shoes, a new watch, and a gingerbread man for James.

When I asked her why she bought him a gingerbread man, I nearly cried.

"When we were children, James and I, I would always bake gingerbread cookies for Christmas and decorate them. When I was eight, I got sick one Christmas, so that I couldn't bake with the rest of the family. I was on bed rest.

James baked a gingerbread lady and decorated it, and brought it up to me.

The next year he got sick, and I made him a gingerbread man. After that, it just became a tradition. We haven't continued it though see our parents passed. But your Christmas spirit made us want to bring the traditions back, one at a time. Baby steps. This was my favorite one."

Amber was going to decorate the cookie once we got back to the house.

I had a little harder time shopping since I didn't really know the three siblings very well. But I wanted to get them all something.

We went into a store that had different things in interior design. First, I stopped by a shelf and rolled my eyes, laughing at myself. Then, I saw a frame in the form of a pink cupcake with frosting and sprinkles on top.

'I guess someone's trying to tell me something,' I said to myself. So I bought the frame regardless of my feelings about the nickname and then went to get a photo printed out of me and Alex for the frame.

For James, I didn't know what to get. It needed to be special. But then, I remembered he told me about a book that his mom read to him when he was a child, and when he grew older, he read it himself. He had looked for it in his parents' belongings after they passed but hadn't found it.

He got so upset that he trashed his bedroom that day and shifted inside the room, breaking the wall by the door. He said he would give anything to replace that book again. It was one of the best memories he had of his mother. I knew that buying the book wouldn't be the same thing. That particular book had been passed down for generations.

He also told me about a clearing in the woods around the packhouse that he and his dad used to go to when he was little. It became his haven when he needed to think of a getaway for a little. It was by the lake, and the moon shone right down, illuminating the area. The clearing was destroyed when the rouges attacked many years ago. The trees had been broken and were lying all over, and the lake couldn't be seen anymore. He has lost so much. I wanted to give him at least one of those things back. So I had asked Alex to help me. He and a few of the pack's warriors would go to the Clearing and clean the place up. Remove everything scattered, move the rock and see if the lake is still there under the wreckage. And I would look around the house to see if I could replace the book.