Chapter 12 Hayden
Chapter twelve
Hayden
On Christmas morning, I wake to the sight of snow drifting to the ground just outside our window.
The sight is stunning, but what makes it even better is the warmth of Thorne pressed against my back.
After the night we made out in the snow, we agreed to enjoy the sight of the magical white fluff from inside.
“Merry Christmas, my beautiful mate,” Thorne says, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck.
“Mmm. Merry Christmas, Alpha mine.”
Thorne chuckles. “I love it when you call me that.”
I smirk, even though he can’t see it. “I know.”
“Why, you little brat,” he laughs. “You like to rile me up on purpose, don’t you?”
Before I can answer, Thorne’s fingers are darting under my arms and across my ribcage.
High-pitch squealing—that I swear has never left my throat before—erupts from my mouth.
“Oh, lookie here. My mate is very, very, ticklish.” He punctuates each word by tickling random spots.
I burst into laughter, kicking and squealing, unable to stop my wayward limbs.
Shoving Thorne away, I scramble to get out of bed, only to have him drag me back under the covers.
While he’s maneuvering me to face him, I take advantage of the situation by pulling him into a filthy kiss while my hand reaches down and grasps his half-hard cock.
He groans, thrusting against me. I stroke him until he’s fully hard, and a deep groan tumbles from his mouth. Then, with a laugh, I dart out of bed. He chases after me. Trying to outrun a shifter is pretty much useless, but I make it about halfway across the cabin before he slams into me.
I yelp, laughing so hard I tumble onto the ultra-plush rug we bought in town.
We are right next to the Christmas tree with all its pretty twinkling lights.
A warm glow is cast over us, making everything look magical.
And just like that, Thorne yanks me to him while I kick my pajamas off.
He pulls my face to his, and right as our lips meet, I line up the head of his cock to my hole.
We spend all morning making love and laughing under the beautiful glow of the shimmering lights.
Hours later, we get off the phone with my mother. Just as we predicted, she was over the moon. She interrogated Thorne quickly, but once she discovered how dependable he was, she eagerly wanted to get off the phone so she could start calling all our relatives to tell them the good news.
Now, we just needed to call Thorne’s alpha dad and omega papa. “Thorne,” I whisper, reaching for his phone before he can tap call. “I’m really nervous.”
“Don’t be; my parents are wonderful. And like I said, they will be just as thrilled as your mother.”
“I mean, I hope so, but Thorne, I’m serious. What if they don’t like me? I’m not classically pretty, and I don’t really know how to cook anything. I’m not very organized and—”
“Shush, omega mine. You’re beautiful. I can teach you how to cook, and we can learn how to be organized together. We are fated mates, soulmates. Meant to be. My parents and my Pride will accept you because I do. And they will love you because I do.”
“You love me?”
Thorne places a tender kiss on my forehead. “I do. And if, for some crazy reason, they don’t accept you, then we’ll make a new home. You, me, and our future babies.”
I gasp. “Thorne, I can’t take you away from your home.”
“You don’t get it, sweet omega. You are my home. Always.”
Tears fill my eyes. “You’re always so damn romantic,” I say, feeling choked up.
He chuckles, tugging me onto his lap. Despite my weight, I’m still small compared to him. “Now here, omega mine. I have the perfect gift for you to open before you meet my parents.”
I bounce eagerly on his lap. “What is it?”
His striking brown eyes sparkle under all the twinkling lights. “Consider it a good luck charm.”
I unwrap the tiny box and pull out a keychain.
No, not just any keychain. My keychain. “Oh my gosh! Flare!” He found my little lion and has kept it this whole time.
Happiness unlike anything I’ve ever felt before blooms in my heart.
I pull Thorne into a tight hug, breathing in his sweet cedar scent.
“Thank you, Thorne. I love you, too.”