Chapter 15 Aspen
Aspen
This was my first real look at Pine Ridge. Between the snow that had started falling yesterday and the Christmas lights strung across the entire little town, it was like something out of a movie.
Cole had promised the weekends would be lively, but right now, only a few people moved in and out of shops. There was minimal traffic and it was fairly quiet.
If I wanted lively, I would’ve stayed in the city. This was perfect.
“Today is for exploration and finding tree decorations,” Cole said as he rubbed his gloved hands together. “Where should we start, omega? There’s a store dedicated to Christmas.”
“Are we talking decorations or small gifts?” I asked, hating the thought of a commercial store full of manufactured bullshit everyone had in their homes. I liked things that were unique and had character.
“A bit of both,” he admitted with a frown.
“I’ve always felt like my Christmases were full of superficial things.
My parents always wanted top-of-the-line presents for us.
Things they could brag about. I just wanted…
family. I love the idea of handmade or thrifted gifts.
‘Something you saw and thought of me’ type gifts.
I think I’d like the same for our tree if that’s okay? ”
“Then I’ve got the perfect shop for you,” he reassured me, holding his hand out. I slipped my gloved hand into his. “First shopping, then coffee.”
“Sounds like the perfect day.” I meant it, too. I’d been so caught up in my independence and working hard, that I hadn’t given myself time to just live.
Cole was giving me that chance and he had no idea how much that meant to me. Even before he knew me, he was giving me exactly what I was craving and couldn’t admit to myself.
“Coffee might be my love language,” I said. “Along with handmade gifts.”
“Mine is definitely physical touch and quality time. I think I’ve been craving actual connections more than I realized.” He tucked me into his side like he always did and I felt him relax around me.
“Those will work perfectly together,” I said with a smile. “I also like physical touch and quality time.”
“Not that I want to keep bringing them into this… but how did your exes handle the holidays?”
He sounded more worried for me than curious.
“They were nothing special,” I said with a shrug. “Sometimes they’d take me out to a fancy dinner or something. It was… better in the beginning, but I quickly realized I’d never be a priority.”
“I hope you know you deserve more than all they gave you,” Cole said, voice serious. “It’s not about gifts or dinners, it’s about putting thought into things.”
“I don’t think I wanted to see it before. I was independent and told myself that’s how I wanted it. The mind is a powerful thing.”
“This Christmas is going to be different,” he promised as he kissed my head.
It was a vow. His voice was low, quiet, but it hit me hard. It already felt like it was shaping up to be amazing.
“Okay, enough depressing talk.” He gestured to the shop in front of us.
It was adorable. The window was decorated and the building itself old and had character, the bricks faded but clean.
A small, wooden sign hung in front of it. Secondhand Treasures.
“Bailey spends all year traveling and gathering things, then brings them back to her sister, Claire, who sells it all here,” Cole explained.
“They each have their own packs, but generally one of the sisters is always here. They have just about everything you can think of and Jack said she was talking about a new shipment of vintage Christmas decorations..”
“Sounds like my kind of place,” I said, grinning and pushing the door open.
It smelled like cinnamon and cloves, the embodiment of Christmas. The window display sparkled with lights and an assortment of vintage and gaudy ornaments hung along the garland stretching between the shelves. I loved the chaos of it all.
“Welcome in! Anything I can help you find?” a short omega asked, her hair wispy and gray, and smile warm.
“We’re looking to find some Christmas ornaments. Plus, I heard this is a treasure trove and that’s right up my alley,” I said.
“Oh, it is,” she promised. “Just look around, I guarantee you’ll find something that calls to you.”
“Thanks, Claire,” Cole said with a wink.
The old woman blushed and waved him off.
Cole chuckled as he led me deeper inside.
Everywhere I turned was something new, quirky, fun, or unexpected. He wasn’t kidding about the shop having everything.
She had a whole shelf dedicated to Bigfoot, another Mothman. Then there were vintage knick-knacks and toys. Nothing truly made sense together, yet it worked.
I stopped at the jewelry section, unable to help myself. Racks and drawers were packed full of pieces. Some were vintage and delicate and the others pure costume but they all had character. It didn’t take me long to fill an entire basket with my finds.
Cole raised an eyebrow at a few of my picks, but I kept going. He wasn’t the one wearing them and he wasn’t judging, simply amused.
“Okay, ready,” I finally said, moving along. Cole didn’t protest as he followed close behind.
I skipped the home décor since I was moving soon, then wandered to the clothing section.
This was something I hadn’t expected. Buried among patterned scarves and shirts, I found the real treasures. The first was a dark green velvet dress that was perfect for the season. A few pairs of fuzzy socks, cozy things that called to my omega side.
“Oh look, lace,” Cole teased, holding up a Santa-themed lacy nightgown.
I eyed it, then snatched it before he could put it back. It might’ve been a joke, but I knew damn well I’d look great in it.
Teasing alphas was an omega’s job, right?
He smirked but said nothing, simply taking the basket from my hands now that it was getting heavy.
Finally, tucked in the back corner, we found the Christmas section. It was a mess of twinkling lights and baubles.
“We have a family tradition,” Cole said as he studied a sparkling snowflake.
I perked up, waiting.
“Every year since we were kids, we each picked an ornament for the Christmas trees. Mom has moved some of the older ones to other trees, but on Christmas Eve we always put them up together. My dads were always home by then and brought something new from the road and we always picked ours weeks before. Then that night we listened to music and decorated and caught up. It was our way of making the holiday about family when we couldn’t the rest of the year.
So, if you find ornaments you like, you should grab them.
We’ll have to have something to add Chirstmas Eve. ”
“I’m not sure your mom is going to want me adding ornaments to her trees,” I hedged, unsure. She made me feel welcome but that tradition felt a bit too intimate for this early on.
Cole frowned. “Why not? You’re pack. You’ll be back for future Christmases, too.”
“What if you don’t want me around after Christmas?” I whispered.
He glanced around, ensuring we were alone, then set the basket down on the ground.
I swallowed hard as he stepped into my space, pushing me gently against the wall. One hand braced beside my head, the other settled on my hip. He leaned in, running his nose along my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I told you last night, Aspen. Once I tasted you, there was no going back.”
His lips crashed onto mine, not soft or tentative. It was possessive. Commanding. As if he was carving his place in this relationship into me. Making sure I couldn’t forget where I belonged. Who I belonged to.
“Tell me you understand,” he breathed out against my ear, nipping at it.
“I understand,” I whispered as I clenched my thighs together.
“Now,” he said. “You’re going to go back to shopping. Let me pay for everything. And you’re going to pick out a Christmas ornament that feels like you, so you solidify your place in our lives for this Christmas, and every Christmas after.”
An alpha had never spoken to me like Cole did. They never made me feel like me, not some diluted version they wanted to perfect.
Cole wanted me, yes. But he wanted me. All of me.
I could feel how much of that came from his mother. She was this strong, independent, unapologetic, omega. I didn’t think I could handle the solitude she did, but she was right: no one needed to understand their dynamic but them.
I couldn’t wait to meet her pack. Anyone who could win someone like Karina had to be special.
“Look at this,” he said, holding up a mini ceramic Christmas tree. It was vibrant pink with multi-colored ornament and lights that were meant to glow. “I think we need this on our bedside table.”
I bit back a smile and added it to the basket. This man was doing everything he could to win me over, and I was letting him.
When I turned to the ornaments, one immediately caught my eye: a cinnamon bun. It reminded me of North. My little cinnamon roll.
I wasn’t sure he’d love the analogy but it was the truth.
Maybe I’d come back and pick ornaments for each of them when I knew the others a little better. If it was a family tradition, they would mean something. Plus, it would add character to our tree.
I almost laughed thinking of trying to shop for my exes. They would’ve given me that condescending, indulgent smile. The kind that said, What a cute little omega.
Fuck them.
“What’s with the smile drop?” Cole asked. He noticed everything.
“Do you think North would think this is stupid?” I held up the cinnamon bun ornament.
“Of course not. North isn’t like that. He’ll find it endearing. He’s a lot like you.”
“I thought so, too,” I said, confidence returning.
We sorted through the ornaments together, adding any that stood out, a mix of cute and traditional, yet they all somehow fit together. I even snagged a few packs of garland. Lights were the one thing I would buy new, I wasn’t about to burn down their estate with old lights.
“Jack needs this one,” Cole laughed, plucking a faux baseball card ornament down. The details as incredible, clearly painted by a true artist. It was perfect. “He loves to collect these. I blame Mom and her love for shopping at these antique stores.”
I smiled, loving that he found the one that fit this time.
By the time we’d filled the basket even more, I fought off a yawn.
“Enough shopping. I think it’s time for that coffee I promised.”
“Yes, please,” I agreed. He tucked me into his side as we walked back to the counter.
He handled checkout, then adjusted my hat before guiding me back into the cold. Somehow it didn’t feel so sharp with him beside me.
The coffee shop was only a few doors down and much busier than the shop we’d just left. People were chatting and a few worked alone at tables. It had life and I let the energy instantly chase away my exhaustion.
“I’m going to guess that you’re not a black-coffee kind of omega,” Cole teased.
“You’d be right,” I said, scanning the seasonal flavors. “Peppermint mocha sounds kind of good.”
A reminder of my other alpha.
Cole’s small smile said he caught the thought.
He ordered ours to go. “There’s somewhere else I want to take you before we head back and warm up for dinner.”
“Lead the way, alpha,” I urged as I wrapped my hands around the warm paper cup.
He tucked me to his side again as we walked, exchanging smiles with townsfolk but they mostly left us alone.
Then he stopped in front of a tiny Christmas cottage. I read the sign and burst out laughing.
Pictures with Santa.
He grinned. “We might have to come back with the whole pack. Mom would eat that up. But this one? This is for you. A tradition you likely missed out on.”
Unable to contain my excitement, I practically bounced inside. He was absolutely right. I never got to do the whole ‘pictures with Santa’ thing. It was beneath us according to Mom.
Mrs. Claus greeted us as we stepped into the warm space. She had a bright smile and stark white har that was braided on top of her head. Her frilly, red apron and striped dress were as adorable as she was.
“Just the two of you?”
“Yes,” Cole started, but I shook my head. “I want at least one with both of us if that’s possible?”
“Whatever you’d like, omega,” he said with a grin and shake of his head.
“That’s the right answer,” Santa boomed, letting out a hearty ho ho ho.
Mrs. Claus winked and ushered me over to Santa’s knee.
I hesitated for half a second, but Cole looked unbothered, so I sat. He was radiating warm grandfatherly vibes, at least.
“Smile for the camera!” Mrs. Claus chirped.
I beamed, a genuine, bright, happy smile I hadn’t felt in ages.
She snapped a picture before Cole joined us. Santa patted his other knee, and Cole sat, bracing a hand on the back of the chair to keep most of his weight off the old man.
We stood the moment she snapped the picture. Mrs. Claus disappeared to develop the photos.
“I think this is the part where you tell Santa what you want for Christmas,” Santa said, smiling up at us.
He was one of the best Santas I’d seen. His hair was just as white as hers and he had a full, fluffy beard.
He was wearing a christmas sweater and had red cheeks and little gold rimmed glasses.
“A pack,” I said softly, looking at Cole.
“I think I want the same,” he whispered, cupping my cheek and giving me a gentle kiss.
“I think that’s a promise Santa can keep,” Santa chuckled.
My cheeks burned. We’d just kissed in front of Santa Claus. That had to land us on the naughty list.
Mrs. Claus returned with an envelope, saving me from my worries. She handed it over with a smile while Cole handed her the money to cover the pictures.
I opened it immediately. The photo of me alone was adorable. But the one of Cole and me together, sitting on Santa’s lap, smiling like idiots, filled me with pure warmth.
Cole had thought about something I might’ve missed out on as a kid, and he’d brought me here. When I wanted him to join, he did without hesitation and no making me feel bad.
This alpha made me feel like the most precious omega in the world.