Chapter 59 Rose
Rose
My heat took it out of everyone. We slept the entire day away, curled up in the nest while snow fell quietly outside. I was pretty disappointed that my heat had spoiled Evander’s plans, but he’d just laughed and said, “Christmas isn’t a day. It’s a whole vibe.”
I peel it off.
Have a Merry Christmas! Love, The Omega Book Club.
The swell of gratitude nearly knocks me over. When I’d gotten that call from Benito, these gifts were still in shopping bags. Now they’re wrapped in sparkly paper with curling ribbons and metallic bows.
Strong arms wrap around my waist from behind, the scent of pine and oak washing over me. A bearded face nuzzles into my cheek, scent-marking me with quiet affection.
“I’m so glad you have friends who help you so much, Starlight,” Harlan says, voice rough with emotion.
He can feel the gratitude for my friends coursing down the bond.
We can open and close the bonds when needed, but I haven’t found a reason to shut them—not when they let me share love like this.
It’s not mind-reading, just feelings. Warmth. Presence.
Speaking of presence, Evander’s excitement is practically bouncing off the bonds. He lives for Christmas. But even the other alphas are radiating a mix of anticipation and nerves.
Probably can’t wait to open their presents. So, I decide to put them out of their misery. I hand each of them their gifts and watch with delight as they tear into them like overgrown puppies.
For Harlan, I had a watercolor commissioned in town. It's a painting of our entire pack, with us at the center. On the back, I wrote a little letter: To my alpha, We made this. Love, your Starlight.
He pulls me into his lap and kisses me senseless.
Next is Wyatt. His gift is horseback riding passes for a ranch down the Peninsula. I’ll admit, it’s kind of for me too.
“I thought we could go together,” I say, suddenly shy. “You could teach me?”
His smile is like the sun coming through the window. He walks over and gently places his hat on my head. “I’d love that, Sugarplum.”
Logan opens his next. It’s a sleek, expensive watch that matches his whole sharp CEO aesthetic. He gives me a smile, until I make a turning motion, encouraging him to read the engraving.
Don’t waste time regretting.
His smile turns wistful, softer. He leans down and kisses me, tender and slow.
Evander is practically vibrating as he tears open his gift. Inside are three ornaments.
The first is a photo of us in front of the tree we chopped down together. The second says, Sterling Pack’s First Christmas And the third is a tiny version of the full to-do list Evander made for our holiday season.
“So we can remember the list every year,” I explain. His smile is electric. He pulls me into a sideways hug, since Harlan will not let me leave his lap.
Finally, Kai opens his gift. His is the one I’m most nervous about.
He pulls out a shadow box, and inside are all the little pieces of our shared past. A photo of us in elementary school.
A crumpled Valentine’s note he gave me in eighth grade.
Concert tickets from high school. All memorabilia from the only part of my life before that ever really mattered—because he was in it.
He looks up at me, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. I don’t even realize I’m crying until I feel the warmth streaking down my cheeks.
This time, Harlan lets go. I fall straight into Kai’s arms as he pulls me in and holds me tight.
“I love you, Rosie.” He says it plain and true—no frills, no hesitation. And I feel the absolute truth of it hum through the bond—warm and steady and permanent.
“I think it’s about time for your gift, Starling,” Harlan says. I turn to find him holding out a package. It’s thin and square, solid beneath the wrapping as I take it from him. I tear it open and find myself holding a hand-painted sign:
The Sterling Pack House.
Along with it is a folded piece of paper. My fingers tremble a little as I open it. It’s a deed of sale.
“You picked out a house?” I ask, blinking fast. I try not to sound disappointed, but I am. Just a little. I thought we’d pick out a house together.
But the guys are beaming, and that helps me squash the feeling down.
“No, Starlight,” Harlan says, reaching into his pocket and handing me a photograph. “You did.”
It’s upside down. I frown and turn it over—and my heart soars.
It’s the house on the lake. The beautiful blue colonial with a view of the town—just a few doors down from Clara. The one I’ve always admired. Always dreamed of.
“You can’t have bought this. It wasn’t for sale. I would’ve seen,” I say, voice shaking. I drive past that house almost every day.
“It wasn’t for sale,” Evander smirks. “Daddy just offered the owners way more than they could ever refuse.”
“Wyatt also offered them free dinners at the hotel once a week for life,” Kai adds.
Wyatt tips his cowboy hat and blushes. I am full-on happy sobbing at this point.
“You bought me the house? Like, THE house?” I manage between gasping breaths.
Now everyone looks more than a little concerned.
“We can sell it if we did wrong,” Logan starts gently. “We thought—umph!”
Logan grunts as I throw my arms around him. “I got you a watch and you got me a house?” I’m blabbering now, but I don’t know what else to say. It’s just... so much.
“I love the watch, Jingles,” Logan murmurs, wrapping me in his arms. As I love all over them—hugging and crying and kissing every face I can reach—the snow drifts lazily past our window. The soft glow of our little home spills out onto the quiet streets of Lakeside Point.
My forever home.