Sixteen Days Until Christmas
Eden
She doesn't think the antibiotics are actually doing anything, but it makes her alphas relax when she takes them, so she does. She gets better probably due to all the napping and the fluids that her mates are constantly foisting on her.
Her voice is still scratchy and it cracks embarrassingly when she tries to speak so she spends most of her time resting quietly, which is how she ends up snuggled into new flannel pajamas and the softest blanket Luke can find in her nest with a mug of steaming peppermint tea and her Kindle in her hands.
Outside, more snow drifts from the sky in great fat flakes, dusting the forest with powdered sugar.
The rest of the world feels muffled and distant in her safe little cocoon in the cottage, tucked into her nest with Luke while Julius and Tenor once more shovel the snow outside.
It feels like a never-ending chore, and even when she's healthy they won't even consider letting her help.
Luke's bulk hovers over her as she snuggles into him, dwarfed by his size and feeling especially safe beneath his arm. There's a bowl of cut fruit in his lap which she's been picking at. Her throat only aches a little when she swallows, so it seems like the worst of her cold is behind her.
On the TV, the opening credits of a Christmas movie dance across the screen, music swelling to fill the living room.
A famous actress from her childhood leaves the bustle of the city for a cottage in the countryside.
As the music starts to croon on about the presents underneath the tree, Eden feels her eyes growing heavier.
It seems like all she's done the past couple days is sleep, but the warmth of Luke's body next to her makes the idea of another nap impossible to resist.
Her eyes flutter a little when he shifts next to her, pressing a kiss to her hair.
“Hey, don't fall asleep yet. You'll miss the best part," he murmurs. "She's going to meet a rugged country man who reminds her about the true meaning of Christmas."
She smiles, sleep-heavy, but forces her eyes open with a yawn. "Okay, okay, I'm watching."
She's not sure how or when but the movie has somehow ended up in a Scottish castle with tartan and poinsettias everywhere.
Julius and Tenor are back and have snuggled into bed with them.
Tenor is reading a book on Luke's other side and Julius is snuggled up against her, looking at his phone and pointedly ignoring the movie.
"I just want to thank you," she whispers, but she knows they can still hear her clearly over the sounds of the TV. It's like their ears are tuned into whatever frequency her voice is at. "For taking care of me," she clarifies. "Even when I was gross and whiny."
"You're never gross and whiny," Luke sounds put out. Julius agrees, snuggling her into his chest and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
They soon move on to watching the Muppet's Christmas Carol and Tenor and Luke start aggressively debating whether Miss Piggy is an omega or alpha.
Julius argues she could be a beta just to start shit and Eden closes her eyes again, the warmth from the room and the warmth in her chest joining into something perfect as the snow continues to fall outside.