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Chapter 6: Christmas

Alex turned back to human only at the next night. Christmas eve.

"I want to know what happened yesterday," said Bran.

He was slumped on her bed, while she looked in her closet in a search for a dress to the Christmas eve dinner at Charles and Anna's place.

"I told you, he tricked me; these two weeks of dating were purely to gain my trust, so he and his friends can have a werewolf on film, the silver bullets were because they are sadistic," said Alex.

"What I don't understand is why? They grew up here, they are related to werewolves in my pack, good werewolves, good men,"

"Distantly related. Blackly is fourth generation maybe, the other two third or fourth as well, they don't like living here, their parents stayed here, because they were used to live here, and like it. I was an easy target,"

Bran snorted.

"You? Easy? Nothing is easy with you, you didn't cave in, you took four bullets instead, and if he didn't have a gun, you would have break him and his friends to pieces,"

She huffed.

"Make yourself useful old brat and tell me what to wear tonight," said Alex.

Bran rolled his eyes at her, and pulled out a black knee length dress, white wool sweater, white leggings, her black boots, black leather jacket and some socks.

"I am not choosing your underwear," said Bran and she threw a pillow on his head.

He laughed.

Alex went to take a shower.

"Bran, can you go check the cookies and cake? They should be ready by now," she called from the shower.

"Sure, be right back." Said Bran.

"Thanks,"


"How do I look?" asked Alex.

"Perfect," smiled Bran.

She started to braid her hair and huffed when it came out wrong.

Bran chuckled and pulled her hands out of her hair, braiding her hair from two sides of her head attached to her scalp and in to one braid that laid down her back.

"That what you had in mind?" asked Bran.

"Better. Thank you," she kissed his cheek and went down stairs to pack the cookies and cake.

"Ready to go?" asked Bran.

"Yep."

He opened the front door for her, and then the Humvee passenger door.

She looked at him from head to toe. He was in black jeans and white buttoned-down shirt, with a thick jacket on top. He looked perfect.

"You o.k.?" asked Bran as he started driving.

"Yeah," she smiled at him.


Everyone was already at Charles and Anna's place.

Asil, Sage, Samuel and his mate Ariana, Adam, Mercy and Adam's daughter Jesse.

Bran and Alex were the last ones to come.

Anna invited them in, taking the cookies and cake from Alex hands and putting a cup of cocoa in it instead.

"Hi, you must be Alex, I am Mercy, and this is Adam Hauptman, my husband and my stepdaughter Jesse,"

"Nice to meet you," smiled Alex. "You are like Coyote, the guy I met at the day I become wolf,"

"You met Coyote?" asked Mercy, shocked.

"Yeah, cool guy…" her voice trailed off when she noticed Adam's eyes. They were gold.

Her eyes turned stormy in an instant and she stared at him.

Everyone froze, watching curiously.

Eventually Adam looked away and the dominance test was over. Alex was more dominant then him.

Samuel whistled. "Wow kid, you are rear,"

She shrugged.

"No offence I hope?" she asked Adam.

"None." He smiled.

"Cool," she grinned and a second later was stolen by Asil to the dance floor.


"Merry Christmas," laughed Alex.

"To you too; what a show to start the evening," he grinned, and she rolled her eyes at him.

Bran pulled her in to his arms a moment later.

She laughed.

"I have a déjà vu,"

He chuckled.

She warped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck.

"How is it to have a mate? a real mate I mean, like you and Charles' mom were," she whispered to him only.

'It feels good, real, complete. You feel whole, like you will never be alone. It feels happy, and stronger together then when you were alone. The mate bond, when it's good and real, help tell one another what words sometimes can't. Mates balance each other, the wolves and the humans alike,'

"I want that," she whispered.

'I am sure you will have it one day,'

"Unless another Ben will come," she chocked.

He hugged her tighter.

'Then I will rip him a part before he will get anywhere near you,'

She sniffled, and he held her closer as they dance.


"They are talking," said Mercy.

"Yes, his side straight to her head," said Adam.

"She had an awful ordeal last night, four silver bullets," said Charles.

"Four?! Oh, my god," said Mercy.

Charles told her shortly what happened.

"Oh my god, is he dead? Did someone kill him and his friends?" asked Mercy.

"No. But I had a talk with the parents, they will send their sons to graduate out of town and we won't send them to jail for an attempt of murder," said Charles.

"That's hardly fair," said Mercy.

"Yes, but we need to keep the peace, they have relatives in the pack, good people,"

"Alex agreed to this?"

"She doesn't care, she just wants to graduate and never see any of them again. So, I fix it. When she will go back to school after the holidays, they wouldn't be there, and she will graduate peacefully," said Charles.

"Wait, isn't she seventeen? She should be just a junior," said Mercy.

"She is graduating a year early, 180 IQ," smiled Charles.

"Wow, smart kid," said Adam.

"Very smart kid," said Mercy.

"She definitely is," agreed Charles, watching his Da and Alex on the dance floor.


"Dinner is ready," called Anna and they went to the table.

"Need a moment?" asked Bran, still holding her in his arms.

She wiped her tears and shook her head.

"I am fine, or close to it anyway,"

He kissed her forehead and led her to the table.


They ate and talked and laughed all evening.

"So… Alex, how is it to have the Marrok as your BFF?" asked Mercy, making Bran chock on his drink.

"What, you thought that I will be here for the whole evening and wouldn't dig out some information?" asked Mercy.

Bran just clear his throat.

"It's cool," said Alex.

"Elaborate, please," asked Mercy with a smile.

"It's very cool," said Alex smirking.

"Oh my god, she is just like him, if she doesn't want you to know something, you won't know it. Siamese twins,"

Alex and Bran burst out laughing.

Making all the people present to blink at them with confusion.


After dinner, they sat in the living room for some cookies, cake and more cocoa.

Alex was talking with Jesse for a while, and then went to sit on the carpet in front of the fire.

Bran sat behind her, his legs and arms around her, she leaned back to his chest.

"A penny for your thoughts, little wolf,"

"I wish I had the choice to become wolf or not,"

"What would you choose?"

"Well, I wouldn't choose to become a wolf mostly because of the children issue, but I also not regret of being one now… does it make sense to you?"

"Yes. You have accepted what you are," said Bran softly.

Alex turned on her side in his embrace, warping her arms around his waist and kissing his cheek.

She was so peaceful she could fall asleep in his arms.

The surprising thing was, that Bran was peaceful too, and so does his wolf.


"They look… peaceful," whispered Mercy.

"Yes," agreed Adam.

"I never saw Bran this way," said Mercy.

"I did." Said Samuel.

"When?" asked Adam.

"When Charles' mom was alive,"

"Is Alex anything like her?" asked Mercy.

"Not at all, but she brings him the same peace," said Samuel.

"How long do you think until Leah will have enough or until his wolf will notice that they are both feeling better with Alex?" asked Mercy.

"Not long," sighed Samuel.

"Will Bran fight his feelings?" asked Adam.

"I am sure he will try," said Samuel.

"And when Alex will notice his feelings, she will fight for him, she won't let him step away," said Mercy.

"You think so?" asked Samuel.

"I am sure," said Mercy.


"Alex! Come down here!" called Bran.

Alex ran down the stairs to see a big tree by her fireplace.

"We are kind of late, but we can still decorate you a tree," he grinned.

She laughed happily and jumped at him with a hug.

He chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"There are pancakes and coffee waiting for you in the kitchen, go change and we can start after you eat," he smiled.

She hugged him again.

"Thanks Bran, love you!" she called and rushed up stairs to take a shower and get dressed.

Bran froze on the spot.

Love you. It was meaningless, meaningless, he kept telling himself.


After finishing her breakfast, she pulled out some old decorations from her former house, and with the decorations Bran brought, they had more than enough.

"Are you alright, old brat?"

He smiled at the nickname.

"Sure, silver chains or red?"

"Both," she grinned and helped him warped them around the tree.

They had colorful balls, chains, bells, bows and the big star to go on top. They even had wolves' figures and full moons.

"I love it!" she called happily when they were done.

"Good." He said and pulled off a blanket that covered the floor beneath the low branches of the tree.

"Presents?" she asked with teary eyes.

"Yes, just from me, Charles, Anna and Asil," he smiled.

"I have presents for you too, but it's homemade, very simple,"

"I love homemade stuff," he smiled.

"Cool, give me a moment," she said and rushed up stairs.


She came down with six wooded chests.

On each chest, a name was curved beautifully.

"Want to open yours?" she asked.

"I thought the chest is the present,"

"It is too, I build it, and curved the name and decorations and what's inside too. Open it!"

Bran opened the chest in curiosity.

Inside was a grayish wooden wolf with a white tipped tail. Around his neck was tied a bow with a card saying:

Merry Christmas Bran

Love,

Alex.

"Do you like it?"

"Love it, it's beautiful," he said in a smile and kissed her cheek.

"Now open yours, and we can go deliver the other gifts you made,"

"Cool," grinned Alex and opened her first gift.

"That's from Asil," he said.

Merry Christmas little warrior,

Asil.

She read her card and looked at two sheathed swords.

"Wow, that's… unbelievable,"

"Well, he is original," said Bran.

She giggled.

"Who's next?"

Bran chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Ammm… take this, it's from Charles," said Bran.

"It's kind of heavy," said Alex as she opened the present.

Merry Christmas Alexandria,

Hope you like it,

Charles Cornick

She read the card and looked at the saddle that had her name curved on it.

Alex looked at Bran in confusion. He laughed.

"We have some horses here, he bought one for you,"

"He bought me a horse?!"

"A pretty one too, do you ride?" asked Bran.

"Ammm, I only rode one time," she admitted.

"Don't worry, Anna can teach you, or Charles, or me… or a few others from the pack," he grinned.

She laughed.

"This is from Anna," he said in a smile.

Merry Christmas Alex,

Hope you find this useful,

Anna Cornick

"Anna found a hobby in knitting," explained Bran.

Alex was holding a white scarf and a matching hat.

She replaced her own black ones in Anna's.

Bran smiled at her.

"Now mine," he said, giving her a small warped box.

She took off the cover and read the card:

To my little wolf and best friend,

Merry Christmas

Yours,

Bran Cornick

Alex opened the box and pulled out keys.

"That's car keys," she stated.

"I know, I got you a car, a red Volkswagen Eos," he said smiling.

"Oh my god, thank you Bran, the best gift ever!" she jumped at him with a hug, making him laugh.

"Come on, let's take your new car on a drive and deliver your gifts," said Bran.

Alex quickly picked up the paper covers to throw in the trash, put the cards above the fire place, and led the way outside to her new car.


First, they drove to Charles and Anna's place, Samuel and Ariana were still there, while Adam, Mercy and Jesse drove home the night before after the Christmas party.

Alex took four out of the last five chests she made.

They knock on the door and were invited in.

"We are drinking cocoa and eating cookies in the living room, come on in," said Anna.

"Thanks for the scarf and hat, I love it,"

"You're welcome, honey," smiled Anna and gave her a cup of cocoa.

"Hey guys, merry Christmas!" called Alex as they joined to the living room.

Bran was carrying two chests and his cup of cocoa, helping Alex.

"Merry Christmas!" they called back as she sat on the carpet in front of the fire.

"So, I have gifts, to the four of you," she started, "Bran already got his in my place,"

They all turned to look at Bran.

"What with the creepy stares?" asked Alex.

"Nothing. And we didn't get you anything," said Samuel.

"You saved my life about two days ago, it's more than enough in my book," said Alex and gave him his chest.

He smiled at her and opened it.

"I hope I got the shape and colors right, I never saw your wolf, Asil describe it to me,"

Samuel was holding a puffy snowy-gray wolf in his hand. He laughed.

"You got it quite right I would say,"

"Cool. Ariana, I didn't know what to put in your chest, so I hope the chest itself is good enough,"

"Sure, thank you, it's beautiful," said Ariana.

Alex smiled.

"Charles," said Alex, taking a chest from Bran.

He pulled out a big red wolf and grinned at her.

"I love it, you are very talented, thank you,"

She smiled.

"Anna," she said and gave her the last box.

Anna pulled out a small black wolf.

"It's lovely, thanks," said Anna.

"You can put in the chest all the jewelries you refuse to wear," said Samuel.

Anna blushed while the others chuckled and laughed.

"Da what did you got Alex?" asked Samuel.

Alex grinned and opened her gloved hand.

The other four stared at her palm.

"Car keys…? Wait, you got her a car?" asked Charles.

"Red car," said Alex still grinning.

"Leah is going to use your own power on you Da," said Samuel.

Alex growled, her eyes stormy gray.

"Easy cub, it was just a joke," said Samuel.

She snarled at him.

"Alex," said Bran softly.

Alex took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

When she opened them, they were green again.

"Hello," he smiled at her.

"Sorry," she told Samuel. "I don't know why she is doing that; she has more temper then what I ever had,"

"No problem," smiled Samuel.

"Well, we are heading to Asil, thanks for the cookies and cocoa," said Bran.

"And the gifts, I loved them," said Alex.

"Merry Christmas,"

"Merry Christmas!"


"Did you see that?" asked Samuel as they heard the car driving away.

"Her wolf already chose Da, she protects him. Alex just didn't realize that yet, she thinks her wolf is acting funny," said Charles.

"Soon enough, she will understand, she is a very smart girl," said Anna.

"I wander what will happen then," said Samuel.


Alex went in to the green house.

"Merry Christmas Asil!" she called happily, making Bran smile.

"Merry Christmas little wolf, liked your gift?" asked Asil.

"Loved it. Here is yours, I made it myself," said Alex.

His chest was covered in roses, and in side was a wolf in his colors.

"I love it, thank you little wolf," said Asil in a smile.

"Bran can we have a word?" asked Asil.

"Sure," said Bran.

"I will wait in the car, merry Christmas," she waved and left.