Chapter 45 Christmas Day Reckoning
The cold wind whipped across the deck, carrying the sharp, earthy scent of pine from the surrounding woods and the faint, metallic tang of the frozen lake below. It stung my exposed skin, raising goosebumps along my arms despite the robe I clutched tighter around myself. The sun hung low in the winter sky, casting long shadows that stretched like accusing fingers toward Ben and Alexander. Ben's feet dangled inches above the frost-dusted wood, his face a mottled red, veins bulging in his neck as he clawed at Alexander's unyielding grip. Alexander's knuckles were white around the collar of Ben's red plaid shirt, his breath coming in controlled huffs that fogged the air like smoke from a dragon.
My heart hammered in my chest, the sound loud in my ears over the distant creak of ice on the lake and the soft whistle of wind through the trees. "Put whatever reason you're fighting about behind you," I said, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife through butter. "It's Christmas. Can we just... celebrate in peace? Please?"
The words hung there, heavy and pleading. Alexander's head turned first, his dark eyes locking on mine. The fury in them softened just a fraction, his jaw unclenching slightly. Ben's eyes, wild, furious, flicked to me too, but he didn't speak, still gasping for air.
Alexander released him slowly, deliberately, letting Ben drop the last few inches. Ben stumbled, his boots scraping against the deck with a rough thud as he caught himself on the railing, the wood groaning under his weight. He sucked in a ragged breath, straightening his shirt with jerky movements, his face burning with humiliation.
Alexander gave him one last look, a cold, warning glare that sent a shiver down my spine despite the robe, then turned and walked inside without a word. The sliding door hissed shut behind him, the glass rattling faintly in its frame.
Ben rounded on me the moment Alexander was out of sight, his breath coming in hot puffs that misted the air between us. "You saw that! He attacked me! For what? Because I called him out on his bullshit? You and him, shopping, dinners, holding hands like some secret lovers. Don't deny it, Maddie. I know what I saw."
I crossed my arms, the cold seeping through my slippers and making my toes numb. "Stop acting like a kid, Ben. Whatever you think you saw, it's not your business. Drop it. For today, at least."
He laughed, a sharp, bitter bark that echoed off the lake. "Not my business? You're my wife! Fake or not, you're playing the part. And if you're screwing him behind my back."
"Enough!" I snapped, my voice louder than I'd intended, cutting through the wind like a whip. The accusation stung, not because it was wrong, but because it was too close to the truth. But I couldn't let him see that. "You're paranoid. And it's ruining everything. Just... stop."
Ben's face twisted, eyes narrowing as he stepped closer, the scent of his cologne, cloying, spicy, mixing with the pine in a way that turned my stomach. "Paranoid? I have eyes, Maddie. The estate 'renovation,' you two vanishing to the city, now this cozy cabin getaway? If it's what I think, I'll make sure everyone knows. The board, the investors, Alexander's done. And our deal? Over. You'll get nothing."
I held his gaze, refusing to flinch even as the cold wind tugged at my hair. "You're seeing things that aren't there. And if you keep pushing, you'll destroy whatever's left of this 'family' charade. Is that what you want?"
He opened his mouth, then closed it, fury boiling in his eyes. For a second, I thought he'd explode again, but instead, he spun on his heel and stormed off the deck, boots thudding against the wood like angry drumbeats. The door to the trailhead slammed behind him, echoing across the frozen lake.
I exhaled, my breath clouding in front of me, and rubbed my arms. The cold had seeped deeper now, making my fingers ache. I turned and headed inside, the sliding door whispering shut behind me with a soft click that sealed out the wind's howl.
The cabin's warmth enveloped me immediately, the crackling fire in the stone hearth sending waves of heat that carried the comforting scent of burning cedar, mingling with the rich, bitter aroma of fresh coffee brewing on the counter. The lights on the tree twinkled softly, reflecting off the glass dining table and the sleek black furniture, casting dancing shadows that made the room feel almost magical. But the tension from outside lingered in my muscles like a coiled spring.
Alexander sat at the kitchen island, mug in one hand, laptop open in front of him. The screen glowed blue against his face, spreadsheets and emails scrolling as his fingers tapped the keys with rhythmic precision. He looked utterly composed, sipping his coffee slowly, the steam curling up like lazy smoke, as if the drama on the deck, where he'd nearly revealed his wolf side in a burst of raw power, had never happened. His dark hair was still tousled from sleep, and the gray sweater hugged his shoulders, but his expression was calm, focused, the picture of control.
I approached, the cool concrete floor shifting to the warmth of the rug under my feet. "What was that about?"
He glanced up, closing the laptop with a soft click. "Ben being Ben."
I slid onto the stool beside him, the leather cool against my legs through the robe. "He thinks... something's going on. Between us."
Alexander set his mug down with a quiet clink, the ceramic warm under my fingertips when I brushed it accidentally. "Let him think. But Maddie..." He turned to face me fully, his dark eyes intense, searching. "I want you to tell him. Today. That you want out of this fake marriage. That you're tired of the drama, the pretense. End it."
My stomach twisted, the warmth from the fire suddenly feeling too hot against my back. "Alexander, it's too early."
"Why?" His voice was low, urgent, leaning forward so the faint scent of his cologne, woodsy, masculine, mixed with the coffee on his breath. "This is killing us. The lies, the games. Ben's already unraveling, he'll drag it out, make it worse."
I shook my head, throat tight. "If I end it now, he'll explode. Use it against you, the board, the company. Your image as the stable leader? Gone. And with the pack still recovering from Moonclaw... you can't afford that hit. Not yet."
Alexander's jaw tightened, but he reached for my hand, his palm warm and calloused against mine. "I can take care of you," he said softly, thumb stroking my knuckles. "Whatever Ben promised, money, security, the hospital bills for your mom, I can multiply it. Hell… it's still my money he'd give you at the end of this agreement anyway. He doesn't have his own fortune; it's all from the company, from me. Let me handle it. Let me protect you, from him, from all of this."
His words wrapped around me like a blanket, tempting, safe. The fire popped behind us, sending a spark flying that fizzled on the hearth. I could see it, walking away from the fake vows, from Ben's threats, into Alexander's world fully. But doubt gnawed. "It's not just about the money. If we rush, Ben will twist it, make it look like coercion, like you seduced me or something. The scandal could ruin you. Give me time. Let me play it out a little longer. We end it on our terms, not because he forced our hand."
Alexander's eyes darkened, frustration flickering. "Maddie, listen…"
The front door banged open, cutting him off mid-sentence. Ben stormed in, cheeks red from the cold, snow dusting his shoulders and melting into dark spots on his plaid shirt. His boots tracked wet prints across the floor, the scent of fresh pine clinging to him like an accusation. He stopped short when he saw us at the island, hands still linked, faces close.
The room went still, the fire's crackle suddenly loud in the silence.
Ben's gaze dropped to our joined hands, then back up, his expression shifting from fury to something colder, more calculated. He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Interrupting something?"
Alexander released my hand slowly, leaning back, but the bond between us pulsed with restrained anger. I shot him a stern look, don't escalate, and he exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction.
Ben joined us at the island, pulling out a stool with a scrape of wood on concrete. He sat, rubbing his hands together as if to warm them, but his eyes stayed sharp. "Look, about earlier... I'm sorry. Christmas and all. Truce?"
Alexander held his gaze for a long moment, then nodded lazily, voice flat. "Sorry too."
I relaxed slightly, the air loosening like a held breath released. But Ben's apology felt thin, brittle, like ice ready to crack. The fire popped again, sending embers dancing, but the warmth couldn't touch the chill settling in my bones.
Christmas Day was far from over.