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My skin warms, I couldn't help but laugh deeply at his reaction. Why do I feel like a naughty child? I thought it would be funny, given how high his sex drive is as a Alpha male. Plus, it's literally been like MONTHS since we even kissed.

"Can't cash in until tomorrow." I whisper, winking as I pat his chest and walk past him.

Hardin immediately wraps his arm around my waist and draws me closer. I don't mind, it's a relief that he still wants me after all this time.

"You're definitely not sleeping tomorrow night." He whispers against my ear, leaning down to do so.

My neck flushes crimson, like I'm suddenly shy. The shiver that shudders through my body says otherwise. I know Hardin literally means that I'm not sleeping, like at all.

"Alpha!" That familiar voice squeals with excitement as we come around the corner. Naturally everyone knows it's me now that I'm with Hardin, they know he'd never walk around so cosy with another female.

"Hi, sweetie! Look how big you've got!" I gasp, kneeling down to catch the little girl in my arms.

"Momma says it's the carrots." She beams, her speech improved a lot since I last heard her speak. Her words make me laugh a little.

"Really? I'll have to make sure that I eat all mine, maybe I'll get as tall as Hardin." I whisper, like it's a big secret.

Her big eyes widen slightly, and she nods. "Yeah."

Seeing the scars that mark the sides of her face and no doubt cover the front of her little body, it makes my heart falter.

"Momma said you have marks too." Lotti says to me, as if noticing me looking at the scars.

"I do, yeah. I wish I had yours though, they're so beautiful." I smile softly, running my fingers over her cheek, tracing one of the scars.

"I'm sorry...she hasn't stopped asking about you since..." Phoebe trials off with uncertainty, not entirely comfortable with mentioning it at all.

I just smile warmly.

"It's ok, I'm feeling much better now." I assure her, handing Lotti over to her in case she's not comfortable with me holding her. I don't blame her.

"You look a lot better, it's nice to see you." Phoebe smiles kindly.

"Thank you...what does everyone usually do around here on Christmas Eve?" I ask, glancing between Phoebe, and Hardin.

"Act like fools." Hardin mutters.

I turn to look at him. "Wha- HARDIN!" I scream at the top of my lungs as he smashes a snowball right in my face.

Can you say brain freeze!?

Ignoring the laughter coming from Phoebe and Lotti, I spit out the snow and take off after Hardin, not caring that I'm only wearing socks on my feet. His chuckle is more like a cackle, and before I know it, the pups are chasing him too.

Out of guilt for their very slow running, Hardin slows right down. Me being me, I slam him to the ground with a shout of triumph.

"Climb aboard!" I tell the young pups, sitting on Hardin's chest and smashing a large snowball right in his stupid handsome face.

The pups giggle and squeal as Hardin flips us all off of him with ease, tossing us into the thick snow that still falls. He lets out a low growl, playful as he chases the pups away.

I watch him a smile, my heart literally melting as I see how he interacts with the pack pups. I've never seen him like this, only with Mila. Perhaps she changed his mind about babies?

"Are you getting all of this?" I ask Luther, knowing he's behind me.

"Yup, told you he'd cry. For some reason people that meet you tend to end up loving you, even the most heartless of us." Luther says.

"Do you mean Dom?" I ask curiously.

"Not just him, Hardin was cold before he met you, Zed especially. Beck didn't let feelings get in the way of his duty as guard, and now look at him." Luthers words make me glance over to the porch, seeing the three familiar males sat on the steps chuckling and acting like teenagers.

I smile slightly.

"You have a light inside you that draws people in, never forget the good things, Kalli. This right here, this is what you've been missing your whole life, true love." Luther tells me.

I wanted to cry, because the guy has never been so nice to me, and no one has ever said anything so special about me before. It makes me feel like I'm needed, and wanted here.

"Thank you for everything that you've done for me, I can never repay you." I say softly.

"I just gave you the opportunity, it was you that did all the work. Besides, getting Hardin crying on video is payment enough." Luther practically cackles like some crazy wizard.

"Will you send me a copy?" I ask hopefully.

"Will do, do you want me to put your bags in the house?" He offers, already walking ahead to the car.

"Yes please." I call out.

Luther gives a short wave over his shoulder without turning, never interested in saying goodbye. Instead of sitting around and watching everyone have fun like I did last year, I get up and get in there with the rest of the adults.

After an hour or so of messing around in the snow, we head inside. Parents rush to get their pups warmed back up before dinner, I have to admit, I'm pretty frozen myself. In fact, I lost feeling in my toes about half an hour ago.

"Oh god." I moan in delight as I place warm dry socks on my ice cold feet, unable to feel my toes or fingers.

"Cold?" Hardin asks, joining me on the couch in front of the fire in the living area.

"Numb." I correct. The warmth coming out of the fire is nice, but it doesn't do anything for my poor toes.

"Come here." Hardin doesn't wait for me to move, choosing to drag me by my legs instead.

"Idiot." I grumble, lifting myself up and sitting on his lap.

Hardin grabs a blanket and spreads it over us, his thick comforting arms surrounding me like a security blanket. I felt small, and snuggly, and it felt amazing.

"You smell good." Hardin murmurs.

"You smell." I respond. Hardin immediately pinches my thigh lightly, and I grin widely.

"So, what are you going to choose first?" I ask him quietly, turning to look up at him.

He glances at me with a wicked smile.

"Are you certain you're willing to do everything you've written down?" He asks me, as if this is my one and only chance to back out.

"I'll let you know when the time comes, I might have chickened out by then." I admit with a chuckle.

"Little ears in the room!" Loud ass Jackson suddenly announces, as if we're taking about something inappropriate.

Hardin and I share a look, saying nothing as Jackson himself sits down, no child in sight. Did he seriously just announce himself as a child? Deciding not to comment on it, I rest my head against Hardin warm chest. I'd forgotten about him being shirtless until now.

Hardin places his hands over my feet, helping to warm them through without me even mentioning it. That makes me happy.

We ate dinner with the rest of the pack, and for the first time ever I didn't feel awkward, or threatened, or out of place. It was nice, and it made me feel more at home than I've ever felt.

"I have something to show you." Hardin says to me shortly after dinner.

"I said tomorrow night." I whine like a child.

Hardin chuckles, his hand smacking my ass as he walks past me. I glare at his back as he walks away.

"Come on!" He calls.

Grumbling under my breath, I follow him to the front door and slide my wellies on, knowing someone kindly brought them inside for me. Hardin offers me his hand, and with a small sigh, I place my hand in his and follow him back out into the cold.

It's still daylight, although I can't imagine it will be for long considering it's still snowing.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask him curiously.

"You'll know it when you see it." Hardin says softly, leading me deeper into the woods.

Even with all the snow, and the fact that the trees are bare and there no scents anymore to mark the spot, at some point I begin to recognise the area. I feel it in my gut, a familiar feeling drawing closer to them.

"Hardin-"

"I didn't like the idea of them being so far from us, so I brought a little piece of us, out here." Hardin explains before I can even say anything.

The second we pass through the trees, I notice what he's taking about. For a few seconds it takes my breath, the fact that he did something like this for them, for us.

"I know you chose this spot because of the sunrise and sunset, now they'll have always have light." Hardin says quietly.

The two giant trees I'd buried my pups just in front of, are decorated with what looks like hundreds of little clear crystals, hanging on every branch, catching the light even in the dullest of days. Not only do they sparkle, and shine in the light, but they're also solar powered, meaning they'll glow in the dark.

On the spot that I'd buried them, is a fresh patch of wild orchids. Due to this spot being closer to the border, I'm glad Hardin didn't put any kind of plaque, the last thing I want is some sick wolf to come along and do gods knows what.

"Say something." Hardin murmurs, worry in his tone.

"It's perfect." I tell him softly, extremely grateful.

"It is?" He seems surprised.

Smiling, I nod my head and turn around. "It is." I confirm, dragging him down for a kiss.