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"Did you really think I'd forget about you on Christmas?" Hardin asks me softly, running his fingers through my hair as he opens the other two gifts I'd got him.

"No, I just...I've never had this." I sigh, nuzzling my face into his warm neck.

"You deserve the world, Kalli." Hardin tells me in that unmistakeable Alpha voice, his tone telling me that nothing will ever change his mind.

"You are my world." I smile, uncaring for how cheesy it sounds because it's true. Without Hardin, I literally can't deal with life, having him at my side helps lessen the load.

Hardin doesn't say anything, he doesn't need to, I felt his joy from my words, knowing that I mean it with my whole heart. The way he looks at me right now, is different to any other time. I felt it, the pure love that can only be earned with time and patience.

Like he loved me before, but now it's a feeling of utter peace, like as long as we're together we can take anything that comes our way. Given what we've been through this year, I have no doubt that a bond as strong as ours can survive anything.

"Won't the pack be expecting you?" I ask him curiously.

"Us." He corrects. "And yes, once we leave this room it's going to be chaos down there."

Giddiness fills me.

"We should get dressed." I pull away from him and carefully climb over all the presents and wrapping paper.

"Pyjamas only for today." Hardin says.

Turning around, I open my mouth to argue with him when I see him pointing to the closet. Is this how they do Christmas here? Pyjamas all day?

Happy to lounge around in pyjamas, I grab the new set Hardin got me off the bed, and snatch one of the new sets of matching panties and bra from the pile. My skin flashes knowing Hardin is watching me.

"Can I join?" Hardin asks, and I'll admit it takes me by surprise. Did he really just ask?

"Are you planning to use a check?" I question, knowing how his mind words. Get me naked in the shower, and then choose a sex check to cash in.

Hardin smirks. "Maybe."

"Then no." I laugh, placing my dry items on the sink before stripping off Hardin's t-shirt and my panties.

"Why?" He complains like a child.

"I want to be able to walk, at least until dinner." I tell him, my skin heating up rapidly as flashes of the last time we mated flicker through my head.

'Stop.' I tell him through the bond, knowing he's doing it on purpose.

As I step under the hot water, I feel rough hands gripping my soft skin. My heart races a little, more so when he presses his front against my back, allowing me feel...everything.

"Hardin, the packs waiting for us." I whisper, tilting my head back to look up at him, the water falling against my chest, bouncing off my C-cup boobs.

Hardin's eyes slowly drag across my exposed body, growing dark with lust. I felt his need against my lower back, the hard object caged between us. My entire body felt like it was burning up.

"Close your eyes." He growls in that demanding, husky tone. My entire body shudders, my knees feeling weak.

But I do as he says, my heart pounding with anticipation. I feel him take my hand, guiding my palm down the centre of my flat stomach, to my abdomen, and lower.

I gasp softly. "Hardin-"

"Relax." He whispers against my ear, controlling my hand like his own instrument between my thighs, gliding my fingers against the spot that instantly makes me shiver.

"You play dirty." I breathe, letting him move my hand between my legs even if I'm not entirely certain I like it.

"Only with you." Hardin's growl is beyond tempting, with his body so close, and his hand down on me, I didn't have the strength to pull away.

Slipping my hand away from my moo, I instead grab Hardin's wrist and gently push his back back down. That menacing growl that vibrates through him from my action, tells me that he's happy, if his raging hardness wasn't enough.

Pressing myself more against him, I feel myself give in to his sinful hands, one between my legs and the other gliding up my waist. He grabs my boob with warm rough fingers, pinching my nipple just enough to draw a whimper from my lips.

Subconsciously, I grip his wrist slightly and guide his fingers to my opening, while pressing my ass against his cock. Hardin doesn't need to be told twice, slowly slipping a single finger into me, his thumb drawing circles on my clit stimulating my desire for him.

On second thought, the pack can wait a little longer.

***

"Thought you'd be awake bright and early." Jackson frowns, seemingly not pleased that we're almost a whole hour late to breakfast.

"Hardin gave me like a thousand presents." I defend, releasing Hardin's hand as he heads off to the kitchen.

"Pretty sure that's not the only thing he gave you." Jackson mumbles under his breath, smirking. Does he think I can't hear him?

Choosing to ignore his comment, I loop my arm through his and drag him into the large living area. The pups are still opening their gifts from everyone in the pack, a mountain of unopened presents still stacked up around the Christmas tree.

"This is a little different to Kade's pack, huh?" I murmur to Jackson, resting my head on his shoulder.

"A little." He smiles faintly.

Given that we both came from the same place, we both love the fact that Hardin allows his pack to celebrate to their heart content. I love that he's so into the holidays, and actually interacts with his pack, his family. Kade didn't allow anyone living on his land to hang lights, or dress up, or give anyone except himself and Sasha gifts.

"We're all really proud of you, you know that right?" Jackson suddenly whispers to me as he wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in closer.

"Stop, I don't want to cry." I whisper back, feeling my eyes water slightly.

Jackson laughs quietly, and gives me a squeeze before releasing me completely. Phoebe comes towards me, carrying a small box wrapped in shiny red paper.

"We made you something, It's not much but...Lotti will be Lotti." Phoebe says, a tad nervous as she hands me the gift.

"You didn't have to, but thank you." I gush, surprised but happy.

Crouching down next to Lotti, I open the gift and pull the lid off the box. Inside is a glass bauble, hand painted by Lotti with the help of her mum. Immediately I felt the love that went into it, and I loved the fact that they made it for me.

"Wow, this is beautiful! Did you really make this?" I ask Lotti with wide eyes, over exaggerating it a little for her benefit.

She nods quickly, excitement on her adorable face. "Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it!" I beam, leaning in and giving her a short hug.

Glancing up at Phoebe, I smile gratefully. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Phoebe smiles, before taking Lotti to finish opening her gifts.

Taking a moment to really look at the bauble, I realise there's stick people, three of them, I couldn't make out the faces so I naturally assume it's Lotti, Phoebe and me. It's cute.

Finding a random empty branch on the tree, I hang it with the rest of the baubles.

"Alpha Kalli, I got you something." I turn to the sound of a woman's voice, one that I can't say I'm familiar with.

"You did?" I ask in surprise, and confusion. What's with all the gifts?

The woman smiles sheepishly. "I'm Tammy, we haven't met. I just wanted to let you know that you're not just Alpha Hardin's mate, you're one of us."

The fact that she just said it without beating around the bush makes me smile.

"Thank you, I didn't know gifts was a big thing, I would have gotten you all something." I say, feeling guilty.

"No, it's ok. I hope you like it." Tammy says.

"Thank you so much." I decide to just hug her, because thanking her isn't enough.

I mean, she hasn't even met me in person, and after the way I've treated this pack...well, I never expected a gift.

"Your welcome." Tammy grins and heads off.

Opening the present, I realise it's a black t-shirt with bold pink lettering on the back. Pulling it out so I can read it, I feel a little overwhelmed as I realise the meaning behind the words.

Empowered Survivor. In bold letters on the front. I wouldn't buy this for myself, but the fact that some pack members that I've never met went out and picked this for me, just makes me love it completely.

It makes me smile.

As I'm folding the t-shirt back up, two more pack members approach me with gifts. At one point I started to cry, because it's just something I have never had. It's not even about the gifts, it's about the wolves that are choosing to forgive and forget, choosing to show me mercy when I gave them none.

"No! How did you beat me?" I gasp at the two little boys I'm currently playing snakes and ladders with. They're around four years old, easily entertained.

"We're just that good." The blonde kid says, and I laugh at his bold response.

"You sure you didn't cheat? Because if you did, I might just have to eat all your dessert." I tell them, acting all childlike.

"We didn't!" They gasp, eyes widening in horror like me taking their dessert is the worst thing in the world.

"Okay. What do you- Ah!" I gasp as I'm picked up and swung around like a rag doll.

"Put me down!" I squeal, completely appalled that someone would do such a thing.

The second I'm placed on my feet, I swing around to run my mouth when I realise that I know this man.

"Xander? I didn't know you were going to be here, hi!" I beam, quickly grabbing the large man and yanking him into a tight hug.

Xander grunts at my strength, chuckling as he pats my back.

"Hardin wants you to have a full Christmas." Xander tells me.

Releasing him, I glance across the room towards my mate. He's standing with Beck and Zed, still wearing his red Santa hat, a glass of bourbon in his hand and a relaxed grin on his face. My heart instantly softens.

"My emotions can't handle this much joy, I feel like I'm going to self-combust." I say with a grin.

Xander just flashes a smile. "Take a breath, because...Lori and I got you something."

As if on que, I notice Lori walking up behind Xander, carrying arms full of presents. I instantly cover my face.

"More? I literally only got Hardin something, and everyone keeps giving me gifts." I complain, guilty for not thinking to get anyone anything. I honestly didn't think I'd receive any gifts, not after this year, or even at all.

"Speaking of Hardin." Xander's eyes flicker to his son across the room. Despite how much time Lori and Xander have spent here this year, things are still a little rough between them. Hardin still blames himself for what happened, and facing his parents is never easy for him.

"Can you give him this from us?" Lori asks, handing me a large box, a little bigger than a shoe box.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him?" I ask, feeling guilty that they're not giving it him themselves.

"We've never seen him this happy, and content...it's nice, we don't want to ruin that." Xander says softly, wrapping his arm around Lori.

I could see the pain in there eyes, but I also know they're happy to just be a part of his life again. I suppose things take time, I can't say that I take either side because I feel awful for both Hardin and his parents.

"Oh! Yours too." Lori smiles, piling four presents on top of the box.

"I can come back-"

"No, no, we just wanted to drop in and see you both, but we have to get back to the pack." Lori sighs.

"Oh, ok." I felt a little saddened that they weren't staying. Understanding their own pack is enjoying Christmas too, stops me from arguing with them to stay.

"It's nice to see you, I'll try and convince Hardin to visit soon." I them both with a encouraging smile.

Xander snorts, and Lori immediately slaps his chest.

"Let's hope you're more stubborn than him." Lori winks, knowing fine well just how hard headed I can be.

"Thank you so much for the gifts, I really appreciate it, I'm sure Hardin will love it." I tell them, leaning in and they wrap their arms around me.

I couldn't hug them back given the presents in my arms, so I just smiled and said goodbye.

Naturally, the first thing I do is walk up to Hardin. Placing the gifts on the side table, I place mine separate and pick up the heavy box.

"What's this?" Hardin asks, breaking from the conversation with his drinking buddies.

"This is a gift...from Lori and Xander." I tell him.

Turning around, I grab the glass of bourbon from his hand, and slide the present into his open palm. Then I chuck the alcohol to the back of my throat, and I swallow the harsh burn with barely a flinch.

"They're here?" Hardin seems taken back by that.

"They had to get back to their pack." I say softly.

Hardin doesn't seem bothered by that, just surprised that they'd come all the way here just to drop in presents and leave again. I don't think he even expected to hear from them.

"Are you going to open it?" I ask curiously, seeing the way he looks at the present.

The guys walk off to give us space, like they somehow know Hardin is no longer cheery and full of smiles.

"Do you want me to?" I ask softly, noticing the change too.

Silently, Hardin nods just a little, shoulders tense as I take the gift from him. It's like he's dreading the thought of a gift from his parents, like it's going to be something horrible.