Page 23 of The Feisty Omega

As I approached my front door, I heard the hum of voices getting children ready for bed, murmuring between my sister and her husband, soft snores from my parents’ room.

Yellow light spilled out from the little window beside the front door, the glint of red, blue, green and yellow visible through the filmy curtains.

Inside, silence greeted me except for the mechanical candle rasping away on the mantelpiece next to the winged wolf, and faint buzz of the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. The occasional murmur from distant parts of the house died away as the last of the household settled down for sleep.

I couldn’t believe we had to stay out so late on Christmas Eve, though in a way it was justice for the way our crowd liked to pretend we despised the celebration.

In the kitchen, I found some leftover food, which I quickly heated up and devoured. When I’d cleaned up, I wandered back out to the living room, and standing in the middle of the room cast my eyes around, taking in the familiar decorations that were brought out year after year. All the years felt rolled into one. It was like looking down a tunnel into the nostalgic past, one I would leave behind very soon. This would be my last Christmas before completing my majority. Next year I’d be considered a shifter adult. I supposed many things would change for me then.

I looked around some more. The brightly wrapped packages took up most of the room under the tree, and there was no special present from the Goddess waiting for me this year.

With a sigh, I turned off the main lights, leaving only the fairy lights in the tree and those strung around the room. The room itself was in partial darkness, though the fairy lights cast a magical glow.

I settled on the hard floor behind the tree and waited to see if he would come. I told myself, if he didn’t come, then it was a sign. It wasn’t meant to be. I felt a little foolish, sitting there under the tree, old enough to not believe in fairy tales and Santa Wolf, but also not prepared to give it all up yet. This would be my last Christmas as a non-adult, I crossed my fingers and prayed it would be a good one.

???

At 11.45pm, something disturbed me. I must have dozed off, despite it being uncomfortable under the tree, and the searing pain in my leg made me grunt. I supposed I could have shifted to sleep more comfortably, but I’d wanted my human eyes, so I’d simply lain down on the cold hard floor. I was rethinking that decision now as I stretched out the cramping leg.

The room was silent. My senses on alert, I waited. A faint squeak from the hinges of the front door warned me someone was on the threshold. It was an odd time to arrive. My heart leaped into my throat and for a minute, no, only a second, I believed I was going to see Santa Wolf… but no, of course not. I exhaled, a huff that fell softly between the blinking of the twinkle lights. I knew the truth of that.

Another, less fantastical, but even more pleasing thought sent a thrill up my spine. Careful not to make any noise, I got to my feet. My ears strained for sounds.

Fabric rustled followed by the faint click of a latch falling into place; the soft tread of bare feet across hardwood floor came towards where I was hidden behind the tree. I inhaled a deep breath and the strong omega scent hit me hard. I blinked, dazed by the dopamine rush. Swaying slightly, I stepped out from behind the tree.

Startled brown omega eyes met mine. A couple of snowy white teeth nervously worried the plump lower lip, drawing a flick of my eyes. My tongue swiped a wet trail across my lips. And when I realized what I’d done, I hoped the glow cast by the Christmas lights was too dim for the heat in my cheeks to be visible.

“Hey,” his soft greeting tumbled breathlessly into the space between us. “Wha- what were you doing there?” He seemed a little dazed too. “I- I mean… I know it’s your house and all…” his voice trailed off.

“Waiting to see if you turned up.”

“You were?” His cheeks plumped up and the poor abused lip was set free, thank the Goddess. The lights of the Christmas tree were reflected as blue, green and red sparkles in his eyes.

“Yeah.”

A moment later, two slender arms wrapped me in a hug and his face was smooshed against my chest. It would have been rude to extricate myself too soon, right? That’s what I told myself as I let my arms wind around him too, and for the briefest of moments, I felt our hearts thump in time.

When I felt my cock stir, I hurriedly pulled away, hoping he hadn't noticed. I looked at him. His hair was a mess. It was longer than it had been last year, and he was a little taller, but I’d grown a lot, and he only came part-way up my chest.

“So,” I said, my face stretched wide with my grin. “Are you here for the holidays again?”

“Sure am.”

“Gonna stay here with us?”

“Um. Well I’m sort of supposed to be staying in Alpha’s house…”

A low growl vibrated its way out of my throat.

“…but they didn’t have enough bedrooms, so I’m sleeping in the dorm again. Mar tried to convince me to sleep on a mattress in his room, but I got out of that. Supposed to have my meals with them though.”

I scowled. At least he was sleeping in the dorm. But I had a better idea.

“So… it’s late… do you want to stay here?”

“Sure.”

“Want to sleep under the tree like last year or on the mattress in my room?”

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