Ashton's POV:
I have just learned that Christmas doesn't only excite little pups; that new fact and lesson came for me when I woke up to my adult mate who is the future Alpha of the pack shaking my shoulder and excitedly telling me that it's Christmas.
I'm exhausted from helping to get last minute gifts and babysitting pups while their parents went shopping for their presents. That only irritates Sage who decides that stealing the blankets from me is the best course of action.
"Come on, it's Christmas!" he whines when I just ball myself up and try to keep sleeping. "Ashton..."
I open my eye and look at the clock. "Sage, love of my life, it's six in the morning. We can't even do gifts until the rest of the pack house wakes up."
"Okay? So we can go wake them up?" he suggests in a 'duh' tone, as if I was supposed to guess that.
"They need sleep, love," I tell him, sitting up and yawning. "I have something special for you that I can give you right now..."
Sage raises an eyebrow. "My ass is still sore from last night so pass. Maybe later tonight."
"It's not sex, you perverted brat. I got you a gift that I wanted to give you in private because it's special to me and I don't feel as though the whole pack needs to see it."
"Still sounds like the gift could be your dick... unless you're into public sex?" Sage asks me before he settles down and sits across from me on the bed. "Alright, what is it?"
I grab the small box that Zach helped me choose for the gift he assisted me with. I did all of the work for it, but Zach definitely offered me guidance to pack customs so I could give my mate the perfect present.
Sage opens the box and his expression softens. "How... how did you know about these?" he asks, lifting up the woven leather bracelet that has a small red jasper stone attached to it.
"Zach helped me. He explained that it's tradition for the future Alpha to receive this kind of gift, often given to them by their mate. He also said they had stones that represent the wolf whom receives it. I looked into it and learned that the red jasper represents strength, delicacy, and energy. Three things I seen in you and three components that I think a good Alpha possesses."
Sage holds out his arm and I put it on him, smiling when I see how perfectly it fits him. I think I did well on it, and from the softness and sparkle in my mate's eyes, I assume he agrees.
"You amaze me," Sage says, kissing me and finally relaxing. "Thank you, Ashton. I'm afraid my gifts will not measure up to this."
I kiss him back firmly and pull him into my lap. "You're better than any gift, angel," I whisper, Sage purring as he nuzzles my neck. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he replies, but before he can get up, I lay down and roll on top of him. "Ashton, get off!"
"You're not going to wake everyone up, Sage. I'm tired and I'll lay on top of you if it means you won't move and wake the others up. Wait until eight at least."
Sage squirms out from under me. "Fine, but I'm watching Christmas specials until you get up again."
He sits back and I curl against him, my head on his chest. Sage begins to run his fingers through my hair and I feel myself relaxing completely under his doting.
These are some the moments that I love the most. The ones where I can cuddle against the man who I am so deeply in love with, no one needing to ask us questions or order us around. It's just us together, relishing in each other's presence.
It doesn't have to be sexual (though I love those moments, too) and I love that we just love each other so much that we can just lay in a room together and be content.
I fall back asleep, but it feels like mere seconds.
"It's eight!" Sage exclaims, waking me up again my shaking me.
I already know that when we have pups my mate and the pups are going to wake my ass up at the crack of dawn on holidays and birthdays for presents. I'll adore all of them, I already know it, and I'll just have to deal with it. I'm not going to dampen their excitement too much, but six in the morning is much too early.
"Okay, fine," I groan, getting out of bed.
Sage tossed me a pair flannel pajama pants and a black t-shirt that matches the same outfit he's put on himself. He smiles when he sees that I'm complying with his outfit and kisses my cheek.
"Now we're cute and matching," he cheers, grabbing my hand.
We walk down the hallway and both of us catch a whiff of something cooking downstairs. Before going to eat, even though I'm starving, I let Sage drag me to Zach and Owen's room so we can get our friends downstairs.
"Good morning!" Sage exclaims, slamming the door open and shrieking when we both smell sex and see Zach laying over Owen with a sheet barely covering them. "Never mind, goodbye!"
I burst out laughing at his red face. "You couldn't have knocked?"
Sage growls. "I didn't think they'd fuck first thing in the morning!" he mumbles, face still red.
"They're sex addicts!"
"Let's just go get some food and open up our presents."
I chuckle. "You know your dad wants us to wait until everyone's up to open presents! Sorry, you're going to have to face the sex addicts."
Sage whimpers. "You were there, too."
"Yeah, but I didn't slam the door open," I comment, waving at Alder and Hazel as they work on breakfast. "Merry Christmas!"
Hazel isn't really doing much to help with breakfast; she's hugging Alder from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder as opposed to working but he doesn't seem to mind.
"Merry Christmas," Hazel says sleepily.
I guess she and I both wanted to sleep but our mates wanted to get up and start to eat and open presents.
"I see you got your gift," Alder says to Sage, referring to his bracelet.
Sage grins and separates himself from me to show his parents my gift. "Isn't it beautiful?" he chirps, and Alder and Hazel both agree, praising me for my beautiful work.
Hazel has a necklace that Alder made for her when they were young and it has a large piece of angelite stone on it. It showcases her tranquility and grace while she leads, which makes her an amazing Alpha and mentor.
"Are you two hungry?" Alder asks us.
Sage nods, reaching for the fruit but Alder slaps his hand away.
"Go set the table, then."
"You're tricking me into helping."
Hazel raises an eyebrow. "It's not tricking if you're aware of it, Sage. Go set the table so we can eat. Where's Zach and Owen? Are they awake?"
"I don't know, you should check," Sage deadpans and I playfully flick his ear.
"The sex addicts are celebrating Christmas their own way," I say, grabbing plates and setting them on the table. "Sage got to see it firsthand."
Alder chuckles. "Why don't you knock, sweetheart?"
"I thought they were asleep. Someone thinks sleeping in is a Christmas tradition."
Hazel scoffs at her son. "It should be," she grumbles, looking at me in complete exhaustion. "Trust me, I have been up at the crack of dawn for Christmas since Alder and I mated. Then, when we had this brat, he and Alder combined their early Christmas energy to wake me up at six. Honestly, how did you get him back to bed?"
"He laid on top of me," Sage grumbles. "The working out is paying off and giving him the Alpha body and muscle. It's annoying."
I ruffle his hair and continue to set the table, Sage assisting and bringing the fruit to the table and stealing a few bites.
Zach and Owen come downstairs wearing pajamas that match mine and Sage's. For the first time, I notice that Alder and Hazel have the same pajamas as us.
"Are the matching pajamas tradition?" I ask and Zach nods, gently smacking the back of Sage's head as he passes us.
Sage tries to bite his hand but misses. "What was that for?"
"Knock next time, dumbass," Zach growls. "You almost killed my hard on."
Owen chuckles. "I'd be more concerned if you got harder," he says, hugging me and then Sage. "Happy Christmas!"
Sage fake gags. "Merry Christmas. Not happy."
"Okay, my bad," Owen apologizes, sitting at the table. His smile doesn't leave his face and he doesn't seem embarrassed at all over the little bruises all over his neck. "Merry Christmas!"
"Did Zach forget to get you a present? Is that why he fucked you this morning?" I ask, teasing my friend.
Owen scoffs. "No, morning sex is part of our daily routine. We just prefer the morning to the night."
"Okay, enough sex talk," Alder interrupts, putting the plate of waffles down. "Breakfast is served and afterward we'll open presents. Pack members will pop in today to wish us a good Christmas and a lot of them will hang out and have some cider or hot chocolate."
I like that tradition; it'll be fun to see our pack mates while we hang out at home in front of the fire. More snow fell last night so it wouldn't surprise me if we end up out there with the pups while their parents enjoy a bit of rest. They were probably all up early and are trying to deal with the exhaustion their babies give.
We all eat and then Sage and Owen rush off to the living room and go through the presents like little kids, shaking them and chattering excitedly over what they could be. For being so composed most of the time, Sage definitely has a childish side that is adorable when it shines through.
"Can we open them now?!" Owen asks when Zach sits down behind him.
"Go ahead," Alder says, sitting down on the couch with Hazel right beside him. "Youngest first, so Owen and Zach can start."
They open their presents first, with Zach getting Owen a cute scrapbook with pictures in it, the rest of it empty so they can fill it out together. Owen gets Zach a new camera since Zach enjoys taking pictures during the changing of the seasons. He also gets Zach an sex toy, but neither of them seem to be embarrassed by it.
Sage and I do gifts next and he and I both went pretty minimalist on ours. He got me a new training uniform and an ornament for the tree that has a cute picture of us in it. I got him the bracelet and I also got him some new running shoes and a big map of all of the territories around us to put in the office. Sage has always expressed how much he wants to see where all of the territories line up so he can visualize our missions.
Hazel and Alder get me a gift, and it makes my heart melt. According to them, it is tradition for them to get the future Luna a representation, which is a small grouping of crystals that represent the full moon and bring good energy and tranquility to the Luna.
They're beautiful and I feel at ease when I look at them.
"Thank you," I breathe, holding the small wooden bowl that they put the crystals in. "They're beautiful."
"You're welcome, sweetheart." Alder smiles and leans against Hazel. "You will make a wonderful Luna."
I blush and we throw away all of the wrapping paper. By we, I mean myself and Sage, as Zach is too busy poking Owen's arm with his new toy and making my friend giggle.
"I have something else for you," Sage whispers, taking my hand. "It's outside."
I don't know what else he could've gotten for me, but I follow him as he guides me into the woods after we've bundled up in jackets. We walk ten minutes from the pack house to a clearing and I see a shiny marble slab embedded into the ground.
"I figured your mentor deserved a place to rest," Sage murmurs as I kneel before the slab.
Here lies a beloved mentor, friend, and brother.
May he forever rest in the eyes of the moon goddess.
I'm glad Liam's name isn't on it because his body isn't actually here and that way I can be the one to know who it is referencing. I also didn't ever know his last name because he was taken young, so it's nicer that he can rest unnamed.
"Thank you," I whisper, tears welling in my eyes. "He deserves to rest."
"If you want to add his name we can."
I shake my head. "No, it's better like this," I say, laying my hand on the slab. "Thank you, Sage."
He stands back while I kneel before the stone, and I smile softly.
"Thank you for protecting and guiding me," I think to myself before I stand back up and take Sage's hand. "Goodbye, Liam."
He would be proud of me, and I feel better now that I've gotten to see him at rest. Even if he isn't really here, his memory still lives. He would be happy that we got to move on, and I need to ensure that the rest of that corrupt pack is taken down in order to make sure his death isn't in vain.
"I hope this didn't ruin your day, but you needed to see it and he needed to rest," Sage whispers and I hug him tightly.
"This was what I needed," I respond, kissing his forehead. "He would have loved you."
Sage smiles. "I'm thankful to him for protecting you and raising you."
We walk back to the pack house hand in hand and I have never felt more relieved and relaxed in my life.
This is definitely a holiday that I'm happy to celebrate.
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