Snow drifted lazily past the mansion windows, the night glowing with silver light. The storm had passed. The danger had passed. But inside Luka's extravagant home, a different kind of storm was rising.
Talia stood at the center of his decorated living room, breath warm in the air, heart trembling beneath her pink lace.
A sprig of mistletoe hung above her.
Luka placed it there.
Intentionally.
The Alpha stepped into view…barefoot, shirtless, wearing soft black pants that clung to his tall, powerful frame. The fire behind him threw gold across his muscles, turning him into something carved from heat and shadows.
His eyes drank her in.
Slowly.
Possessively.
"My bunny…" he murmured, voice dropping like velvet over bare skin. "Standing under mistletoe. Waiting for me."
She swallowed. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"
"No," he said, walking toward her with a predator's grace. "That's what you do when you want to be kissed. Claimed."
He stopped before her, towering.
"Chosen."
Her breath caught.
"Do you… choose me?" she whispered.
His hand slid up her cheek, thumb brushing her lower lip. His gaze softened…deep, reverent, aching.
"I choose you," he said.
"And gods help me… I don't want anyone else."
Heat rolled through her core at his voice…possessive, raw, unbearably tender.
He tipped her chin up.
"Kiss me, Talia."
She lifted onto her toes.
Their lips met under the mistletoe… soft at first, shy, breath mingling. But his hand curved around her waist, pulling her closer, and the kiss deepened.
Slow.
Hot.
Devouring.
Her knees went weak.
He caught her easily, hands slipping beneath her thighs. He lifted her, letting her legs wrap around his waist. She gasped into his mouth.
His growl vibrated through her body like thunder.
"Little bunny…" he whispered against her lips. "You're shaking."
Because she wanted him.
Because she wasn't afraid anymore.
He carried her toward the massive fireplace, its flames casting flickering light over the plush rug. He lowered her onto the soft fur, settling over her on hands and knees -never trapping, always protectively surrounding.
"Talia."
Her name sounded like a prayer.
"Do you trust me?"
She nodded. "Always."
His breath shuddered.
"Then let me give you your Christmas present."
Her voice was barely a whisper. "What is it?"
"You," he said, golden eyes burning. "Getting to unwrap mine."
Her cheeks flushed.
"But I'm already"
"Not enough," he murmured. "Not for what I want tonight."
He reached behind her and gently unclipped the bunny ears.
They fell onto the rug like petals.
He kissed her forehead… slow, deep and removed her choker ribbon next, letting it slide across her skin in a whisper-soft glide that made her breath tremble.
Then his fingers stopped at the first strap of her lingerie.
He looked into her eyes.
"Talia…"
A breath.
A promise.
"Do you want this?"
She nodded.
He didn't move. "Say it."
"I want you to unwrap me," she whispered.
"Daddy Wolfy."
His inhale was sharp.
A low, barely-controlled growl rolled out of his chest, vibrating against her body.
"Then hold still for me," he said, voice shaking with restraint.
He unhooked the straps slowly, sensually…never exposing, never touching anything explicit. Only peeling away lace ribbon by ribbon, inch by inch, like she was a gift he'd waited lifetimes to open.
Her skin warmed under the firelight as he bared more of her, kissed more of her, worshipped the places she never thought someone would treasure.
"Beautiful," he murmured. "My beautiful little Christmas bunny."
She whimpered softly.
He swallowed hard.
When the last piece of lace slid away, he lifted her gently onto his lap, wrapping her in a thick velvet blanket… not hiding her, but claiming her warmth for himself.
His forehead pressed to hers.
"This is our mating," he whispered. "Not sex. Not instinct."
He placed his hand over her heart.
"This. You."
She trembled.
His lips brushed the glowing mark on her neck. Magic stirred against her skin, warm and alive.
A pulse of golden light spread from the mark across her shoulders, down her spine, shimmering under the blanket.
She gasped.
He held her tight.
"You're mine," he murmured. "My mate. My chosen one. My Christmas miracle."
She cupped his face, eyes wet with emotion.
"And you're my Luka," she whispered. "My wolf."
Their lips met again…deeper, hotter, breathless… his hands sliding along her blanket-wrapped body, hers tangled in his hair as he kissed her like he had a lifetime of desire stored up.
No rush.
No fear.
Just heat.
Intimacy.
And a bond made of fire.
Snow fell outside.
Inside, they made their vow.
Not explicit.
But unmistakably sensual.
Unmistakably theirs.