A Mate For Christmas

Chapter 9

"Hold still or I will poke your eye out."

Delilah stood in front of Evie, holding an eyeliner pencil like a weapon. Evie tried not to flinch as Delilah applied makeup with expert precision.

"I still do not understand why I need makeup," Evie said. "We are meeting a werewolf, not going to a party."

"Appearance matters in our world," Delilah explained. She stepped back to examine her work. "You need to look powerful, confident, like a Luna. That means perfect makeup, perfect hair, perfect clothes."

Evie looked at herself in the mirror. Delilah had transformed her. Her hair was styled in soft waves. Her makeup made her eyes look bigger, more intense. She wore a simple black dress that Victoria had provided, elegant but not flashy, with boots that had a small heel.

"I look like a different person," Evie whispered.

"You look like yourself," Delilah corrected. "Just a more confident version. Now come on, everyone is waiting."

They went downstairs together. The entry hall was full of pack members, all dressed formally. Gideon stood in the center, wearing a black suit that made him look even more imposing than usual. His golden eyes found Evie immediately, and his expression shifted to something warm and possessive.

He walked to her and took her hand. "You look beautiful."

"I look terrified," Evie muttered.

"That too," Gideon said with a small smile. "But you hide it well."

Victoria appeared, wearing a long silver dress that made her look regal and dangerous. "The cars are ready. We should leave now if we want to arrive on time."

"How many of us are going?" Evie asked, looking at the crowd.

"Everyone," Gideon said. "I am not walking into a potential trap with only a handful of wolves. Raphael will bring his entire pack. I will bring mine."

They filed out to a line of black cars waiting in the driveway. Gideon helped Evie into the back seat of the lead car, then slid in beside her. Victoria and Jayden took the seats across from them.

As they drove through Paris, Evie watched the city lights blur past. It was Christmas evening, and the streets were quieter than yesterday. Most people were home with their families, celebrating.

Evie wondered what her own family was doing. Her mother would be cooking dinner right now. Her father would be watching football. Her little sister would be complaining about having to help in the kitchen.

They had no idea where Evie was or what she was doing. They thought she was still with Dave, having a romantic Christmas in Paris.

If only they knew the truth.

"You are thinking about your family," Gideon said quietly. He had not let go of her hand since they got in the car.

"How did you know?"

"The bond," he said. "I can feel your sadness."

Evie looked at their joined hands. "Can you read my mind?"

"No. I just feel emotions. The stronger the bond gets, the clearer the feelings become." Gideon rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. "Do you want to call them? Let them know you are alright?"

"What would I say?" Evie asked. "Hi Mom, I found out my boyfriend was cheating, and then I discovered werewolves are real, and now I am the fated mate of a two hundred year old Alpha who can turn into a giant wolf. How was your Christmas?"

Jayden snorted, then tried to cover it with a cough. Even Victoria's lips twitched.

"You could say you met someone new," Gideon suggested. "That you are staying in Paris a bit longer. It is not a lie."

"I will call them tomorrow," Evie decided. "After I survive tonight."

"You will survive," Victoria said firmly. "Just remember what I taught you. Confidence. Eye contact. Never show fear."

The car pulled up in front of an old cathedral. It stood tall and dark against the night sky, its stone walls covered in snow. Stained glass windows glowed with candlelight from inside. The building looked ancient, like it had been standing for a thousand years.

Other cars were already parked around the cathedral. Expensive cars, sleek and black. Evie could see figures standing near the entrance, waiting.

"Raphael is already here," Jayden said, his voice tight.

"Good," Gideon said. "Let him wait."

He did not move to get out of the car. Instead, he turned to Evie. "Last chance. You can stay in the car with guards. No one would think less of you."

Evie shook her head. "I am going in."

Gideon studied her face for a long moment, then nodded. "Stay by my side. Do not speak unless spoken to directly. And if anything happens, if I tell you to run, you run. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Evie said.

They got out of the car. Immediately, the cold air hit Evie like a slap. She pulled her coat tighter around herself. Around them, more cars were arriving, and pack members were gathering.

Evie recognized some faces from the house. Delilah gave her an encouraging smile. Julian nodded respectfully. Even the ones who had looked at her with suspicion earlier now stood ready to protect her.

"Remember," Victoria said, appearing at Evie's other side. "You are the Luna of the strongest pack in Europe. Act like it."

Gideon offered Evie his arm. She took it, and together they walked toward the cathedral entrance. Victoria, Jayden, and Maxwell walked behind them. The rest of the pack followed in formation.

As they approached, Evie saw the other pack clearly. There were at least fifty wolves, all watching with predatory eyes. They stood in perfect lines, military precision. At the front stood a man who could only be Raphael Volkov.

He was tall, maybe as tall as Gideon, with silver hair and pale blue eyes. He wore an expensive suit and smiled as they approached, but there was nothing warm about that smile. It reminded Evie of a shark.

"Gideon," Raphael said, his voice smooth and cultured. "How wonderful to see you. It has been, what, fifty years?"

"Not long enough," Gideon replied coolly.

Raphael's smile widened. "Still holding grudges, I see. That is no way to greet an old friend."

"We were never friends."

"No," Raphael agreed. "I suppose we were not." His pale eyes shifted to Evie, and she felt like she was being examined under a microscope. "But where are my manners? You must introduce me to your lovely companion."

Gideon's arm tightened under Evie's hand. "This is Evie Price. My mate."

The words hung in the air. Raphael's eyebrows rose, and murmurs rippled through his pack behind him.

"Your mate," Raphael repeated slowly. "How extraordinary. And human, if I am not mistaken?"

"You are not mistaken," Gideon said.

Raphael stepped closer. Evie forced herself not to step back, remembering Victoria's words. Never show fear.

"Fascinating," Raphael said, circling them like he was inspecting merchandise. "I heard the rumors, of course, but I had to see for myself. The great Gideon, who has waited centuries for his mate, finally finds her. And she is human." He laughed, but it was not a nice sound. "The moon goddess has a sense of humor, it seems."

"Is there a point to this meeting?" Gideon asked, his voice dangerous. "Or did you just want to waste my time?"

"Always so impatient," Raphael said. "I wanted to offer my congratulations, naturally. Finding one's mate is cause for celebration." He turned to Evie. "Tell me, my dear, how are you adjusting to our world? It must be quite a shock for someone so... ordinary."

The word hit Evie like a physical blow. It was the same word Dave had used. Ordinary.

Evie felt anger rise up inside her. She lifted her chin and met Raphael's eyes directly. "I am adjusting well, thank you. Everyone has been very welcoming."

"Have they?" Raphael's smile turned sharp. "How generous of them. Most packs would not be so accepting of a human Luna. They would see her as a liability. A weakness to be eliminated."

"Watch your words," Gideon growled. His eyes were starting to glow gold.

"I am simply stating facts," Raphael said innocently. "The werewolf world is dangerous, especially for fragile humans. So many things could go wrong. Accidents happen all the time."

"Is that a threat?" Jayden stepped forward, his body tense.

"A threat? Goodness, no." Raphael placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I am merely expressing concern for dear Evie's safety. After all, we have all heard what happened to Alexander's human mate, have we not?"

Victoria made a low sound of rage. Gideon went completely still, and Evie felt the temperature around them seem to drop.

"You will not speak her name," Gideon said, his voice barely human. "You will not speak of my brother. And if you ever threaten my mate again, even indirectly, I will declare war on your pack and burn everything you have ever built to the ground."