Prologue
A Christmas Miracle:
Chloe's POV
The gymnasium shimmered with lights, casting soft reflections on the polished floors and filling the space with a festive glow. Christmas decorations adorned every corner, and the mingling scents of cinnamon, pine, and sugar cookies hung in the air. Chloe stood near the wall, trying her best to blend into the background.
She smoothed the dull, light green dress Gianna had forced her into at the last minute. The dress wasn’t her choice. She hated sparkles and had deliberately chosen something simple and comfortable. But Gianna had made her switch after spilling juice on her own sparkling red dress. It wasn’t even a big stain, barely noticeable, but Gianna had insisted, saying it was an “emergency.”
“Come on, Chloe,” Gianna had purred earlier, practically pushing her into the bathroom. “You look better in red anyway. Besides, Skyler’s bound to notice me tonight.”
And so, here Chloe was, wearing her sister’s dress, standing on the outskirts of a party she didn’t even want to attend, trying not to think about how her wolf kept pulling her thoughts toward Skyler.
She spotted him near the drinks table, his easy smile lighting up the room as he chatted with a group of friends. Skyler was magnetic, with his dark blonde hair that always seemed perfectly tousled and those piercing blue eyes that could make anyone feel seen. Her chest tightened at the thought. He was her best friend, but lately, being around him felt more like torture than comfort.
He wasn’t hers. He’d never be hers.
“Hey, Gianna,” a voice said from behind her.
Chloe stiffened. She turned and saw Skyler standing there, his lips curved in a soft, playful smile. Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs.
“I—uh—” she started, but the words dried up in her throat.
“I’ve been looking for you all night,” he said, stepping closer. His scent hit her then, woodsy and warm, with a hint of spice. Her wolf stirred immediately, a restless yearning that she struggled to suppress.
She opened her mouth to correct him, to tell him that she wasn’t Gianna, but her voice failed her. Her pulse quickened as Skyler’s eyes softened, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips. "Had he been drinking?"
“You look... really beautiful tonight,” he murmured. “Not that you don’t always, but... yeah.”
Chloe’s face flushed. Her wolf growled in frustration, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop him. She was too stunned, too caught up in the impossibility of this moment.
He glanced up then, noticing the mistletoe hanging just above their heads. His lips curved into a lopsided grin. “Well, looks like we’re under some pressure here.”
Chloe’s knees wobbled as he moved closer, his hand lifting to gently brush a strand of hair from her face. Then he hesitated, his eyes searching hers.
“Is this okay?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Chloe froze. Her heart screamed no—this wasn’t okay, not like this—but her body betrayed her, her lips parting slightly as she gave the faintest nod.
Skyler didn’t waste another moment.
He cupped her face gently, pulling her close as his lips met hers. The first touch was light, almost questioning, but when she didn’t pull away, it deepened. His other arm snaked around her waist, drawing her flush against him.
Chloe’s knees buckled from the intensity of the kiss. Her entire body tingled as though her wolf was howling inside her, and Skyler, noticing her faltering stance, slid his arm lower to hold her by the hips. She melted against him, her hands instinctively clutching at the fabric of his shirt as his lips moved against hers, warm and firm.
The world fell away. The music, the decorations, the room—it all faded into nothing. There was only him, his lips devouring hers like she was the center of his universe. Heat radiated from him, pulling her under a spell she never wanted to break.
And then it was over.
Skyler pulled back slowly, his breath warm against her cheek as he smiled. His hands lingered on her waist for a moment before he stepped back.
“Merry Christmas, Gianna,” he said softly, his voice filled with warmth.
Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.
Chloe couldn’t speak, couldn’t even move as he disappeared back into the crowd, leaving her alone under the mistletoe. She pressed trembling fingers to her lips, still tingling from the kiss. It had been her first kiss, and it had been everything she’d ever dreamed of—but it wasn’t real.
Because he thought she was Gianna.
A single tear slid down her cheek as she turned away, heading for the nearest exit. She needed to leave before anyone could see her. Before the ache in her chest consumed her entirely.
As she slipped outside into the cold night air, her wolf whined in her mind, restless and hurt. But Chloe knew she couldn’t let herself fall apart. Not yet.
Because tomorrow, I will have to face Gianna. And Skyler. And pretend like nothing had happened.
