The Alpha's Holiday Temptation

Christmas has always been my favourite lie—the season everyone pretends to be loved. "Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining… this is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth". The school choir sang during rehearsals as I watched from the doorway—though they never knew I did. It was a ritual for me, something I did every year without fail. There was just something about the way they sang, so raw and unbothered by anything except the one thing that brought joy to their souls: Music. Their voices filled the entire cathedral hall, bouncing off the walls, rising and falling like waves. I stood there, hugging my backpack straps, letting the melody wash over me. For a moment, I could almost pretend that I belonged somewhere—anywhere. Oakwood University was home to many, including myself. Or at least, that was what the brochures said. It was wonderful watching the snow fall steadily upon the soft grass outside as I left my position at the rehearsal door, heading “home.” Laughter from friends, chit-chatting and buzzing about the festive season, filled the air. Girls in matching pyjamas, boys dragging tiny Christmas trees into their dorms, couples sharing scarve everywhere I looked, someone was excited. Everyone except me. I moved through them slowly, a ghost in the crowd silent and unnoticed. The evening sky was dull and grey, much like my life, but at least the snow made everything look softer. “Elara! Elara, hi!” I kept walking. The voice probably belonged to someone calling another girl who shared my name. There was nothing special about me to call for. “Elara!” the girl said again, finally grabbing my arm. I froze. She pulled me to a stop and stood in front of me, completely out of breath like she had been running after me for some time. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?” the pretty brunette asked, chest heaving. “Um… do I know you?” I asked honestly. No one bothered with me in this university. I was the silent ghost of Oakwood. “I’ve been watching you,” she said simply. “Excuse me?” I blinked, unsure I heard correctly. “Yes. Just like you’ve been watching us from the doorway for the longest time.” My stomach dropped. Wait… so that means... “No, don’t worry. No one else saw you—just me. I hope,” she laughed. I didn’t find it funny at all. “What do you want with me?” I asked, suddenly wary. “It depends… can we be friends?” she asked innocently. “No,” I said straight to her face and walked off, my feet stamping into the snow, leaving footprints from my worn-out leather boots. “Please!” she yelled, running up to me again. “What do you want, brunette? I’m not one of those girls you mess with. Toy with me and I’ll beat your ass.” “Whoa, tiger… what’s wrong with having a friend?” I tried walking off, but she sidestepped me. “Move.” “No.” I sighed loudly. This girl was really something. “Wow, brunette… you’re really persistent, huh?” “Flora,” she corrected with a small smile. “And yeah, I am.” “You don’t even know me.” “But I want to. Please?” I don’t know why… maybe because she looked so hopeful… but I found myself softening. “I’ll think about it,” I said and walked off. Surprisingly, she didn’t follow me this time. “I’ll be waiting!” she called out, waving like we’d known each other for years. Almost a year passed since then. Another Christmas arrived, and I found myself best friends with a crazy brunette who never stopped yapping. “Last year you watched from the doorway. This year you'll watch me from the pews,” Flora declared proudly. “No, Flora. I’m not interested,” I said, but stopping her was practically impossible. One thing that always shocked me was how strong she was. I was taller, bigger, thicker everything but she could drag me like I weighed nothing. “No, Flora. No.” “Oh, my dear Elara, you know better than to say no to me,” she said, pulling me into the rehearsal and causing a scene, as usual. Typical Flora. “Hi… I’m sorry,” I waved awkwardly at the staring choir members, not knowing what to do with my hands. I tiptoed to the closest pew and sat, watching her climb the podium. As the choir began to sing again, with snow falling outside and Christmas decorations glowing from every corner, I felt a strange peace settle in my chest. For the longest time, I had been alone. Abandoned by my birth mother. Tossed from one foster home to another like luggage no one wanted. For the longest time, I drifted through life with no anchor. And now… somehow… I had a friend a sweet, loud, stubborn cupcake girl who barged into my loneliness without asking for permission. When she smiled at me from the podium, I couldn’t help but smile back. After rehearsal, I watched Flora with her boyfriend-turned-fiancé. I had never seen a pair more perfect. They kissed under the mistletoe, surrounded by falling snow, and I realized that this—this warmth was what made the season special. Love. A luxury that had never chosen me. “Elara!” Flora called, snapping me out of my thoughts. “We just had an amazing idea!” “Which is…?” I asked, bracing myself. “A holiday trip back home! We’ll make it in time for Thanksgiving and stay until Christmas!” I shrugged. “Okay.” Back in Flora’s dorm, she folded her arms. “I know you. You want to pretend you didn’t hear me.” “I heard you.” “So?” “You guys can go. I’ll be fine alone.” “Elara,” she said slowly, like she was talking to a child. “You’re coming with us.” I dropped the folded laundry in my hands and stared at her. And surprisingly… I said: “Okay.” Maybe, just maybe… this Christmas would finally show me what love looked like.