TBMA [Complete ✔️]

27. Family II

Rosalie's P.O.V

Zane left a little bit after our talk, Rain and I feeling so much safer, so much happier than before.

"You were right about him," I admitted, a wolffish grin covering her face.

"Of course I was." I rolled my eyes, my lips not being able to form anything else but a smile.

I was no longer alone. Though my mom and brother may not be celebrating with me, mom was in a better place and Knox was alive and healthy. I could only hope that one day, there would be a she-wolf out there worthy of the wolf he was before it was stripped away from him.

I could only hope that one day, someone out there would help him break out of his shell and bring him back, so we can be a family again. Until then, I finally knew I had someone to care for me.

I had someone that not only cared for me and loved me, but I was also a first choice. Finally, after all this time, I admitted to myself that I was loved, and I never wanted to feel lonely again. Not when Zane was here. Not when his words and his actions were all I had secretly been hoping to one day have. Not when someone would finally abandon themselves to save me first.

I walked over to the window, aunt Zaria's new cottage she recently moved into, coming into view. After she gave her position over to her son, she was happy to leave the pack house and live out on her own. Somewhere she wasn't reminded of the loss of her mate, the pain of which, I couldn't even imagine now that I had admitted my feelings for my own mate, somewhere she could be far away from the pack house, to live in peace and silence but close enough, so would her son, or I, need her, she'd be here in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, I needed to get Zane's scent to leave the room as I had yet to speak to Knox about accepting him. There was nothing in the world he could do anymore to change my mind but he was my brother, and my Alpha, therefore I didn't want him to learn about us because of a scent in my room.

Not that he was likely to visit me, anyway.

I opened the window with one last sniff of the scent that was covering my entire room, sighing contently as I made my way inside the closet to get ready for dinner.

After a long, really long, rummage through my clothes, during which most of them ended up either on my bed or in some sort of pile on the ground, I picked out a wine-red, off-shoulder sweater dress and black boots.

I curled my hair into loose waves, which I pinned up with a bow that matched the dress. I wore the necklace Knox gave me for my birthday, it was a small piece of him I had that I never took off.

With one last glance in the mirror, I sat down to do my makeup, not spending too much time on it as I settled for a rather easy look with red eyeshadow, glitters, and nude lips.

Once I was done, I grabbed my phone, noticing I was running a little late. I hurried down the hall, the scent of my brother stopping me in place. As much as I didn't want to be even more late, or have him ruin my good mood, I simply couldn't leave him at the house all alone when even the Omegas were gone for the day.

I knocked on his door, being allowed in with the usual snarl I had learned to ignore.

"Where are you going?" He asked, only sparing me a tiny glance before it settled back on his laptop.

"To aunt Zaria's. She's hosting a Christmas dinner and I was wondering if you wanted to come?" I fumbled with the phone still in my hands, my heart beating loudly.

It was always like this whenever I asked him to join me for something. Though I was absolutely sure he'd deny me, as usual, the heart never stopped having hope, and in turn, never stopped getting disappointed at his answer.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" He c****d an eyebrow, his lips set into a thin frown. His eyes were tired, the bags under them so large I could carry groceries. Even then, I knew he wouldn't leave his work. Not when it served as a distraction from everything going on around him.

"It's Christmas, Knox!" I reminded him, receiving only an eye roll in return.

"25th, 26th, all the same." He mumbled distractedly.

"So what? You're going to sit here all alone, not even Omegas working tonight, catching up on work you're not behind on?"

"Was planning on it before you started blowing my ear off with your whining." He continued tapping on the keyboard, the sound grounding me before I said something I'd regret.

Finally, I shrugged, feeling only a little disappointed but more than everything having accepted his answer before I even asked.

"Fine. Merry Christmas, brother!" I shrugged, emphasizing the last part, even though it had no effect on him. It didn't when I tried in the past, and it wouldn't start now, unfortunately.

I shut the door behind myself, letting him type away as I walked to the cottage. I was sad that out of the whole, giant house, Knox was the only one there, but realized it didn't affect me as much as it would have.

We were on different paths for a while now, though it seems I've only just realized it. Knox became Alpha, as was his duty, and I was chasing my dreams, exploring my abilities, living, and finding love.

For the first time ever, I was hopeful about the future. Excited about what it brought.

***

I smoothed down my dress as I knocked on the door, smiling to myself as I heard Zane race with his mom on who to open. Upon doing so, he pretended to not have just run up to the entrance as if I would leave if they didn't open in two seconds, perhaps forgetting I was a wolf with enhanced hearing.

"Hey, Angel!" My mate smiled, my lips instantly curving into a smile as I saw him.

I couldn't help it. Not after pushing my feelings down for so long. So what if I wanted to grin like an i***t every time I saw him?

"Hi!" His eyes raked over my body, gulping before they met my own again. "You look," he gulped again. "You look stunning!"

"Don't forget to pick your jaw off the floor!" Aunt Zaria chuckled, smacking him gently on the back of his head. I laughed with her, while Zane rubbed the spot, muttering something under his breath.

My second mom walked over to me and pulled me into a tight hug, one, I returned.

"Goddess, I'm so glad you're not angry with me anymore!" She whispered, kissing the top of my head as a mother would kiss her pup.

"I'm sorry for acting like this, it wasn't right and I regret it now. I should've spoken to you instead of pretending you don't exist." Her hold on me tightened, my mate watching us with a small smile, leaning against the door frame.

"We all make mistakes, sweetheart!" She whispered before pulling back and inviting me inside. "Zane wasn't lying when he called you stunning earlier!" I blushed at her compliment, looking over at her own outfit.

She was dressed in a long red skirt with buttons running from top to bottom right in the middle, and a tucked white sweater. Her long hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, her makeup basic but making her look even more young and beautiful. My mate, on the other hand, was dressed in a red and black plated shirt with a black T-shirt underneath and black jeans. His hair was gelled to the side and he looked... perfect.

Aunt Zaria instructed us to sit on the couch, the living room and kitchen in one room, so we could all still talk to each other. The cottage was small and cozy, with lots of beiges, greys, and whites.

The kitchen counters were white with beige wooden tops that matched the beige on the couch, currently decorated with Christmas-themed throw blankets and pillows.

Zane and I sat down, even if I tried to help out many, many times, hating to watch as she prepared everything herself. My mate, however, had no problem pulling me to sit with him, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and placing a loving kiss on my temple.

"You would definitely not get away with sitting down while I cook in our house, mister!" I whispered in his ear, only making him smirk.

"Our house?" I registered my words, not finding it in me to be embarrassed about them. I wanted a future with him and he wanted one with me.

"Yup. Our house." I repeated, being assaulted with kisses that Zane later blushed about when he realized we got caught by his mom.

Once dinner was ready and aunt Zaria had set the table, again not letting me help, but throwing knowing glances at Zane and me every once in a while, we sat down, joining our hands in prayer and thanks to the Goddess for bringing us together and for putting food on our plates. I also thanked her for gifting me my mate and for him not giving up on me, on us, when I had long since done so.

We ate delicious food, cooked with the love a mother has for her children. I hadn't felt this at home since my mom passed, and although no one could replace her, I was glad there was still someone that tried to stand in her place.

I knew she would be happy today. Content to just watch my happiness. And I promised to her, and to myself, then, that I'd do whatever it takes to have her watch Knox's as well.

Stories were told and laughter was shared, the story of how Zane and I realized we were mates and accepted each other being repeated over and over again, aunt Zaria never getting enough of it.

After that, she sat us around the Christmas tree and handed us each a gift, then one we would share. I received beautiful earrings, Zane got a watch that he had wanted, and the two of us received a photo frame for our new home. One, aunt Zari made sure to let us know specifically had space for photos of her grandpups once we were ready for them.

And as I turned my night light on that night, remembering the day's events, I prayed that if this was a dream, I wouldn't wake up.

A/N

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! With that, the holiday chapters are over! (At the end of January lol) What was your favorite thing about them?