Moonlit Christmas: The Alpha Daddy's Forbidden Mate

CHAPTER 15

(Aira’s POV)

Ang lamig sa labas ay lumalamig pa, mas matindi kaysa dati. Parang may naglalakad sa paligid ng Winterfang borders—nag-iiwan ng marka, ng bakas ng kapangyarihan. Hindi lang footprints… energy traces. Alam kong sinusundan nila ako.

“Alpha…” Mara whispered, pointing toward the treeline. “They’re… testing the perimeter. Trying to provoke something. Magic is reacting, but it’s subtle—almost cautious.”

Kasabay ng paglapit ni Cassian sa akin, parang may pader na bumabalot sa akin. One arm behind my back, hand ready to intercept any attack. “Stay close. Don’t move without me. I’m watching every inch.”

Tumango ako, hinihigpit ang hawak sa blanket, pero hindi mapigilan—kumilos ang frost ko. A fine layer of icy mist curled around my hands, my arms, the edge of the bed. Parang may sariling buhay ang lamig, sensing the Snow Court’s power, defensive, protective, hesitant.

Biglang na-realize ko—nararamdaman ng magic ko ang Snow Court, alam nito ang intensyon nila. At sa parehong oras… natatakot din ito. Parang alam nitong mapanganib ang Snow Court, pero hindi rin ito sigurado kung kaya nitong labanan sila. Nagtitigil.

“Can you control it?” Cassian asked, eyes narrowing. “Because if you can’t, we need a plan.”

“I… I don’t know,” humina ang boses ko. “It’s… different now. It listens, sometimes. And sometimes it… acts before I even realize.”

Huminga siya nang malalim. “Then we adapt. You focus on control inside. I handle the outside. Together.”

Parang bumaba ang tensyon sa dibdib ko sa mga salita niya. Kahit may takot, kahit may panganib… may seguridad ako sa kanya. His presence wasn’t just comforting—it was a shield, a promise.

“Alpha… I can feel them,” Mara said, pointing again. “Closer. They’re trying to isolate the perimeter. Waiting for a reaction. I think they’re… circling.”

Dumampi sa balikat ko ang kamay ni Cassian, instinctive, protective. “Good. Let them make a mistake. They’ll regret it.”

Ang Snow Court’s aura—malamig, cruel, sharp—pressing against my senses, parang gusto nilang hanapin ang weakness ko. Pero kahit tumataas ang panic ko, may naramdaman akong bago. Ang lamig ko, kahit natatakot, tumutugon sa presensya ni Cassian. Alert, protective, not violent. Parang alam nitong hindi ako nag-iisa.

Kiniklutch ko ang mga kamao ko, ang frost creeping up my arms. “Cassian… what if it reacts? What if I can’t control it?”

“You will,” sabi niya, tumayo nang mas malapit, presence niya filling the space. “I won’t let them touch you. Not now. Not ever.”

Gusto kong maniwala. Kailangan kong maniwala. Pero ang frost sa fingertips ko pulsing, restless. The Snow Court’s magic brushed against mine, testing, poking, pushing. Parang nilalaro nila ako, and every inch of me wanted to strike, defend. Pero hindi ko pa kaya—at least, not yet.

“Alpha… they’re… not just testing us,” Mara whispered. “They’re… looking for something. Or someone. And I think it’s you, Aira.”

Nilunok ko ang sarili ko. “I know.” Parang nakadikit ang snow sa balat ko, bumabalik sa lahat ng memories ng Snow Court. Symbols, rituals, cruelty.

Tumalikod si Cassian, eyes dark, unreadable. “Then we make them regret it. I’ll give you the chance to control it… but only when I say. Understood?”

“Yes,” ang boses ko nanginginig pa.

Tumango siya nang mabilis, decisive. “Good. Then listen. Watch. Don’t act until I give the signal.”

Outside, the wind whispered—not human voices, but magic. Malamig, calculating, ruthless. Ang Snow Court ay circling, marking territory, probing for weakness. At bawat flicker ng frost sa paligid ko… I could feel their intent.

Biglang may tumama na shard of ice sa treeline, glittering in the moonlight. “Cassian…” hininga ko.

“Stay calm,” sabi niya. “I’ve got this.” Hand hovering near mine, a tether, a promise. “You focus. Control inside. Let me handle the rest.”

Kumikindat ang frost sa arms ko, sensing him, acknowledging him. Parang may maliit na bahagi ng akin na kinikilala ang proteksyon niya—kahit nanakot, kahit nagbabanta, may warmth sa presensya niya.

Isa pang shard lumipad, mas malapit ngayon. Hindi lang marking—they were daring, challenging. Parang sinasabi nila: we know she’s here. Come out.

“Alpha… they’re trying to provoke you,” Mara said, tense. “Careful. They’re… strong. Dangerous.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened. “Good. Let them test me. Let them learn what happens when they cross me.” His voice calm, lethal. Ang snow sa labas seemed to recoil, sensing his control.

Huminga ako nang malalim, letting the warmth of his presence fill me. My frost responded—alert, ready, but not violent. Parang nakikinig sa utos niya.

“They won’t find you alone,” he said softly, growl in his voice. “Not while I’m here. Not while I’m breathing.”

At then… naramdaman ko—my power, trembling at the edges, sensing shards slicing through the air. Parang may maliit na bahagi sa akin na nagdadalawang-isip. Pero then I realized—my fear was tempered by something new: hope.

Cassian wasn’t just guarding me. He was my anchor, my shield, my wall against the Snow Court. And for the first time since stepping into this pack, I didn’t feel helpless.

Shards kept coming, testing the boundary. Ang Snow Court’s intent was clear: they wanted a reaction, a slip, a mistake. Pero hindi ko ibinigay. Focused ako sa warmth ng hand niya hovering near mine, sa tension ng katawan niya, sa paraan ng control niya sa air around us.

“They’re circling closer,” Mara said again. “It’s like… they can sense hesitation. Any wrong move and they’ll know.”

Nilunok ko. “I… I won’t fail,” whisper ko.

“You won’t,” Cassian said, dark eyes locking mine. “Not with me here.”

At that moment, the first real strike came. Ice shards hurled faster, snow at the border swirling violently, carrying whispers of Snow Court. Panic surged, pero warmth ng presence niya anchored me.

I focused, letting my frost pulse with him. Not attacking, not defending—just sensing, preparing. Snow Court strong. But so was I… and I wasn’t alone.

For the first time in a long time, I realized:

Even if Snow Court wanted me, even if they threatened everything… I had Cassian. And somehow… that might just be enough.

Moonlight reflected on swirling snow, shards glinting, frost reacting, Cassian standing solid, protective. I hugged the blanket tighter, small spark of courage igniting inside me.

We’ll survive this.

At least… maybe.