THE CHRISTMAS LUNA SATISFYING THE ENIGMAS

CHAPTER 5

ALESSIA

My lips unconsciously curled up, a traitorous reaction that I quickly tried to smother. I flinched, turning my head to hide the heat crawling across my cheeks.

Maybe my wolf needed this—a distraction, a way to soothe the ache of a man who looked me in the eye and told me I wasn't enough. I was too shy to admit it, but the attention was like a balm on a raw wound. I gave a small, shaky nod, feeling both grateful and terrified of the fire I was playing with.

They settled me into Logan’s old room. I changed into a simple oversized shirt and thin cotton shorts to deal with the humid evening, splashed cold water on my face, and tried to find a rhythm for my breathing. When I finally stepped back out, I found them in the living room, their voices hushed in a serious, low-frequency hum.

All four heads snapped toward me at once.

Carter smirked, his eyes tracking my movement. “You sure this is a good idea, Aiden?”

“Logan would want us to help her,” Aiden replied, though his voice lacked its usual certainty.

Ryker’s voice was like gravel. “Helping and wanting are two very different things.”

As I stepped closer, the air grew thick. For a heartbeat, none of us moved. These were the same men who had tried to charm me when I was just a teen—not to claim me then, but to mark their territory for the future.

Each one was dangerous in his own distinct way. Aiden was the controlling force; Carter was the quiet seducer; Jasper had those gentle, flirting eyes that could make any girl feel like a fool; and Ryker… his rough dominance made the very oxygen in the room feel heavy.

And I was the girl who had run from all of them.

Carter’s smile grew slow and wicked. “You ran from us once, sweetheart. Guess fate had other plans.”

“Don’t start,” Aiden warned, but the edge in his voice was soft, almost playful.

Jasper looked at me, his voice almost a whisper. “You shouldn’t look so sad here. We’re going to make you happy, at least until this summer break is over.”

“I wasn’t planning to spend it here,” I snapped, trying to reclaim some of my pride.

“Yet here you are,” Ryker murmured.

I met his gaze, and the room seemed to shrink until it was just us. His eyes were dark, unreadable, but something stirred in them—something I remembered from years ago. That familiar, trembling heat flared in my chest, making it hard to catch my breath.

Dinner was an intense affair. Aiden had taken charge of the kitchen, and despite my nerves, I managed to eat. But every brush of a hand while passing a plate, every shared glance that lingered a second too long, made me feel painfully self-conscious in the humid night air.

Afterward, I retreated to the balcony, needing the breeze to cool my skin. The courtyard below was a sea of dark green shadows, the crickets chirping loudly in the heat. I leaned against the railing, breathing in the scent of summer jasmine and damp earth, when I felt a presence behind me.

Warm arms wrapped gently around my neck. A rock-hard chest pressed firmly into my back, and I felt the solid heat of him against me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“Goddess!” I shrieked, spinning around.

Ryker. He was looking down at me with a faint, knowing smile. “Kid sister.”

“Huh?” I breathed, the formal address feeling ridiculous given how close he was standing. He gave me a swift, sharp grin before looking toward the door. His brothers were there, all shirtless, their silhouettes framed by the indoor light. They began to advance toward us like a pack on the hunt.

“Your brother called,” Aiden said, his face stiff and nervous as he handed me his phone. “He said Ethan called him. Said you ran away, but…”

He trailed off, his eyes searching mine. Hearing that name sent a jolt of pure electricity through my heart. I snatched the phone.

“He doesn't love me! He can go to hell!” I growled, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hello? Logan? Ethan called you?”

Silence greeted me on the other end. A thick, tense silence.

“Logan? Talk to me!” I barked. My brother was eight years older than me, my ultimate protector. Why wasn't he saying anything?

“He told Logan that he’s the one who’s been financing everything,” Jasper cut in, his usual sarcasm replaced by a grim set to his jaw. “Your studies, your parents' house, Logan’s career. He’s claiming he owns the debt.”

“If she thinks she can just walk away from me, she’s lying to herself,” Carter added, mimicking Ethan’s chilling, flat tone perfectly.

My chest heaved. I couldn't speak. I looked at the phone in horror, realizing why Logan was silent. Ethan had him in a corner.

“Ethan is a psycho, Alessia. A real one,” Jasper said, stepping closer to rest a hand on my shoulder. “We knew him back at the Shadowcrest Academy. He hated us, and we hated him—especially after we snatched Logan away from his circle.”

Then Jasper dropped the bomb. “He’s the illegitimate son of our father.”

Aiden stepped on Jasper’s foot, silencing him, but the damage was done. My legs wobbled.

“He’s your… stepbrother?” I whispered.

Ryker stepped into my space, pulling me into a firm hug. “We didn't want to scare you. But we can protect you. He might be older, but we are the legitimate sons—we have the influence he lacks. He was born out of wedlock before our father even met our mother. He was a secret until he was old enough for our father to dump him on a 'friend' to be raised.”

“The old Alpha?” I asked, my mind racing. “I thought Ethan was his only child?”

“That’s what everyone thinks,” Carter said, leaning in. “It’s a secret that could ruin the pack’s reputation.”

“We were warned never to let this out,” Aiden added, crossing his arms. “I’m trusting you with this, Alessia.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“Tell anyone, and we’ll have to…” Jasper made a slicing motion across his throat. Aiden punched his arm.

“Not the time, Jasper. Ethan is scheming. He’s dangerous because he feels he has nothing to lose.” Aiden looked at me seriously. “He’s been stalking Logan for years. That 'rogue attack' your brother had three years ago? That was Ethan’s men. We’re the ones who pulled him out of that ditch.”

I gulped. Ethan wasn't just possessive; he was a monster camouflaged by discipline. He was abusive the moment he lost control.

“Never,” I whispered, balling my fists. “He’s not taking me back. No wonder Logan never fought him when he took me in at fifteen.”

“Exactly,” Aiden said. “But you’re here now. And we’re not letting you go.”

A warm spike of hope flared in my chest. I looked at them—four powerful Alphas ready to stand between me and a nightmare.

“Really?” I asked, needing to hear it one more time.

“Yes,” Ryker repeated.

“But… won’t you be in danger?” My voice trembled. I didn't want to lose them.

Aiden chuckled, a dark, confident sound. “We are a lot more than you think we are, Alessia.”

Before I could ask what he meant, my phone shrieked in my hand. Ethan’s name flashed on the screen. Terror swept through me, and I started to shake.

Carter leaned over to see the screen. “It’s him.”

“Pick it up,” Ryker growled. His voice was so loud and commanding it actually boosted my confidence.

I hit answer. Immediately, the barking started.

“You think you can leave me?” Ethan’s voice was a jagged blade. “Your brother told me where you are. Why would you go there?”

“I’m where I belong, Ethan!” I snapped back, fueled by the sight of the four quads standing around me, their muscular frames a literal wall of protection. “I know who you are now. You aren't going to win this time.”

“Oh?” Ethan scoffed. “What’s feeding this delusion?”

Ryker snatched the phone from my hand. “Guess Logan didn't give you the full story, Ethan. Alessia is with us. And we’re going to save her from you, just like we did with Logan.”

“Logan?” Ethan’s laugh was cold. “He’s still in my grip. You didn't save him; you just delayed the inevitable. What makes you think you can keep Alessia?”

Silence followed. My heart was thumping so loud I was sure they could hear it. Aiden and Carter stepped up behind me, each resting a hand on my shoulders, grounding me.

“Alessia,” Ethan’s voice came through again, low and taunting. “Enjoy your little summer stay with your brother’s besties. Enjoy being their 'Holiday Luna' while the sun is still out.”

The name hit me like a physical force. Holiday Luna.

Three years ago, it was a joke. Today, at the wedding, it was a mockery. But right now? Now I wanted that title more than anything. I wanted to hurt Ethan. I wanted him to see me loved, protected, and cherished by the very men he hated most.

He’d accused me of cheating when I was innocent. He’d ruined my life. Now, I was going to give him a reason to be obsessed.

But… a thought occurred to me. Next year, they’d be back at the Academy. An all-male Military Academy. What would happen to me then? Would I be left alone for Ethan to find?

“I think I need to be more than just a Holiday Luna,” I whispered, looking up at the four of them.

Their eyes widened, their lips parted in shock. But I wasn't joking. If I was going to survive Ethan, I needed to be more than a guest. I needed to be theirs.