An Alpha Mate For Christmas

The snow crunched under my boots as I walked up the front steps of Marcus’s house. Warm yellow light spilled through the windows, soft and steady. Inside, I could see the faint glow of the Christmas tree in the corner, red, gold, and green lights glowing. I smiled to myself as I adjusted the gift bag in my hand. I had spent two hours picking out that leather jacket he’d been hinting about for weeks. I wanted tonight to feel special. It was our third Christmas together after all. But the moment I opened the door, that illusion shattered. It wasn’t locked. That was my first warning. The second came when I heard it. A soft moan. Then his voice followed low and husky. My heart froze. I stood in the doorway for a full second, unsure if I had heard wrong. But when I stepped into the dimly lit living room, the truth hit me like a slap. Marcus was there—shirtless, his body pressed against a blonde woman on the couch. Her red dress was hitched up around her thighs, her lipstick smeared. His hands were on her waist. His mouth was on her neck. I dropped the gift bag. The sound made them jerk apart. “Sam?” Marcus’s voice cracked. He looked stunned, like I was the one who had done something wrong. I stared at him, my breath caught somewhere between my chest and throat. My voice came out sharp, trembling, but clear. “Are you kidding me?” He stood quickly, fumbling for his shirt. “It’s not what it looks like—” “Don’t,” I snapped, my pulse roaring in my ears. “Don’t you dare say that.” The girl grabbed her purse and stood up awkwardly, avoiding my gaze. “I—I should go.” “Yes, you should,” I said coldly, my eyes burning. She hurried past me, leaving behind the smell of cheap perfume. The door clicked shut, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint hum of Christmas music from the speaker. I looked at him. The man I thought I loved. His blue eyes, the ones that always looked soft when he smiled looked guilty now. “How long?” I asked. He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not like that, Sam. It just—happened.” I laughed. It was bitter and ugly. “Oh, it just happened? Did you trip and fall into her?” He flinched. “You haven’t been around lately. You’ve been busy, distant. I thought you didn’t care anymore.” My chest tightened. “So that’s your excuse? You cheat because I was busy?” “I’m sorry, okay? I made a mistake.” I took a step forward, my voice shaking with rage. “A mistake is forgetting to lock your door. This—” I gestured toward the couch, the mess of clothes, “—this is a choice. You chose to betray me.” His jaw tightened. “Don’t act like you’re perfect. You’ve been pulling away for months, Sam. What did you expect me to do?” I stared at him, stunned. “You’re blaming me?” He lifted his chin, his tone defensive now. “I’m just saying it wasn’t all my fault.” For a moment, I couldn’t speak. The man standing in front of me wasn’t the same Marcus I had fallen for. This one was cold, selfish, unapologetic. I grabbed the gift bag from the floor and shoved it against his chest. “Here. Merry Christmas.” He looked down at it, then back up, his mouth tightening. “Don’t be dramatic.” That broke something inside me. I laughed again, but this time tears burned my eyes. “Dramatic? You had another woman on your couch, Marcus. I think I’ve earned the right to be dramatic.” He stepped closer, his expression softening slightly. “Sam, please. I don’t want to lose you.” I stepped back. “You already did.” The words hung between us like a slap. His lips parted, but I didn’t want to hear another word. I turned toward the door, my legs shaking, my vision blurred with tears I refused to let fall. Outside, the cold wind bit into my skin, but I barely felt it. I just kept walking, the snow crunching under my boots, the world around me a blur of white and silence. I didn’t even know where I was going. I just knew I couldn’t stay there. My breath came in short, sharp bursts. I had trusted him. I had given him everything—my time, my heart, my trust—and he crushed it like it meant nothing. I reached the end of the street before stopping, my fingers trembling. I wiped my face roughly and took a deep breath. The air smelled like pine and frost, sharp and clean, unlike the stench of betrayal that still clung to me. I can't believe I got fooled. I thought about the nights I stayed up waiting for him to come home from practice, the meals I cooked, the promises he made. All lies. My throat ached. I told myself I wouldn’t cry, but the tears came anyway. Hot, relentless, spilling down my cheeks in the cold night. I thought love was supposed to make you feel safe. Instead, it made me feel small. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold the pieces together. Maybe this was my fault. Maybe I loved too hard. Trusted too easily. The wind howled, whipping my hair across my face. I took another step forward, then another. I needed to go home. I needed to forget him. But before I could take another breath, I heard his voice behind me. “Sam!” I froze. Footsteps crunched in the snow, fast and uneven. Then a hand grabbed my arm. I spun around, my heart racing. “Let go of me!” Marcus stood there, breathless, his eyes wild. “Where do you think you’re going?” I glared at him, pulling my arm free, my pulse hammering in my chest. His grip had left a faint red mark on my skin. “Anywhere but near you,” I said, my voice low but sharp. His jaw clenched. “You’re not walking out on me like this.” I took a step back, anger boiling inside me. The air between us felt heavy. “Watch me.” “Don't test me Sam.” He hissed, grabbing my arm again and roughly pulling me towards him. The Christmas lights from his porch flickered behind him, throwing shadows across his face. Something dark, possessive and desperate passed through his eyes. “What the hell do you want from me?” I snapped as fear sliced through me.