Claimed on Christmas Eve

Snow always made Christmas feel like magic. When I was a little girl, I used to believe the first snowfall of December carried wishes in it—tiny frozen prayers drifting down from the sky. If you caught one on your tongue, you had to make a wish before it melted. Tonight, as fat snowflakes drifted down from the dark sky, I wished for one thing. Love. Not the kind in movies. Not the kind in fairy tales. Just a simple, steady, safe kind of love—the kind I thought I had. The kind I thought Ryan gave me. I held a small silver gift box against my chest, hands wrapped tightly around it to keep it warm. My breath puffed out in cold clouds as I walked up the steps to his building, heart fluttering with a mix of hope and nerves. Maybe tonight would be the night. He’d been acting strange for weeks—nervous, fidgety, distracted. I assumed it meant he was finally going to propose. We’d been together for three years; it felt like time. I’d even let myself imagine it—snow falling around us, Christmas lights glowing, him dropping to one knee. I smiled softly. Everything felt perfect. Almost. The lobby doors of his apartment building swung open when I approached, and warm air brushed against my chilled cheeks. I stepped inside, clutching the gift tightly, and pressed the elevator button. Christmas music drifted through the speakers—an old song about kisses under mistletoe. My heart squeezed. This was supposed to be our moment. The elevator dinged. I stepped in and pressed the button for the penthouse level, smoothing my dress as the doors slid shut. Deep red velvet. Simple. Elegant. His favorite. I’d curled my hair, done my makeup just the way he liked it—soft, natural, pretty. Not too bold. Not too much. Ryan didn’t like it when I stood out. “Too much attention,” he’d say. “You’re mine, remember?” I used to think it was protective. Sweet. Now… I didn’t know. I shook the thought off. Today was Christmas Eve. Today was supposed to be a new beginning. The elevator chimed softly and opened. Warm yellow light spilled out into the hallway, reflecting off gold-trimmed mirrors and garlands wrapped in twinkling lights. Everything looked luxurious. Beautiful. Perfect. Just like the life I thought I was walking toward. I walked down the hall, heels silent on the thick carpet. Ryan’s door was half-open, as if he’d left it for me on purpose. Maybe he’d set something up inside. Maybe candles. Maybe roses. Maybe— But before I could touch the door, before I could push it wider— I heard it. A breathless sound. A moan. Followed by another. Heat shot up my neck. My stomach twisted sharply. I froze, my fingers hovering an inch from the door. No. No, no, no. Not this. Not tonight. Not him. I swallowed hard, panic squeezing my throat. Maybe I misheard. Maybe it was something else. Maybe— A soft, breathy laugh floated to me. Her laugh. My best friend’s. I went numb. The gift box slipped from my hands and hit the floor with a dull thud. My fingers trembled uncontrollably as I pushed the door wider. The scene inside shattered the world. The Christmas tree glowed softly in the corner, ornaments glittering like they were mocking me. Candles flickered on the side table. Soft music hummed through the speakers. And on the couch—half-naked, tangled in blankets, sweat-slicked skin flushed—was Ryan. And the woman beneath him. Her hands dug into his back. Her lips pressed against his throat. Her legs wrapped around him like she’d been doing it for years. My heart cracked so loudly I swore the room heard it. Ryan’s head jerked up. His eyes widened, shock flooding his face. “Ariana—s**t—” My breath ripped out of me in a gasp that sounded like a sob strangled halfway out. My best friend scrambled to cover herself, dragging a blanket over her body, eyes filled with guilt and something worse— Satisfaction. Bile burned up my throat. “Ari,” Ryan began, breathless, chest heaving. “It’s—it’s not what it looks like.” I stared at him, blinking back tears that blurred the lights into smears of red and gold. “It looks like you’re inside her,” I said, my voice trembling so violently I barely recognized it. He flinched. Her eyes darted away. The world tilted. My ears rang. “Maybe,” Ryan said slowly, “you should have knocked.” I felt something inside me tear. “You could’ve—” The words caught in my throat. “Ryan, how long?” He ran a hand through his hair, looking annoyed. “A few months.” Months. My legs wobbled. The wall behind me kept me from collapsing. My best friend lifted her chin in a way that made my blood go cold. “You were always so busy, Ari,” she said softly. “He needed attention.” Needed attention. I stared at them, two silhouettes in the golden light, twisted together in a bed of betrayal. My lips parted, but no words came out. What could I say? What was left to say? I turned, stepping backward into the hallway. “Wait,” Ryan said sharply. “You’re being dramatic.” I froze. Dramatic. He’d cheated. They’d betrayed me. And I was dramatic. A sob broke through my chest. I ran. I didn’t remember leaving the building. I didn’t remember pushing past people in the lobby. I didn’t remember the snowstorm worsening, the icy wind whipping at my hair. All I knew was pain. Raw. Blistering. Merciless. I stumbled through the snow-covered street, tears freezing against my cheeks. The world blurred around me—lights, shadows, the distant sound of traffic. Everything felt distant. Wrong. Broken. My lungs burned. My heartbeat pounded so hard it hurt. Why wasn’t I enough? Why did he do this? Why her? What did I do wrong? My knees buckled, and I grabbed a lamp post to steady myself. My breath came in short, trembling gasps. I pressed my back to the cold metal, letting my body slide down until I was sitting in the snow. Christmas Eve. The night I thought my life would begin. Instead, it ended. I buried my face in my hands, sobs shaking my shoulders. That’s when I felt it. A shift in the air. A presence. Heavy. Strong. Electric. Like the world itself inhaled. I froze, lifting my head slowly. A shadow moved through the falling snow. Tall. Broad. Dangerous. He stepped out of the darkness like he was made from it—black coat dusted with flakes, hair tousled by the wind, eyes glowing faintly beneath the streetlight. Silver. Not gray. Not blue. Silver. My breath hitched. He was staring at me like he’d been looking for me his entire life. My heart skipped a beat, fear and something else flickering through me. The stranger came closer, boots crunching in the snow. He moved with a quiet, predatory grace that made every instinct inside me scream both run and stay. He stopped in front of me, towering over me, blocking the wind entirely with his massive frame. His voice was deep, velvet-soft yet powerful enough to vibrate through my bones. “Who hurt you?” I jerked, startled by the gentleness beneath the growl. “I—who are you?” My voice cracked. His nostrils flared slightly as he inhaled, and his eyes darkened, something wild and feral flashing beneath the surface. He stepped closer, and in one smooth motion, he crouched in front of me, bringing us face-to-face. He was too close. Too intense. Too impossibly beautiful. And yet— I wasn’t afraid. His hand rose as if he wanted to touch my cheek, but at the last second, he curled his fingers into a fist and lowered it. He swallowed hard, jaw tightening. Then he whispered three words that made my heart stop beating entirely. “You’re mine.” I froze. Completely. My pulse thundered in my ears. “What—?” I breathed. He exhaled shakily, as if fighting something inside him. His eyes flickered, glowing brighter—like molten silver splitting through ice. Then the door behind me slammed open. Ryan stormed out into the snow, wearing only sweatpants and irritation. “There you are—Jesus, Ariana!” he snapped. “Stop causing a scene—” The stranger stood. And his entire presence changed. The air grew thicker. Colder. Sharper. Like every molecule around us bowed under his command. Ryan stumbled to a stop, eyes widening. “Who the hell—” The stranger didn’t even look at him at first. His gaze stayed locked on me, as if Ryan didn’t exist. When he finally turned his head, the temperature seemed to drop further. “Step back,” he said softly—deadly softly. Ryan blinked. “What are you, her bodyguard?” The stranger’s eyes flashed. “Her mate.” My breath caught. My heart slammed against my ribs. Ryan laughed incredulously. “She’s human. You’re delusional.” A low growl rippled through the air—not quite human. I trembled. The stranger stepped forward, placing himself fully between me and Ryan. His broad shoulders blocked my view. His voice dropped into something primal. “She belongs with me.” Ryan’s face twisted with anger. “Back off—” The stranger turned his head slightly. His eyes were glowing. Bright. Silver. Unmistakably inhuman. Ryan’s mouth fell open. “What the—” he choked. I blinked hard, a wave of dizziness crashing over me. My vision blurred. The snow, the lights, the stranger’s impossible eyes—all melted together. The last thing I felt was strong arms catching me before I hit the ground. The last thing I heard was his voice—deep, fierce, reverent. “I’ve got you, my love.” Then darkness swallowed me whole.