Her Christmas Redemption

4: The Sudden Invitation

Zeraphine's POV

I barely slept after Anahera's visit. Her words echoed in my mind—Varin was taking over as Alpha, and Rivara would stand beside him. My past, neatly locked away for years, now felt like it was slipping free. I told myself it didn’t matter anymore. I had moved on, built a life, a family, a name.

The familiar scent of roasted lamb and garlic potatoes, welcoming us as we stepped into the lavishly furnished house of the Awanuis. Each piece of furniture had a mixture of gold in them.

The weekly dinner tradition was always the time when the house came alive. The clatter of dishes, the soft hum of conversation, and the twins’ giggles were a daily comfort. But tonight was different. The heavy silence that followed my arrival at the table from Anahera's earlier visit, or maybe it was all in my head. I had been overthinking things since she left.

The roast lamb smelled rich and savory, on the plate in front of us. The warmth of the fire crackling should have felt cozy— it Should have brought warmth to my freezing heart, but it only added to the prickling tension under my skin. I kept my head down, helping Alera cut her food into tiny pieces as Nyra whispered something in her sister’s ear, earning a muffled giggle.

“Mama,” Alera said, nudging me with her elbow. “Can we go outside after dinner? The stars will be out!”

Her bright blue eyes were hopeful, shining like they always did when she talked about the stars.

“Only if you finish all your food,” I said, softening my voice. “And no sneaking it to the dog this time.”

Nyra, the quieter of the two, smirked and leaned closer. “She does that all the time, Mama. She thinks I don’t notice.”

“Do not!” Alera shot back, crossing her arms with a dramatic huff.

“Girls,” I said, giving them both a firm look. “Eat. Or no dessert.”

They groaned in unison, but I could see the tiny smiles tugging at their lips as they turned back to their plates. Even in the middle of chaos, my daughters managed to bring light. Their identical features—golden hair and blue eyes that mirrored mine—were often hard to tell apart, but their personalities couldn’t have been more different.

Alera was bold and energetic, always talking, always moving. She had an imagination that could turn the simplest objects into castles or dragons. Nyra, on the other hand, was observant and thoughtful, her quiet demeanor often catching people off guard. She was the one who lingered at my side when I was tired, offering comfort without needing to say a word.

As they argued in hushed whispers about who was going to eat more vegetables

“Whoever finishes their veggies first, get a gift from grandma,” Rakura spoke up, tactically shushing the girls.

“Really?”

She smiled, her eyes twinkled with admiration. She was always this way with the girls— soft spoken, “Yes girls, now eat up,” she turned to me, “how was things at the company zeraphine?”

“Oh, I didn't go today. The meeting was cancelled and the girls got into a lot of chaos,”

“You should take a leave, Zeraphine”

“I second this,” Tane , her eldest son chimed, “you’ve been pushing yourself too hard, Zera. Take a break. The company can handle itself”

“I can't afford to. I will handle ev—” a deep voice broke through the chatter.

“Zeraphine.”

The table stilled. Alpha Nikora’s tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried the weight of authority. My gaze lifted to meet his dark eyes, and I set down my fork.

“Yes?” I whispered, not raising my eyes to meet his.

“We need to talk about something important,” he said, his time lighter now, I guess he noticed that he sounded a bit too stern. That is how each and everyone of them were— putting my feelings into consideration— something my real family couldn't do.

I glanced at Raukura, pleading with my eyes

She sat beside him, her sharp gaze fixed on me. Whatever this was, it wasn’t going to be good.

“An invitation arrived earlier today,” Nikora continued, using the napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth, as he straightened in his chair. “From the Valtheran pack.”

I swallowed.

The name alone sent a chill through me. I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white.

“What kind of invitation?” Tane, Nikora’s eldest son and the next Alpha, leaned forward, his brows furrowed.

“To Varin’s Alpha ceremony,” Nikora said, his tone neutral, as he looked from Tane to me, as though wanting to pick up any signals from me. “He’s officially taking over the pack this Christmas.”

My stomach churned, my throat drying up at the instant. Even the food could not revive my appetite. Varin. Even thinking his name made my wolf bristle, a low growl rumbling at the back of my mind.

“Why are they inviting us?” Hemi, Nikora’s younger son, asked, a line forming between his eyebrows.

“Politics,” Raukura answered curtly, while slicing lamb chops. Her movements were graceful and elegant. “It’s a calculated move. They want to keep appearances clean, even if we all know the truth.”

“Then why not ignore it?” Tane said, crossing his arms. “We owe them nothing.”

“It’s not that simple,” Nikora replied. “Refusing would send the wrong message. We can’t afford unnecessary conflict.”

I watched, my mind sinking back into it's solitude. I was unable to say anything— so I watched the back and forth they were having. Tane and Hemi listed the reasons why the invitation should be ignored, while Nikora and Raukura stressed the importance of diplomacy. Each word felt like another weight pressing on my chest.

I stared at my plate, my mind slowly slipping away— slipping to the darkness I had tried so hard to climb out of.

“Mama?”

Nyra’s soft voice pulled me back. I glanced at her, seeing concern flicker across her small face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” I said quickly, brushing her hair back. “Why don’t you and Alera go upstairs and play for a bit?”

“But we haven’t had dessert yet,” Alera protested.

“You can have it later,” I said, forcing a smile. “I need you to listen to me, okay?”

They hesitated, but Nyra tugged on Alera’s sleeve, and they slid off their chairs, retreating upstairs with only a little grumbling.

Once they were gone, I turned back to the table. “I’m not going,” I said, my voice firm.

The arguing stopped. Everyone stared at me.

“You might not have a choice,” Raukura said, her tone gentle but unyielding.

I shook my head, my throat tightening. “Why me? Why should I have to go?”

“Because,” she said, leaning forward, “you’re the best option. You’ve always been good at handling situations like this. And—” She hesitated, her gaze softening.

“And what?” I asked sharply, my heart pounding.

“You have history with them,” she said quietly.

The words hung in the air, a painful truth I couldn’t escape.

“That’s exactly why I can’t go,” I said, my voice trembling. “You’re asking me to walk into the very place I ran from. To face people who…” I trailed off, swallowing hard.

“Zeraphine,” Nikora said, his voice softer now. “No one’s forcing you. But you need to think about this. Showing up would send a message. It would show strength.”

“Or weakness,” I muttered, shaking my head.

My wolf stirred again, her presence stronger now. “They don’t understand,” she growled. “They’ve never felt what we felt. We don’t owe them anything.”

Raukura sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’ve built a life here, Zeraphine. A good one. Don’t let them hold power over you anymore.”

Her words stung because part of me knew she was right. I’d come so far, created a new life, a family, a purpose. But the thought of stepping back into that world, even for a moment, felt like inviting the ghosts of my past to haunt me again.

“I need time to think,” I said finally, pushing back my chair.

“Of course,” Nikora said with a nod.

As I walked away from the table, I could still hear them converse. The discussions seemed lighter and they sounded cheerful.

But I wasn't.

My chest felt heavy, and different thoughts went through my head.

I dragged my legs through the marble floors, towards the balcony, the cool winter air sending shudders down my spine, filling my lungs with its iciness. The stars above sparkled, a reminder of the constancy of the universe. How beautiful everything looked, despite the chaos of a life most of us were forced to live.

“You’re stronger than this,” I whispered to myself.

“We are,” my wolf agreed, her tone softer now. “But strength doesn’t mean we have to face them alone.”

The stars blurred as tears filled my eyes. I’d faced so much already—betrayal, heartbreak, the struggle to rebuild from nothing. Could I truly face this, too?

“Mama?”

I turned to see Nyra standing in the doorway, her small frame outlined by the light from inside.

“Are you okay?” she asked again, her voice tentative.

I knelt down, pulling her into a hug. “I’m okay, baby,” I said, my voice coming out in messy shrieks. She doesn't need to see me like this. I needed to be strong for her Alera. “Don’t worry about me.” I smiled, sniffing in the tears

She pulled back, studying my face with those sharp eyes of hers. “You’re strong, Mama,” she assured, her little hands patting my hair.

Her words hit me harder than anything else that night.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I said, kissing her forehead. “Now, go back to your sister, okay? I’ll be in soon.”

She nodded and disappeared inside, leaving me alone under the stars.

I stayed there for a long time, the cool air soothing the heat of my emotions. Whether or not I was ready, a decision had to be made.

But not tonight.