One year later....

Waking up on Christmas has always been something I dreaded. Nothing special or magical happened during the time I was in homes or in the institution. It was just another regular day. There were no gifts. No family. No joy.

But I got all of that and more when Arge found me.

As I roll over and open my eyes, I gaze out onto the snow-covered grounds of the pack lands, and a smile eases onto my face. It's always a sight to behold, but it's something else entirely at this time of year. The snow-capped peaks of the mountain ranges. The tall pine trees that glisten with fallen flakes of fresh snow. The frost in the air gives the grounds a slight glitter, and it's literally my own winter wonderland. It's heaven.

It's all so different now. I'm different. More than I ever dreamed possible.

Today will be filled with laughter and joy, company, way too many hugs that will still never be enough, and the excited energy of little pups everywhere.

Including my own. Something about the way the young ones behold the wonder of Christmas astounds me. That thought has me suddenly wondering where my little James is, and I roll to check her monitor screen next to my bed and find her cot empty.

Sitting upright, I strain my ears for the sounds of her little high-pitched voice and hear it ever so faintly coming from down the stairs.

Along with the deep timbre of her father's voice.

Bless that man. He let me sleep in. Another tick on his growing list of attributes.

It's no secret I indulge James with feeding whenever she wants. I love to snuggle up to her little warm body at night as her tiny finger curls around mine. And the long nights catch up to me at times, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

She and Arge are everything to me. My family are my absolute all and today, we will collectively be gathered here together. The three unified pack leader couples celebrating as one. With our children, the future leaders.

Little Auggie is the latest addition. Being the only boy among the duo of tiny but feisty girls, he will have to learn to hold his own fast. Especially if our niece, Aelita, turns out anything like Jemma.

The thought of my brother and his family brings an extra pep to my step. I love seeing him in that role. His daughter is his treasure, though it hasn't been without trial.

James, myself, and our daughters are still unaware what our future will be due to the amount of uncertainty about our bloodline.

Baby James already has strength beyond what she should as a typical fourteen-month-old pup. And it worries us greatly to be so unsure of what this means for her. For us. We keep what we can from the wider were-community and the crumbling council, but we know that there are shadow rumblings about our heritage and what it means for the werewolf kind.

Fear of the unknown breeds jealousy and mistrust.

The bloodlines die hard, and those among our kind who consider themselves to be of true blood or high blood, as they call it, are starting to cause concern amongst the general packs. Already. Though there hasn't been any reason to yet, Arge seems to think it stems from a certain family whom we haven't seen or heard from since the vampiric show down.

Even from his hiding place, Elroy is making waves.

I push those concerns down to worry over another day because today, this moment, is about celebrating our unique family. Three packs together as one united front. That's probably the biggest reason for the dust up in the packs but again, their issue, not ours. For now. We're together to bolster the community between us, not to impact on anyone else. We will not act unless we are forced to; that much we all can agree on.

That's how we see it, anyway.

I mentally compartmentalise all of that for another time and spring from the stairs to the first landing where I find my husband and Alpha at the mercy of our tiny daughter.

They sit in front of the large, decorated Christmas tree, skimming through the many wrapped presents, searching for their names. Her dark mane of hair accentuates her almond-shaped blue eyes. She really is the best mix of us both.

James or JJ, as we fondly call her, squeals with delight as she goes about touching all the colourful baubles and lights on the tree whilst Arge takes a second as she is distracted to make his way over to me.

"Merry Christmas, gorgeous," he greets me, handing over a beautifully wrapped box from his pocket, complete with a little silver bow on top of sparking navy paper. He kisses me sweetly on the nose.

"Merry Christmas, Arge." I smile up at him, kissing his cheek as I take the little box and move to sit on the couch. JJ catches sight of me and toddles over in her still unsteady way, the last few steps she flings her little lean body at me. The gift topples into my lap as I let go of it to catch her.

"Merry Christmas, little munchkin," I say, kissing her hair and breathing in her delicious scent. It's sweet, like her but with a touch of spice like her father.

Perfection.

As James moves off towards the tree again, Arge goes to follow her while I unwrap the gift in peace. I try to be delicate but find myself still unable to contain my excitement and as I rip off the last remaining layer. I find an intricately carved wooden box inside. As I inspect it, I find that three sides have the individual crests of our packs carefully carved into the wood. The fourth side has curved script with Arge, Aida, and James etched intricately into a circle.

The top section, however, captures my attention. It is an emblem of sorts, like a family crest but larger, and as I look it more closely, I notice that it contains the elements of the three crests but they have been woven into one.

It's breath-taking and symbolic of the way that we've all woven our love and livelihoods into one large family.

And if what Arge has created here means anything, one joint pack.

"Open it," he says, coming to sit with me as he keeps an eye on James who has now settled onto the floor, a bowl of baby cereal in her lap.

"Arge, does this mean—" My words are cut off abruptly as I open the box to find three different and unique strands forming one strong, long chain that leads down to a large gold solid heart. On the edge and winding round the shape are our names. All six of us.

Argent explains, "We are one. We always have been since the minute you stepped into our lives and they all became connected. I know it's not typical, but it's how we were destined to be." He takes the chain from the box and places it around my neck.

"The others?" I question, placing my hand on the heart instinctively as I watch his face.

"The Alphas and I all designed these together. We all knew this would be, and you knew it too. We want it. Regardless of what the other packs think, we're linked, bound in so many ways. More than just family ties us together as one. Why not actually make us one?" He speaks so eloquently, with such passion. I almost forget how much drama this will create within the were-world. There is no mistaking that this will set us far apart and above the other packs.

Every pack.

It's a message to the world.

I'm just not positive it will be seen as anything other than a threat.

"Are you sure?" I ask, and he nods. No fear. Nothing but love and well-meaning behind his reason. But I'm no fool. It won't be seen that way by many.

The door chime interrupts our conversation, and Arge leaves me to my many thoughts as he goes to welcome our guests.

James and Jemma burst into the space first, Aelita in her mother's arms as James handles the gifts. Deacon and Amalie enter soon after, little Auggie cradled asleep in Deacon's arms.

As I embrace each one, I take note of the identical necklaces around each woman's neck. The gold hearts sitting level with our own beating in our individual chests.

As we all stand together and stare at the circle of life we have created, no words are even necessary. I smile over at Arge as he claps his hands on the backs of Deacon and James. They each wear huge matching grins.

"I guess we're doing this then. World domination," Jemma says, breaking the tension as only she can and earning laughs from all of us.

"Jesus, Jem, at least wait till we have a drink. Aida nearly choked on her chain behind you," James chides, stepping over to embrace me in his arms as Jemma goes to place Aelita on the kids' couch with JJ.

" Someone had to say it," she retorts with her trademark wink, and the tension eases. Just a little.

Today we will wrap ourselves up in the unity of our lives. Forever entwined with each other, with us and the three little ones I stare at now. Auggie stirs slightly in my arms as I rock him on the couch, observing the two little toddlers tearing through the paper with such unbridled joy.

The three Alphas sit on the floor, handing out gifts and laughing with each other. Jemma and Amalie sit in the kitchen, eggnog in hands and nothing but laughter and love on their faces.

Today, I will not worry about what tomorrow brings.

Tomorrow. Well, that's another story.