My eyes pop open when the sound of multiple items falling in the room next to mine fills my ears.

Jacob was up and he was very excited. On a normal day, I'd curse the bugger in my head before tickling him to death. But today wasn't a normal day and he had every right to be excited I was too, after all, it was Christmas.

I rip my sheets off of me before jumping out of bed. I raise my hands to the ceiling, stretching with a dinosaur noise as I inhaled the scent of pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs and much more. I crack a couple bones before throwing on an red sweater and leaving on my sweatpants, though they were really ones I stole from Damon. I head over to my little brother's room with a smile, the sound of carols playing downstairs filling my ears, accompanied by dad's treacherous singing.

I peek my head into Jacob's room and immediately smile at the sight of him struggling to dress himself. He insisted on us all wearing Christmas themed clothes today hence the red sweater despite the fact that I absolutely despised wearing colors.

When it was up to me - black, grey and white was the way to go, but I'd bare it for Jacob since he loved Christmas so much.

"Merry Christmas Jacob." I say running into his room once he finally figured out his onesie. I pick him up and squeeze him extra tight, he giggles in my hold as he throws his little arms around my neck.

"Merry Christmas Me-Me." He cheers inbetween laugher before he presses a happy kiss to my cheek.

He'd always called me Me-Me, having trouble saying Amelia as a babe, it stuck and we never bothered to fix it.

"You want to see what Santa brought us this year?" I question with a look of glee which boosts his own. At the mention of his idol, things begin to hover once more, his eyes glowing a beautiful lavender as he shakes in my hands. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Let's go!" He screams and I laugh. Obliging, I take us down the stairs and into the living room where a hundred and one gifts lay littered all over the floor under the large, glittering tree.

"I guess you were good this year because Santa came." I say looking over the all the gifts curiously, dad sure went out this year.

"He loves me!" Jacob cheers and I can't help but laugh.

"Who doesn't love you?" I say tickling him a bit before taking us to the kitchen where dad is bustling around the kitchen frantically.

My dad, Emitt, was a super star. He was without a doubt one of my favorite people in this world and I knew I won the lottery to have him as my dad.

Not only was he one of the chillest parents ever, he was a complete badass who could destroy more than ninety percent of the pack in a fight.

He thought me how to fight and how to get anything I wanted in life. Thought me things I didn't really want to know about guys, like seriously did not need to know.

All in all, I loved my dad and I'd kill anyone whoever tried to hurt him, a promise I carried out in the past and would continue to until my very last breath.

"Too much?" He asks with a brief gesture to his sparkling red santa costume which came with a matching hat.

"Just enough." I say making him smile. "Need any help?"

"Just keep my little man preoccupied so he doesn't rip through the gifts." He says circling the table to press a kiss to Jacob who giggles before giving my shoulder a small squeeze. "Merry Christmas Stinger."

"Merry Christmas daddy." He replies with a wide grin. "Eat then presents?"

"Yup, so be good as you always are and we'll be opening gifts in no time." He promises and Jacob grins widely at this before nodding his head vigorously.

"Where's Pa?" I ask with a frown, not catching his scent anywhere.

"Finding me more firewood, I want us toastie when ripping open presents." He says with a little flame in his eyes. I nod and decide to let him finish up on his cooking.

"I learnt a new trick, wanna see?" Jacob asks as I walk us to the living room before finally setting him down. I release a small groan as I stretch once more, what can I say, the kid's well fed. I shake myself a little before giving him the go ahead.

He places his palm out and a squirrel appears in it. I jump back in amazement while he giggles as the squirrel runs around him.

"I can make any animal I think of." He says as the squirrel disappears and is replaced by a large snake I didn't care for. I take many, generous steps back before questioning the kid.

"What do you mean make?" I ask as the creature circling him lovingly.

"I think it and it comes." He says while rubbing the scales and I mentally and physically shiver with disgust.

"Are you sure you're not taking it from somewhere else?"

"Yup." He says just as the snake disappears. "Now a shark!"

"No!" I shout quickly rushing back to his side as I look around the space nervously. "How about you don't do that?"

"Is that my little troublemaker I hear?" Pa's heavy voice fills the house from the back door.

"Papa!" Jacob screams as he jumps out of my grasp and runs towards him shrieking his name and wishing him a Merry Christmas. I sigh thankfully for the distraction as I check my phone to see several Christmas wishes and new posts of everyone's gifts. I roll my eyes at the rest before I open Damon's.

08:21 Come over.

08:23 - Now

08:24 - I'm not going to ask again.

08:35 - I hate you, but come over

I chuckle at the messages before typing back a reply, before I can hit send the doorbell rings. I stuff my phone away and make my way to the door, swinging it open, my eyes widen at the sight of Damon.

His dark blonde hair with black strands was tied back which was rare and he wasn't in his usually tangtops but a dark green hoodie instead. His dark blue eyes immediately met mine before hardening as his clenched his jaws.

"Did you not see my messages?" He growls as I fold my arms.

"Merry Christmas to you too." I say leaning against the doorframe.

"You ignored me." He continues and I can't help the smirk that makes it way onto my lips.

"You hate being ignored." I state and his eyes darken at the acknolwedgement. "I was just about to reply before someone rang the doorbell."

"Well it doesn't matter now, I'm already here." He grumbles before looking to the ground. "Are those my pants?"

"Maybe."

"Give them back!" He demands.

"Want me to take it off right now?" I ask sarcastically, slowly but surely a wild red rushes up his neck before meeting his cheeks.

"No, just keep it." He huffs out wirh aggravation.

"Shouldn't you be home, with your family, celebrating Christmas?" I question with a raised brow, it wasn't like him to ditch family events. He may be a hot head but he still loved his family.

"I'm not staying sorry to disappoint, I know how you crave my company." He snaps back making me roll my eyes for the billionth time.

Only then do I realise that his hands haven't moved from behind his back making me raise a curious brow.

"What are you hiding Calderon?" I ask with amusement clear in my tone.

"What?" He asks a little caught off guard.

"What's behind your back?" I ask tip toeing a little to try and catch a peak.

"Ummm," He starts before raising a hand to stratch at the back of his neck. "I-It's.... I don't k-know how..."

"Dude are you stuttering?" I question in complete shock. "You're worse than Peter." I tease, I loved Peter to death, he was an angel.

Damon didn't appreciate the teasing however. He immediately straightens, his narrowed eyes meeting mine with a glow of anger before he shoves a wrapped box into my hands.

"Merry Christmas." He mutters before walking away. I watch his retreading figure with a sigh, he always got so mad for the smallest of things. I hated it but didn't know how to change it.

I unwrapped the paper quickly, not bothering to wait for later. A suade box greets me making my eyes widen a little with surprise, I glance up to find Damon already gone as I run my thumb over it.

Opening the box, I gasp involunteerly at the sight of the glimmering, diamond necklace which had a small butterfly at the base. Butterflies were my favourite creatures, their beauty captured me in all forms whenever I saw one. I thought know exactly how fond of them I was, apparantly one person did.

I say through our link, ignoring the heat racing up my neck.

Whatever - He replies curtly before cutting me off.

I immediately put the necklace on, playing with it for a moment before I hear dad calling for me. I shut the door and return to find all the food already laid out as everyone took their seats.

"I'm starving." I groan as I slide into my chair, stuffing the box intomy pocket.

"I second that." Pa says as he looks over the food hungrily before taking his mate's hand into his and kissing it. "It looks amazing Donut."

"Thank you." Dad replies leaning over to give him a quick kiss. "Now let's dig in before we all lose our minds."

We laugh at this and begin passing around the food. Dad helping with Jacob's servings before cutting his meat into small pieces for him.

"Who was that at the door?" Dad asks halfwya through the meal making my eyes dart up to his.

"Damon." I answer making him smirk.

"Is he also the one who gave you that?" He asks gesturing to the necklace.

"Yes." I reply as I chew my food. "It is Christmas."

"Christmas!" Jacob cheers making us all smile a little but the attention quickly returns my way.

"What did you get him?" Papa asks making me frown.

"Not you too." I say with disappointment but he just shrugs. "It doesn't matter what I got him, it's none of your business."

"Booo!" They both groan together and Jacob quickly joins in just for fun.

"Aren't you guys supposed to be the adults?"

"That's a state of mind." Dad says making me chuckle. "I'll just ask Damon myself when he comes back later."

"I never said he's coming back." I say quickly and he shoots me a look laced with amusement.

"No you didn't, but Damon's been in and out of the house ever since he learnt how to climb out his window. He'll be back." He says surely so I keep eating my food.

"Dohne!" Jacob says after a moment, his mouth stuffed with food making his words hard to decifer. "Njwow presenhswts!"

We all laugh at this before quickly stuffing our faces with the last of our food and making our way to the tree.

Most families probably opened their gifts one by one and took turns watching the other's reactions. Or maybe the parents watched while the kids hurried to see what they'd gotten. But we were most families and my parents could never be that civilized, instead we ripped our presents open feriously. If you grabbed a box that had someone else's name on it, you threw it at that person and kept going until you saw your name.

It was like a feeding frenzy, except there were only four of us and we were feeding on gifts.

All too soon, we were spread out all around the room which was covered in torn wrapping paper, disgarded gift bags and ignired tissue paper. Gifts surrounded each panting family member, all of us bearing large smiles of contentment.

When we'd caught our breath, we quickly lost it in the mad scramble to hug each other with thank yous that were lost in the urgency to open the gifts. Laughter and smiles radiated from us until we were left in a small familly group hug which warmed me to my core.

"I love you guys." Papa says into us and we all reply with a,

"I love you too!"

With one like squeeze, we pulled apart before continuing the family Christmas practice and heading straight back to bed.

We'd wake in and hour or two to enjoy the rest of the day, make some calls and visit some friends and loved ones throughout the pack. But for now, we were enjoying our beds because even though we weren't tired, we were lazy and that was a good enough reason.

I couldn't imagine a better way to start Christmas

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