Alpha Santa

Golden Eyes

Piper

The breakfast room buzzes with soft chatter and the clinking of silverware against fine china. I stab a piece of melon with my fork and glance across the table at Zoe, who looks like she’s trying to blend in with the seats. Her eyes dart nervously around the room, as if she’s expecting Zack to burst in at any moment.

I lean forward, lowering my voice."I don't think he would dare come to you here, especially with eyes watching, so relax and eat."

Zoe freezes mid-bite, her croissant hovering just inches from her lips. She places it back on her plate with and exhales sharply. "Honestly, it was like... like an eye-opener, you know? Like the slap was exactly what I needed to finally see him for who he really is.”

“Zoe…” I start softly, but she barrels on.

“He started apologising right after, of course. Begging me to stay, crying like some pathetic little boy. But I kicked him in the d**k and ran out of there.” She gives me a wry smile, but there’s no humour in her eyes. “Pretty sure he’s still curled up on the floor, nursing his injury.”

I can’t help it—I snort, then quickly smother it with a cough. “Good. He deserves worse.”

“Maybe,” she murmurs, toying with the hem of her sleeve. “But now what? I don’t have a job. Zack’s dad’s money was basically keeping me afloat. He told me not to work, so I never had to… but now?” She shrugs, and the sadness in her eyes twists something deep inside me.

“You need therapy,” I blurt out.

Zoe blinks, then laughs softly. “Therapy costs money, Piper. You know, the thing I don’t have?”

“Well, lucky for you, you’ve got me,” I announce, straightening in my chair. “I’ll be your personal therapist. In fact, our first session starts now."

Her lips twitch, and a small smile breaks through. “Oh, really?”

“Really. Get ready to take notes because I’m about to drop some life-changing wisdom.” Clearing my throat dramatically, I lean closer, lowering my voice to a singsong tone.

“Block your ex so he can’t call you.

December is when he’ll crawl back.

Don’t let him ruin your holidays like he’s done before. The only gift he ever gave you was worry and strife.

He’ll try to wish you a Merry Christmas.

But don’t forget how he wrecked your life.”

Zoe’s mouth falls open, then she bursts out laughing, a genuine laugh that lights up her face. “Where the hell did you learn that?”

“My therapist,” I say proudly, grinning. “She told me that when I was this close to running back to my ex.” I hold up my fingers, barely an inch apart. “It stuck.”

Still smiling, Zoe shakes her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe,” I admit, reaching across the table to take her hand. “But seriously, Zoe—what do you want? Now that you’re done with Zack, what do you want for you?”

Her smile fades, and she looks down at our hands. For a moment, I think she’s going to brush me off. But then she sighs, her shoulders sagging. “I don’t know,” she admits. “For now, I just… I just want to focus on myself. Look for a job, start over. Love is the last thing on my mind. I don’t even know if I can trust a man again. It’ll take time… a long time.”

“You’ll get there,” I say gently. My thoughts drift briefly to the handsome director, who’d stepped in to protect her. “And if you need help, I’ve got your back. Actually…” I lean back in my chair, a grin spreading across my face. “I might be able to help you with that job thing.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Really? What kind of job?”

“Oh, it’s perfect. Singing, dancing, and making funny faces to entertain kids.”

Zoe groans, throwing her head back as she slaps a hand over her eyes. “I hate kids.”

I laugh so hard I almost choke on my coffee. “Well, then this will be perfect for you. Beggars can’t be choosers, right?”

As our laughter fades, my eyes wander around the breakfast room, scanning faces, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. I can’t help myself; I’m searching for him. For Elijah. My chest tightens at the thought of seeing him, even as I try to convince myself otherwise. But he’s not here. I need to give him our ring.

“You’re looking for your hot prince, aren’t you?” Zoe’s teasing voice cuts through my thoughts, and I nearly knock over my coffee.

My cheeks heat up instantly. “What? No!” I protest, probably too quickly.

Zoe raises a perfectly skeptical eyebrow, smirking as if I just confirmed her suspicions. “Oh, really? Because your eyes are doing that whole where-is-he thing every five seconds.”

“They are not!” I stab at my fruit salad, but her grin only widens. "I don't care where Elijah is." I mumble.

“Sure. So, his name is Elijah, huh? It suits him—very mysterious, very knight-in-shining-armour.”

I freeze. “Wait, what do you mean, knight-in-shining-armour?”

Zoe shrugs nonchalantly. “When Zack hit you, Elijah looked like he was ready to rip him apart. His face… Piper, he looked like some kind of beast, furious and completely unconcerned about the consequences.”

I swallow hard. The image of Elijah, all protective rage and fiery eyes, flashes through my mind. “Well, what about you?” I counter, trying to change the subject. “You’re conveniently ignoring how the director acted when Zack said he’d dragged you by the hair.”

Zoe tilts her head, confused. “What director?”

“Oh, come on!” I gesture wildly, as if that’ll jog her memory. “The handsome guy who was practically shooting lasers at Zack when he found out. And don’t even get me started on how he stared at you like you were some kind of forbidden candy. He’s so into you.”

Her eyes widen, and she looks genuinely flustered for a second before she can mask it. “He was not.”

“He was!” I insist, grinning. “And let’s not forget, he’s the one who turned Zack into a human punching bag, not Elijah.”

Zoe opens her mouth to retort, but before she can get a word out, a familiar middle-aged man in a crisp hotel uniform approaches our table. His nametag reads Daniel, and his polite smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Zoe?” he asks, his gaze flickering between us.

Zoe freezes for half a second, then points at me. “Nope, that’s her."

“Seriously?” I roll my eyes at her and glance back at Daniel. “What’s the problem?”

“No problem, ma’am,” he says smoothly. “The hotel has offered a new luxury suite free of charge. If you’d like, I can escort you to check it out.”

Zoe’s hand shoots up faster than lightning. “Wait! Actually, I am Zoe.” She grins sheepishly at me. “You know, I had a temporary lapse in identity.”

I burst out laughing, shaking my head as I stand. “Unbelievable.”

Zoe stands too, all innocence and charm as she bats her lashes at Daniel. “Lead the way, good sir.”

We follow him out of the breakfast room, and I’m still chuckling when my eyes land on a familiar figure in the distance. My breath catches, and my steps falter. It’s Elijah. Even from here, his broad shoulders and dark hair are unmistakable. But there’s something off—he looks distracted, his expression unreadable as he moves toward the exit.

“Zoe,” I mutter, already stepping away. “I’ll meet you later, okay?”

She frowns. “Where are you—”

“I just need to do something!” I call over my shoulder before hurrying after Elijah.

I weave through the hall, my heart pounding as I try to catch up. “Elijah!” I call out, but he doesn’t stop. He doesn’t even turn around. My voice echoes uselessly as he steps outside.

When I reach the door, he’s gone. I glance around frantically, spotting him in the distance, heading toward the edge of the property. “Elijah!” I yell again, chasing after him. But it’s like he doesn’t hear me.

The further I go, the quieter it gets. The sounds of the hotel fade behind me, replaced by the rustling of trees and the crunch of leaves underfoot. The air feels colder and I stop to catch my breath, looking around wildly. He’s nowhere in sight.

“Elijah!” I try one last time, my voice trembling now.

Then I hear it—a low, guttural growl that freezes me in place. It’s not human, not even close. My skin prickles as fear grips me. I take a quick, shaky breath as I glance around, eyes darting through the dense trees, trying to make sense of the terrifying noise.

I take a step back, ready to sprint back to the hotel, my thoughts a frantic mess—half expecting a beast to pounce, devouring me without a second thought. Then, just as I’m about to bolt, a voice cuts through the fear.

“Looking for me, mate?”

The familiar voice sends a shiver through me, and my legs lock in place. I turn slowly, my breath hitching, and that’s when I see him. Elijah. But something’s different.

His eyes—once the striking blue I remember—now burn with an unnerving gold, like they did back at the spa when he was furious with Zack. The same molten gold that now makes my pulse quicken. But there’s something else—something oddly familiar about those eyes, something that pulls at the deepest corners of my mind, as if I’ve seen them before.

And then it hits me.

My thoughts drift back to the wolf painting—the one that had been gifted to me. The one that’s sitting in my room right now. The very same one I’d been drawn to, like a moth to a flame, at the exhibition. The one that had captivated me with its intensity, its wildness.

I stare at Elijah, my gaze locked onto his eyes, and it’s as if I’m looking straight into the wolf’s piercing stare.