Alpha Santa

Something Isn't Right

Piper

"Your eyes… they’re gold," I stammer, taking a step back. The cold wind bites at my skin, but it’s the fear prickling along my arms that truly chills me. "Just like the painting."

Elijah’s lips curl into a smirk, but it’s strained, his jaw tightening slightly. "Do you like the painting? Told you Santa would grant your wish." His voice is smooth, but I can tell he’s deflecting, steering me away from whatever just happened to his eyes.

But how can I let it go? One moment, his eyes were a calm, vivid blue; the next, they were molten gold, alive and burning like fire. My chest tightens as questions pile up. What the hell is he hiding?

"I… I do like it," I manage, folding my arms against the sudden cold, though it does little to steady my shaking hands. "The painting is beautiful. I just wanted to thank the CEO. He’s been so generous—the dress, the painting—it’s worth more than I’ll ever have in my life."

A low growl rumbles from Elijah’s chest, vibrating through the air between us. I freeze. My pulse spikes. "Did… did you just growl?"

He steps closer, his eyes locking onto mine like a predator sizing up its prey. My breath catches as I instinctively retreat.

"Is that what you want, Piper?" His voice is a low, dangerous rasp. "Rich men? Let me guess—you’re interested in the CEO now?"

"What?" I hiss.

"Does all the money he’s throwing at you make you feel loved?" His voice rises with a sharp edge, his golden eyes blazing brighter as he stalks forward. "Is that it? Do you want him for his money?"

I throw my hands up in exasperation. "What the hell are you talking about? No! I just want to thank him for his generosity!" My voice is sharp, but my pulse races. His intensity is suffocating. "He saved me from so much embarrassment with this dress! I’m just—" I pause, narrowing my eyes as realisation dawns. "Wait a minute... are you jealous?"

Elijah freezes mid-step, his jaw clenching. His eyes burn with something raw, almost primal, before he schools his expression. "Jealous? Don’t be ridiculous," he snaps, though the tension in his shoulders says otherwise.

"Really?" I challenge "Because it sure looks like you’re jealous."

"You don’t know what you’re talking about," he growls, his voice tight.

I take a bold step forward now, narrowing the distance. "Are you sure? Let’s not forget how you waltzed into the breakfast hall that day in that ridiculously expensive suit, acting like you owned the place. Tell me, Elijah, did you steal it? Borrow it? Or was it a gift from the CEO, too? Or Santa," I mock.

His entire demeanour shifts. His fists clench, his chest heaves, and his golden eyes blaze so brightly it’s like staring into a furnace. "Enough!" he shouts, the raw power in his voice sending a shiver down my spine.

Before I can blink, he’s right in front of me, closing the distance between us in an instant, his face inches from mine. His breath is warm against my skin despite the icy wind cutting through the woods. His hand brushes my arm lightly, and sparks ignite, racing across my skin like electricity.

"Don’t mention the CEO again. You should focus on me, Piper. Elijah. The man who’s going to be your husband." he says, his voice a low, dangerous whisper.

I swallow hard, my heart racing from his words. "Do you... do you feel it too? When we touch?"

He frowns, the intensity in his gaze softening slightly.

"The sparks, the electricity," I continue, my voice trembling. "It’s not normal. I’ve had boyfriends before, Elijah. I’ve met handsome men before. But this? This is something I’ve only read about in books. What… what is it?"

His golden eyes flicker back to blue, as if the storm inside him is settling. For a moment, he looks almost… vulnerable. "It’s because you’re my mate," he says softly.

I blink. "When are you going to tell me what that means?"

He exhales sharply, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Sometimes, I’m tempted to kiss you just to shut you up," he murmurs, his voice laced with something dangerous and tantalizing. "Just like right now."

My breath hitches.

"But not yet," he murmurs painfully, stepping back, leaving me cold and disoriented. "One day, I’ll explain everything. When you’re ready to trust me."

I stare at him, searching for answers in his enigmatic gaze, but he turns abruptly, heading deeper into the woods.

"Where are you going?" I call out.

"For a run," he replies, not looking back.

"A run? Out here?" I ask, incredulous. The woods are thick with danger, and the shadows seem alive with predators. Every instinct screams that this is no place for a casual jog.

But something about the way he moves—the confidence, the power in his stride—sends a shiver through me. He’s not worried about the wild beasts. If anything, it feels like they should fear him.

I stand there, frozen, watching as his silhouette disappears into the shadows. The wind whips through the trees, carrying an eerie silence that seems to seep into my bones. My thoughts are tangled—his golden eyes, the growl, the sparks when he touched me, and the word mate.

Nothing makes sense.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I let out a shaky breath. Whatever Elijah is hiding, I’m going to find out.

As I step back into the hotel, the warmth of the lobby wraps around me, but my thoughts remain cold and unsettled. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, thankful for the distraction. It’s a message from Zoe:

“OMG! My new room is AMAZING! You have to come see it—wait till you see the floor. It’s insane.”

I roll my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. Zoe always has a way of bringing me back to reality, even in the strangest moments. Without a second thought, I follow the directions she sent, stepping into the elevator and punching the button for her floor.

When the doors slide open, the sight that greets me stops me in my tracks.

The director.

He’s pacing back and forth in the hallway like a man on the verge of losing it. His hair, usually combed to perfection, is slightly dishevelled, and his expensive suit looks like it’s been tugged at too many times. His eyes are wide, darting around nervously, and his lips move silently, as if rehearsing an apology or a confession.

I clear my throat, half amused, half curious. "Uh, are you okay?"

His head snaps toward me so fast I wonder if he’s hurt himself. For a brief second, his eyes meet mine, and something flickers there—recognition? Confusion? It’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Lu-Miss Piper," he says, his voice stiff but calm. He knows my name?

I arch a brow, crossing my arms. "Zoe loves the room. You can stop pacing now before you scare her away."

His lips press into a thin line, and he nods curtly. For a second, his gaze drifts toward the room at the end of the hall with an expression I can only describe as… longing. Then, without another word, he strides past me, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor.

"Man of few words," I mutter, shaking my head. "But damn, does he care about Zoe."

I make my way to Zoe’s door and knock twice. It flies open so fast I barely have time to react before Zoe pulls me inside, squealing.

"Piper! You have to see this room—it’s insane!"

I blink, taking it all in. The space is massive, at least twice the size of my room, with a bed that looks more like a cloud and a sitting area straight out of a luxury magazine. Soft golden light spills from an elaborate chandelier, casting a warm glow on the plush carpet and silk curtains.

"Zoe…" I breathe, spinning in a slow circle. "This isn’t just a room. This is a palace."

"Right?" she says, flopping onto the oversized couch. "I mean, look at this place! Why would they give me this? I didn’t book it. I didn’t even pay for it."

I laugh, leaning against the armrest of the couch. "Maybe the director likes you? He seemed pretty invested in making sure you were happy."

Zoe’s eyes widen. "Wait. That guy gave me this room? Why? I don’t even know him!"

I shrug, smirking. "Maybe he’s your secret admirer. Or maybe he’s just really dedicated to customer service."

"Please," Zoe scoffs, throwing a pillow at me. "Anyway, I was going to ask if you’d move in with me. I don’t want to stay here alone—it’s way too big."

"Tempting," I say, glancing around. "Honestly, I think we should just switch rooms. You can have mine, and I’ll take this palace."

Zoe laughs, shaking her head. "Not a chance. But seriously, Piper… doesn’t this place feel a little… weird to you?"

Her question throws me off. Zoe doesn’t do “weird.” She’s always too caught up in her own dramas to notice anything out of the ordinary. Folding my arms, I sit down and study her. "Weird how?"

She leans in, lowering her voice as if someone might overhear. "It’s not just the hotel—it’s the people. Have you noticed how… ridiculously handsome some of them are?"

I raise an eyebrow, biting back a grin. "Handsome? You mean the director? Admit it, Zoe. He’s the one you find weirdly attractive."

Zoe glares, swatting me with a pillow. "I’m serious, Piper! It’s not just him. It’s everyone. Most of the guys here look like they walked straight out of a fantasy movie. Even your boyfriend, Elijah."

I blink, caught off guard. "Elijah?"

"Yeah," she says, nodding. "He’s insanely good-looking, but not in a normal way. Like… otherworldly. It’s almost creepy."

I think back to Elijah’s golden eyes, the sparks when he touched me, and the strange growl that rumbled from his chest. A shiver runs down my spine.

"You feel it too," I whisper, more to myself than to her.

"You’ve been paying attention?" I ask, half teasing but genuinely curious."What happened to focusing on yourself and not thinking about men? Since when do you notice other guys—or anything, for that matter?"

She blushes, clearly flustered. "Don’t make this about me! I’m serious, Piper. Something isn’t right here, and you know it. What if this place is hiding something? Something big."

I exhale slowly, her words striking a nerve. As much as I want to dismiss her, a part of me knows she’s onto something. Elijah called me mate. The director called her mate. If I dig deeper and find out why, will it be something I can handle knowing?