Her Christmas Redemption

A New Life

Four years later:

Zeraphine's POV

I fumbled with my pink blouse, my fingers pulling the hem lightly as I tried to smooth out the crinkling sides.

It was a habit, one I’d picked up in my years of trying to maintain some control. But today, it felt pointless. The soft feel of the silk fabric didn’t help ease the knot twisting in my stomach.

“Momma, I can’t find my shoes!” Nyra’s voice filled the air, causing me to jerk in fear, high-pitched and full of the kind of impatience only a four-year-old could pull off.

“Not again,” I muttered, slapping my palm to my forehead.

“Give me a second, Nyra!” I called back, wincing at the sharpness in my own voice. I was trying—I was trying so hard—to be patient.

I ran a hand through my hair, my blonde hair that barely went below my neck, and glanced at the clock. I had less than twenty minutes to finish getting ready, get the twins fed, and somehow make it out the door without anyone being late.

The smell of oatmeal, cinnamon, and maple syrup filled the air, mixing with the strong smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. It should have been soothing—- calming my nerves in some way, but it only formed knots in my stomach.

I can do this. I can do this.

I repeated it like a mantra as I stepped into the kitchen, the source of the noise that filled the hallway. Nyra, my wild daughter with her messy brown curls, was standing by the door, holding one sneaker and staring at me as though I were the one who had hidden the other one.

“Momma, look!” she held up the one shoe like it was a treasure. “I can’t find the other one!”

I bit my lip, trying not to snap— not to let my irritation get the best of me. “Have you checked the hallway? Or under the couch?”

She shook her head, eyes wide with confusion. “No, Momma. It’s gone!”

“Look harder,” I said, though I was already half-distracted. There was Alera, my fierce little girl, standing on the kitchen counter, peering into the cabinets.

“No climbing, Alera!” I snapped, my breath catching in my throat at the sight of her tiny hands gripping the edge of the counter.

“I’m looking for marshmallows, Momma! You promised!” Her voice rang with the kind of pure, innocent hope only a child could manage. It took everything in me not to smile, even as my nerves stretched tighter.

Marshmallows at eight in the morning...

“Alright, alright,” I muttered, already walking over to the pantry. “Here. One bag. And then you get down.”

Alera squealed with delight as I handed her the bag. I watched her scamper down from the counter, her little legs bouncing with excitement.

against the counter, rubbing my temples. Alera and Nyra. My twin daughters. No matter how much I loved them, some days felt like a battle I wasn’t prepared for.

I took a deep breath, the strong scent of coffee still in the air as I forced myself to step away from the calm of the kitchen. I could feel my wolf stirring restlessly inside me. It had been years since I’d left Los Angeles. Since everything had fallen apart. But now, here I was, standing in a beautiful house in New Zealand with two little girls—who were turning my life upside down.

“Mom! Alera’s trying to hide my shoes!” Nyra cried again, this time louder.

I walked into the living room , shaking my head. Alera was running circles around Nyra, teasing her with the shoes in her hands. Nyra stood in the middle, arms crossed over her chest, looking like she was about to explode. The twins were identical in looks, but in personality, they couldn’t have been more different. Alera was the wild one—always moving, always full of energy. And Nyra… well, Nyra was calm, quiet, and serious, like me, but with an edge that came from being constantly annoyed by her twin.

“Alera, give her the shoes,” I said, my voice firm, but there was a smile pulling at my lips. I couldn’t help it. No matter how much they fought, it was still a sight to see.

Alera stuck out her tongue and laughed. “Make me!” she teased, holding the shoes just out of Nyra’s reach.

I sighed, the tension in my chest loosening slightly. Life had never been easy. But having my girls made every chaotic second worth it.

“You know, I could use some peace around here,” I muttered under my breath.

I pushed those thoughts away— I can't afford to be sad, more especially not now. For the first time in years, I was content. The pack here in New Zealand, the Awanuis, had accepted me as their own. My new name, Zeraphine Awanui, was now tied to their legacy. They had given me and the twins an apartment in their huge penthouse and I was grateful for that. I was the CEO of the Awanui Fashion Empire, and life had become way less gray. At least, most days.

I glanced over at the twins. Alera was now running in circles, giggling as she did, while Nyra stood still, arms crossed, looking both irritated and amused.

“Alright, enough,” I said, walking over and gently taking the shoes from Alera’s hands. “You two are impossible. Both of you, go get dressed. We’ve got a meeting to get to.”

The girls groaned, throwing their heads backwards like adults, but it didn’t take long for them to scamper off to their rooms.

I turned back to the kitchen, grabbing a cup of coffee. The warm steam felt good against my skin. My wolf was quiet now, but I still felt unsettled, and I knew she could feel it within her, waiting. I set the mug down and looked out the window, the sound of my daughters fading into the distance.

Thankfully the meeting had been cancelled and I can kick back and relax without being anxious of showing up late— which of course was my life now. I was always late to events, family dinners, galas, and company parties.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

“Who is it now?” I groaned, massaging my scalp from the throbbing headache.

I wasn’t expecting anyone. But I walked over to answer it, pulling open the door to find Anahera standing there.

“Anahera?” I asked, surprised. “What’s going on?”

She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her dark hair falling in waves around her shoulders. Anahera, Tane’s wife, had become my closest friend in the past few years. She smiled at me, but there was something in her eyes— something I couldn't place my finger on.

“Where are my girls?” She beamed, her eyes scanning everywhere for sight of the girls. Her presence was much of a relief to me. To aid the emotional breakdown I was going through.

“In their rooms,” I chuckled, “ playing dress up. So tell me, what happened you look uneasy”

“We need to talk,” she said, her voice calm but serious.

I led her to the living room, my mind already racing. Anahera wasn’t usually one to make a fuss over nothing. She settled down into the brown sofa, crossing her legs, her brows furrowing as she fiddled with the saucer that sat on the wooden table.

“Zeraphine,” she began, taking a deep breath. “You need to know that Varin is taking over as Alpha from his father at Christmas.”

The words hit me like a slap, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Varin. After all this time, he was finally taking his place as the Alpha. The same Varin who had betrayed me, who had been my fiancé before he ran off with my sister. The same Varin who had torn my life apart.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, my voice tight. My wolf growled low in my chest. She hated Varin, and so did I. He had made me feel small, unimportant.

Anahera hesitated, her eyes softening as she looked at me. “I thought you should know. And… there’s more. He’s marrying Rivara. They’re getting married this Christmas.”

I never thought it would happen… I mean— I had an idea but still, a part of me always hoped that their relationship might have long been over with since the last few years.

I didn't expect that he would actually push through and get married to Rivera.

No matter how unaffected I tried to act. I felt it wash over me— the sting of betrayal. The whole scene replayed in my head, sucking air out of my chest.

“I don’t care,” I said finally, hoping to convince myself as well. It's not like I could stop them. “Let them do what they want. I’m done with him. Done with all of them.”

Anahera watched me, her eyes boring into mine,

“Zeraphine,” she called softly, reaching for my hand, “I know it hurts. But you need to think about this. You need to decide if this will affect what you’ve built here.”

I didn’t answer at first. I couldn’t. My wolf was restless, pacing inside me. She was definitely more affected than I was. She spent years trying to find healing.

“Do I?” I finally said, my voice steadier than I felt. “I have my pack. I have my family. I have my daughters. I don’t need him. Or Rivara. Or anyone from that past.”

But deep down, I knew the past wasn’t done with me.

Not by a long shot.