Page 40 of Holiday Rut

“What?”I tease.“He didn’t even notice.He’s too busy opening his gifts.”

“It’s so much,” she murmurs as she looks at the carnage and destruction.“Where are we going to put it all?”

A heavy sigh slips through my lips as I bend down on one knee.“Remember when I said you’d be making my penthouse a home?”

This time, when she turns around, she gasps, drawing Daniel’s attention.He stares at me, wide-eyed as I take in Noelle’s shocked expression.

“Wait!”she cries out.“Y- you can’t be seriously proposing right now.I- I don’t understand.We just met.”

“Well, yes…” A frown pulls down at my lips.“And you wear my claiming mark.You’re already mine forever.I’m just letting everyone else know.It’s an outward show of what our souls have already decided.”Her eyes glisten as the bond lights up with her joy.“Does that mean it’s a yes?”

“Yes,” she screams as she nearly tackles me.

My heart swells, nearly bursting as I slip the ring on her finger.

A ring to show my love, and a collar to show my possession.

Standing, I reach into my other pocket and pull out a slim box.Redness tints her cheeks as she turns, allowing me to slip it on.Daniel, none the wiser, simply shrugs and goes back to his toys.But then, he doesn’t really need to know how depraved his sister is.That’s for my heart and eyes only.

It’s funny how fate works.At first, I was dreading the holiday, despising the idea of spending it alone.But with an overdrawn account and a desperate omega, I found what’s been missing all these years.I finally found my reason, my purpose, my home.