Page 124 of Twisted (Savage Alpha Shifters 2)
“Now,” Alex said, pulling back with a glint in her eye, “how about you let me help with something before the guests arrive?”
“Help?” Vivienne arched her brow. “Is this the same Alex who once tried to decorate cookies with a hammer?”
Alex shrugged, unbothered. “Hey, you’ve got to admit, they were pretty memorable.”
Vivienne laughed, the sound light and free. “Fine. But you’re on firewood duty. And no hammers.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Alex winked before heading toward the door, grabbing her coat on the way.
Vivienne watched her go, her heart full in a way it hadn’t been in years. She turned back to her centerpiece, adjustinga single holly berry until it sat just right. The room glowed warmly around her, not just from the lights and fire but from the life she and Alex had created—a life worth celebrating.
Soon after, their guests arrived. The kitchen was alive with the energy of the holiday party preparations. Pots clattered, laughter echoed, and the warm, savory scent of roasted vegetables mingled with the sweetness of spiced cider simmering on the stove. Vivienne moved with practiced efficiency, deftly arranging the last of the hors d’oeuvres on a gleaming silver platter.
“I still can’t believe you’re hosting a Christmas party,” Emma said, leaning against the counter with a glass of wine in hand. Vivienne’s longtime friend from New York had arrived earlier that day, her suitcase overflowing with designer winter wear ill-suited for the rugged mountain terrain. She was watching Vivienne with amused disbelief, clicking her red nails idly against the glass. “Last I checked, you hated Christmas.”
Vivienne smirked, not looking up from her task. “People change.”
“People do,” Emma agreed, her gaze drifting to Alex, who was hauling in an armful of firewood from outside. Snowflakes dusted her hair, and she greeted the room with a grin that was as easy as it was genuine. “And some people have a very specific influence, it seems.”
“Do you have a point?” Vivienne asked, arching a brow as she placed the platter on the counter.
Emma took a sip of her wine, clearly savoring the moment. “Just that it’s nice to see you like this. Happy. Relaxed.”
Vivienne hesitated, the comment catching her off guard. She glanced around the room, taking in the sight of their guests—friends and family from both their lives mingling. Her mother was chatting with Alex’s father near the fireplace, the two of them laughing over what looked like an old photo album. A group of Alex’s mountain and old snowboarding friends were gathered near the Christmas tree, swapping stories with Vivienne’s colleagues from the city.
It was a strange but heartwarmingblend, and for a moment, Vivienne allowed herself to simply be.
“Okay, who’s ready for cider?” Alex’s voice cut through the room as she carried a steaming pot to the counter. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and her eyes sparkled with the kind of joy that always seemed to radiate from her.
“Me, please,” Emma said, raising her glass. “And I’ll take mine without the rustic mountain twigs, thanks.”
Alex laughed, pouring the cider into mugs. “It’s a garnish, not a twig. But I’ll make yours extra plain, just for you.”
Vivienne rolled her eyes, grabbing one of the mugs and pressing it into Emma’s hand. “Ignore her. She’s been insufferable since we started decorating.”
“Only because you insisted on color-coordinating the ornaments,” Alex retorted, handing a mug to Vivienne with a wink.
“I was ensuring balance and harmony,” Vivienne shot back, though her smile gave her away.
“Balance, harmony—same thing,” Alex said with a shrug, leaning against the counter beside her. She glanced at theroom, her expression softening as she took it all in. “This turned out pretty great, didn’t it?”
Vivienne followed her gaze, the tension she hadn’t realized she’d been holding releasing in a quiet exhale. “Yeah,” she admitted. “It did.”
The party was in full swing now, the air filled with music and the sound of happy conversation. Someone had turned on a playlist of holiday classics, and a few people were swaying to the music near the tree. Vivienne and Alex’s dog, a graying but still sprightly border collie named Scout, weaved through the crowd, earning a steady stream of pets and scraps.
“I’ve got to admit,” Emma said, swirling her cider, “I wasn’t sure how this whole ‘mountain holiday’ thing was going to go. But it’s…nice. Cozy.”
Vivienne smirked. “High praise coming from you.”
“Don’t get used to it.” Emma’s tone was teasing, but there was an undercurrent of sincerity in her words. She glanced toward Alex. “She’s good for you, you know.”
“I know,” Vivienne said quietly,her gaze softening as she watched Alex laugh with a group of guests.
The doorbell rang, and Alex moved to answer it, revealing another group of friends from the nearby town. They entered with bursts of laughter and a flurry of snow, their arms loaded with gifts and bottles of wine. Alex welcomed them with the kind of easy warmth that had first drawn Vivienne to her, and soon the room was alive with even more energy.
“Come on,” Emma said, nudging Vivienne’s arm. “Let’s mingle before the food runs out.”
Vivienne allowed herself to be pulled into the crowd, greeting guests and exchanging stories. Everywhere she looked, she saw evidence of the life she and Alex had built together—a life where their worlds could coexist, where the sharp edges of the past had been softened by the love and trust they had found in each other.
