A Howling Christmas with the Alpha

Holly's POV

"Are you really going to let the Winter Festival pass without lifting a finger, Holly?" Ivy's voice was the first thing I heard as I stepped into the cozy warmth of the Frostvale Art Studio. It smelled like pine and cinnamon, the air thick with the scent of Christmas decorations and freshly baked goods.

​I glanced at her, my best friend, and rolled my eyes. "I’m not exactly in the mood for celebration, Ivy. It’s just another festival. Nothing special."

"Oh, come on," Ivy insisted, tossing a strand of her jet-black hair over her shoulder as she crossed the room, hands on her hips. "This is the one time of year when the entire pack comes together. Everyone’s waiting for you to at least show up. You don’t have to dance or do any of that ridiculous bonding stuff. Just enjoy the night for once."

"I’ll pass," I muttered, glancing at the half-finished painting on the easel before me. My brush hovered in midair, hesitating. The canvas in front of me was a snowy landscape of Frostvale at dusk—calm, serene, untouched. The perfect distraction from the turmoil that had settled in my chest.

"Holly," Ivy’s tone softened, her voice dipping into something more serious, "what's going on with you? You've been on edge for days now. Ever since we got the invite to the Alpha's banquet, you’ve been avoiding everything and everyone."

​I set my brush down, the sound of it clinking against the ceramic palette a little too loud in the silence.

"Nothing's going on," I snapped, maybe a little too sharply. "I'm just... tired. It’s nothing."

​Ivy didn’t buy it, and I knew it. She stepped closer, her green eyes studying me intently. "You’re avoiding something, Holly. I can tell. You don’t have to keep running away from it."

​I let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing my forehead. "It’s complicated."

"Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it." She raised an eyebrow. "You know, you don’t have to be the lone wolf all the time. Especially not tonight. We’re pack, remember?"

​My gaze shifted to the snow falling outside the window. It was peaceful, almost magical, but a knot tightened in my chest. The cold wind whispered through the trees, and I could have sworn I felt a familiar tug—a pull, deep from the woods.

"Are you listening?" Ivy’s voice broke through my thoughts.

​I blinked and turned back to her, plastering on a forced smile. "Sorry, just got lost in thought for a second."

​She studied me for a moment longer before shrugging. "Alright, whatever. But you better at least join us for the bonfire later. The pack will be disappointed if you don’t."

"Fine," I muttered, unwilling to argue any further. "But only for a little while."

​Ivy grinned and patted me on the back. "That’s the spirit. I’ll see you there then." With that, she turned and disappeared out the door, leaving me alone with the cold silence and my swirling thoughts.​

As much as I wanted to retreat into my artwork and block out the world, I couldn’t ignore the strange feeling that had been gnawing at me. Something was wrong, I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. The air felt heavier, and the pull from the forest was undeniable. It wasn’t just the wind. It was as if the forest itself was calling to me, urging me to step into its depths. To face something I didn’t understand.

​I glanced toward the forest line from the studio window. The trees were blanketed in snow, their dark silhouettes stark against the moonlit sky. There, at the edge of the woods, the faintest shimmer of movement caught my eye. I could’ve sworn I saw something, but when I blinked, it was gone.

​I shook my head. I was imagining things. Probably just the cold playing tricks on me.

​But as I stood there, staring at the distant tree line, the pull from the forest only grew stronger, more insistent. The same strange sensation I had been feeling for days—like something or someone was waiting for me.

Watching me. It was unsettling, but there was also a deep curiosity stirring within me. A part of me wanted to go, to follow that call into the heart of the forest, but another part—the rational, cautious part—warned me to stay away.

​I looked down at my hands, the tips of my fingers tingling as if they were connected to something far beyond this world. It was then that I realized: this wasn’t just some random pull. It was something tied to me. Something I couldn’t ignore forever.

"Holly, are you in here?" Ivy’s voice came through the door again, cutting through my spiraling thoughts.

​I turned toward the sound of her voice and smiled weakly. "Yeah, I’m here."

​She stepped inside, frowning when she saw my distant expression. "You okay? You look... off."

​I nodded, forcing my smile to widen. "I’m fine. Just... thinking about the forest. You know how it is."

"Yeah, I know. But don’t let it eat you alive. We’re all counting on you tonight," Ivy said softly. "Orion’s expecting everyone to be there. He’s not one to take kindly to no-shows."

​At the mention of Orion Winterwolf, the Alpha of the Winterwolf Pack, my stomach twisted into a tight knot.

​Orion. The man who ruled over Frostvale with an iron fist. His eyes were as cold as the winter itself, and yet... there was something about him. Something that both terrified and captivated me.

A part of me loathed his ruthless ambition to unite all the packs under his banner. But another part of me—one I didn’t like to acknowledge—was drawn to him. Drawn to the power he exuded, to the way he commanded respect without saying a word.

"Holly?" Ivy’s voice broke through my tangled thoughts again.

"Yeah?" I said, not meeting her eyes.

"Orion's not the enemy, you know. He might be hard to understand, but he’s not evil. Don’t let the rumors get to you."

​I snorted softly. "Isn’t it a bit late to be preaching about rumors? I’ve known Orion for years, Ivy. I know exactly what kind of man he is."

​Ivy crossed her arms, her gaze stern. "And what kind of man is that, Holly? Someone who wants power? Sure. But also someone who cares for the pack. Someone who’d go to hell and back to protect us. Don’t forget that."

​I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because deep down, I knew Ivy was right. Orion Winterwolf wasn’t just a power-hungry Alpha. He was someone who fought to keep the pack safe, even if it meant making difficult decisions.

​But the part of me that feared him—the part that couldn’t shake the growing tension in my chest—wondered if that very power might be what would tear us all apart in the end.

​The pull from the forest grew stronger once more, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

"I think I’m going for a walk," I said suddenly, my voice sounding distant even to me.

​Ivy raised an eyebrow, concern flickering in her gaze. "Now? On Christmas Eve? Are you sure that’s a good idea?"

"I’ll be fine," I said, forcing the words out with more confidence than I felt. "Just need some air."

​Before she could say another word, I pushed past her and out the door.

​The cold air hit me like a slap to the face, sharp and biting, but I welcomed it. It helped clear my mind, even if only for a moment. I walked towards the woods, my boots crunching in the snow, and the strange tug pulling me deeper into the forest, away from the safety of the town. It was as if something—or someone—was waiting for me.

​I reached the edge of the trees and paused, staring into the shadows beyond. The wind howled through the branches, a sound that seemed to whisper my name, and I shivered.

​And then, just as I was about to take another step forward, I heard it.

​A piercing howl. Long, mournful, and unmistakable. It came from deep within the forest, echoing through the trees.

​My heart skipped a beat, and my blood ran cold. That was no ordinary wolf. That was a call. A summons.

​A howl that could only belong to one creature.

​Orion.

​I froze, my breath caught in my throat, and before I could even think to move, I heard the sound again. Closer this time.

​The darkness of the woods seemed to press in around me, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly afraid.

"Orion," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the howling wind.

​But the forest remained silent, as if it, too, was waiting for what would come next.

​The sound of the howl echoed again, but this time, it wasn’t just the wind. It was closer. So much closer.

​And then, a shadow stepped from the trees.

​My heart raced.

Holly's POV

​I couldn’t move.

I stood there, frozen at the edge of the forest, the howling wind whipping around me as the snowflakes danced in the frigid air. That howl—so raw, so deep—still reverberated in my bones, and my pulse hammered in my ears. It wasn’t just a call. It was a summons. I could feel it in every fiber of my being.

​The forest before me was shrouded in a blanket of snow, the dark trees looming like sentinels, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. I had no reason to go into the woods. I knew better. Everyone knew better.

The forest wasn’t a place to wander at night, especially not on Christmas Eve when the veil between the realms was thinnest. But something—someone—was out there, and I couldn’t ignore the pull. Not anymore.

A chill crept down my spine as I stepped forward, my boots crunching softly in the snow. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, to ignore whatever it was that was waiting, but my feet moved on their own,