The Mystical White Wolf
THIRTYFIVE-CHRISTMAS DAY

One Week Later: Christmas Day

Staci POV

I felt a slight shiver and reached my hand behind me to find Antonio's spot empty and cold. I rolled over and sniffed his scent, which still lingered on his pillow. Solaris purred from her slumber by our mate's scent. I yawned and stretched my limbs as I heard the shower, saw the steam coming out the cracked door, and smiled.

"Mate is in the shower," Solaris said.

I had been training my powers for the last few weeks and toning my body. Antonio would spar with me sometimes and let me practice my powers on him. It was fun setting his ass on fire sometimes. I also discovered a new power. I can heal any wounds as long as they are not too severe.

"Merry Christmas, my love," my mate said in his deep accented voice. I was jolted out of my thoughts and smiled at him.

His body was still dripping water, and I was ogling him as I licked my lips, and he chuckled.

"Like what you see, beautiful," Antonio said as I bit my lip and giggled.

"More like love, what I see," I said, blushing.

Antonio leaned down and almost kissed my lips as I turned my head away, and he kissed my cheek. I turned back to face him and saw a pout.

"No kiss for your Alpha?" he asked as I chuckled.

"I have morning breath," I said as Antonio laughed heartily.

"You smell divine to me, my love," he smiled as I smirked and shook my head.

I got up quickly and rushed to the bathroom. He was distracted and laughed as I closed the door. I quickly brushed my teeth and showered. After my shower, I emerged from the bathroom. Antonio was already dressed in a lovely white sweater and blue jeans. I admired how handsome my mate was.

"Are you just going to stare, my love?" I blushed and ran inside my closet to get dressed.

After I got dressed in a cream-colored sweater, blue jeans, and matching boots, I put my hair in a high ponytail and applied makeup as I exited the closet. I heard Ace cooing on the baby monitor and smiled. I walked toward his nursery and opened the door.

The sun was shining through his window. Ace's nursery was painted royal blue with white trim, and the decorations were a mix of gray and white. I picked Ace up out of his crib and smiled at him.

"Good morning, handsome," Ace cooed, touching my face as I kissed his little fingers and nose.

I walked toward the rocker before the window and sat down as Ace fussed.

"Okay, okay. Wait a minute," I said, lifting my sweater and unsnapping my bra strap.

Ace quickly latched on and started suckling as I looked at the window and gasped. We must have had a snowstorm last night because the pack lands were covered in white. The lake behind the castle didn't look frozen. It was a beautiful Christmas morning.

Ace finished nursing as he pushed my breast away and cooed. I fixed my bra and pulled my sweater down. I placed Ace over my shoulder and burped him. He gave me a few good burps, and I waited to see if he would poop before I changed his PJs.

Ace pooped, and I got ready to bathe and change his outfit for the day after bathing Ace and dressing him in a red sweater, blue jeans, and some red Timberland baby boots. I brushed his curly hair and smiled.

"Are you ready to go see everyone?" I cooed at my son as he babbled.

I knew some staff would be off and spending time with their families. Last week, I had them put up a Christmas tree, and Evelyn helped me decorate it. My parents would visit later and spend time with us for Christmas.

I held Ace as we entered the bedroom, and Antonio sat on the couch talking on the phone. He looked up and smiled. I assumed he was talking to his Uncle Ricardo and telling the family Merry Christmas. Antonio finished his phone call and put his iPhone in his jeans pocket.

"Uncle Ric and Aunt Ali wanted me to tell you they said Merry Christmas," Antonio said as I smiled.

Ace cooed as we exited our bedroom and walked toward the front of the suite. We got on the elevator and descended toward the first floor as my stomach rumbled with hunger.

Antonio and I chuckled as the doors slid open, and we exited the elevator. We walked toward the dining room, and the scent of breakfast made my mouth water. Ace was fast asleep on his Father's chest. We could hear the chatter and laughter as we opened the doors and entered the dining room.

"Merry Christmas and good morning," Antonio and I greeted everyone as we received the same greetings.

Antonio and I sat down at the table as Evelyn ran over and made grabby hands for Ace. Antonio gently passed our son to his Mother as she sniffed his scent and gently kissed his cheek. I smiled as Daniela walked over, rubbed his hair, and kissed his other cheek.

Cassandra served us plates and winked at us. I heard cooing as Carter and Monica entered the dining room with a pup in each arm. Juliano and Marcie were right behind them. Marcie still had a few weeks to go before their pup was born.

"Oooo," I squealed and got up to see the twins.

I peeked into Carter's arms as both pups were sound asleep and gently kissed their cheeks. Everyone joined us for breakfast, which included scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, oatmeal, and fresh-cut fruit.

Breakfast was filled with chatter and laughter. The girls and I tried to get our mates to tell us our gifts, but the guys were tight-lipped. After breakfast, we helped Evelyn, Cassandra, and Joana clean up.

Acilio and Adriel had already had breakfast and were watching the sports center channel with their Dad, Chico, and Felix in the family room. We walked inside as everyone clapped and piled around the Christmas tree.

"Present time," Evelyn announced.

We all sat on the couches as Antonio and the guys passed around presents. The parents were first, and Evelyn brought out a big box to put the wrapping paper and used gift boxes in afterward. I held Ace as he was awake and watched the excitement and cooed as everyone opened their gifts.

"Those aren't for you," I said as Ace kicked his little legs.

"Merry Christmas, my love," Antonio said and handed me a small present.

I squealed excitedly and tore off the wrapping paper. I opened the white box and gasped at the beautiful white gold locket necklace. Family is forever printed on the front as I opened the locket, and the tears streamed down my face.

On one side was a picture of Antonio and Ace, and on the other was a picture of my parents and brother. I held the locket close to my chest and looked at my mate.

"Thank you for this," I said as he smiled and leaned over to kiss my lips. Antonio helped me put the locket on.

"That's not all," Antonio said, placing another small box in my hand.

I smiled and did the same with this gift. I opened the small box, and I again gasped. It was a white gold charm bracelet. The charm sets were a white wolf and black wolf, a friendship charm, a Crescent Moon charm, a Blue Moon Charm, and a son charm.

"Thank you for my gifts, baby. I love them," I said, kissing his lips repeatedly.

I loved my gifts, and when it was time to give Antonio his, I gently passed Ace to Evelyn and looked under the Christmas tree for Antonio's and Ace's gifts.

"Merry Christmas, baby," I told Antonio, placing the big box in his lap. A wide smile spread across his face.

Antonio POV

"Merry Christmas, baby," I looked as Staci laid a gift on my lap and smiled.

I proceeded to open my present. I smiled and tore the wrapping paper. I opened the box and chuckled.

"This is awesome, my love," I said. Staci had gifted me a teal three-piece Armani suit and a white button-up shirt.

Staci set a small box in my hand and smiled at me as she passed other gifts to our friends. Mom had Ace in her arms as she opened his presents from us. I smiled, ripped off the wrapping paper, and opened the white box.

I smiled as I saw the black dog tag on a black chain and pulled it out of the box. I looked at the tag with a picture of Staci and Ace on the front of the dog tag. World's best mate, Father, and Alpha were printed on the back. I chuckled.

"Thank you, my love."

"I love my gifts," I said, pulling Staci into my lap and kissing her lips.

Ace got new clothes and a teething toy. Staci noticed he started drooling and assumed he would begin teething early. I felt a mind link coming through as a warrior told me that Brady and Grace had arrived at the front gate.

I told the warrior to let them pass. Acilio grabbed the TV remote and changed the channel to some Christmas movie as Adriel growled and yelled at him.

"Hey, I wanted to watch the game," Adriel snarled.

"It's Christmas, bro. And you can record and watch the game later," Acilio said as Adriel huffed and pouted on the couch.

"You two be nice. It's Christmas," Mom said and glared at my brothers.

Acilio clicked on the guide, flipped to the channel where the football games would be shown, and clicked the record button for Adriel.

"There. Now, when everything calms down, you can watch your games," Acilio said, putting the remote on the coffee table.

I shook my head at my brothers and heard footsteps approaching the family room.

"Merry Christmas," Grace said as Brady carried inside some gifts in his arms.

Staci squealed and ran into her Mother's arms as they embraced each other. Staci hugged her Dad next as I helped him with the gifts.

Staci and I opened the gifts from her parents and thanked them. Seth and Rose send their love and happy holidays. Our Moms went to the kitchen to prepare dinner with the girls while I held Ace and watched Christmas movies with the guys and our Dads.

Mom came into the family room a few hours later and announced dinner was ready. We headed toward the dining room and took our seats as our Moms and the girls served us dinner. Of course, Mom did her famous sweet ham, green beans, sweet potatoes, cornbread dressing, vegetable casserole, and buttered croissants.

For dessert, we had apple jelly cake, banana pudding, chocolate cake, and my Grandmother's famous strawberry shortcake. Dinner was filled with laughter and joy as everyone started eating.

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