Where I Belong

CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE

CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE

Santana could barely control her excitement. It was Christmas Eve and she never had a true family to celebrate it with before. She had been there already for a month, and got a job at the grocery store close to the pack house. When she received her first pay check, she felt so independent. Regretting that she never did so before when she lived with her ‘mother’ Sandra.

 Nova and she were extremely close ever since their last fight. Damon on the other hand she had to threaten, and then bribe to keep their secret. If Nova found out about that night, he’d freak. She never cheated on him, but still. Nova hated him for trying to woo her. And he was constantly jealous whenever Damon or any male for that matter got close. He recently looked happier, but every person feels different on the inside. She was afraid to ask him about Embry, not knowing if he’d blow up and tell Nova about what happened.

She was still too embarrassed to wear the bras that she bought from Victoria’s Secret. She did wear a couple of the normal ones, but saved the extremely sexy bras for a special night. Not that their love making wasn’t normally special, she just wanted him to be surprised when she’d walk out wearing one.

The rogues hadn’t really been a problem ever since almost a month ago, maybe a few here or there. Lawson took her advice, which surprised her. Maybe he was planning something?

They went to the mall again the week before looking for Christmas gifts. She had to ask Tate to take Nova away as he wouldn’t let her out of his sight. She had her earnings with her, so excited to use her own money to buy his gift. Her parents told her over and over again to not spend it on them. Even her brother said not to. When she asked him what he wanted he said “Get me my mate, and I’ll accept. Anything else, no thanks,” he waved her away. She felt bad as he was a little mean to her, but when walking away he mumbled “You coming back was my Christmas gift.”

Tears in her eyes, she flung herself into his arms and squeezed tightly. He was such an angel, even though sometimes he chose the wrong words to say and had an attitude problem a bit like Nova. Was it an alpha thing? Her dad wasn’t like that?

She knew what to get him when she got there as she already called into the store; a sterling silver ring. She also had it engraved “I love you Nova,” on the inside. It was expensive, but she didn’t care. Her money was hers to spend and this was perfect. After that, she bought the Twilight books for her mom as she was dying to read them and for her dad a coffee set from Tim Horton’s. She also bought a new bow with arrows for Xavier. And she bought gifts for her close friends.

Sitting in her room, she wrapped the gifts. Nova was out with Tate at the time so she knew it was fine to bring them out. When finished, she carried it all down to the huge Christmas tree in the living room of the pack house. Damon stood there staring at the decorations. “Need some help?” he said without looking at her.

“How did you know I was carrying presents?”

“From the way you were panting. And yet you’re fine when you train?” he laughed.

“Jerk,” she mumbled. “Here, can you put this under the tree for me please?”

“Sure thing baby girl,” he winked.

Once done she walked into the kitchen to make some hot chocolate. He followed.

“Your birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

“How did you know?” she narrowed her eyes at him while putting the kettle on the stove to heat.

“I heard Hadyn talking about it; sounds like we’re all going out clubbing that night. When is the exact day?”