Chapter 2: Christmas will be fun

I stare at ShadowWolf’s message, my heart still racing from that creepy shadow outside. Let’s meet, and I’ll show you the magic this dude can do with your body. 

The photo he sent burns in my mind, bold and way too real. My thumb hovers over the keyboard, but I can’t find words. He texts again.

“You there, FireVixen?”

“Yes,” I type, my fingers shaky.

“So what’s your take?” he asks.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I reply, swallowing hard.

“Why?” He adds a sad emoji that feels like a jab.

“This was supposed to stay online, to remain anonymous—that was our agreement before we started all this,” I defend, my voice firm in my head even if my hands aren’t.

He goes quiet, the “read” notification taunting me. I hold my breath, waiting.

“I know,” he says finally. “But you can’t deny we both want this, we want each other.”

I bite my lip. He’s not wrong. My body’s still buzzing from earlier, from his words, my touch.

“We both have fantasies we tell each other but hide from the real world,” he adds. “Let’s make each other happy, tick some boxes on that fantasy list.”

He’s right, and I hate it. We’re alike, both craving something wild, something secret. 

But that doesn’t mean it’s safe. What if we meet and it’s a disaster? What if he’s not what I expect—or worse, what if I’m not? I stare at the screen, torn.

“I’ll think about it. Goodnight,” I type, shutting it down.

“Goodnight,” he replies, tossing in a string of winking and kissing emojis.

I smile despite myself, dropping the phone on my bed. I sink into the pile of clothes, my body heavy. In a few minutes, my eyes flutter shut, and I’m out.

“Wake up, sleepy head!” Jess’s voice yanks me from a dream I can’t quite remember.

I groan, stretching under the covers. “What time is it?”

“It’s 7 a.m.,” Jess giggles, already way too chipper.

I yank the pillow over my head. “Why’d you wake me? Our flight’s at 11:30. You could’ve let me sleep till at least 8!”

Jess is a morning person, bouncing around by 5 or 6 a.m. Me? I could sleep till noon, and her early wake-up calls drives me nuts. 

Once she’s up, I’ve got an hour tops before she’s dragging me out of bed.

“I changed our ride,” she says, smirking. “We’re going for a coffee and breakfast date first. The driver will meet us there, so yeah… dress up, or I'll splash water on you!” She laughs, tossing my towel at me.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I grumble, sitting up.

She makes a goofy thinking face. “I just didn’t want to!” She bursts out laughing. “Wake up, princess, I’m starving.”

I roll my eyes but swing my legs off the bed. 

Jess is already half-dressed, pulling on a chunky cream sweater over black jeans, her curly hair tied up in a messy bun. She’s got that effortless vibe, like she just rolled out of bed looking cute. 

I stumble to my closet, still half asleep, and dig through the mess. I choose a fitting red turtleneck that hugs my curves, dark skinny jeans, and my favorite black ankle boots.

I throw on a leather jacket for edge and twist my hair into a loose braid. A quick swipe of mascara and lip gloss, and I’m ready—barely.

“You look hot,” Jess says, winking as she grabs her bag. “Those stepbrothers won’t know what hit them.”

“Shut up,” I mutter, but I’m smiling. 

We lock up and head out, the city air crisp with snow flurries. 

The café’s a short walk, a cozy spot with fairy lights and the smell of fresh coffee. 

We slide into a booth, and Jess orders a latte and a croissant sandwich. 

I go for black coffee and avocado toast, my stomach growling now that I’m awake.

“So,” Jess says, leaning forward, “you gonna survive this Christmas thing? New stepdad, stepbrothers, your mom acting all lovey-dovey?”

I sigh, sipping my coffee. “I don’t know. It’s weird. Mom’s never moved this fast with a guy. And these stepbrothers? They are probably jerks.”

Jess laughs. “You’re so dramatic. Maybe they’re hot jerks.”

I roll my eyes, but my mind flicks to ShadowWolf, his words, that photo. 

I push it away, focusing on Jess, who’s rambling about her new coworker’s bad haircut. 

We eat, joke, and for a moment, I forget the stress of the trip, Adrian’s texts, and that creepy shadow last night.

The driver pulls up outside the café, a sleek black SUV. We grab our bags—mine’s an overstuffed duffel, Jess’s a neat backpack—and climb in. 

The ride to the airport is quick, the city blurring past in a haze of snow and morning traffic. 

We check in, get through security quickly, and then go to our gate.

I’m scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from thoughts of ShadowWolf, when a voice stops me cold.

“Zara!”

I turn around, my heart sinking. Adrian. He’s standing there, all polished in a tailored coat, his dark hair perfect, his smile too charming. 

My stomach twists—part guilt, part annoyance.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.

He steps closer, his eyes locked on mine. “I called you last night, but you didn’t pick up. I had to see you before you left.”

“I must’ve been asleep,” I say, shrugging, though my mind flashes to ShadowWolf’s messages. Adrian doesn’t know, and he can’t.

“Yeah, well, I’ll let it slide,” he says, his smile softening. “My childhood friends are coming back, so I’ll be staying with them for a bit. But I’ll drop by your step dad’s house, check on you. It’s the same area.”

I nod, not sure how I feel about that. 

Adrian’s got this way of making “check on you” sound like he’s keeping tabs. 

Before I can say anything, he leans in and kisses me, slow and deliberate, his hand on my waist. I don’t pull away, letting the moment linger. 

To anyone watching, we look like the perfect couple—polished, in love, untouchable. But inside, my head’s a mess, tangled with secrets.

“Safe flight,” he says, then turns and walks off.

I stand there, my lips tingling, my mind a mess. 

Jess nudges me, her grin wicked.

“Well, that was intense,” she says as we head to the gate. “Seems like this Christmas is gonna be fun.”