All Chapters of His Christmas Mate : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

_Aria's POV_It was finally time for me to undergo the ritual. Lucien had brought special clothes for me to wear. It was a black dress, long and flowy. I asked him why black and he said that black is a sacred color for werewolves. “It holds the night,” he told me as if the answer were obvious. “It honors Selene.”I let him help me into the dress. The fabric slipped over my skin like cold water. The skirt fell in soft folds around my legs. When I turned in front of the mirror, I looked smaller and more exposed than I had felt all week. Lucien moved carefully. He was adjusting a fold here and lifting a hem there. His touch was gentle. It made my heart beat in a way I could not explain.“You look gorgeous,” he said, his eyes moving over me in a way that made my heart stumble. There was a teasing warmth in his voice. “If the moon has eyes tonight, it will be jealous.”I huffed a small laugh even as heat rushed to my face. “You say things like that too easily,” I said, trying to sound uni

_Aria’s POV_I woke up slowly as if I were being pulled out of deep water.My head hurt. It was not a sharp pain but a heavy one like something was pressing down on my skull from the inside. My body felt weak. Every limb felt like it was filled with sand. Even breathing felt like work.I tried to open my eyes.At first, I could only see light. White and pale shapes swam in front of me. My vision was blurry and unfocused. I blinked once. Then again. The shapes slowly began to settle.I smelled something clean and sharp. It reminded me of medicine and soap. There was a faint beeping sound nearby. It was steady and slow.I realized that I was lying down.The bed beneath me was soft but firm. A thin blanket was tucked around my legs. The air was cool against my skin. I felt something taped to my arm and a dull ache in my hand where the cut had been.“A hospital,” I whispered, though my voice came out weak and dry.My throat burned like I had been screaming for a long time.“Aria.”The sou

_Aria's POV_It had been five days since I had been discharged from the hospital. Five days of forced rest. Five days of being watched. Lucien had not left my side once. He had put his Alpha duties on hold without hesitation, as if nothing else mattered more than keeping his eyes on me. He said it was temporary. He said the pack could wait. I had argued with him more than once, telling him I was fine, telling him I did not need to be guarded like fragile glass. He had ignored me every time.He had insisted that I stay in his room.I had refused at first. It felt wrong to take up his space, his bed and his privacy. But Lucien had been unmoved. He said he worried too much when I was out of his sight. He said my body was still healing and that anything could happen. He said I needed to be where he could see me at all times. In the end, exhaustion had won and I had given in.That morning, I woke up tangled in soft sheets that did not belong to me.Lucien lay beside me. He was propped on o

_Aria’s POV_The next day, Lucien told me that he would not be free for most of the day. He stood near the window while adjusting his jacket. He looked every bit the Alpha again. He was calm, controlled and powerful. It was strange how easily he could switch between the man who held me gently in his arms and the leader who carried the weight of an entire pack on his shoulders.“I have an important meeting,” he said. “It cannot be postponed.”I nodded even though a small part of me did not like the idea of him being away. I had grown used to his presence. I was too used to it.“How long will it take?” I asked.“A few hours,” he replied. “I will come back as soon as I can.”I watched him closely. “Is everything alright?”“Yes,” he said smoothly. “Just pack matters. Nothing for you to worry about.”He walked over to me and brushed his thumb across my cheek. “Stay inside,” he added. “Rest. Do not strain yourself.”“I’m not made of glass,” I said lightly.He smiled. “I know. But I still w

_Aria's POV_The next day, Lucien took me shopping.I woke up with him already awake beside me. He lay on his back, one arm tucked under his head, the other resting lightly at my waist. His eyes were open. He was watching me again.I sighed softly. “Do you ever stop doing that?”He smiled. “Watching you? No.”I turned onto my side to face him. “How long have you been awake?”“Long enough to decide I don’t want to leave you today,” he said. “But duty calls.”I frowned. “You said yesterday that you were busy.”“I was,” he replied. “Today is different.”“How?”He brushed his thumb across my lower lip. “Today, I’m stealing you for myself.”My heart skipped. “Stealing me where?”“Shopping,” he said simply.I blinked. “Shopping?”“Yes,” he repeated, clearly pleased by my surprise. “For your dresses. For the engagement.”I groaned softly and buried my face against his chest. “Lucien… I told you I don’t need...”He wrapped both arms around me and held me close. “Sweetheart,” he murmured, “you