THE HOLIDAY I BECAME HIS LUNA

Hansville, Germany

The snowflakes were cool and delicate as they landed on her face, their tiny crystals melting on her skin. She shut her eyes, sinking into a moment that felt endless, stretched thin by the vast white.

"Dahlia," a voice cut through her thoughts. She looked up, startled.

"Coming," brushing snow off her heavy coat as she stood.

Tod shoved a mug of hot cocoa into her hands. "You're going to turn into an icicle out here. What's your deal?"

Jason handed her a cookie. "Here, eat this before you start crying again."

A small smile broke through.

"See? Told you she'd crack," Tod said, grinning.

"Love you guys," Dahlia said, pulling them into a hug.

"Yeah, yeah, we love you more," Tod replied, patting her back. "You'll get through this. Now, let's hit the antique shops before you freeze solid. I need few more gifts to get"

Jason made a face behind Tod's back, and Dahlia laughed.

"Keep that up and your face might stick like that," Tod warned, pointing at Jason.

By the time they reached the hotel, Dahlia was drained.

She kissed their cheeks and retreated to her room, grabbing her iPad to sketch. Tears fell again as she replayed the moment she'd overheard Henry in his office, the door slightly open.

"She's just a dumb intern," laughing with his secretary. "I'm bringing her home for the holidays to shut my family up."

"You, sure you're not into her? I've seen the way you look at her."

"Relax, I'm dumping her in couple of months"

It stung. She'd trusted him, believed in his charm. He'd been nothing but polite, never pushing things too far.

Tod had warned her, though. "There's something off about him," he'd said. "Those eyes... they're dark. Be careful." Tod always swore he had a sixth sense for people.

She grabbed her coat and slipped out the back of the hotel, wandering into the woods. It stung, why did he do that, she really liked him. The air was crisp, quiet, unreal, almost.

Then a scent hit her, sweet and sharp, she liked it and something else she couldn't place. It warmed her chest as she followed it deeper.

Another smell, metallic and heavy. Blood. She kept walking, surprised at how far it carried.

"Guess I've got a bloodhound's nose or something," she muttered to herself.

Then, she saw him-a massive wolf, his leg caught in a trap.

She rushed over, and his eyes locked onto hers, tracking her every move like he understood her.

Dahlia yanked off her gloves and gritted her teeth as she pried at the trap's jaws, cutting herself in the process her hands slick with blood.

"Almost there," she whispered, and he lifted his leg gingerly, their blood mingling with his.

Her stomach felt warm. "Don't eat me after I save you, deal?" she joked, meeting his gaze.

She smiled faintly, then reached out to touch him. He nuzzled her bleeding hand, his eyes shifting, softening.

Liking her hands.

Dahlia pulled back, startled, but he leaned into her, and before she knew it, she was wrapping her arms around him. "You're softer than I expected," she admitted, her voice barely audible.

He growled, low, warning, and she turned to see a hunter with a rifle aimed at the wolf.

"Move, little girl he's mine," the hunter barked.

"Not happening," Dahlia shot back, stepping between them.

The wolf shifted to the side, and the hunter fired, but Dahlia lunged in front of the shot. A chorus of growls erupted as the pack emerged from the trees, circling.

"What the hell are they feeding these things?" the hunter muttered, bolting.

The wolf, shifted, standing tall. "Motherfucker's dead," he snarled to his pack, then knelt beside Dahlia, hey, stay with me.

Open your eyes. Dahlia did to see a bare-chested man with long hair, his eyes a blue gray like the wolf.

Wow, I'm dying she thought.

The roar of a jet sky engine cut through the air. He threw on some clothes, scooped her up, put her on the jet sky and sped toward the hospital, his foot throbbing in pain.

Hansville, General hospital

Dahlia blinked awake to see Todd and Jason hovering over her.

"Girl, you scared the shit out of us," Todd said, exhaling hard. "You're okay, though. Just the arm. What the hell were you doing in the woods?"

"I...," she gestured weakly toward the water glass, took a sip. "I freed a wolf. It was trapped."

"A wolf?" Todd raised an eyebrow. "What are they pumping into you? Hook me up."

"Keep it down," Jason muttered, nodding toward the curtain dividing the room. "There's someone else here."

"Get some rest," Todd said, brushing her hair back. "We'll come back tomorrow when whatever they gave you wears off."

They kissed her forehead and left. Dahlia drifted back to sleep, dreaming of running, the hunter's gunshot echoing. She jerked awake, scanning the room.

The man in the next bed was talking softly to someone on the phone. He caught her looking and smiled.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you,"

"You didn't," Dahlia replied, her eyes landing on his bandaged foot.

"This?" He chuckled. "Snowboarding accident. Third time.

I'm Lupin, by the way."

"Dahlia," she said, smiling back. She tried to sit up, but pain shot through her left arm, and she let out a sharp gasp.

"Damn it," Lupin muttered under his breath. "Call the nurse if you need more meds."

"No, I'm good," Dahlia said. "I was just... never mind." His eyes were a pale blue gray, just like the man in her dream. Okay, I'm officially losing it, she thought.

Todd walked in, holding a cup of coffee. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty. They're releasing you in a week. You know what, Jason? Let's move here. I'm digging this place."

"You've been complaining about the cold since we got here," Jason said, rolling his eyes.

Dahlia laughed. Lupin tried to keep his composure, but he couldn't help glancing at her.

Does she know what she is?

Autostrasse, Airport, Hansville, Germany

On the drive back to the airport, Dahlia sprawled across the back seat, sketching while Tod and Jason bickered up front.

"Dahlia, what do you think?" Tod called over his shoulder.

"About what?" she mumbled, not looking up.

"Girl, hand me that iPad. Let me see," Tod demanded, reaching back.

She sighed and passed it to him. "What the hell?" scrolling. "These are amazing. Why are you wasting time at that stupid intern job? You're ridiculously talented. Jason, look at this."

"Tod, the road's slick, and I'm driving. Can you not?" Jason snapped.

"Fine," Tod grumbled, tossing the iPad back to Dahlia. "Keep messing with these but mark my words..."

A song blared from the radio, cutting him off. "I love this song!" Tod shouted, belting out the lyrics like his life depended on it. Dahlia and Jason couldn't help but laugh. Loving Tod was unavoidable, he was a walking tornado of energy, impossible to resist.

The flight was ten hours long.

They made it home just in time for quick showers before collapsing into bed.

Chicago, US,

A week before thanksgiving...

The building stretched ten floors, and the elevators were always crammed. Dahlia slipped on her headphones and stepped inside. By the time most people had cleared out, she was just few floors from her stop.

The man in the corner kept glancing at her foot tapping to the beat and her long braid swaying slightly. The doors slid open again, and Henry stepped in.

She didn't even look his way. He yanked her headphones off.

"What's your problem?" he asked, his tone clipped.

"Don't touch me or my stuff," she snapped, holding up a hand. "This is the line. Cross it, and you'll regret it."

"You're insane. What did I even do? Where were you anyway?

"Oh, I'll tell you. Before the accident, I stopped by your office.

You and your little Barbie secretary were having a nice chat about me. 'Dumb girl'? 'Keep her for the holidays? Ring any bells?"

Dahlia watched his face pale. "Now leave me the hell alone." She jammed her headphones back on, cranking the volume loud enough to drown him out. Didn't notice the other man still watching them.

When she reached her floor, she stepped out. Henry stayed behind.

Dahlia walked to her desk, pulled off her headphones, and logged into her computer.

An email popped up about the holiday auction, a week date with the top bachelor, blah blah blah, in the Swiss Alps cabin they had to write a letter of what will they'll love to do for Christmas.

Okay, that's easy one word-nothing.

Conference room

The boss called everyone into the conference room, and they all stared at him like he was about to drop some earth-shattering news.

"I'm a little disappointed," he said, pacing. "We need something fast to market these... uh," he paused, squinting at the pants displayed on the screen, "whatever-the-hell these are that Janelle designed."

The room erupted into giggles.

"Alright, get to work, and we'll regroup at two."

As they filed out, Jane and Flora started whispering behind Dahlia's back.

"Are you living on a farm or something?" Jane laughed, eyeing Dahlia's oversized sweater.

Dahlia ignored them, plopping down at her desk. She glanced at the designer outfit on her screen. Who in their right mind would buy that? Definitely, she couldn't even afford it.

"Dahlia," Lance appeared out of nowhere, leaning over her desk. "Did you write that letter yet? Just checking in with everyone. Get it done today, okay?"

"Lance, don't you have someone else to annoy?" she replied, not looking up from her computer.

"Do it," he hissed, way too close to her ear.

"Personal space, Lance. Don't be a creep. Fine, look, I'm doing it now."

Christmas lets me become a child again, sipping cocoa with melting marshmallows while snow blankets the world outside. I want to build lopsided snowmen and collapse into snow angels, then warm my frozen fingertips beside a crackling fire. I want to breathe in the smell of pine, ran in the white vast until I can't breathe. I want to lay in the snow, and watch the snowflakes fall on my face, softly. Laugh.

This is my Christmas,

Dahlia

Then she hit send.

Jane laughed. You are a boring intern.

Dahlia ignored her.

Hey, Flora, she just wants snow for Christmas, Jane laughed. Then she walked away.

She was used to bullies, didn't grow up like normal children, she was fostered by a kind couple who did their best, and yeah, it was fine.

Dahlia had to grow up fast, no fairy tales there, searched for her parents.

Since she was fifteen, no memory of her childhood, with zero luck.

Now, it was just Tod and Jason, the duo who basically adopted her like a stray dog they couldn't resist.

They loved her, unconditionally and honestly, she couldn't imagine her life without them. Who the hell was Dahlia Fin? she wondered, leaning back in her chair.

Conference room

They all sat back down at the conference table. Mr. Mel stared at them, unimpressed. "This is the best you've got. Seriously?"

"I want to sing!" Dahlia blurted out, and the room erupted in laughter.

"Kid, I know you're new, but what exactly are you going for here?"

She stood up, determined. "I want to sing! I wear Fling..." she gestured to her pants, "find a killer tune, and..."

He froze, and she instantly regretted it. But then he broke into a grin. "I fucking love it, kid," he said, then cleared his throat. "Sorry about the language. Now, get to work and find me someone with a decent tune. Keep this up, and you'll make it to the top." He pointed upstairs. She smiled.

Jane grabbed her arm. "You got lucky. Don't get used to it. I've been here three years, and I'm going to the top first."

"Am I stopping you, Jane? Take the elevator," Dahlia shot back.

Lance chuckled as he walked past.

Dahlia logged out of her computer and headed for the elevator, silently praying she wouldn't run into Henry.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day...

"Dahlia, get your ass up, I need a hand," Tod called out, already halfway through peeling potatoes.

"Alright, alright," she groaned, stretching like a cat. She shuffled into the kitchen in her ratty slippers and lounge pants; hair piled into a messy bun.

"Start chopping these," he said, shoving a knife her way. "Morning," he added, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "Want a pancake before you start?"

"Nah, I'm good. Coffee, though. I'll grab it."

It was her first Thanksgiving with them, and she wasn't about to waste it. Tod cranked up some tunes, and soon they were both humming along, knives clacking in rhythm.

Jason crept in, phone in hand, recording the whole scene.

By the time they noticed, he was sprinting down the hall, slamming his bedroom door behind him.

"Get back here and delete that, or you're not eating!" Tod shouted, pointing the spatula like a weapon.

They laughed it off for the moment, leaving him to his antics.

The table looked like it belonged in a damn magazine, Dahlia had never seen anything so fancy outside of TV. Tod insisted they dress up, and after some grumbling, and losing the argument, they all trudged back to their rooms to change. They took about a hundred photos, laughed too loud, and finally sat down to eat.

They settled in to watch movies, Dahlia sandwiched between them. Then the tears started again. She was thinking not even a call from Lupin, a text, a word...

"Girl, if I see one more tear, I swear..." Tod pulled her into a hug.

"I just... I love you guys. You're my family," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"We love you too, Dahlia," Jason said, rolling his eyes but smiling. "Now quit the sappy stuff and tell us what happened at work. You started earlier, but Todd interrupted, as usual."

She recounted the marketing project, the letter she'd written. They listened, then stared at her.

"Damn, Dahlia, that's... actually kind of beautiful," Tod admitted. "Hope you get a date out of it. Honestly, girl, you need to get laid."

"Tod, shut up," Jason cut in. "You're being an ass. She's never even been with a guy."

"I don't need a guy," Dahlia shot back. "I'm focusing on work right now, and my designs. That's it."

"Fair enough," Tod said, leaning back. "So, when are they announcing it?"

"At the Christmas party this Friday."

Tod stood up suddenly. "You're thinking what I'm thinking, right, Jason?"

"Oh, absolutely," Jason replied, grinning.

"Shopping time," Tod declared.

"No way," Dahlia protested. "I can't afford it right now, and I'm not even going."

"What? Why?"

"Because I don't feel like it. The top-floor people will be there, and it's going to be packed."

"You're going," they said in unison, leaving no room for argument.

Grand Mall Chicago

They hauled her to the mall, dragging her to the salon first. The stylist snipped a bit here, layered a bit there, and suddenly her hair felt like silk. Next came the dress hunt. She tried on what felt like half the store, while Tod and Jason made faces like they were judging a bad reality show. Then Tod spotted it. "That's the one. Go try it. Now."

She stepped out, and both of them just gaped. "Holy shit," Tod muttered, elbowing Jason. "Have you seen her?"

"Yeah, but damn," Jason replied, shaking his head. "Okay, black heels, right?"

"Obviously. And that purse adorable. Jason, we need more girls in this family."

"Can we adopt another?" Jason joked, grinning.

They sat at the cafe smiling at her. What, she asked Tod.

Were exited for you, Jason said. You're so beautiful girl, and humble, if I was a guy I'll be in love with you right now. okay, don't cry, he hugged her.

Friday Party Day...

"Tod, hurry up, I want to see her already!"

She stepped out, and Jason just stopped dead. "Whoa," he muttered, fumbling for his phone. "Hold on, I need evidence of this moment." He snapped a few pictures while she rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing.

"You look like you walked straight out of Vogue," Tod said, crossing his arms. "Nope, I'm not letting her go. Jason, back me up here. Our girl's all grown up."

She laughed. "I love you guys. Seriously."

They helped her into a long black coat, and her phone buzzed. "Uber's here," she said, kissing them both on the cheek. "Don't wait up."

"Oh, we're waiting," Tod shot back. "You think we're missing the drama? Not a chance."

Dahlia climbed into the car, nerves buzzing.

She'd never been to a Christmas party like this before. The Uber pulled up to the building, and she stepped out, smoothing her coat. Inside, a guy stood by the elevator. He turned as she approached, and she offered a small smile. He returned it, a dimple popping in his cheek.

The elevator doors slid open, and they both reached for the button at the same time. "Sorry," he said, laughing. "What floor?"

"Party floor," she replied, slipping off her coat. He caught a whiff of her, what a scent...intoxicating.

"Looks like we're headed to the same place," he said. "Where do you work?"

"Marketing," she answered. "You?"

"Same. Marketing and design," Top floor, leaning against the wall.

The door opened and she just stood inside. So many people and music blasting.

Yeah, then she stepped out. Someone took her coat.