Hiding Her Identity: The Wilford Wolf

The insistent sound of knocking roused me from my slumber. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking away the lingering blur from my vision. As I surveyed my room, my gaze fell on my bedroom door, slightly ajar. My mum's head peeked around the door.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," she greeted, her voice bright and cheerful.

Grinning, I propped myself up in bed. "Merry Christmas, mum," I returned, my smile reflecting hers.

"See you downstairs in a bit," she said, casting one more smile my way before gently closing the door behind her.

Today marked the joy of Christmas, with the anticipation of the Mating Ball lurking just three days away. Rising from my bed, I moved to the bathroom to freshen up. A quick brush of my teeth and splash of water on my face later, I sat down at my dressing table. My special Christmas onesie was laid out, evoking a content smile. With a few strokes of the hairbrush, I allowed my hair to fall naturally down my back.

At nine in the morning, it was time to unwrap the presents. Descending the stairs, I headed towards the living room. The sight of our massive Christmas tree, adorned with green and red lights, stationed by the window, brought a smile to my face. A beautiful angel topped the tree, overseeing the sea of presents at its base. Festive tinsel extended from each corner of the room, meeting at the center, enhancing the Christmas atmosphere. Outside, the soft fall of snowflakes graced the morning view.

My parents had made themselves comfortable on either side of the Christmas tree. As I entered, they glanced up, matching smiles on their faces. I reciprocated their smile. This day, just me and my family, was something I cherished. Settling down between them, I looked forward to the unfolding morning.

"Merry Christmas, darling," my dad greeted, his smile mirroring my own.

"Same to you, dad," I responded.

He handed me a present, wrapped in vibrant pink paper and tied with a golden ribbon. I carefully undid the wrapping, revealing a sleek black box. Inside was a beautiful golden locket. On opening it, I found a picture of the three of us. A warm smile spread across my face as I looked at the locket.

"Thank you so much," I expressed, pulling both my parents into a hug.

My gift for my dad, a new Nintendo Switch and some games, was well received, his laughter ringing out in the room. "You know me too well," he chuckled.

I then turned to my mother. With my impending departure to live with my future mate in three days, my mother, left to care for an empty nest, would appreciate her gift.

"Mum, your present is in another room. I need to fetch it," I informed her.

The room in question was our garage, locked for the past few days to keep my mum's curiosity at bay. Unlocking it, I walked in and headed towards a cushion placed in a corner. Next to it were a water and food bowl, and the peaceful, sleeping form of an adorable Shih Tzu puppy, its coat a mix of tan and white. This was my mum's present. The puppy began to stir from its sleep, its small tail wagging enthusiastically as it noticed me and trotted over.

In case you were wondering how I kept the puppy a secret for three days, I spent that time either in the garage or taking the pup out into the woods, ensuring my mum remained oblivious. I picked up the small puppy, gently stroking behind its ears.

"Hey buddy, ready to meet your new mummy?" I said softly to the dog.

I fastened an adorable little blue bow onto its collar. The puppy's tail seemed to wag endlessly, amplifying its charm. Carrying the pup, I reentered the living room where my mum was engrossed in a conversation with my dad, her back to me.

"Here's your present, mum," I announced before setting the pup on the floor.

The excited puppy scampered towards my mum, who turned around to be greeted by a beaming smile and enthusiastic licks. The room filled with laughter and smiles as my dad gave me a knowing look.

"Seeing as I'll be moving out in a few days, I thought you might need some company," I explained. "So, when I saw these puppies for sale, I decided to get one for you. He's a boy."

"Oh, Gia, he's simply adorable. Thank you, sweetheart," my mum said. Her laughter resonated with delight as she cuddled the puppy. "I think I'll name him Merrick."

We proceeded to unwrap the remaining presents before deciding to move on. Suddenly, the reality of the situation hit me-this was my last Christmas in this house with my family. My smile faltered, a change my parents noticed immediately as we all stood up.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" My mum asked, cradling a snoozing Merrick in her arms.

"This will be my last Christmas like this with you," I sighed.

In response, both my parents enveloped me in a warm hug, a moment I etched deep into my memory. I didn't want to forget this, not for a second.

"Alright, I need to finish up with the Christmas dinner, and you need to get ready for Kendrick, Luna, Griffin, and Holly's arrival," my mum directed, her voice faltering slightly at Griffin's name.

Kendrick and his family always spent Christmas dinner at our house. Holly, Griffin's eight-year-old sister, was like a sister to me. As for Griffin, I made it a point not to interact with him during Christmas. It had been this way since I turned sixteen. You can imagine the tension around the Christmas table.

After picking up my presents and placing them in my room, I turned my attention to the clothes I'd be taking to the Mating Ball, organized neatly on one side of my room. My ball gown was hanging next to the suitcase, while the rest of my clothes-save for the essentials I'd keep out until moving day-filled two more suitcases. Pictures and other keepsakes were packed into boxes, while my presents found their place among them, except for the locket.