by Sophie Stern
Bri comes out of her room and dances down the hallway to the living room. We all stop talking when we see her spinning around in the beautiful holiday dress. She smiles and laughs. She smooths out the fabric and spins around again.
Both Max and Sasha go to her and wrap their arms around her. Bri giggles as they hug her and hold her.
“You’re a beautiful princess,” Sasha exclaims.
“And you’re going to look wonderful at the ball.”
“Dad, it’s a dance, not a ball,” she laughs.
“Either way, you’re going to be the most perfect girl there.”
They hug her tightly and for a minute, I think Bri might cry at just how magical the moment is. I know I’m tearing up and when I look over at Anna, she’s wiping away a tear, too. Bri is getting the upbringing that neither one of us really had because our parents were stolen away from us when we were so young.
Now, as I look at Bri, and then down at little Jason, I feel happy knowing that these kids are part of a huge family where they will always be protected and cared for and totally, unabashedly loved.
I feel Acacius press his lips to my cheek and I turn to see him smiling at me.
“I love you,” he whispers.
“I love you, too.”
“Let’s do it,” he says. Nobody else is looking at us or paying any attention to us, and I cock my head.
“Do what?”
“Let’s get married,” he whispers.
“Really?” I ask.
It seems fast and soon and wonderful and...
“Yes.”
He kisses me and I laugh as I kiss him back. A feeling of total acceptance and love just fills me in this moment, and I don’t know how else to explain it except that when I’m with Acacius, I finally feel like all the puzzle pieces of my life just fit right together. He’s the glue that’s put me back together and he’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
“Merry Christmas, Scarlett,” he says.
“Merry Christmas, Acacius.”
I kiss him again, knowing that this is the beginning of a beautiful future for the two of us. This is it. It’s the first of many wonderful, incredible holidays and it’s the first day of the rest of our lives.
We may not have an easy road. It’s not going to be a simple journey. Things will be hard and we’ll bicker and we’ll fight and sometimes, we’ll feel like quitting.
Luckily for us, neither one of us likes losing, so we won’t quit.
We’ll keep going.
We’ll keep fighting for each other for as long as it takes because Acacius and I are going to be together forever.
And it really is a beautiful Christmas on Chaos indeed.
THE END
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Author
SOPHIE STERN LOVES cowboys, soldiers, and shifters. When she’s not busy writing, she’s got her nose buried in a book. Sophie lives with her husband and two little boys who are always keeping her on her toes.
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Books
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS story, check out these other books that take place in the same world as GUARDED.
CONQUERED (The Hidden Planet)
ABDUCTED.
Taken.
Locked away.
Fiona doesn't know true fear until she is whisked away from her loving family and doting boyfriend. When she finds herself on an alien ship with only a giant beast for company, her fear turns to anger when she realizes her loved ones have betrayed her.
Quinn doesn't know what to do with the squirrely little human aboard his ship. Yeah, he bought her, but only to save her from a worse fate. She has no idea what could have happened to her if he hadn't found her. She has no idea what could have happened on Dreagle. But now she's on his ship and somehow, she's wormed her way into his heart. Can he ever let her go?
CONQUERED is available wherever eBooks are sold.
ALIEN BEAST
He's a war hero.
She's a virgin.
He's broken.
She's perfect.
When he finds her in the midst of an alien war, Luke takes Willow for himself. He can't help himself. He's never taken a prisoner alive before, but Willow is different. He needs her. He wants her. Most of all, he craves her.
Willow is a human who has the worst luck in the world. When the tour ship she's on malfunctions and crash-lands on the wrong planet, she's thrust into the middle of a war: one she has no desire to be in.
Then everything changes.
She's captured by an alien beast unlike anything she's ever seen before.
And the worst part is that after awhile, she's not so sure she wants him to let her go.
ALIEN BEAST is available wherever eBooks are sold.
ALIEN DRAGON
I'm on the last ship out.
I don't think I'm going to make it, but I do. Earth is dying and there's only one way I can possibly survive: fight for a spot on the dragon planet of Taneyemm.
They don't want humans there.
They don't like us.
They don't know us.
But when I step foot on the ship bound for Taneyemm, I know it's my last hope. I'll do anything I have to survive.
I'll do whatever it takes.
When I finally reach my destination and I see the alien dragons for the first time, I realize I'm in way over my head.
And I don't know if my heart is ready for this.
ALIEN DRAGON is available wherever eBooks are sold.
VANQUISHED
If you enjoy alien and sci-fi romance, check out chapter one from my story, VANQUISHED.
Aliens have a bit of a problem with stealing.
It’s not our fault, really. It’s like it’s programmed inside of us. It’s like we have this urge that we just can’t fight.
My brother? He stole a ship. He took it from a bastard who deserved it, but the action was still frowned upon. Apparently, stealing ships from people is bad: very bad. Luckily, Quinn learned his lesson: no harm, no foul. Now he’s traveling the universe with his beautiful bride.
He’s having the time of his life.
But me?
I’m on Sapphira: stealing things.
You’d think I would have learned my lesson after all the drama with Quinn, that I would have learned from my brother’s mistakes and thought, “Nah, that’s a bad idea.” You’d think I would have decided to live an honorable life, but that’s not me. That’s not my style. That never has been.
I learned long ago that the only person I can count on is me. I learned that no one else will be able to help me if I get into trouble. I learned that no one will be there for me when I stumble, when I fall. My brother and sister are great, but I’m the oldest. I’m the one pulling them from the wreckage when they get in trouble.
I can’t count on anyone.
Today I’m in the jungles of Sapphira on a one-man hunting expedition. Typically, I bring four or five men with me on these excursions, but this week, I wanted to be alone. I gave some bullshit excuse about wanting to clear my head, but that was all a lie. The reality is that I “borrowed” a new bow from my friend and I’m hoping to return it before he notices that it’s missing.
It’s not that he wouldn’t have loaned it to me, but that he wouldn’t have loaned it to me without wanting to accompany me on this outing. While I normally don’t mind having people with me when I hunt, this week I really need some time to myself. This week, I really need some “me” time.
Armed with “my” bow and a week’s worth of camping gear, I’m trudging through the jungles with the goal of finding a fereer. The creatures are notoriously difficult to catch, but the meat is incredibly delicious and goes for a great price. If I can acquire several this wee
k, I won’t have to hunt again for two months. It’ll be enough money to last me that long, plus a little extra.
It’ll be enough for a down payment on a ship.
It’ll be enough to get out of Diamond if I want to.
Not that I want to leave Diamond. Not that I want to go explore the world. I’m not Quinn. I’m not Fiona. Traveling is their dream: not mine, but it would be nice to have options. It would nice to have some change.
I slink through the overgrown grass and duck under hanging branches as I move through the darkness of the jungle. I’ve been a hunter long enough to be able to distinguish the different sounds that surround me.
The sharp, high-pitched squeak coming from my right?
A bearkeya.
The low growl coming from the left?
A dragoa.
None of the animals nearby are the ones I’m seeking, though, so I continue moving stealthily through the darkness with only my thoughts for company. Hopefully, I’ll find a fereer nest in the next day or two. I brought enough supplies to be gone for a week or a week and a half. Ideally, it won’t take me the entire time to find what I’m searching for.
The thing about fereers is that they’re both delicious and sneaky. They’re notoriously difficult to find and to hunt, so most Sapphirans don’t waste their time looking for them. There are plenty of other kinds of beasts to hunt for food that don’t require the patience finding fereers does.
Then again, patience has never been my problem.
Being a normal person has.
Despite being in the jungle, the early afternoon heat has me sweating and regretting how much gear I chose to bring.
“It’s fine,” I tell myself. “You’ve got this.” Only, the reality is that I don’t know if that’s true. Recently, I’ve been more lost than I’ve ever been before. I’ve been more alone. Maybe it’s seeing Quinn and Fiona and how happy they are together. Maybe it’s the fact that my brother just called me to tell me they’re going to have a baby. Maybe it’s that my little sister is finally moving on from the attack that nearly ruined her life.
Maybe it’s just part of growing up.
No matter the reason, though, I realize I need to find something that makes me happy. I need to find something that makes me feel good, comfortable. I need to find something that makes me feel at home.
I’ve been on Sapphira my entire life.
I’ve never wanted to leave until now, and even then, I’m not sure that a new home is what I’m seeking. I just want something – anything – that brings me peace.
I just want something new, something fresh, something that’s entirely mine.
I keep walking toward the center of the jungle, lost in my thoughts. I’ve covered a lot of ground in the last 24 hours. It’s hard to believe I’ve only been gone a day. Maybe I’m getting faster or perhaps I just know the jungle better than when I first started hunting. I recognize exactly where I am even without my location devices, and if my calculations are correct, I should be in fereer country pretty soon.
My eyes swivel as I move, careful to watch for any clues I might be nearing a nest. When I round the next set of trees, I spot a little creek. Good. This could be a good chance for a water break.
I drop my pack beside a tree and stretch, enjoying the way my body feels a little lighter. Even after years on the job, I’ve never quite gotten used to the pain and heaviness that comes from hauling gear around. A lot of hunters choose to travel with miniature hover cars or tiny ships they can navigate through the wider areas of the jungle, but I’ve always found that bringing vehicles tends to restrict movement.
Besides, animals are smart. They aren’t going to be hiding in plain sight. They’re not going to be lurking around little roads or places people bring big vehicles. Instead, they’ll be hiding in the darkness. They’ll make their nests in places where people never go. They’ll hide, and they’ll wait , and they’ll survive.
At least until a hunter as good as me comes along.
I’m approaching the water when all of my senses go on high alert. Suddenly, I get the feeling that I’m not alone. I instantly drop, flattening my body in the tall grass that leads to the creek, and I peer out. There shouldn’t be other hunters in this area. It’s not exactly a highly-populated place. It’s certainly not a place that’s on many maps.
Why would someone be out here?
Although I don’t hear any strange noises, I can’t shake the feeling there’s someone here, so I wait patiently, once again calling on those predatory instincts, until I figure out who is out here and whether or not they’re a threat.
I don’t have to wait long.
After only a few minutes, I spot the disturbance, but it’s not a large animal, like I suspect. It’s not a Sapphiran, either. Nope, the creature at the water is a tall, blonde-haired human, and she’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.
Get your copy of VANQUISHED wherever eBooks are sold!
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Did you love Christmas on Chaos? Then you should read Outlaw by Sophie Stern!
Outlawed from his own planet years ago, Gaz lives a lonely life on Sapphira. Oh, he's amazing at his job. He dominates the courtroom and there's not a case he can't win, but the one thing he wants more than anything can't be found in a courtroom. Hayden was hurt years ago and still doesn't trust men. Except for Gaz, that is. He's different. He's kind. He's always been there for her, like a guardian angel she didn't ask for but desperately wants.When Gaz's brother brings him news of Orchid, he has a decision to make. Will he return home to the life he once knew? Or will he stay and fight for the woman of his dreams?
Also by Sophie Stern
Alien Chaos
Destroyed
Guarded
Saved
Alien Chaos: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance Bundle
Anchored
Starboard
Battleship
All Aboard
Abandon Ship
Below Deck
Crossing the Line
Anchored: Books 1-3
Anchored: Books 4-6
Club Kitten Dancers
Move
Dragon Isle
My Lord and Dragon
The Dragon Fighter
A Dragon's Bite
Lost to the Dragon
Beware of Dragons
Cowboy Dragon
Dark Heart of the Dragon
Once Upon a Dragon
Catching the Dragon
Dragon Isle (Collection: Books 1-3)
Dragon Isle (Collection: Books 4-6)
Dragon Isle (Collection: Books 7-9)
Good Boys and Millionaires
Good Boys and Millionaires 1
Good Boys and Millionaires 2
Honeypot Babies
The Polar Bear's Baby
The Jaguar's Baby
The Tiger's Baby
Honeypot Darlings
The Bear's Virgin Darling
The Bear's Virgin Mate
The Bear's Virgin Bride
Office Gentlemen
Ben From Accounting
Polar Bears of the Air Force
Staff Sergeant Polar Bear
Master Sergeant Polar Bear
Airman Polar Bear
Senior Airman Polar Bear
Red
Red: Into the Dark
Red: Through the Dark
Red: Beyond the Dark
Shifters at Law
Wolf Case
Bearly Legal
Tiger Clause
&n
bsp; Sergeant Bear
Dragon Law
The Fablestone Clan
Dragon's Oath
Dragon's Breath
Dragon's Darling
Dragon's Whisper
Dragon's Magic
The Hidden Planet
Vanquished
Outlaw
Conquered
The Wolfe City Pack
The Wolf's Darling
The Wolf's Mate
The Wolf's Bride
Standalone
Saucy Devil
Billionaire on Top
Jurassic Submissive
The Editor
Alien Beast
Snow White and the Wolves
Kissing the Billionaire
Wild
Alien Dragon
The Royal Her
Be My Tiger
Alien Monster
The Paralegal
Roses in the Dark
Honeypot Babies Omnibus Edition
Honeypot Darlings: Omnibus Edition
Red: The Complete Trilogy
First Shift
The Swan's Mate
Eternity: A Vampire Romance
The Feisty Librarian
Polar Bears of the Air Force
Wild Goose Chase
Star Princess
The Virgin and the Lumberjacks
Resting Bear Face
Seized by the Dragon
Christmas on Chaos