Page 19 of Link with Me

“Darling! How was your date? Did Romeo sweep you off your feet, or do I need to have a stern chat with him?”

“Mom, well, the date was... eventful,” Lena began, choosing her words carefully. “We were attacked by some members of a rival pack. But don’t worry, I’m okay.”

There was a beat of silence, and Lena could practically hear her mother gearing up for battle. “Attacked? Oh, honey, I’m grabbing my bat. Just point me in the direction of these hooligans. Shifter or not, nobody messes with my baby girl!”

Lena couldn’t help but laugh, the tension easing from her shoulders. “Mom, I love the enthusiasm, but it’s not necessary. Alex was there, and he protected me. He was amazing.”

Her mom’s tone shifted from vigilante to investigative journalist in a heartbeat. “Alex, huh? So, he’s a keeper? Fights off the baddies and makes sure my girl is safe?”

“Yeah, he’s... he’s something special,” Lena admitted, her heart swelling with affection at the thought of Alex’s bravery.

“Well, I always said I wanted a son-in-law who could throw a punch. Or, you know, shift into a wolf and scare the bejeezus out of anyone who looked at you funny,” her mom joked, the warmth in her voice wrapping Lena in a virtual hug.

Lena chuckled, picturing her petite mother taking on a pack of shifters with nothing but her fierce love and a kitchen utensil. “I think between Alex and your flip-flop, I’m well-protected.”

“Oh, you jest, but this flip-flop has seen things, Lena. It’s not just for keeping my feet comfortable, you know. It’s a multi-purpose mom weapon,” her mother quipped, the laughter in her voice contagious.

As Lena and her mother continued their conversation, her mother’s inventive ideas for beefing up personal security began to take a rather strange turn, all involving Alex in scenarios that would inevitably lead to Lena being less clothed than more.

“Well, honey, Alex could give you personal combat training,” her mom suggested, the mischief clear in her voice. “Of course, for the sake of realism, you’d need to practice naked. It’s all about freedom of movement, you know.”

Lena laughed, shaking her head even though her mom couldn’t see. “I’m not sure fighting naked is going to intimidate anyone, Mom.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised,” her mom retorted. “But, if that doesn’t work, perhaps he could insist on checking all your clothes for tracking devices? A thorough inspection, naturally. Those Hillside wolves are sneaky; you can never be too careful. He’d have to take everything off.”

“I’m sure Alex would be very thorough,” Lena quipped, the blush creeping up her cheeks at the thought. “I’m getting the feeling you’re looking to get Alex to keep me out of my clothes.”

“Sweetie, whatever gets the man’s attention,” her mother said, her voice filled with melodic laughter. “I don’t think I’ll be getting many grandchildren with you dressed all the time.”

“Mom!”

“And let’s not forget swim lessons. It’s crucial you know how to escape via water routes. Alex can be your instructor, ensuring you’re adept at all forms of undress... I mean, underwater evasion techniques.”

“Mom, that’s ridiculous,” Lena managed between giggles, thoroughly entertained by her mother’s increasingly outrageous suggestions.

“Darling, in love and war, everything is fair game. And if it means Alex has to personally inspect every inch of you for... security purposes, then so be it. A mother can dream of having a son-in-law who’s so dedicated to her daughter’s safety.”

FIFTEEN

“Ihave a surprise planned for you,” Alex said. It had been a few days since the attack and Lena was fully healed. Whatever was in that salve had sped up her recovery time like nothing she’d ever seen.

So here she was, on a private plane with Alex being flown to some city he wouldn’t tell her about to go to their weekend surprise getaway.

“Are you ready?” Alex asked, his smile melting her heart.

She nodded, excited and nervous. He’d had a fellow pack member who owned a small plane fly them to their destination. She thought she heard the words Las Vegas and once they landed she realized she’d been correct. Sin City.

“What are we doing here? Are we gambling?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “That’s boring. I’ve got something better in mind.” He took her hand and leaned down for a kiss. Her insides turned warm and she forgot everything but his sexy lips for a moment. When he pulled away, the flash of gold she now knew from his wolf made an appearance. “Later. First, I need to get you to our hotel to drop off our bags and we have somewhere we have to be.”

Lena had always dreamed of attending a gaming convention as a celebrated developer, not just a fan hidden behind the anonymity of a cosplay costume. And she sure had a lot of those. Alex would find out soon enough that she loved cosplaying. Hopefully he’d join in the fun.

She gasped as they entered the sprawling convention center, surrounded by the pulsating energy of thousands of gaming enthusiasts, her heart racing with excitement and disbelief.

The moment they entered, Lena was enveloped in the vibrant chaos that was the hallmark of gaming conventions. The air buzzed with the collective excitement of fans, the halls adorned with banners of beloved game characters, including the iconic silhouette of Link from “The Legend of Zelda,” Alex’s favorite game. It was a world Lena adored, a universe where fantasy and reality blurred into a kaleidoscope of pixels and passion.

Alex, ever the supportive partner, had meticulously planned the surprise, his excitement barely contained as he guided her through the crowd. “I have something special planned for you,” he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. Lena’s curiosity piqued, she followed him, her hand in his, as they navigated the sea of cosplayers, game demos, and merchandise stalls.

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