Page 33 of Link with Me

His father took her hand and clasped his other above it, sandwiching her hand between his. “It’s my pleasure, young lady. I heard what you said in there. You love my son?”

Lena’s face flushed and Alex had to fight to stop himself from grinning. “Do you?”

She glared at him. “Alex!”

“He asked.”

She glanced at his dad. “Yes. I do. Alex is…”

His father shook his head. “You’ve said all I needed to hear.” A smile played on his lips. “I’m glad my son found his mate in someone so concerned for our pack.”

She glanced from his father to Alex. “I-uh- Thank you, sir.”

“Your mother will be upset she wasn’t at this meeting, so we’ll need to have a family dinner so she can get to meet your lovely mate.”

Alex sighed. “I’ll give her a call.”

“Good.” His father patted Lena’s hand. “See you both soon.”

Alex watched his father walk away and then picked Lena up in his arms.

Lena squealed the moment Alex lifted her into his arms. “What are you doing? People are looking.”

“I’m taking you home.”

“Alex, put me down,” she wiggled but stopped after just a second and just rested her head on his chest. “I’d fight you but I’m tired.”

“Exactly. Just let me take you home to rest.” He kissed the top of her head and she sighed.

Sunlight streamed through the open windows of Alex’s kitchen, bathing the room in a warm glow that made Lena feel cocooned in a world far removed from the harsh realities outside. She watched Alex move around the kitchen with an ease and grace that belied his usual powerful, alpha demeanor. Today, he was just Alex, her caregiver, her haven.

He placed a plate in front of her, a simple assortment of her favorite foods—scrambled eggs, toast, and freshly sliced fruit. “I hope this is okay,” he said, his voice laced with a tenderness that made her heart swell.

“It’s perfect, thank you,” Lena replied, her words sincere as she took a bite, savoring the normalcy of this moment. They settled into a comfortable silence filled with mutual understanding and shared smiles.

After they finished eating, Alex suggested they watch a movie. He chose one of Lena’s favorites, a classic comedy that never failed to make her laugh. As they settled onto the couch, Lena tucked under Alex’s arm, she felt a wave of gratitude for the normalcy, for the laughter, and for Alex’s warmth beside her.

Halfway through the movie, Lena glanced outside at the bright day and felt a longing for the fresh air. “Can we go outside for a bit? I’d like to feel the sun,” she suggested, looking up at Alex with a hopeful expression.

“Of course,” Alex responded immediately, pausing the movie. He helped her to her feet with gentle hands, then went to grab a picnic blanket and a couple of water bottles. They made their way to a sunny patch of grass in his backyard where he spread the blanket under a large oak tree.

As they settled in, Alex propped a pillow behind Lena, ensuring she was comfortable. The sun was warm, the breeze gentle, and Lena felt a peace she hadn’t known in days.

Alex chuckled softly, breaking the comfortable silence. “You know, this reminds me of a time when Wes and I tried to camp out here as teenagers. We were convinced we could live off the land. Turns out, neither of us was very good at catching food. We lasted less than a day before sneaking back for snacks.”

Lena laughed, picturing a younger Alex and his best friend fumbling through the wilderness. “That sounds like something Tara and I would do. We once tried to build a fort in our living room with all the cushions and blankets. It got so elaborate that we ended up toppling it over and breaking a vase. Mom was not pleased, especially since we tried to glue it back together—badly.”

Alex’s laughter joined hers, filling the space around them with joy. “I bet your mom had a field day with that,” he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Oh, she did. We were banned from ‘architectural endeavors’ inside the house for a month,” Lena replied, her tone light as she recounted the memory.

As the sun continued its leisurely drift across the sky, Lena felt a lightness she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Wrapped in the comfort of Alex’s presence and the gentle warmth of the afternoon, her spirits lifted further as they shared stories and laughter.

“So, your grand architectural venture ended with a vase casualty, huh?” Alex teased, his eyebrow arching playfully. “Should I be worried about any home improvement projects you might have planned for us?”

Lena giggled, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. “Only if you’re clumsy enough to knock over a vase with a pillow. Are you?” She watched him with mock suspicion, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Absolutely not,” Alex declared, his tone mock-serious. “I’m known for my pillow-fort integrity. Maybe we should have a competition sometime. Winner gets to command the TV remote for a week.”

---