Page 101 of Chased By My Grumpy Alpha
“You’re not hopeless at anything.”
The next song is slower, and I draw her back into my arms. This time, she follows my lead more easily, her body relaxing against mine as we move together. Her head barely reaches my shoulder, and I can smell the lavender soap from our earlier purchase mixed with her own sweet scent.
“Lucian?” she says softly.
“Hmm?”
“Why are you really doing all this?”
I look down at her upturned face, at the genuine curiosity in her green eyes. She’s not fishing for compliments or trying to manipulate me into saying something she wants to hear. She honestly doesn’t understand why someone would want to make her happy without expecting something in return.
“Because you’ve become very precious to me,” I tell her, and it’s the most truthful thing I’ve said all night. “And I want to give you everything.”
She searches my face like she’s looking for the lie, the hidden motive. When she doesn’t find one, confusion flickers across her features.
“I don’t understand you,” she admits.
“You don’t have to understand me. You just have to trust me.”
She doesn’t respond to that, but her hand holds mine just a little tighter.
We dance to two more songs before someone starts passing around cups of wine. The festivalgoers are becoming more boisterous, and I watch Astra accept a cup with wide, curious eyes.
“It’s sweet,” she says after taking a sip. Then, she drains the rest in one swig.
“Astra—”
But she’s already reaching for another cup as a server passes by. And then another.
“I’ve never had such good wine before,” she tells me, swaying slightly to the music. Her cheeks are flushed—whether from dancing or alcohol, I can’t tell. “It makes everything feel...lighter.”
By the time I realize how much she’s had, it’s too late. She’s giggling at everything, stumbling slightly as we try to dance, her inhibitions completely gone.
“Come on,” I tell her, steadying her with my hands on her waist. “Time to go back.”
“But the music is so pretty,” she protests, leaning heavily into me. “And you’re so warm.”
I gather our packages with one arm while keeping the other around her waist. She’s practically boneless against my side, humming tunelessly as we make our way through the crowd.
“Lucian,” she says as we make our way down the cobblestone street, her words slightly slurred. “I need to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“I wish I had stayed.” She looks up at me with unfocused eyes. “When you asked me to marry you. I know you were joking, but I wish I had stayed anyway.”
My gait falters slightly. She’s talking about that night by the fire, when I was half desperate with wanting her and said the first thing that came to mind to get her to stay.
“Astra—”
“You probably don’t even remember,” she continues, stumbling slightly. “But you said you wanted a companion. And I’ve been thinking...I could be a good companion. I could cook for you and mend your clothes and—”
I stop walking and turn to face her. “You’re drunk.”
“Maybe,” she admits with a lopsided smile. “But that doesn’t make it less true.”
We reach the inn, and I unlock the door with some difficulty, trying to keep her upright at the same time. The moment we’re inside, she turns to face me, her hands coming up to rest on my chest.
“You’re very handsome,” she says seriously, her fingers tracing the edge of my collar. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
