Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

" I have 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.

Their first stop was a panel discussion on the evolution of video games, a topic close to Lena's heart.

As they took their seats, Alex leaned in, whispering, "I thought we could start with a bit of history before the main event."

Lena smiled, her admiration for Alex growing. He understood her love for gaming, not just as entertainment but as an art form and a storytelling medium.

The panel was a fascinating journey through the decades, but Alex's restless energy suggested there was more to come. As the discussion concluded, he pulled her to her feet, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Time for the main event," he said, leading her to a section of the convention dedicated to indie game developers.

Lena gasped as they approached a booth adorned with artwork from her latest game. A banner above the booth announced a meet-and-greet with the game's creator—her. Fans were already lining up, eager to meet the mind behind the new hit game that was quickly becoming a fan favorite.

"Alex, what have you done?" Lena asked, a mix of awe and nervous excitement fluttering in her chest.

He shrugged, feigning innocence. "I might have mentioned to the organizers that the brilliant Lena would be attending. They insisted on setting this up."

As she took her place behind the booth, Alex stood by her side, his pride evident. If she hadn't already been in love with him, she would most certainly be at that moment. He clipped on a tag that read "Lena's Link" and winked at her.

"I'll be your assistant," he declared, his usual alpha demeanor replaced by that of a supportive partner.

Her heart filled with so much love for him, she didn't have words to tell him how special what he did was.

The next hours were a whirlwind of autographs, photos, and heartfelt conversations with fans. Lena was in her element, her passion for gaming connecting her with fellow enthusiasts. Alex's presence by her side, his unwavering support and admiration made the experience even more surreal.

Later, as the convention day wound down, they explored the gaming halls together. Lena challenged Alex to a round of "The Legend of Zelda," a playful competition that had them both laughing and teasing each other. "I'll have you know, I'm a Hyrule warrior in my own right," Alex boasted, only to be humbly defeated by Lena's skillful play.

"Hey, Link, were you looking for a queen?" she asked leaning into his arms, joking about the recent game.

"I'll be your soldier," he grinned and kissed her forehead. "I won't fold up." He kissed her nose. "Let me show you," he whispered, his lips meeting hers, sending her temperature soaring.

After a day immersed in the electric atmosphere of the gaming convention, Lena and Alex retreated to the sanctuary of their hotel suite, a large and spacious haven perched high above the bustling city. The room was a comfortable contrast to the vibrant chaos of the day, with its soft lighting and plush furnishings inviting a sense of calm and closeness.

Alex, ever thoughtful, had ordered room service, and the table was now adorned with an array of comfort foods—burgers, fries, and, to Lena's delight, a generous slice of cheesecake. They settled onto the bed with their feast spread out before them, the city lights twinkling like distant stars through the window.

As they ate, Alex flicked through the hotel's movie selections, pausing on a horror film that had Lena perking up in interest.

"Oh, we have to watch this one! It's supposed to be terrifying," she exclaimed, her enthusiasm for the genre undimmed by the countless times she'd leaped at jump scares or slept with the lights on afterward.

Alex raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in his gaze. "Are you sure? Are you one of those people that ends up hiding behind the pillows half the time?"

Lena nudged him with her shoulder, a mock glare on her face. "Hey, it's not my fault horror directors are too good at their jobs. Besides, I have you here to protect me from the scary monsters," she retorted, her tone light and teasing.

With the movie set to play, they snuggled under the covers, the room's darkness punctuated only by the flickering light of the screen. True to form, Lena spent much of the movie with her face half-buried in a pillow, peeking through her fingers during particularly tense scenes. Alex's laughter filled the room, a warm sound that made the hairs on the back of Lena's neck stand up—not in fear, but in delight.

"Brave Lena, conqueror of game worlds, cowers before a bit of cinematic suspense," Alex teased, his voice rich with amusement.

Lena popped her head up from her pillow fortress, her eyes wide and mock indignant. "Excuse me, Mr. Zelda, I don't see you offering to fight off the supernatural entities on the screen."

Their laughter mingled, easing the tension of the on-screen horror, and in those moments of shared happiness, Lena reveled in the easy camaraderie between them. In these quiet, unguarded moments, she learned the most about Alex—the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, how he preferred the left side of the bed, and his inexplicable dislike for pickles.

As the movie drew to a close with the requisite jump scare that had Lena leaping into Alex's arms, they fell into a comfortable silence, the earlier laughter fading into a warm, contented glow.

"You know," Lena began, her voice soft in the quiet of the room, "I never thought I'd find someone who'd enjoy a gaming convention with me and make facing a zombie apocalypse seem like a fun date night."

Alex turned to her, his expression tender. "With you, every moment is an adventure, Lena. And watching you sign those posters of your game was amazing. You should be proud of your hard work."

She was, but that was the first time a man she was in a relationship with was too. It was such an incredible feeling. He was proud of her work and achievements and she didn't know how to react to that. It made her wonder if she'd been avoiding relationships because she'd desperately wanted a partner like Alex.

"Thank you for today, Alex. Men don't usually take my work seriously. And the ones who do usually live with their mom."

"Don't thank me. This is your achievement, love. I'm glad I got to be a part of it with you."

Their eyes locked, and in that gaze, Lena saw the promise of future adventures, of shared laughs and scares, of moments both big and small that would weave the fabric of their relationship. God. She loved him. She didn't know how or when or even why, but she loved this man so deeply, it scared her.