Chapter 21

TWENTY-ONE

L ena had a plan. She knew that for all his strength and authority, Alex rarely had the chance to simply let go, to laugh and revel in the simple joys of life. So, she concocted a plan for a date that was as unique as it was unexpected—a day designed to remind Alex of the lightness of being away from the shadows of duty.

"You're sure you can't see anything?" Lena waved a hand in front of Alex.

"Nothing."

"Awesome. Come on, it's not that far."

"Where exactly are we going?" he asked, a note of apprehension in his voice, but his trust in her evident in his easy compliance.

"Relax, big guy. I've got a fun day planned for us."

When the blindfold finally came off, Alex's first sight was the vibrant chaos of a local arcade, its walls alive with the electric buzz of machines and the air filled with the sounds of digital battles and triumphant cheers.

Lena watched as Alex's initial surprise morphed into a childlike wonder, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the games he'd loved in his youth but had long since forgotten in the face of adult responsibilities.

"Welcome to our date," Lena announced with a flourish, grinning at his astonished expression.

The arcade was a deliberate choice, a playful nod to their shared love of video games but in a setting far removed from the usual intensity of their world. Here, amidst the flickering lights and pixelated soundtracks, Alex could be anyone—a hero on a quest, a racer on the edge of victory, or simply himself, unburdened and free.

As the afternoon wore on, they moved from game to game, each new challenge an opportunity to shed the seriousness of their daily lives.

The highlight of the day came when they discovered a vintage "The Legend of Zelda" arcade machine nestled in a quiet corner. Lena watched as Alex played, his face alight with nostalgia and happiness, a reminder of the simpler times before the weight of the alpha mantle had been placed upon his shoulders.

Sitting there with the sounds of the arcade around them and the sight of Alex so genuinely happy, Lena felt a profound sense of contentment.

"Are you having fun?" she asked and curled her arms around his waist.

He hugged her tightly to him. "Absolutely."

"Good. Because I needed to butter you up."

He raised his brows and grinned. "Um, we're going to my mother's for a family dinner next."

"Should I be concerned?"

"Only about the number of questions regarding our love life, children, marriage, and maybe even if I'm currently pregnant."

He kissed the top of her head. "You're not."

"I mean, I know, but how do you know?"

"I'd smell it. Shifter senses are superior to any other animal in the world. Your body chemistry scent would change and I'd know."

She nodded slowly. "Okay. Good to know. Um, Alex?"

"Yes, love?" he sat and pulled her onto his lap.

"Not that I'm planning on anything, but if the day comes that I am and you know, can you act surprised when I tell you?"

He kissed her again and held her close. "I'll be very surprised."

She laughed and rubbed her nose over his neck. "Good. Not that I'm planning on getting pregnant any time soon, but we should practice making babies a lot."

His chuckle reverberated into her. "I agree. A lot."

The vintage arcade was a cacophony of 8-bit music, flashing lights, and the excited chatter of gamers. Lena couldn't suppress her grin as she watched Alex take in the sight, his eyes widening with childlike wonder.

"Ready to have your butt kicked in air hockey?" Lena teased, leading him toward the table.

Alex raised an eyebrow, a competitive glint in his eye. "Bring it on, my little gaming nerd."

They took their positions on opposite sides of the table, mallets in hand. The puck dropped, and they were off, batting it back and forth with increasing speed and intensity.

Lena scored the first point, and she couldn't resist a little victory dance. "Take that, Mr. Alpha!"

Alex growled playfully, his focus sharpening. "Oh, it's on now."

The game was a fierce battle of reflexes and trash talk. They were evenly matched, their laughter ringing out over the electronic beeps and boops of the arcade.

In the end, Lena managed to sneak the winning point past Alex's defenses. She threw her hands up in triumph, her face flushed with exertion and joy.

"I demand a rematch," Alex declared, but he was grinning, his competitive edge softened by the sight of Lena's unbridled happiness.

"You're on, but first, I've got another challenge for you." Lena pointed to the Dance Dance Revolution machine, its platform lit up in an enticing neon glow.

Alex blanched. "Oh no, I don't dance."

"Come on, it'll be fun. Unless you're afraid of losing again..." Lena's tone was pure mischief.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Alex squared his shoulders. "All right, but if I embarrass myself, it's on you."

They stepped onto the platform, and Lena scrolled through the song options, settling on a high-energy J-Pop tune. As the first notes blasted from the speakers, they began to move, their feet tapping out the patterns on the flashing arrows.

It was a sight to behold - the formidable alpha of the pack, his face a mask of concentration as he tried to keep up with the frenetic beat. Lena, beside him, was a whirling dervish of laughter and flailing limbs.

By the end of the song, they were both breathless and laughing. Alex shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "I think I'll stick to howling at the moon."

Lena leaned into him, her eyes sparkling with affection. "I don't know; I think you've got some moves, wolf boy."

As they made their way through the arcade, trying their hand at Whack-a-Mole, Alex may have been a bit too enthusiastic; Skee-Ball, Lena's aim was deadly; and a host of other classic games, the outside world seemed to melt away. Here, among the beeping machines and the glow of pixelated screens, they were just Alex and Lena, two hearts reveling in the simple joy of being together.

Alex turned to Lena, his expression soft. "Thank you for this," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't realize how much I needed a night like this, just to be..."

"Just to be Alex," Lena finished for him, understanding shining in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. "You're always the alpha, always taking care of everyone else. But sometimes, you need to let yourself be taken care of too."

Alex held her close, marveling at the woman who had stormed into his life and turned his world upside down in the best possible way. "I love you, Lena," he murmured into her hair. "More than I ever thought possible."

Lena tilted her head up, her eyes meeting his. "I love you, too, Alex. And I'm always here for you, whether you need a partner in crime-fighting or just someone to beat at air hockey."

Alex chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "I let you win, you know?"

"Sure you did, tough guy." Lena grinned, rising onto her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips. "Just like I'm going to let you win at basketball."

"Oh, you're on." Alex's eyes glinted with renewed competitive fire.

As they lost themselves once more in the bright lights and electronic melodies of the arcade, their laughter rising above the din, Alex felt a weight lift from his heart. Here with Lena by his side, he wasn't just the alpha, the protector, the leader. He was simply a man in love, cherishing a perfect moment with his mate.

The night grew late, but neither of them wanted it to end. They lingered at each game, drawing out their time together, until finally, reluctantly, it was time to go.

Walking out into the cool night air, their arms laden with the silly prizes they had won for each other, Alex and Lena couldn't stop smiling. The cares of the shifter world seemed far away, a distant concern compared to the warmth of their intertwined hands and the love that flowed between them.

"Thank you for tonight," Alex said again as they reached her new car in the parking lot. "For reminding me what it's like to live in the moment and have fun without worrying about anything else."

Lena reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "That's what I'm here for, to make sure you don't forget how to play." Her thumb brushed over his cheekbone, a tender caress. "No matter what challenges we face, we'll face them together. And we'll always make time for nights like this, just you and me."

Alex leaned into her touch, his heart so full, it felt like it might burst. "You and me, always" he echoed, a promise and a prayer. "Now, let's go meet your parents."

Their lips met in a kiss that held the sweetness of cotton candy, the thrill of a perfect score, and the boundless joy of two hearts beating as one. And as they lost themselves in each other, the world narrowed down to this moment, this love, this perfect understanding.

The warmth of Lena's family home enveloped Alex as they stepped inside, a stark contrast to the cool evening air. It was a world away from the solemnity of pack meetings and the ever-present tension of his responsibilities as alpha. Here, laughter reigned supreme, and love was served as generously as the food on the table.

As they gathered around the dining table laden with dishes that made Alex's mouth water, he couldn't help but feel a tad out of his element. Lena's mother, Nancy, a formidable woman with a wit as sharp as her cooking skills, wasted no time in diving into the heart of matters.

"So, Alex, dear," Nancy began, her voice dripping with a mix of charm and cunning, "tell us about your intentions with my daughter. We're all eager to hear just how serious you two are." Her eyes twinkled, but there was an undeniable edge of protectiveness in her gaze.

Alex cleared his throat, acutely aware of all eyes on him. "My intentions are, uh, completely honorable," he assured, trying to match Lena's mother's intensity with a sincerity of his own. "She's... she's everything to me."

Lena squeezed his hand under the table, a silent show of support that sent warmth flooding through him.

"Aww," Nancy gushed, her hand on her chest. "You're so cute. I am so getting grandbabies by this time next year."

Wesley, Tara's husband chuckled and lifted a wine glass in salute. "To Nancy getting grandbabies from someone other than me and Tara."

Everyone laughed and Tara immediately clinked glasses with her husband.

Nancy feigned a frown. "I would love grandbabies from both my daughters."

"I think we'll take a break for a bit," Wes laughed. "I want to give Tara a break and we want to travel a little more."

"Heck, yeah. You owe me a couple's vacation." Tara smiled mischievously and turned to Alex and Lena. "So, when's the wedding? We need ample time to plan. I'm thinking an outdoor ceremony. With wolves as groomsmen," she quipped, barely suppressing her laughter.

Alex found himself chuckling, the tension easing from his shoulders. "We haven't gotten quite that far yet," he managed to say, shooting Lena an amused glance.

"Oh, but you must have thought about children, right?" Nancy wouldn't be deterred, her questions taking on a more speculative tone. "I'm already picturing the cutest little grandbabies. How many were you thinking? A whole pack of them, perhaps?"

Alex, momentarily lost for words, could only marvel at the speed with which the conversation had veered into territory he hadn't dared to contemplate yet. He glanced at Lena now laughing openly, her eyes shining with love and amusement.

The playful interrogation continued, each question more absurd than the last, pushing Alex further into the warm embrace of Lena's family dynamic. The air was thick with the scent of delicious food and underpinned by a constant stream of laughter, primarily at his expense, yet Alex found he didn't mind in the least.

Tara, ever the instigator, leaned in, her voice laced with feigned seriousness. "And what about the children? If they inherit Alex's... tendencies, I suppose we'll need to puppy-proof the house?" The table erupted into laughter, Lena shaking her head at her sister's antics while trying to stifle her own giggles.

"Puppy-proofing might not be necessary," Alex countered, the absurdity of the conversation making it easier for him to join in the jest. "But we might consider some extra running space in the backyard. Just in case."

The laughter that followed was light and carefree, and Alex felt the warmth of their acceptance wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.

The topic of their honeymoon was not spared from the family's humorous scrutiny. Lena's brother-in-law, with a perfectly straight face, suggested, "You know, for the honeymoon, there's always Transylvania. Romantic, historic, and you'd feel right at home among the legends of the night."

"Transylvania does have its charms," Alex played along, his arm wrapping tighter around Lena, pulling her into his side. "But I was thinking somewhere a bit less... vampiric for our honeymoon."

"You're right," Nancy agreed, "I think you two need somewhere with less clothes and more conducive to reproduction."

"Mom!"

"Honey, it seems I'm the only one trying to get you pregnant," Nancy blinked pointedly at Alex. "You're up, wolfman."

"Yes, ma'am." Alex nodded and winked at Lena. "You heard her."

Lena rubbed her hand up his thigh, the scent of her desire filling his lungs. "I did. I don't know if I'm ready for kids yet."

Tara cleared her throat and waggled her brows. "Practice, sis. A lot. Right, hon?"

Wesley kissed Tara's hand and nodded. "That's the best part."

If Alex had it his way, he wouldn't let Lena out of his bed at all, but he could tell she needed some time to get used to the idea of having children. He was happy to just have Lena as his mate. Kids could wait. She's who he wanted.