Alexander’s POV
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this alive–Summer’s body pressed against mine, her scent filling my lungs, her soft curves molding perfectly to my harder frame. The feel of her in my arms was intoxicating, and I found myself tightening my grip, unwilling to let this moment end.
Then Lyra’s amused voice cut through our bubble. “Well, this is certainly more interesting than insurance paperwork.”
I shot her a withering glare that would have sent any of my pack members scurrying for cover, but Lyra merely raised an eyebrow, immune to my displeasure after decades of sibling rivalry.
Summer immediately tried to pull away, but I kept one arm firmly around her waist. Mine. The possessive thought came unbidden, but I didn’t bother to suppress it. I’d spent too many years denying what I wanted.
“Felix is awake, asking for both of you,” Lyra continued, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “But I can tell him you’re busy if you’d prefer…”
Summer nodded, her cheeks flushed as she smoothed down her blouse. “No. We’ll be right there.”
As Lyra turned to leave, I bent my head to whisper in Summer’s ear. “Your lipstick’s smeared, sweetheart.” My voice was rough with desire as I ran my thumb along the corner of her mouth, deliberately prolonging the contact. “Though I rather like seeing my mark on you.”
She gasped and glared at me, and I felt myself hardening instantly in response.
“You’re impossible,” she hissed, but there was no real anger in her voice.
“And you’re fucking irresistible,” I growled back, enjoying the way her pupils dilated at my crude language. “We’ll continue this conversation later.”
When we entered Felix’s room, he was sitting up in bed, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Mom! Alex! Dr. Miller said I’m getting better super fast!”
Summer moved to sit on the edge of his bed, taking his small hand in hers. “That’s what we just heard, baby. Do you know what that means?”
“That I can leave the hospital soon?” he asked, eyes wide with hope. “I wanna go home–and start training with the other pups!
The eagerness in his voice made my chest tighten. His world had been so small for so long–just hospital rooms and quiet corners. Now, he was ready to run again, to be part of something bigger than just recovery.
“That’s the goal,” I said, stepping up beside Summer and resting a gentle hand at the nape of her neck. “You’re healing taster than expected, but we still need to finish the treatments. Once the doctors clear you, you’ll be back outside with the others in no
time,”
After spending another hour with Felix–listening to his wild plans for pack training and sparring with the other pups–we finally said our goodbyes. He was half–asleep by the time we stood to leave, still grinning.
The three of us exited the room together, the hospital corridor quiet in the late afternoon light.
Lyra walked beside us in silence for a moment before checking her watch. “I’ve got some personal matters to attend to,” she said casually, but when her gaze met mine, I caught the unspoken weight behind her words.
Thank God the third wheel was finally leaving.
Once we’d said our goodbyes, I guided Summer toward my car, my hand resting possessively on the small of her back. “I
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Chapter 36
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thought we could take a detour on the way home,” I suggested as I held the passenger door open for her. “There’s something I’d like to show you.”
She looked at me quizzically but nodded her agreement. As we drove away from the hospital, I found myself stealing glances at her profile–the gentle slope of her nose, the fullness of her lips, the graceful line of her neck.
[You should mark her.] my wolf insisted again, and for once, I didn’t argue with him.
Our first stop was the training grounds, a vast open space where several of my warriors were engaged in combat drills. I parked the SUV at the edge of the field and turned to Summer.
“Our senior warriors hone their fighting skills here,” I explained, unable to hide the pride in my voice as I watched Ethan directing a complex formation exercise. “My Beta trains them personally.”
Summer’s gaze swept over the scene, her expression thoughtful. “What about the younger wolves? The new arrivals?”
“They train separately in the converted warehouse near the packhouse,” I told her. “I oversee their training myself each morning.”
I could see the surprise in her eyes. “You train them yourself? Not your Beta or gamma?”
“Some things an Alpha needs to do personally,” I replied. “Knowing each member of my pack, understanding their strengths and weaknesses–that’s how I keep them safe.”
Next, I drove us to the far edge of Blackwood territory, where a crystal–clear stream cut through the forest. I parked a few yards away and led Summer by the hand to the water’s edge. The late afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled light on the flowing water.
“After training or pack runs, especially in summer, the pack comes here to cool off and hydrate,” I explained, watching her reaction carefully. “They play, howl, enjoy each other’s company. My great–grandfather started the tradition because he believed such activities foster a strong sense of community and kinship.”
Summer looked genuinely surprised by this. “But your pack has so many members,” she commented. “They all gather together?
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