Page 17 of Link with Me
“Thank you.”
“Of course, son. And please, give her our love.”
They ended the call and he returned to his bedroom and glanced at Lena lying on his bed. “How are you doing, love?”
She was sweating and he saw tears in her eyes. A small smile played on her lips. “Still not the worst date I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad I won’t be remembered for that,” he said, sitting by her side and holding her hand. In five minutes, a doctor from the clinic arrived with the salve.
Lena held her side but he nodded for her to allow the doctor to remove the bandage. He knew the salve would hurt and braced himself for her pain. He watched her clench her teeth and suck in a hard breath, the tears in her eyes finally falling. His mate’s strength astounded him. She gripped his bedding in her fists and let out a breath slowly before sucking another in.
“This will help shortly,” the doctor told her. “I know it hurts but it’ll be numb soon.”
After what felt like an eternity later but must have been one to two minutes he watched her grip on the bedding loosen and her eyes drift shut.
The salve dried over the injury into a thick protective patch.
“She’ll sleep for a while. The salve has a relaxing effect on humans. She’s not hurting any longer, Alpha.” The doctor met Alex’s gaze. “I would watch her for a while. Some humans can’t handle the powerful drugging effect of the salve. If she has any strange reactions, call me.”
He nodded and watched the doctor leave. He removed Lena’s torn top and jeans. He left her in her underwear and readied to spend the night watching her to ensure her safety.
TWELVE
Lena woke to the soft light filtering through the curtains, a gentle reminder that she was far from her own bed. For a moment, the events of the previous night seemed like a distant dream until the dull ache on her side grounded her back to reality.
She touched her wound but there was a thick patch over it. She was in Alex’s home, safe but unmistakably marked by the night’s violence.
The door creaked open, and Alex entered, a tray in his hands holding the unmistakable aroma of fresh coffee and pancakes. His presence, both comforting and overwhelmingly masculine, filled the room, and Lena’s heart fluttered in response.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of concern. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” Lena managed, pushing herself up against the pillows. “Especially now that I see you come with breakfast.” The attempt at lightness in her voice belied the complexity of emotions swirling within her. Being here and cared for by Alex felt both terrifyingly intimate and exactly where she wanted to be.
Alex chuckled as he set the tray on her lap. “I aim to please. Pancakes and coffee, the best medicine I know.”
Lena smiled, the simple domesticity of the moment weaving a new layer into the tapestry of their budding relationship. She took a sip of the coffee, letting the warmth seep into her bones, and pondered the depth of her feelings for Alex. Each moment with him felt like stepping into uncharted territory, thrilling and daunting in equal measure.
“So, Mr. Pancake Healer, did you always know you wanted to be an alpha? Or did young Alex have other dreams?” she asked, curiosity piqued by the man behind the title, the boy who had grown into the leader before her.
Alex’s eyes softened, a hint of nostalgia flickering within them. “Believe it or not, I went through a phase where I wanted to be a chef. I was quite the little kitchen terror, always underfoot, trying to learn everything I could.”
Lena laughed, the image of a young Alex, more focused on culinary creations than pack politics, endearing him to her even more. “What happened? Why did you give it up?”
“Life.” His voice was serious. “A pack needs a leader, not a chef.”
Her heart ached hearing him say that. “A leader can be both,” she smiled. “A man’s gotta eat.”
A grin split his lips and she wanted to hug him.
“That’s true. The pack needed me, and while cooking is still a passion, being alpha doesn’t leave much time for culinary adventures.” His gaze met hers, earnest and open. “But I still sneak into the kitchen when I can, test out new recipes. It’s my way of unwinding.”
The vulnerability he shared, the glimpse into his private world, and the dreams set aside for duty, drew Lena closer. She reached out, her hand covering his. “Well, your secret’s safe with me. And for the record, your pancakes could give any chef a run for their money.”
Their laughter mingled, the ease between them growing as they shared stories and dreams over breakfast in bed. Lena found herself captivated, not just by the alpha strength and the protective fervor with which he’d defended her, but by the man who held aspirations beyond his obligations, who found joy in creation and solace in the simple act of cooking.
As they talked, the walls around Lena’s heart crumbled bit by bit, the connection between them strengthening into something tangible, something real. She realized that with Alex, she was discovering parts of herself she’d never known, feelings she’d never allowed herself to explore.
Alex watched Lena explore his room with an ease that belied the chaos of their recent encounters. Her presence in his personal sanctuary, a place few had ever entered, felt both right and unsettling.