Page 26 of Link with Me
There was only one person who could understand Alex and what he was going through, his father. He decided to pay him a visit to try to figure out the best way to handle the situation without outright declaring war on the Hillside Pack.
In the quiet seclusion of his father’s study, surrounded by the mementos of a life dedicated to leading their pack, Alex sought counsel from the one person who had navigated these turbulent waters before him. His father, the former alpha, looked up from his desk, his gaze sharp yet lined with the wisdom of his years.
“Son,” he began, his voice carrying the depth of experience, “I can see the storm within you. Is there something I can help you with?”
Alex paced, the weight of his responsibility pressing on him. “It’s Lena,” he confessed, the name of his mate a talisman against the chaos of his emotions. “The Hillside Pack had targeted her twice now, and it’s tearing me apart. The need for retribution, for her safety, it’s all-consuming.”
His father nodded, understanding the tumultuous sea in which Alex found himself adrift. “Protecting your mate and your people is a burden we bear as alphas. But it’s also our greatest calling. The love for a mate is unlike any other bond. It’s primal, Alex. It will drive you to the edge of reason.”
Alex stopped pacing, the truth in his father’s words anchoring him. “How did you do it? How did you balance the need to protect with the demands of leading?”
The former alpha leaned back, his eyes reflecting memories of battles fought, of sacrifices made. “With great difficulty,” he admitted. “But always by remembering that as alpha, my first duty was to the safety of my pack and my family. Your mother was my compass. Her strength and wisdom guided me.”
He stood, crossing the room to place a firm hand on Alex’s shoulder. “You’ll face choices, ones that will test you to your core. But remember, you have a strength that comes not just from your position, but from the love you bear for your mate. It’s a powerful weapon; use it wisely.”
Alex met his father’s gaze, a shared understanding passing between them. “But what if it’s not enough? What if I fail her, fail our pack?”
“Then you rise, you learn, and you grow stronger,” his father replied with conviction. “You will make mistakes, Alex, but that’s the burden of leadership. What matters is how you carry those mistakes and how you let them shape the future. And remember, you only get one mate. Whatever you must do to protect her, do it. She is your heart, your home.”
The words settled in Alex’s soul, a beacon of clarity in the storm. His father’s support and the reminder of the singular importance of his mate fortified him. His father had his mother, and Alex had Lena. He didn’t need to make drastic decisions unless it was necessary.
“Thank you,” Alex said, a newfound resolve steeling his voice. “I am frustrated I haven’t heard from Darren. He’s avoiding me. His elders any help?”
“Unfortunately, I have not been able to make contact either.”
Alex sighed. “I can’t keep letting them do this. I’m not going to just sit by while they kill my mate.”
His father gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I know you won’t, son. You’re a true alpha in heart and in spirit. I’ll keep trying to reach the Hillside elders to let them know what’s coming if they don’t put a stop to Darren.”
As Alex left his father’s study, the weight of his burdens hadn’t lessened, but his resolve to confront them had solidified.
TWENTY-ONE
Lena 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.