Page 23 of A Love Bite

“Feeling better?” I ask as she slips back into bed beside me.

“Much,” she replies with a soft smile, curling up against me. Her closeness is comforting, and I wrap my arms around her, content for the moment to just be with her.

There’s a part of me that feels it’s time to tell her everything about who I am, including the dangers that come from the rival pack and the role she would play in my world if we were to fully mate, but the timing has to be right. It’s crucial that she accepts this part of me willingly and fully informed, not out of a moment’s passion or surprise.

As we settle back into the quiet intimacy of the night, I know that soon I’ll have to confront the larger truths, but for now, I focus on the woman beside me, the gentle rhythm of her breathing, and the shared warmth of our connection. The future with its revelations and challenges will come soon enough, but it will be faced together, with openness and honesty.

20

Alex

I wakeup the next morning, the early sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting a warm glow across the room. I glance to my right, but Jake isn’t there. The bed’s empty.

I’m not surprised. Jake must have left before I woke up.

A sense of contentment lingers from last night, mixed with a touch of longing to see him again.

I stretch and get out of bed. I head to the living room and notice a small note on the coffee table. Curious, I pick it up.

Alex,

I didn’t want to wake you, so I decided to leave quietly. Last night was incredible, and I can’t wait to see you again tonight for our date. You’re truly special, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you even better.

- Jake

A smile spreadsacross my face. He’s so sweet and thoughtful, yet there’s a shyness about him that I find endearing. The connection we shared last night feels deep and genuine, and his note only strengthens that feeling.

I carefully fold the note and tuck it away. My thoughts are filled with anticipation for our date tonight. There’s so much I want to learn about Jake, so much I want to share with him.

After a quick shower and breakfast, I decide to head over to Opal’s place. I want to check on her and make sure she’s doing okay after everything that happened yesterday. I grab my keys and head out the door, my thoughts still drifting back to Jake and our date tonight.

The city is bustling as I make my way to Opal’s apartment. When I arrive, I knock on her door and wait, hoping she’s up and about.

The door opens, and Opal greets me with a tired but relieved smile. “Alex, hey! Come in.”

“Hey, Opal,” I say, stepping inside. “I wanted to check on you, see how you’re doing after everything.”

She gestures for me to sit down on the couch, and I can see the signs of a restless night in her eyes. “I’m okay, I guess. Still shaken, but Kathy stayed over, which helped a lot.”

“Good,” I reply, feeling a sense of relief. “I’m glad she was here for you. Do you want to talk about it?”

Opal sighs, running a hand through her hair. “It’s just so surreal, you know? Being grabbed like that and not knowing why… It’s terrifying, but having you and Kathy around makes it easier.”

“We’re here for you,” I assure her, reaching out to squeeze her hand, “and we’ll figure out who did this and why.”

Opal nods, looking grateful. “Thank you, Alex. That means a lot.”

We spend the next hour talking, the conversation ranging from the events of the past day to lighter topics. It’s good to see Opal smile and laugh, even if just for a little while. I tell her about Jake, and she teases me a bit, which feels like a return to normalcy.

“So, you have a date with him tonight?” Opal asks, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Yeah,” I admit, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “He left a really sweet note this morning. I’m looking forward to it.”

“You deserve some happiness after everything,” Opal says warmly. “I hope it goes well.”

“Thanks, Opal,” I reply, smiling. “I hope so too.”

I decide to probe a bit deeper into what happened to Opal. Maybe there’s something she overheard or saw that could give us a clue about who took her and why. I sit back down and look at her with a reassuring smile.