Fake Dating Alpha Hockey Captain

#Chapter 85: Some Time With Alex

#Chaptér 85: Some Time With Alex

When I walk out, I'm on cloud nine. Not as a Luna, or a werewolf of any sort, but as a teenage girl in love.

And there is my boyfriend-iny love-waiting for me, his hair a sexy mess and a feverish look in his eyes. As I walk toward him, a life together flashes before my eyes: Us getting older, having children, finding our way together...forever.

I don't know if it will be like that, but in the moment it's the only thing I want to think about.

He takes my hand, playfully swinging them back and forth as we walk to the outer perimeter. Then we take a turn into the woods. "I thought we could use some privacy," Alex explains.

"Whatever happened to the rogues? Did you find them?"

"I don't think we found all of them. There were thirteen there. But we left a message for any that returned."

"Do you think they'll be a problem?"

"Charles thinks they won't be an issue now that Ryan is dead, and we've cleared their camp."

"I hope he's right."

"Me, too." He kisses me on the head. "Have you noticed..." Alex pauses looking

away from me, then back at me with a grin. "Never mind."

"No! What?"

"Your stutter is practically gone."

"Really? I thought I still had it."

"I wonder if it was a side effect...of the rune that was cast on you?"

"Maybe..."

I really hadn't noticed! Wait...I was stuttering before; I remember him commenting

on it. Or did I just think about it? I don't know, but maybe it has worn off along with the spell.

"That's...crazy!" I say, realizing Alex is right.

He laughs, loud and merrily.

I sigh. "Just add that to another crazy thing that's happened today."

"Right???" Alex becomes animated. "So much has happened today, but especially for you! Hell-you became a werewolf today!"

"Ha! I know!"

Alex stops, takes my other hand in his, and looks me in the eyes. "Are you okay, Cynthia? A lot really has happened today.'

Inod. "I'm still processing everything...but I think I'm okay."

>>

"You went from being hunted by werewolves to actually being one. And you're okay with that?"

"I mean," I begin, "A few weeks ago I wouldn't have thought it possible. When I finally did realize werewolves existed, I guess...I was... mostly okay with it. Probably because of my feelings for you-though I would've been perfectly happy without anyone trying to kill me."

#Chapter 85: Some Time With Ale

"You won't have to worry about that anymore."

We start walking again. I look above the tree line. The sun starting to recede and what was a bright blue will soon turn. I notice things I had never been able to before: the gentle rustling of leaves on the trees in a light wind, sunlight glistening off the dew, the vibrations of our footsteps against the dirt. It really is magical.

I tell him how I had wished for werewolf senses, that I knew they could hear and smell things I couldn't. "Except, come to think of it, I did seem to smell a lot. I could smell you from a mile away. Okay-that's a bit of an exaggeration. But I could definitely smell you. And blood. I could smell blood. Looking back, maybe that was part of it all."

"Could you always do that?"

I shook my head. "I didn't notice it until after I met you. I think you stirred what had been hidden all that time."

"That would make sense," Alex reasons. "I was your first werewolf, huh?"

I smile. "I guess that's what we should talk about."

"Look, up there." He points to some fallen trees, and we sit on their trunks. Other plant life has slowly taken them over. Moss softens the edges of their bark and small critters have taken refuge among their hollows. I can hear a squirrel or something inside squeaking until it senses we're there, then it goes silent.

We sit down, side-by-side. Our fingers are still linked together, and I rest my head on his shoulder. It's not that we have any answers yet, but my spirit is calm just knowing that we're a possibility now.

A real possibility.

"I thought we should discuss the future in private. I mean, your pack certainly has

an interest in knowing yours, but you have the right to figure it out on your own." "It's a scary thought."

"Figuring it out?"

"Yes...and knowing they have expectations from me."

"You don't owe them anything. At least right now."

"But I eventually will. You know that."

"Yeah... know all about that."

"I mean, I've been trying to think about everything-given the little time I've had-

and its hard to imagine living my life as a werewolf."

“Ha! Well, in all fairness, you literally just became one."

"Exactly. Now I have this...group...depending on me. Already! Charles even

asked me what to do about the rogues. How would I know?"

"Well...don't blame them for that. It is our law that they defer to you, since you are technically their leader now. Even if you're new to be a shapeshifter."

When I don't say anything, Alex adds, "It's all new to them too. Sure, they've known you since you were born... and that you were out there somewhere, but they didn't know if you would ever return."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

$noveldrama

#Chapter 85: Some Time With

"What do you think about all of it? My sssituation, I mean

He cackles at my sudden stutter, making me smile, but his bumor is followed by a deep and long sigh. "I think this would be a lot for anyone to handle. But you're so....awkward anyway."

I punch him in the shoulder. "Hey!"

He laughs. "I mean that in the most loving way possible. It could've been part of the rune, you know? Who knows what you would have been like had you been allowed to live among your pack?"

I guess I really hadn't thought about that. What would my life had been like if Ryan never betrayed us?

"Anyway, when you're ready to transition to pack life, you werewolf ways orpolitics, but you will. It just takes time."

have a lot to learn. You don't know anything about

"Thank you! That's my point! I don't know anything about being a werewolf much

less how to run a pack of them."

"But you need to learn. Being here is good for

'Yeah...but what about my mom out there?" My voice wavers when I ask this. I'm trying to keep my emotions out of it: To be logical...but that's difficult to do. "I can't just leave her."

"No. She loves you and that wouldn't be fair to her. You need to talk to her."

I nod slowly.

"Look," Alex says, leaning back a little so he can see my face. Only when I gaze up into his eyes, I want to stop him from talking with a kiss. But I refrain myself. "You'll need to be careful. Now that you've shifted once, it will happen again—and you still have to learn how to control it. She may find out the hard way if you don't tell her."

"But how do I control it? You do."

"And you will...after a little time. It's something you learn, something we're taught when we're young.'

"I guess I missed that lesson."

A whole lifetime of learning and growing...and I missed out on it. Now, I am something that I don't understand. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time... and dangerous, like Alex said. What if I accidentally shift at a public mall or on a street corner? There's a reason humans don't ever see werewolves do that. Werewolves, in general, don't live in the human world in the first place, and those who do know how to control their bodies. I lower my head. I feel like I might cry again. I don't know if I can do this...

Alex lifts my chin. "I will help you," he tells me, and his voice is so soft and quiet and sweet. "I will be there whenever you need me."

Then he kisses me.

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