"Stop staring," I murmur, tugging at the hem of my dress.

"Not a chance," he says, his voice low and honest, like he doesn't even realize the words left his mouth.

Heavens, why does that make my heart flutter? It's not like I haven't met men who stared at me over the years, but none of them made me feel what Alec is making me feel. Maybe it's because he's my mate, maybe it's something else, but I can't help the flutter.

I shake my head, fighting back a smile. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," he says, eyes glinting, "but I'm also the luckiest man alive right now."

And damn it, the way he looking at me, the way his eyes are shining, it's clear he means every single word he's spoken... and that? That my chest tightens because this is how I've always wanted him to look at me.

Before I can respond, he steps closer, extending his hand. "Shall we?

I hesitate for just a second, then place my hand in his. His palm is warm and his grip steady. He leads me out of the house and toward a sleek black SUV waiting outside.

"Where are we going?" I ask as he opens the passenger door for me.

"You'll see," he replies, that grin refusing to leave his face.

The drive is quiet but not uncomfortable. My heart won't settle, thundering in my chest. I steal glances at him every so often. His strong jaw, the way the headlights brush across his face, and his hand draped casually on the wheel. It's hard to take my eyes off him.

All this. Everything that's happening. It makes me feel like my dreams are coming true. Like every wish, every prayer I made years ago is finally being granted. Along with the excitement inside me, there is a heaviness I can't ignore because I never thought or imagined this would ever happen. Especially after he banished me from the pack.

When the car finally slows, we pull into a small clearing tucked deep in the woods. My breath catches.

It's beautiful.

A table sits in the center, draped in soft linen, surrounded by lanterns that glow

like fireflies in the night. Strings of lights hang from the branches above, twinkling like stars within reach. Two plates wait on the table, steaming gently as if someone just placed them there.

I turn to Alec, wide-eyed. "You did this?"

He shrugs, almost shy. "I wanted tonight to be about us. No pack business. No titles. Just you and me."

Something in my chest aches. No one has ever done something like this for me... and the fact that it's Alec floors me. I guess I didn't know him because I always thought he didn't have a single romantic bone in his body. I was okay with that, though, because I reasoned I would be romantic for the two of us. FindNovels

"This is amazing," I whisper.

A tiny part of me keeps expecting him to fail; that way I can walk away cleanly, but

Alec keeps surprising me, over and over again.

He steps around to open my door, offering his hand again. "Only for you."

He pulls out my chair like a gentleman, and I sit down, still reeling from the thoughtfulness of it all.

Dinner begins light. We eat, we laugh, and Alec makes a few ridiculous jokes that have me rolling my eyes and biting my lip to hide my smile. He watches me like every reaction is precious, like I'm something fragile yet unshakably important.

"So," he says after a while, his tone gentler now, "how are you feeling? After everything that's happened lately."

I set my fork down, suddenly aware of the weight in his question. "Honestly? Scared."

"Scared?" he echoes softly.

I nod, fingers twisting in my lap. "Everything feels so... overwhelming. My powers, Nyx leaving, finding out things I never imagined about myself) And then you..." I falter, my cheeks heating again, our being here, stepping in when I least expect it. It's... confusing." FindNovels

He leans forward, his eyes steady on mine. "Sadie, you don't have to have it all figured out right now... I want you, all of you. Whether you have things figured out or not."

My breath hitches. "Why? After everything that has happened, why do you still want this with me?"

His expression softens in a way that steals the air from my lungs.

"Because you're the strongest person I've ever known. Because you fight even when it hurts. Because you make me want to be better. And because..." His voice drops, almost a whisper. “Because you're mine. Whether you're ready to believe it or not, you're my mate." FindNovels