Chapter 83

Hunter POV:

It had been a while since I spent some time with the guys. With everything going on in the pack, especially the situation with the Scorpio pack and Lisa's unexpected decision, I hadn’t been able to just sit back and relax. I figured a night out at a restaurant would be the perfect break, so I called up Mark, Joe, and Andrew to join me.

As we sat down at the table, the familiar noise of the restaurant filled the background. Plates clinking, people laughing, and the hum of conversation. It was a welcome change from the constant demands of pack life. The waiter brought us drinks, and we all settled in, exchanging casual greetings.

"Cheers," I raised my glass, toasting to the time off. I took a sip, feeling the burn of the alcohol as it slid down my throat.

“So,” Joe began, leaning back with his drink in hand, “Lisa’s decision to spare the Scorpio pack... how do you feel about it now, Alpha?”

I swirled the martini in my glass, staring at the faint ripple in the liquid. “At first, I wasn’t sure. You know me—I don’t let things slide easily. But the more I think about it, the more I realize she might’ve been right. Though I had a feeling she might do that but I wasn't sure she will actually do it ”

“Right?” Mark’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s not like you, Hunter. You’re not exactly the ‘let-them-go’ type.”

Joe cut in, “It was strategic, Mark. Killing them all would’ve caused more problems in the long run. You know how packs hold grudges.”

Andrew nodded in agreement. “And it’s not like we showed weakness. If anything, sparing them after defeating their Alpha makes us look stronger.”

shrugged. "Though I don't mind wiping them off, if they come out again because I know Pascal really wants revenge. Besides, Lisa’s instincts are good. She’s proven that more than once."

"True" they are agreed.

"Andrew , What about the pack members?" I asked facing him, "how are they holding up after everything?"

He replied with his voice steady." They are fine , the pack is stronger than ever. We’ve been keeping an eye on them, ensuring there’s no funny business."

"No problem that's good to hear."

Then, deciding it was time to shift gears, I leaned forward. “Alright, enough about that. I have something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

Mark immediately perked up. “What’s that?”

I let a small smile tug at my lips. “Lisa’s birthday is coming up.”

The reaction was immediate. Mark clutched his chest dramatically. “Her birthday? And she told you guys but didn’t tell me? What happened to being her closest friend?”

Joe snorted. “Stop being so dramatic. I only found out because Hunter called me to arrange a shopping trip for her and Kate.”

Andrew chimed in, “Yeah, Mark, calm down. You’ve got enough on your plate with a baby on the way. Lisa probably didn’t want to overwhelm you.”

Mark gave Andrew a look of mock betrayal. “You don’t get it. Lisa and I are close—closer than anyone, except maybe Hunter, obviously.”

I raised a hand to cut them off. “Alright, alright, can I get your attention, please?”

The table quieted down, though Mark was still muttering under his breath.

“She just told me about it,” I explained. “And yes, I asked Joe to help Kate arrange something for her. It’s not a conspiracy, so let’s not blow this out of proportion.”

Mark huffed but waved for me to continue.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said, my tone growing more serious. “I want to propose to her.”

The weight of my words settled over the table. For a moment, no one spoke.

“On her birthday,” I added. “I want it to be special.”

Joe was the first to react, a broad grin spreading across his face. “That’s a brilliant idea, Alpha. She’ll love it.”

Andrew clapped me on the shoulder. “I’m with Joe. Whatever you decide, I’m behind you.”

"Who would have thought?" Mark said with a laugh, shaking his head. "Hunter, the brooding, No emotion Alpha, getting married. You’d never hear the end of it from us if it weren’t for her."

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Nature has a way of surprising us.”

Mark leaned forward, his expression unusually serious. “You’re sure about this? Marriage is a big step, especially for someone like you.”

“I’m sure,” I said firmly. “Lisa’s different. She’s worth it.”

A brief silence followed before Andrew broke it with a clap of his hands. “Waiter! Another bottle of martini, please. This calls for a celebration!”

Laughter rippled around the table as the drinks were refilled. The conversation lightened again, drifting to Mark’s impending fatherhood.

“She wanted pickles dipped in peanut butter last night,” Mark groaned, rubbing his temples. “Pickles. Peanut butter. I thought I was going to throw up just watching her eat it.”

Joe laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink. “That’s just the beginning, my friend. Wait until she starts crying over nothing. You’ll never survive.”

“I’ll conquer,” Mark declared dramatically. “I have to. For my sanity.”

We all burst out laughing, the camaraderie easing any lingering tension from the earlier conversation. For a while, it felt like old times—just four friends enjoying a rare moment of peace.

And then I saw her.

It started as a flicker of awareness, a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something wasn’t right. My gaze drifted toward the bar, and that’s when I saw her. A figure from my past, someone I hadn’t seen in years.

She stood at the bar, her profile illuminated by the warm glow of the lights. Her hair was longer now, but there was no mistaking her. My chest tightened, memories crashing over me like a tidal wave.

“Alpha?” Joe’s voice cut through the fog in my mind. “You alright?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. The noise around me faded, the laughter and clinking glasses dissolving into a dull roar. My grip on the glass tightened, the cold surface biting into my palm.

“I’ll be right back,” I muttered, standing abruptly.

The others exchanged puzzled glances, but I didn’t wait for their questions. My feet carried me toward the bar, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I got closer, she turned, her eyes locking with mine.

A smile spread across her lips, one that sent a shiver down my spine. It was a smile I remembered all too well, one that held equal parts charm and danger.

“Well,” she said, her voice smooth and familiar. “If it isn’t Hunter. Long time no see.”