Chapter 179

Chapter 179
[Amelia's POV]

The smell of garlic and herbs filled my mom's small kitchen as I watched Alex take his first bite of her homemade lasagna. I held my breath, waiting for his reaction. Mom had been cooking for the past hour, and I could tell she was nervous despite her casual demeanor.

Alex's eyes closed briefly as he chewed, and when he opened them, there was something genuine and warm in his amber gaze that made my chest flutter.

"Charlotte," he said, setting down his fork with deliberate care, "this taste reminds me of what home should feel like. It's not just delicious – though it absolutely is – but there's something more here. It's like I can taste the love and care you put into it."

My mom's face lit up like a Christmas tree, and I felt my own cheeks warm at the sincerity in Alex's voice.

"Oh, you flatterer," Mom laughed, but she was practically glowing under his praise. "It's just a simple recipe my own mother taught me."

"Simple maybe, but the execution is flawless," Alex continued, taking another appreciative bite. "I can see where Millie gets her talent from."

I nearly choked on my water at hearing him use my nickname so casually in front of my mom.

"You know," Alex said, turning to my mom with what I was beginning to recognize as his 'vulnerable Alpha' expression, "ma'am, your daughter has been quite harsh with me lately."

I stared at him in disbelief. Ma'am? Since when does he call my mother ma'am?

Alex continued, his voice carrying just the right note of wounded innocence. "She told me that if I really was the father of that child we discussed earlier, she would definitely break up with me. No questions asked."

My mouth fell open. He was actually tattling on me to my mother!

Mom immediately turned to me with a gentle but reproving look. "Millie, don't be so hard on Alex. He's trying to make things right."

"But Mom—" I started to protest, but Alex was already nodding earnestly.

"I understand her position, of course," he said, the picture of reasonableness. "But it did hurt to hear how quickly she'd walk away from what we have."

I watched in fascination and mild horror as my mother – my sensible, no-nonsense mother who usually saw through everyone's bullshit – melted under Alex's charm offensive. The Silver Moon Pack Alpha had managed to turn her into his ally in the span of one dinner.

"Relationships require trust and communication," Mom said, patting Alex's hand in a motherly way that made my heart squeeze. "You two just need to talk more openly with each other."

"You're absolutely right," Alex agreed, shooting me a look that was equal parts triumphant and affectionate. "Thank you for the wisdom, ma'am."

There it was again. Ma'am. I shook my head, amazed at how quickly he'd adapted his approach for my mother.

After dinner, Mom insisted on packing leftovers for us to take, bustling around the kitchen with renewed energy. I helped clear the table while Alex charmed her with questions about her cooking techniques.

"Thank you for everything, Charlotte," Alex said as we prepared to leave, and for once, his gratitude sounded completely genuine. "This means more to me than you know."

Mom pulled me aside for a quick hug, her voice low in my ear. "Take care of him, honey. And let him take care of you too."

I hugged her back, feeling that familiar pang of love and protectiveness. "I will, Mom."

The drive through the city toward Alex's place was quieter than usual. I found myself sneaking glances at him as he navigated the evening traffic, still processing how thoroughly he'd won over my mother.

"You're thinking awfully hard over there," Alex said, catching me staring.

"I'm just... processing how you managed to make my mom your biggest fan in the span of two hours."

Alex's mouth quirked up in a half-smile. "She loves you. It wasn't hard to appeal to someone who wants the best for her daughter."

Something in his tone made me study his profile more carefully. "Is that all it was? Strategy?"

"No," he said quietly. "Your mom reminds me of what family should feel like. Warm. Safe. Accepting." He paused. "I haven't had much of that."

The vulnerability in his admission made my chest tighten. Before I could respond, though, practical concerns crept back into my mind.

"Alex, I'm worried about tomorrow. About getting back to filming Thin Ice Beneath. What if I'm not in the right headspace? What if all this drama affects my performance?"

Alex reached over and squeezed my hand. "Hey. Tonight is our time, Millie. Work problems can wait until tomorrow."

"I know, but I can't just turn off my brain. This is important to me. The movie, my career – I don't want to mess it up because I'm emotional."

"You won't," Alex said firmly. "You're stronger than you think. And besides, I'll be right there with you."

I wanted to argue, to explain how I needed to separate Pack business from my personal life, but Alex's confidence in me was oddly reassuring.

We pulled into what looked like the most exclusive residential area I'd ever seen. Gleaming high-rises stretched toward the sky, their windows glowing like jewels against the darkening evening. Alex guided the car into an underground garage that required both a key card and a code to access.

"This is where you live?" I asked, staring up at the soaring concrete ceiling lined with luxury cars.

"One of the places," Alex said, parking in a spot marked 'Reserved – Penthouse.' "I thought you might like the view from this one."

We walked to a private elevator that required yet another key card. As we stepped inside, I noticed there was only one button for the floors – PH.

"The entire top floor?" I asked.

Alex's eyes glinted with amusement. "My bedroom has a particularly nice view."

The elevator rose smoothly and silently, and I felt my ears pop slightly from the altitude. When the doors opened, they revealed not a hallway, but an entrance foyer that was bigger than my mom's entire living room.

"Holy shit," I breathed, then immediately covered my mouth. "Sorry. I mean—"

"No, that's about the right reaction," Alex said, looking pleased.

He led me through the foyer into the main living area, and I had to stop and stare. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around what seemed like the entire space, offering a panoramic view of the city that took my breath away. The lights below stretched out like a glittering carpet, and in the distance, I could see the faint outline of mountains against the darkening sky.

"Wow," I whispered, walking toward the windows. "The view from up here is amazing!"

Alex came to stand beside me, his presence warm at my back. "I thought you'd like it."

I pressed my hand against the cool glass, watching the tiny cars move through the streets far below. The silence between us was comfortable now, filled with the weight of everything we'd worked through today and the promise of whatever came next.

"Thank you," I said softly.