Chapter 129
Erin's POV
The afternoon sun warmed my face as I took a deep breath, savoring the long-absent feeling of freedom. Alexander helped me out of his black SUV, and I leaned on his solid arm, my legs still weak. A week in the hospital had left my muscles feeble, but my wolf was eager to move again.
"Take it slow," Alexander said softly, his hand steadying my waist.
"I've been lying down long enough," I insisted stubbornly, straightening my back. "I want to walk in by myself."
When we reached the apartment door, I fumbled with the keys, my fingers refusing to cooperate. Alexander took them from me and gently pushed the door open.
"SURPRISE!"
The collective cheer made me step back in surprise, and Alexander's arm immediately wrapped around my waist to steady me. The apartment was packed with people—Isabella, Carter, Chris, and even Lila and Marco. Colorful balloons floated near the ceiling, and a handwritten banner hung on the wall: "Welcome Home, Erin!"
"Oh my god," I whispered, tears immediately welling up. "You guys..."
Isabella rushed forward to embrace me. "No crying! This is supposed to be a happy moment!"
"I am happy," I laughed through my tears. "It's just... I've never had anything like this before. A welcome home party."
"Well, get used to it," Chris raised an eyebrow. "You're stuck with us now."
As I entered further into the apartment, I froze, looking around in confusion. "Wait... this isn't... my apartment looks different."
The space was noticeably larger, with doorways where solid walls had once stood. My formerly cramped living room had nearly doubled in size, extending into what appeared to be additional rooms.
"Surprise number two," Alexander said with a smile. "I might have done some minor renovations while you were recovering."
"Minor?" I gaped at him. "Alexander, you knocked down WALLS!"
"Actually, he broke through to the adjacent apartment and combined them," Carter explained, looking proud. "We all helped with the renovation."
"My back is STILL aching from moving all that furniture," Chris complained dramatically.
I turned to Alexander, warmth flooding my chest. "You didn't have to do this..."
His fingers gently brushed my cheek, his eyes tender. "You needed a proper place to recover. I wanted to give you a home."
Home. The word echoed in my heart, shaking me to my core as tears threatened to spill again.
"Enough with the sentimentality," Isabella tugged at my hand. "The others will get dinner ready while I show you around."
As we toured, Isabella questioned me. "Is your wound really healed? You still look weak."
"The doctors said no permanent damage," I answered, "just need time."
Her eyes drifted toward Alexander, who was talking with Carter, and her voice suddenly dropped. "He should have discovered Marcus's plot earlier. As your mate, he didn't protect you well enough."
I shook my head. "That's not fair. Nobody could have predicted Marcus's madness. And Alexander has been so attentive..."
Isabella smiled teasingly, "You really love him, don't you?"
The question caught me off guard, heat rushing to my cheeks. "I... I just think blaming him is unfair."
"It's good, Erin." She squeezed my hand. "He needs someone like you."
Alexander approached us then, rescuing me from my embarrassment. "Ready to see the rest of your new home?"
The remainder of the tour left me speechless. My formerly tiny one-bedroom had transformed into a spacious home with multiple rooms flowing seamlessly into one another.
"This is the guest room," he explained, showing me a beautifully decorated room with a comfortable large bed. "And here's the training room."
I walked into a small but fully equipped exercise space with weights, mats, and even a punching bag.
"For when you're fully recovered," he explained. "To help rebuild your strength."
The last room he showed me was a beautiful home office with built-in bookshelves, a large desk, and a comfortable reading chair by the window. I immediately noticed that half the shelves were already filled with books—Alexander's books, I realized, recognizing several I'd seen at his apartment.
"Those are your collection?" I pointed to the hardcovers on the shelf.
"I thought they'd fit better here," he said, fingers absently brushing along the spines.
Isabella appeared in the doorway, wearing a knowing smile. "Looks like someone's planning to move in," she said slyly.
Alexander gave her a warning look, but I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. His books, his scent, his presence... all becoming part of my daily life.
"Dinner's ready!" Lila's call interrupted my thoughts.
The dining table was laden with Mexican cuisine—spicy grilled meats, fresh guacamole, colorful salads, and steaming tortillas. The air filled with the aroma of chilies and spices, making my wolf whimper with hunger.
"All Lila's cooking," Marco said proudly, looking thinner but healthier than before. He grabbed a tortilla chip and took a big bite. "She's the best cook in our family!"
Lila blushed, lightly swatting his arm. "Stop it!"
Dinner proceeded with lively conversation and laughter filling the space. As everyone raised their glasses to toast my recovery, Chris dramatically cleared his throat.
"Actually, we have more than one reason to celebrate tonight," he announced. "Not just Erin coming home."
I looked at him curiously.
Isabella smiled, raising her glass higher. "Black Stone has a new leader," she said meaningfully, looking at Alexander. "To Alpha Alexander!"
As everyone cheered, my heart swelled with pride.
As dinner continued, I turned my attention to Lila and Marco. "Have you two thought about what you want to do next?" I asked.
Lila nodded eagerly. "I want to be your assistant, if you'll have me. I can cook and clean and—"
"You're sixteen," I interrupted gently. "You should be in school, not working as my housekeeper."
"But I want to repay you for saving us," she insisted.
"The best way to repay me is to get an education," I said firmly. "Both of you."
Marco looked down at his plate. "I'd like to study music," he admitted softly. "Before everything happened... I was in a music program in Mexico."
Alexander leaned forward. "I can arrange for both of you to attend school here," he offered. "Full scholarships, proper documentation, whatever you need."
After some discussion, the siblings agreed. Seeing the hope in their eyes made all the pain of the past weeks worthwhile.
After dinner, Marco brought out a guitar and played a haunting melody while Lila kept the beat, humming softly. The warm music filled the room, and I found myself leaning into Alexander, his arm naturally wrapping around my shoulders. Isabella and Carter were similarly nestled together.
"SO unfair," Chris complained dramatically, pointing at the two couples. "I'm the only single wolf here. Even the teenager has someone!"
"Maybe you should spend less time digging up news stories," I teased, making everyone laugh.
Just as the joyful atmosphere peaked, Alexander's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression instantly hardening. "Excuse me," he murmured, stepping away to answer.
I watched his body language carefully—the tightened jaw, clenched fist, and the flash of shock in his eyes. Something's wrong.
The party wound down shortly after, with everyone hugging goodbye and promising to visit soon. When the last guest closed the door behind them, I turned to Alexander.
"What happened?" I asked directly. "That call completely changed your mood."
He sighed deeply. "Lisa tried to kill herself."
"What?" I felt dizzy. "How could she... why would she..."
"She's been unstable," Alexander explained, gently guiding me to the couch. "Don't worry, medical staff are watching her closely."
I sat in shocked silence, trying to process this information.
"I'm sorry," Alexander said, his fingers gently stroking my hair. "I didn't want to ruin your welcome home party."
I leaned into his touch, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Will she be okay?"
"Eventually," he said. "But whatever happens, she can't hurt you anymore. I promise."