Chapter 207 Kaden's POV

Chapter 207 Kaden's POV


We rode the carousel, the Ferris wheel played games at the carnival stalls.

I won her a stuffed wolf at the ring toss. She won me a teddy bear at the basketball game.

"Want to try the roller coaster?" I asked, pointing at the massive ride looming over the park.

"You don't like roller coasters?"

"I'm an Alpha. I'm not afraid of anything."

"That is not what I asked."

"Fine, they make me nauseous. But if you want to ride it, we will ride it."

She grinned mischievously. "Let us go."

The ride was terrifying, fast, spinning, dropping everything I hated. By the time we got off, I was green.

"Kaden? Are you okay?"

"Fine. Just need a minute."

I made it to the nearest trash can and threw up, absolutely mortifying.

Elara rubbed my back, trying not to laugh. "My big, strong Alpha was defeated by a roller coaster."

"Not. Funny."

"A little funny."

When I could stand upright again, we walked through the park holding hands.

"Thank you for tonight," She said.

"For doing all this. I know it's not your thing, the fancy restaurant, the movie, the amusement park. But it means everything that you tried."

"Anything for you, even roller coasters that try to kill me."

We stopped under a streetlight. She looked up at me, smiling.

I couldn't help myself. I kissed her right there. In public not caring who might see.  She kissed me back, her arms going around my neck.

When we finally pulled apart, she was blushing. "Very public, Alpha Kaden."

"Let them see, let everyone know how much I love my mate."

We walked back to the car hand in hand. Made one more stop at a bar I knew that served excellent tequila.

"One drink," Elara said. "To cap off the perfect night."

"You don't drink much."

"Tonight I do, tonight I'm celebrating."

We sat at the bar ordered drinks and we talked more.

"I bet I can drink more than you," Elara said suddenly.

"That is a terrible idea, you will be sick."

"Is the big Alpha afraid of a little competition?"

"I'm afraid of you having a hangover tomorrow and blaming me."

"I will take full responsibility, come on, one bet. If I win, you have to... cook breakfast in bed for a week."

"And if I win?"

"Then I will cook breakfast in bed for a week."

"Deal."

We started doing shots. Tequila. One after another.

Elara kept up surprisingly well for the first few rounds. But by shot number five, she was giggling uncontrollably.

"I think maybe we should stop," I said.

"No way! I'm winning!"

"You're not winning. We're tied."

"Then one more. The winner takes all."

We shot number six. I was fine. She was very definitely not fine.

"Okay, you win. I lost, you are the champion." 

She stood up and immediately swayed. "Oh. The room is spinning."

"That is the tequila. Come on, let us get you home."

I paid the tab and helped her to the car. She was singing off-key. Something about the moon and wolves and true love.

"You're so handsome," She slurred. "Have I mentioned that? Because you are very handsome, I'm so lucky."

"You are drunk."

"Drunk on love! And tequila mostly tequila."

The drive home was entertaining. She talked nonstop. About Adrian about how happy she was about how much she loved our family.

By the time we got back to the pack house, she was getting sleepy.

"Can you walk?" I asked.

"Of course I can walk. I'm Luna. Lunas can walk."

She took three steps and nearly fell. I caught her.

"Okay maybe I can't walk, maybe you should carry me."

I picked her up. She wrapped her arms around my neck and nuzzled into my shoulder.

"Best date ever," She mumbled. "You are the best mate ever."

"You are pretty great yourself."

I carried her up to our quarters. Kara was there with a sleeping Adrian.

"How did it go?" She whispered.

"Perfect until the tequila."

"Oh no. She bet you she could drink more, didn't she?"

"How did you know?"

"Because she does that when she's feeling confident and she always loses."

I laid Elara on the bed. She was already half asleep, mumbling incoherently.

"Thank you for watching Adrian," I told Kara.

"Anytime, you two needed this."

After Kara left, I changed Elara into comfortable pajamas. She barely woke up, just murmured contentedly.

Then I changed myself and climbed into bed beside her. She immediately curled against me, her head on my chest.

"Love you." She whispered. "So much."

"Love you too."

I lay there watching her sleep, listening to her breathe. Feeling more content than I had in months.

This. This was what we'd been fighting for. These quiet moments. This peace. This love.

Adrian slept peacefully in his bassinet nearby. My mate slept safely in my arms. My pack was secure and our enemies defeated.

For the first time since Elara had come into my life, everything felt right, balanced and complete.