Love

Love
Alex POV

“You okay?” I asked my new wife.
She nodded. “Yeah, it’s just odd. Never mind.”
“Let’s get back to the party.”
She smiled. “I want you to meet two important people.”
“Who?”
I thought I knew everyone in her life. She took my hand and led me through the yard, around pack members, family and friends until we arrived at the sitting area.
“Alex,” she said.
She brought me to three people. I knew Stormy’s grandmother, who clutched the woman’s hands, but that was about it.
“This is Montez and Thora. My parents.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Your parents?”
Stormy smiled. “Yes.”
Dr Montez stood and held out his hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Alpha Alex.”
“Thank you. It’s great to meet the man who gave me my mate and who cured my wolf.”
Montez smiled. “I’m glad it worked. Side effects?”
“Any side effects were erased when the moon goddess… gave me her powers.”
Montez nodded. “We’re both very happy for you. Watching Stormy get married was more than we asked for.”
“Are you two going to stay in the pack? There’s a lot to do, and you’ll be more than comfortable. I’ll make sure of it.”
Montez and Thora shared a look. “Well, we’ve decided to settle in the Richardson Pack. I want to be close to my mother since my brother’s gone and my sister’s in jail. We’ll visit often, Stormy.”
Stormy smiled understandingly.
We left them to enjoy the rest of the party. I held Stormy in my arms as we went back to slow dancing. Tristan tapped on my shoulder.
“I hate to break this up, man,” he said.
“Now?”
He nodded.
“You go, I’ll do more mingling.”
I kissed her cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
The Henry Pack pack house had lots of hidden chambers and tunnels. I asked my friends to meet me in the secret room under the house. It was private, and during a huge celebration like this, we needed privacy.
It was the four of us again, just like it had been when we were at McGregor Academy. We were considered McGregor Royalty.
Gareth sat on the only chair in the room and hoisted his legs on the table.
“Well, isn’t it my High Alphas?” Gareth said, amusement and accusation dangling in his eyes. “My most trusted men.”
Kade crossed his arms. “Got something to say?”
“Plenty, but this is a celebration. I’m sorry I didn’t arrange a gift, Alex!” He laughed.
“Enough, Gareth,” I ordered.
His smile fell. “Just because you sold out to the moon goddess doesn’t mean you can boss me around.”
“That’s exactly why she made me the moon lord. To boss your ass around.”
Gareth grimaced. “We have to address the elephant in the room. You kept me asleep for over five years.”
“For your own safety!” Tristan exclaimed.
Gareth waved him off. “It was torture! My mind never went off!!”
“You’re cursed. Even now that you’re awake, things are going wrong. We looked for alternatives, Gareth. The best thing we could do was to keep you safe. Besides, the spells Salazar and Ivan would have performed on you would have created something worse,” I explained.
Gareth grimaced. “I know.” He looked away.
“Can we put this behind us then? It’s Alex’s wedding,” Kade said.
Gareth frowned. “I’ve got things to do anywhere. I need to build my pack into the most terrifying pack the werewolves have ever seen. Congratulations, buddy.”
He got up and marched out of the room.
Gareth would never be the same. The truth is, I didn’t understand his pain, and I never would.

“Stormy!” I called.
She stopped dancing with Kade’s kids. Her eyes lit up when she was with them.
“Hey,” Ryan called. “She’s here.”
“You sure?”
He nodded. “She came with her parents, so they won’t stay long.”
“A few minutes is all I need.”
Stormy left the kids and walked up to me. “Meeting done?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“What is it?”
“A wedding present,” I winked.
“Alex! What did you get me? I got you something too, clearly.”
“It’s in the front of the house. Let’s go, Hurricane.”
“You’re not going to make me close my eyes, are you?”
I laughed. “No. Keep them open.”
We walked through the pack house and exited through the front door. A young woman with long jet black hair stood behind a blue SUV. She wore a pink hoodie and blue jeans.
Stormy stopped abruptly.
“Jade,” she whispered.
I stopped and allowed her to go through this journey on her own.
Jade turned to Stormy and smiled.
“Look at you. You’re getting married.”
Stormy broke into a fit of sobs. The women embraced tightly. I noticed Jade’s adoptive parents lingering in the background.
“I never thought I’d see you again. I didn’t abandon you, I swear,” Stormy cried.
“Don’t cry, it’s your wedding day,” Jade dried Stormy’s tears. “I thought something happened to you. Walter was such a jerk. He said you ran off and probably died somewhere. When he was arrested, I was taken to Shannon and Patrick. They’re amazing people.”
“This is the best wedding gift ever.”
“I can’t stay long. We have to get back,” Jade said.
Stormy nodded. “I’ll see you soon.”
Jade returned to her parents, and my mate ran into my arms.
“You’re incredible! How did you find her?”
“Did you forget I’m the one who broke up Walter’s shady foster home gig? I kept in touch with the people who disbanded the foster home. Shannon and Patrick are good people.”
Stormy wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me close. “You are amazing, Alex. You don’t know what this means to me.”
I cradled her cheek and brushed my nose against mine. “I love you, Hurricane.”
She smiled with her eyes. “I love you more, Alpha.”
I felt complete. Stormy showed me love. What I felt for her was so powerful I would have traded my own life for hers. I’d spend eternity protecting her and loving her right.

The End of Alex and Stormy’s Story