Zara

He had a very similar expression to Alpha, which often ranged from mild displeasure to outright fury. The only differences were that Alpha’s eyes were completely different from his parents’, and his father’s hair was slightly longer.

"I’ve been waiting so long to meet you. All I ask is that you call me Claire and feel at home here." She beamed, hugging me, though I couldn’t speak. She was a few inches taller than me, and for a moment, my chest tightened as I thought back to my own morning.

Our relationship had been turbulent, to say the least, but there had been a moment when I needed her attention and advice. She gave Alpha a smug smirk and let me go. "I told him that once he left this pack, he’d finally find his soulmate. I knew from the start that it would take someone special to get his attention. He was just too stubborn to listen to me."

"Special is an understatement." I nodded, smiling sheepishly, which showed how out of my element I was. I could still fight, but meeting my soulmate’s parents would surely make anyone nervous. I hesitated for a moment before composing myself. "Are you sure you’re okay with my family staying here?"

"Of course, we’re okay with it. You’re all part of the family now. It’s been too long since we’ve had a house this big." Claire shook her head, smiling softly at Alpha’s father, Killian. "I’m starting to think Killian likes the peace."

"Of course I’m okay with them staying," Killian grumbled, his expression a mixture of pain and adoration.

I couldn’t even suppress a smile when Alpha raised a dark eyebrow at me.

Dad and Ryan arrived just fifteen minutes later, pulling the van up the long driveway.

He turned onto the porch, stopping at the garden, which was right next to the porch. Rows of colorful flowers stood in the garden, fenced off with fine wire mesh to keep out small animals. The flowers themselves had wilted, leaving only shadows.

I watched as Dad, noticing them, chuckled softly and hobbled over to the trunk to grab a few small bags. Alpha and Ryan took the rest and carried them into the house.

"I have nothing but trouble with these plants," Claire sighed, smiling wearily at my dad. "I’ve tried almost everything, but they always die."

"Don’t worry, I’ll get these plants back in order in no time," Dad waved at Claire.

Claire’s smile widened.

"Actually, there’s another garden in the back. Things are much worse there than here. Killian’s sister planted some. I’ve kept them for me, but they seem to hate me." Claire chuckled, ushering Dad into the house and out to the backyard.

"Your brother left a few hours ago, apparently to meet you two." Killian chuckled, reminding me too much of Alpha with his calm and composed demeanor. "You can easily go to dinner without seeing him."

"Is Brandon really that bad?" I snorted, looking from father to son.

Two identical faces, full of suppressed cruelty. Hidden behind smooth skin, dark eyelashes, and thick, silky hair. Attractive in their wild, wild way. Alpha chuckled slightly at my question, and Killian rolled his eyes.

"My other son can be very tiresome." That was all he said before turning back to Claire.

We stayed for another hour, and I enjoyed the chaos. Dad couldn’t stop telling Claire about his garden, beckoning me over every few minutes to join in.

My father had liked Killian from the start; he even had friends who had grown up in his pack. Dad would tell his war stories, and Killian would add a few of his own. We almost had to tear them away from him to reserve the spot Alpha had made for us all.

"I think I’ll stay here after all, dear," he smiled softly, but I could see the zeal for the new project in his eyes. This garden had to grow, no matter how much he hated Claire. "I’ll start working on it early. Mark my words, it will bloom before we leave."

Ryan and I giggled, and Dad mumbled something under his breath, following us out of the house.

Alpha had arranged to take us to a restaurant in town, undoubtedly popular, considering it was a Friday afternoon. I was proven right when we had to circle the block three times before finding a narrow parking spot by the road.

Upbeat music played across the street, wafting the delicious aromas of fried food. There was a terrace overlooking a small lake, and people were already crowding around it.

I was relieved to see I wasn’t the only one overdressed. Many of the wolves were wearing dresses and shorts, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun.

As we got out of the car and crossed the street to the restaurant, I couldn’t help but feel everyone’s eyes on me.

Everywhere I looked, people began to notice Alpha Kane and me.

Warmth spread through my chest and stomach as his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close under the gaze of half the empire.

"I feel incredibly narcissistic even saying this, but everyone’s looking at us," I muttered quietly enough for only him to hear.

"I’m not the most outgoing Alpha, in case you hadn’t noticed," he replied, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Are you kidding?" I snorted, narrowing my eyes and looking up at him.

"Not at all," his eyebrow rose, a smirk spreading across his face as he opened the door for my family.

The young owner, with neatly coiffed golden hair and a dark collared T-shirt, showed us to our table, blushing furiously every time Alpha glanced his way. His cinnamon freckles had completely disappeared as he haltingly greeted us both warmly.

"Looks like it’s not just she-wolves who drool over their Alpha," Ryan chuckled as we sat on the terrace, right next to the fence separating the restaurant from the sidewalk and street.

Not only did it offer us a beautiful view of the setting sun and the sparkling lake, but it also gave everyone on the street a chance to admire Alpha and me.