Kiss Of The Alpha : A YA Paranormal Romance

Chapter 104: Chapter 104

Heather

She pulled back, eyes wide. "You didn’t. You didn’t do that, did you?"

"Chill, chica. No, I didn’t. But I was seriously considering doing it, until Luciana gave away what would break the curse." I shook my head. "You’re looking much better." And she was. Her skin was nearly back to its normal color. Her eyes were still a little sunken and she was too thin, but that would change.

"I’m feeling much better. I’ve been eating nonstop since you took off."

"How long were we gone?"

"Three hours."

"Holy shit. No wonder I’m starving. I’m pretty sure my stomach has already eaten itself."

Donovan and Brent came back with two trays each. I rubbed my hands together as we sat down. "Let’s do this whole werewolf eating thing."

Serena laughed. "I told you you’d like it."

When I first got to St. Francis’s, keeping up with the werewolf metabolism had been a real pain in my butt. I could never seem to eat enough, which I’d found endlessly irritating. I still wasn’t eating enough, but I was getting better at it. Slowly, but surely.

Xander and Adrian sat at our usual table. So did Leslie. I gave her a nod, and she nodded back. We weren’t best friends, and I wasn’t holding my breath for it either, but maybe one day...stranger things had happened.

Donovan put his trays on the table, and pulled me to my feet for a tight hug. "Thank you. I know you didn’t understand what I was trying to tell you about the curse, but you tried. And you did well."

"Not at first."

"You didn’t give up. And that’s what’s important." He paused. "You’ve found yourself a good mate."

I blushed. "Um, thanks?" I said when he didn’t release me.

Donovan laughed, squeezing me tighter. "I was sayin’ that to Brent."

I laughed. "Right."

"Get your own mate, Dono," Brent said.

"I did." Donovan shot Serena a look that was so strong, it made me blush. I couldn’t stop the stupid grin that spread across my face even if I tried.

I spotted Serena’s family at the next table. Serena’s mom was gushing to her dad about what a powerful mate their daughter had.

I raised an eyebrow at Donovan and he winked back.

Good thing he was taking that in stride.

I waved at Serena’s family.

"Thank you," Max said.

"This time, I’ll accept it."

As I turned back to my ginormous mountain of food, I couldn’t help but think of my first meals at St. Francis’s and how much had changed over past two months. It wasn’t always easy, but it was good. Especially Brent. I peeked at him. How could he be so appealing just sitting there?

Brent leaned over, brushing my hair away from my face. The look in his eyes told me he knew what I was thinking. "Eat, cherie. Then we can be alone again."

The way he said "alone" sent shivers down my spine.

"So, girly," Serena said. "You’ve got the full moon and your birthday in two days. How are we celebrating?"

Everyone at the table stopped eating to look at me. Great. Just when I was done with the staring.

"Um, actually, Brent accidentally spilled the beans about going to see Paul van Dyk next Saturday."

"I don’t know that trance is their kind of music," Brent said.

"Hey. I love dancing," Serena said. "I don’t really care what kind of music it is."

"Well, that’s what we’re doing. And I was hoping to go shopping before."

Serena clapped her hands. "And I love shopping."

I laughed. "So we’ve got a plan?"

"Only totally."

"Good. Can I eat now?"

"I guess. It’s just I’ve been out of it for days, and I feel like I’ve missed so much." She continued to talk. It was good to see her back to her usual self.

"A ghrá, let the lass eat," Donovan said with a laugh.

Serena poked Donovan with her fork. "Shut it, you. I accepted you a few hours ago and you’re already trying to boss me around." She poked him again.

"Enough with the fork, you crazy girl."

I grinned at them. "They’re kind of adorable, right?"

Brent raised an eyebrow. "You want me to agree that Donovan is adorable?"

I pressed a kiss to his cheek.

He placed his hand on my knee and squeezed it gently. I do think they’re pretty cute.

I jerked away from him for a second. "Did you just talk? In my head?" I whispered.

He grinned, showing his dimples. I love you, cherie.

"Say it again."

He pressed his mouth by my ear. "I love you." He kissed my cheek. "Now eat. I can feel your hunger, and it’s making me even more hungry."

I laughed. "Okay." I took a bite of pot roast and moaned.

This got me a double eyebrow raise from Brent. Now, if only I could get you to make that noise when we’re alone.

My face couldn’t have burned brighter.

"Why’s your face so red?" Serena asked.

I pushed my tray away and thumped my head on the table. "No reason." My voice was muffled but I knew she’d hear it.

"You’re doing that thing, aren’t you?" Xander said.

"What thing?" Adrian asked.

"The talk in each other’s head thing."

I sat up to see him shaking his head.

"You’re going to be even more impossible to watch now, aren’t you?" Leslie said.

I shot her a look and she had the grace to say a quick apology.

"I told you you’d be able to do it," Serena said. "Hey, why can’t we do that?"

Donovan muttered something in a language I’d never heard before. Probably Irish. He looked up at the ceiling and laughed.

Serena elbowed him and he laughed harder. When she went to elbow him again, he caught it. "No. You’re misunderstanding me. I’m not laughing at you. I’m happy." He pulled her in for a quick kiss, and Serena’s milky skin turned bright red. "We’ll get there when we get there."

This was good. This was the way friends were supposed to be. The way love was supposed to be. Happy.

I sighed. I hoped it stayed this way.

Brent grasped my free hand. What’s wrong?

"The Tribunal. Do you think it’s going to be okay?"

"I know it will be. I won’t stand for it to be any other way, okay?"

"You can’t promise that."

"No. And it might be hard. But we’ll get through it, like we’ve gotten through the rest of it."

I nodded.

"Eat. Enjoy being with our friends. We’ve got a big couple of days coming up. Filled with fun things. I can’t wait." He ran his finger down my cheek.

"Me too."

"I love you," he said through our bond.

"I love you, too."

Brent’s eyes widened for a second before his dimples showed up. He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

The future was never certain. I knew how quickly life could change, but with Brent by my side, I somehow believed that everything would be okay. I couldn’t predict what was going to happen at the Tribunal, but for the first time, I felt secure in who I was. Not only in who I was, but in who I was with Brent.

Maybe it was just as easy as Rosa said. If you believed it to be true, it would be.

I grasped Brent’s hand in mine, and felt the love through our bond. All in all, it was a pretty great day.