Chapter 36: Reconciliation and Intimacy.
The night had been long and full of questions. Elvis lay in her tent, staring up at the canvas above her, her heart heavy. The moonlight filtered through the small opening in the fabric, casting soft shadows on the ground. But no matter how much she tried to focus on the beauty of the night, the events of earlier haunted her thoughts.
Why had Alexander seemed so distant? Why hadn't he looked at her the way he always had? Her hands trembled as she recalled the way the other woman had approached them—too comfortable, too familiar. Was she threatening their bond? Or had she simply misinterpreted something in the heat of the moment?
All she wanted was answers. But the only person who could give them to her was Alexander, and she didn't know if she was ready to face him again. The distance between them had grown in the hours since their conversation, and she wasn't sure how to close the gap. The doubts that had once been so small now loomed large, overshadowing the trust she had in him.
But as the hours dragged on, she knew she couldn't go on like this. She needed to talk to him—she needed to understand. And she wouldn't let a misunderstanding, however painful, destroy what they had.
With a deep breath, Elvis pushed herself off the cot and slipped into the night. The camp was quieter now, the sounds of the warriors and pack members retreating into their own tents, the fire now just a few embers. She made her way through the camp, her feet barely making a sound as she moved, her mind set on finding Alexander.
She found him standing near the edge of the clearing, his broad back facing her. The wind tugged at his dark hair, the long strands swaying in the breeze, and for a moment, Elvis stood still, taking in the sight of him. The man she had fallen in love with—the man she had pledged to spend her life with.
But now, there was a distance between them, and it felt like an insurmountable chasm.
"Alexander," she called softly, her voice barely audible above the sound of the wind.
He turned slowly, his dark eyes locking with hers, and for the first time, she saw something in his gaze that made her heart ache—regret. The hardness that had once surrounded him was gone, replaced with something softer, more vulnerable.
"Elvis," he whispered her name as though it was a prayer, a plea. "I've been waiting for you."
She stepped forward, the tension in her chest loosening slightly, but the uncertainty in her heart remained. "What happened, Alexander? Why were you… why did you act that way earlier?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering the strength to speak. "I never meant for you to feel this way, Elvis. What you saw... it wasn't what you think."
Her heart hammered in her chest. "Then what was it? Because I don't understand. Why didn't you tell me she was just a friend?"
He took a deep breath, his voice steady but filled with a depth of emotion she couldn't ignore. "She's someone I've known for years. She's a member of the pack, and we've fought side by side. But what I feel for you—what I want with you—has nothing to do with her. Nothing at all."
Elvis swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "I don't understand, Alexander. Why didn't you tell me? Why did she look at me like that?"
He stepped closer, his hands reaching out to gently cup her face. "Because I was wrong, Elvis. I thought that by keeping my distance from you, by not letting anyone see how much I cared about you, I was protecting you. But in doing so, I hurt you instead."
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him. "You hurt me more by pushing me away than by letting me in."
He shook his head, his thumb brushing away a tear that had fallen down her cheek. "I'm so sorry. I was afraid of losing you. I was afraid of how much I needed you, and in that fear, I let everything slip through my fingers. But I swear, Elvis, you are the one I want. The one I love."
Her breath hitched as she looked into his eyes—those deep, dark eyes that always seemed to hold so much emotion. He had always been the strong, untouchable Alpha, the leader who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. But here, with her, he was vulnerable. He was human.
"I love you too, Alexander," she whispered, her heart swelling with emotion. "I've always loved you."
In that moment, everything shifted. The walls they had both built around their hearts began to crumble, piece by piece, and the fear that had been clouding their connection faded away. Elvis reached out, pulling him closer until their lips met in a kiss that was soft and tender, full of longing and love. There were no more doubts, no more fears—just the raw, undeniable truth of what they felt for each other.
The kiss deepened, and Elvis's arms wrapped around his neck as Alexander lifted her, pressing her against the cool bark of a nearby tree. His hands roamed over her back, pulling her closer, as if he could never get enough of her. She responded in kind, her hands tugging at his shirt, desperate to feel more of him.
"Stay with me tonight," Alexander murmured against her lips, his voice low and husky with desire. "Let me show you just how much I love you."
Elvis's heart skipped a beat, and without hesitation, she nodded. She had never wanted anything more. Tonight, there would be no more doubts, no more misunderstandings. Just the two of them, finally allowing themselves to be vulnerable with each other.
They made their way to her tent, where the firelight flickered softly in the distance, casting warm shadows over the space. As they entered, Alexander closed the flap behind them, sealing the world outside. Elvis felt a sense of safety wash over her. In his arms, everything felt right, as though this was where she was meant to be.
He pulled her into a kiss again, this time more urgent, more desperate. Elvis responded eagerly, her fingers tangling in his hair as they moved together, shedding their clothes until there was nothing left between them but skin and desire.
She gasped as he kissed his way down her neck, his hands tracing the curve of her body with gentle reverence. She shivered under his touch, her pulse quickening as every inch of her skin seemed to come alive beneath his hands.
"I've wanted this for so long," he murmured, his lips trailing down to her collarbone. "I've wanted you, Elvis, more than anything in this world."
She breathed his name, her body arching against his, urging him closer. She had never felt so alive, so wanted, as she did in this moment. The bond between them was undeniable, the connection something that went deeper than just love—it was something primal, something fated.
When they finally came together, it was with a passion that neither of them had been prepared for. There were no barriers, no hesitations—just the pure, raw desire to be one. They moved together, finding a rhythm that was uniquely theirs, lost in each other, in the love they had been afraid to embrace.
As the night wore on, their love only deepened. When they finally lay together, tangled in each other's arms, Elvis rested her head on Alexander's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"I'm sorry," Alexander whispered again, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the night. "For everything."
Elvis smiled softly, her hand tracing the outline of his chest. "We're beyond apologies now, Alexander. We're past the misunderstandings. We've built something stronger than that."
And for the first time in days, Elvis felt at peace. No more doubts, no more fears. Just love, and the promise of a future together.