5. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Alex
W hen dinner arrives, I order the bottle of cabernet the matre d’ recommended. I sip, savoring the rich, fruity notes as Elena talks passionately about her work as a park ranger. Her eyes sparkle like glacial pools, alight with fervor for her cause. I’m captivated by her unwavering dedication to preserving the natural world.
“You should see the invasive species we’ve been battling in Glacier National Park,” she says, leaning forward. “These insidious plants are slowly choking out the native flora, disrupting entire ecosystems. It’s a constant battle, but one I’m determined to win.”
The glint in her eyes almost takes my breath away. I understand the passion. Monitoring these issues is the cornerstone of the company I built. But as I think about it, I’m not surprised Elena’s life’s work also focuses on protecting the environment.
I nod, impressed by her tenacity. “That’s incredible work you’re doing, Elena. It’s so important to protect these delicate habitats.” I pause, considering how to bridge the gap between our respective fields. “Remember the spring and summer we spent destroying the Reed Canary Grasses—“
“We ruined so many pairs of shoes that your father threatened to make you walk to school in your socks if you didn’t stop wearing your new shoes out on dates.”
I laugh. “I forgot about that part. My mom refused to let me wear the last pair unless I was headed to school. Otherwise, I had to wear that mud-logged pair everywhere.”
“She must have shared the idea with the Alpha. I got the same rule.”
We share a smile, but she quickly looks away to focus on her wine glass. “So, what have you been doing since you left Alaska?”
“I moved to Seattle. Been living there ever since.”
“You have a Pack there?”
“No.” I focus on the wine in my glass, afraid if I catch her eyes, I may confess more than I am willing to. “I haven’t been a part of any pack except the Archipelago Pack.” The last words are just above a whisper.
“I feel the same way.”
That catches me by surprise. Part of me wants to ask her more, but I don’t have the right to ask that question. Yet.
A weight lifts from my shoulders throughout this meal. For too long, I’ve been surrounded by individuals more interested in my wealth than my passions. But with Elena, there’s a genuine connection, a shared appreciation for the natural world that transcends superficial concerns. As I look across the table, I don’t intend for this meal to be the end.
I stand and offer my hand to Elena. “May I walk you back to your room?”
She looks up at me, a slight blush tinting her cheeks, and nods. A teasing smile plays on her lips as she takes my hand to rise from her chair. “Pulling out my chair for me? I remember telling you not to bother with that sort of thing when we dated.”
I grin back at her familiar playfulness. “My mother would never forgive me if I wasn’t the perfect gentleman with my dinner date.”
We start walking, our footsteps echoing in the now nearly empty dining room. “Speaking of your parents...” Elena glances up at me. “How are they doing these days?”
The question hangs heavy in the air. I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “They both passed away. Not long after you left the pack.”
Elena’s eyes widen and she stops walking, her hand tightening on mine. “Alex, I...I’m so sorry. What happened?”
I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “It was a terrible accident. A tree fell on the house during a storm.” My voice catches as the memories come flooding back. “I wasn’t home. By the time I made it home, it was too late.”
“Oh, Alex. I am so sorry. They were—“ she takes a deep breath looking for the right word, “special.”
I can only nod. I haven’t traveled back since I buried them. I never doubted that decision until this moment. But what good does looking back do?
Elena’s hand lingers on the door handle as she approaches her door. The nervous energy courses through me as I remember our first date. I ponder the choice before me: should I lean in and claim her lips, or hold back? Yet as my eyes settle on her inviting mouth, I recall that caution has never been the foundation of my achievements.
I push her against the door. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she doesn’t resist. I close the distance between us. Our lips meet, and time seems to stand still. The memories of our past come flooding back, transporting me to a time when we were young and carefree. It’s like we’re teenagers again, stealing moments in the Alaskan wilderness. Our kiss is filled with passion and longing, and for a moment, my troubles fade away. I hold her close. She’s the one I’ve been searching for all these years. A renewed sense of hope for our future together rises within me as our lips part.
I pull Elena closer, my hands gripping her waist as our lips meet. She’s a blend of wild berries and the clean scent of the Alaskan wilderness. It’s intoxicating, and I lose myself in the passion of the kiss. I long for her as the heartache from the years of unfulfilled desire ebbs between us. It’s a hunger that I share, a need that goes beyond mere physical attraction. It’s the call of a soulmate, the pull of two halves meant to be joined. And as our tongues dance together, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. With Elena, in this moment, as we explore the depths of our connection. The world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us and the raw, primal power of our love. It’s a feeling I haven’t experienced since we were together before, but now that I recognize the feeling, I can’t let it go again. As our lips part, the magic that’s awakened with our kiss. It’s a powerful force, one that promises to change everything.
But as quickly as it started, the kiss ends. Elena pulls away, her breathing ragged. She looks up at me, her icy blue eyes filled with longing. Her desire is visible, but there’s also fear and uncertainty.
“Alex,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “What are we doing?”
I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. I know what I want, but we can’t just pick up where we left off. There’s too much history, too much pain.
“I don’t know, Elena,” I admit. “But I’ve missed you. I’ve missed this.”
Elena nods, her eyes welling up with tears. “I’ve missed you too, Alex. But we can’t just pretend like the past didn’t happen.”
I nod, understanding her hesitation. “I know. But we’re here for a reason. I think that this,” I caress her cheek, “may be the reason?”
Elena looks at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nods. “Maybe.”
I smile as relief washes over me. I lean in to kiss her again, but she puts a hand on my chest, stopping me.
“Not yet,” she says, her voice firm. “We need to take things slow. Our breakup. It almost shattered me. I can’t do that again.”
I nod. “Okay. Slow it is.” My hand is close to her face so I can feel the softness of her cheek with my fingertips.
Elena catches my eye and nods. I let my hand drop and she turns to open the door to her room. She turns to me one last time before disappearing inside. “Goodnight, Alex.”
“Goodnight, Elena,” I reply, watching as she closes the door behind her. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. We have a long road ahead, but I have hope for the first time in years. Maybe, just maybe, we can find our way back to each other.