KEILAH
I tugged at Ralph’s hand, trying to pull him toward the ice cream shop. The brightly colored sign above the door read “Scoops & Smiles,” and the kids were laughing inside, faces smeared with chocolate and sprinkles. The sweet aroma of freshly made waffle cones and creamy scoops of different flavours filled the air, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of indulging in a little treat. But Ralph, as always, resisted.
“Come on, Ralph,” I urged, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “It’s just ice cream. It’ll be fun!”
He glanced at the brightly colored sign above the shop, then back at me, his expression impassive. “Mate, this kind of ice cream eating is for kids and teenagers,” he replied, his tone calm but firm. “Not for someone like me.”
I stopped pulling and let go of his hand, the sudden release leaving my fingers tingling. My heart sank as I took in his stoic face, the same face that had ruined every date we’d tried to have in the past few months. It was always the same-me trying to find something we could enjoy together, and him shutting it down because it didn’t fit his idea of what an Alpha should do.
“You know what?” I said, my voice laced with frustration. “I give up. No more dates.”
Ralph cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly as he glanced around the busy mall. “Are you mad again?” he asked, his voice softer now, as if he genuinely couldn’t understand why I was upset.
I looked up at him, meeting his concerned gaze. “No, Ralph, I’m not mad,” I replied, my tone weary. “I’m just…” tired. I’m tired of trying to make something work that clearly isn’t going to.”
He frowned, his brows knitting together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, this,” I gestured around us, “us trying to do normal things like a normal couple. It’s not working. Every time we go on a date, it ends up like this-me getting frustrated and you being… well, you.”
I sighed, trying to keep my cool. “I know you’re not used to this, and I understand that, but I want us to have a life beyond the pack and all its responsibilities. I want to go on silly dates and eat ice cream without worrying about what anyone thinks or if it’s beneath you.”
Ralph nodded slowly, his eyes softening as he considered my words. “I’m sorry mate, I just… I don’t know how to be that guy,” he confessed.
I looked at him, my frustration easing a bit at his honesty. “You don’t have to be anyone but yourself, Ralph. I just need you to try. We both need a break from all the chaos, a chance to be together and have some fun.”
He was silent for a moment, and then, unexpectedly, he smiled-a small, hesitant smile that I hadn’t seen in a long time. “Alright,” he said, stepping closer to me. “Let’s try again. But, uh, can we maybe skip the ice cream this time?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension easing from my shoulders. “Fine, no ice cream,” I agreed, shaking my head in amusement. “But you owe me a date. A proper one. No complaints.”
He grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Deal. And I’ll even let you choose.”
I smiled back at him, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Maybe this date hadn’t gone as planned again, but at least we were trying, and that was a start. “Alright, Mr. Alpha,” I said playfully. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
He looked at me with curiosity, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “So, what do you want to do now?” he asked. “How about going shopping or grabbing something to eat?”
I shook my head, letting out a soft laugh. “No, it’s fine. Let’s just head back to the pack house.”
“Alright, if that’s what you want.” He said, taking my hand in his.
“But first,” I added, stopping in my tracks. “We need to stop by my Auntie’s house. I promised I’d bring Cora a cheesecake.”
When we arrived at my aunt’s house, I hopped out of the car with the cheesecake in hand and hurried up the steps to the front door. Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door swung open, and there stood Cora, her baby bump prominent beneath her loose-fitting dress. Her eyes lit up as if she’d been waiting for me.
“What took you so long!” she exclaimed, snatching the cheesecake from my hands with surprising speed for someone so heavily pregnant. She turned and barreled back into the house, her excitement clear.
“Cora, slow down!” I laughed, watching her waddle away as fast as she could.
“Can’t! Baby’s hungry, and so am I!” she called over her shoulder, already digging into the cheesecake with a plastic fork.
I shook my head in amusement and stepped inside, looking around. “Where’s Auntie?” I asked.
Just then, a nurse I had appointed for her came out from the kitchen holding a glass of water, a warm smile on her face. “Your aunt went out for a walk with her friends a little while ago.”
“Oh, alright,” I nodded. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll catch up with her later, then.”
I turned to leave, but not before calling out to Cora, “Don’t eat too much of that cheesecake at once! You’ll choke the baby!”
Cora’s voice came back, muffled with a mouthful of cheesecake, “Don’t worry about me! And go back. I hate it when you make my brother-in-law-to-be wait too long.”
I chuckled, shaking my head as I made my way back to the car. Ralph was waiting patiently, the engine idling as he watched me approach.
“She’s got quite the appetite,” I said with a smile as I slid back into the passenger seat.
Ralph grinned, a rare and genuine smile that made my heart flutter. “Sounds like someone else I know,” he teased gently.
I playfully swatted his arm, laughing. “Alright, Mr. Funny. Let’s get back to the pack house.”
As we drove back to the pack house, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the landscape. The quiet between us was comfortable, a gentle reminder of how far we had come in our relationship.
Ralph broke the silence with a playful tone in his voice. “Since the date didn’t go as planned again, how about we do something more fun? Just the two of us, in our… you know, our beloved bedroom.” He glanced over at me, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Besides, the weather’s getting chilly.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, turning to him with a wide smile. “Wait, why do we always have to end up in our beloved bedroom whenever our date night fails?” I teased, raising an eyebrow. “Hold on a second, Mr. Alpha. Why do I feel like you do it on purpose so you can get under my pants? Because you know I’m too weak to resist you.”
Ralph chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that made my heart flutter. “I don’t do it on purpose,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “But I can’t help it-I just can’t get enough of you. Every time I’m near you, I want to be even closer, like I’m getting to know you all over again for the first time.”
I felt my cheeks flush at his words, and I playfully rolled my eyes, but inside, my heart swelled with affection. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, though the smile on my face gave away how much I enjoyed his attention.
As we continued our drive, I leaned back in my seat, letting out a contented sigh. I turned my gaze to the window, watching the scenery pass by, my thoughts drifting. It was amazing how life had turned out, how everything had changed from how it started.
There was a time when Ralph and I couldn’t stand each other, our relationship fueled by misunderstandings, anger, and hurt. The bond between us had felt more like a curse than a blessing. But now… now it was different. The hatred had turned into something so much more-a deep, abiding love that had surprised us both.
I smiled to myself, feeling the warmth of that love settle in my chest. Ralph and I had faced so many challenges together, both within the pack and in our personal lives. We had our ups and downs, our disagreements and frustrations, but through it all, we had found a way to make it work.
It wasn’t always perfect, but it was ours. And that was enough.
I instinctively reached up and touched my neck, where Damien’s mark used to be. The skin was smooth now, the mark long gone after the incident with the herbs that had nearly taken my life-if it wasn’t for him. Despite his cold demeanour, Damien had always watched over me. My thoughts drifted to him for a brief moment, wondering where he had gone, if he was alright, if he was happy. It was a fleeting thought, but one that lingered, hovering at the edge of my mind.
Ralph reached over and took my hand in his, his thumb gently stroking the back of it, pulling me back from my thoughts. I turned to look at him, my heart swelling with love for the man who had become my everything.
“You know,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion, “I never imagined we’d be here, like this. From where we started… It’s like night and day.”
He squeezed my hand, his eyes softening as they met mine. “Neither did I,” he admitted. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. Every step, every struggle… It brought us here. And for that, I’m grateful.”
A smile spread across my face as I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “Me too,” I whispered, feeling a deep warmth and contentment settle in my chest.
The car rolled on, taking us home, back to our pack house and the life we’d built together-a life filled with challenges, but also with love, laughter, and a future I could never have imagined. I leaned against Ralph, letting my eyes close for just a moment, knowing that whatever came next, we would face it together.
THE END