Alison’s Point of View
The warmth of the morning still lingered in my chest as we cleared the breakfast table, the echoes of laughter and heartfelt words still floating in the air. It felt like a turning point, a moment that tethered all of us closer together. As I stacked plates and handed them off to the staff, I caught Xander watching me from across the room, a soft, almost secretive smile curving his lips.
“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him, though I couldn’t keep the grin off my face.
“Just admiring my woman ,” he replied smoothly, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “You look so at home here. It’s… nice.”
“Nice?” I teased, raising a brow. “You really know how to make a girl feel special, Alpha.”
He chuckled, pushing off the frame and walking toward me. “You know what I mean. You belong here with your family, with your people, It really suits you.”
Before I could respond, my mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen, pulling my attention back to the task at hand. “Alison, don’t forget to take the food we prepared to Simone. You promised her some of her favorite delicacies.”
“Oh, right! Yeah I did promise a lot” I exclaimed, setting down the dishes in my hands and hurrying over to the counter, where a few neatly packed containers were waiting.
Xander followed, his curiosity evident. “Simone?”
“Yes,” I replied, tying the bag handles together. “She’s been such a big help to me throughout this whole ordeal. I wanted to bring her something as a thank-you.”
He frowned slightly. “I haven’t seen Simone since the day you collapsed and she was called. How is she?”
“She’s just there,” I said, glancing up at him. “But she’s been keeping a low profile, given her gift it’s actually understandable. Everything’s been so chaotic lately, and I think she needed some space to herself without me always hounding her with my problems.”
Xander’s frown deepened, and for a moment, I thought he might object. But then he surprised me. “I’ll come with you.”
“You will?”
“Of course,” he said, his tone firm. “I’d like to thank her so much. She’s done a lot for you, and by extension, for me. Besides, I can’t let you go off on your own. Not when I’m still here to protect you.”
“Xander,” I said, rolling my eyes even as warmth spread through my chest. “I think I can handle delivering food without an armed escort.”
He smirked, leaning down to brush a kiss against my temple. “Humor me.”
The walk to Simone’s cabin was pleasant, the crisp morning air carrying the scent of pine and earth. Xander and I strolled side by side, our hands brushing occasionally but not quite holding. There was an easy rhythm to our steps, a quiet intimacy that spoke louder than words.
The pack members smiling and greeting us as we passed by, their glowing faces a subtle reminder of how welcomed I was in their midst. I couldn’t trade this feeling for anything in this world
“I see they really love you, look at that little girl over there waving at you” Xander took my hand in his, entangling his fingers between mine
“I love being seen amongst them as their own, I wish NightFang would accept me equally” I waved back at the little girl
“You already proved yourself to them, they are ready to accept you with loving arms” he squeezed my palm making me feel warm.
The rest of the walk was filled with smiles, subtle topics and refreshing quiet moments. When we reached her hut, I hesitated, suddenly nervous. “Do you think she’ll be okay with you being here?, I should have ask her before hand.”
“Hey! You love to over think things, She’ll be fine,” Xander assured me, his hand settling on the small of my back. “I’ll let you lead the way.”
I knocked lightly, and after a moment, Simone opened the door, her face lighting up with a smile like she had seen me. “Alison but you came with someone else! I can’t quite identify who, hopefully not another house keeper I’m okay with the one you left with me,” she added, her tone a mix of amusement.
“It’s Xander” I said in a subtle hush anticipating her next reaction
“Alpha Xander? Ohh, what a pleasure” she adjusted from the door “Come in, please.”
Xander gave me the “I told you” look before walking in muttering a thank you on his way in
The cabin was the usual cozy atmosphere, with sunlight streaming through the windows and the faint smell of herbal tea in the air. Simone gestured for us to sit as she traced her way back to her seat with her cain, and I dropped the bag of food on the table, explaining its contents.
“Thank you so much,” she said softly, her eyes misting over. “You know you didn’t have to do this.”
“It’s the least I could do,” I replied, sitting down across from her. “You’ve done so much for me within a short period, Simone. I wouldn’t have made it through these trials without your support.”
I saw a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s not how long I’ve known you it’s how well, it feels like I have known you all my life and of course I am mandated to help my Alpha female” We all burst out laughing
“I see you’ve found yourself a good one, Alpha. My friend here is strong and resilient, she cares deeply for everyone around her.”
“She’s more than good, Simone,” Xander said, his voice low but steady. “She’s extraordinary.”
The conversation flowed easily after that, touching on lighter topics and shared memories. It wasn’t long before the tension that had initially hung in the air dissipated completely, replaced by the warmth of companionship.
When it was time to leave, Simone hugged me tightly, whispering, “You deserve all the happiness in the world, Alison. Just don’t forget to come visit us from time to time”
“I promise I will always come”.
As we walked back to the castle, Xander was uncharacteristically quiet. I glanced at him, catching the faint furrow of his brow and the thoughtful set of his jaw.
“Penny for your thoughts?” I asked, nudging him lightly with my elbow.
He stopped walking by the gates entrance, turning to face me. The intensity in his gaze made my heart skip a beat.
“There’s something I need to say,” he began, his voice steady but laced with an edge of vulnerability.
“What is it?”
He reached for my hands, his fingers intertwining with mine. “I know I’ve asked you this before, but I need to ask again, properly, this time.”
My breath hitched, and my heart started to race as he dropped to one knee, his piercing eyes never leaving mine.
“Alison,” he said, his voice unwavering, “Ever since I found you, you’ve been my strength, my hope, and my greatest joy. I’ve loved you through every challenge, every triumph, and every moment in between. I asked you once to be my mate, but this time, I’m asking you to be my wife, my Luna, and my partner for life. Will you marry me?”
Tears blurred my vision as I stared down at him, my heart overflowing with love and gratitude. The man before me wasn’t just my mate or an Alpha; he was my everything.
“Yes,” I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion. “Yes, I will marry you. I will be your Luna for life.”
Xander stood, pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in that perfect moment.
When we finally broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with mine. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive,” he murmured.
“And you’ve made me the happiest woman,” I replied, my voice soft but sure.
As we walked hand in hand back to the house, I couldn’t help but feel that this was the start of something truly extraordinary, a future filled with love, partnership, and endless possibilities.