Christmas with the Grumpy Alpha (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Tanner

This damn woman.

I watch her storm away, that fiery redhead who acts like the world should jump to do her bidding.

As she bounds up the stairs, her auburn hair cascades around her face, and I can’t help but notice how much sexier she is now.

She was always beautiful, sure, but now there’s a maturity to her—curves more pronounced, movements more confident.

A far cry from the girl my brother once brought around, but back then, I didn’t have the time to pay attention. Too busy with my Alpha duties, too distracted to get to know her or anyone else Derek dated.

Our few interactions were quick and shallow—just brief nods and polite greetings when I was rushing off to handle pack business or solve some crisis.

She never gave me a reason to think twice. But now, with that flash of fiery attitude and the way she stormed off, I’m left wanting to know more.

No way. I shake my thoughts from my head.

She’s fiery, sure, but I don’t have time to even consider that she and I could ever be a thing. I’m an Alpha, and I’ve got a pack to take care of—a pack that needs my focus, not the distraction of a woman in my life.

What a start to the wedding.

I stand there a while longer, pretending to look for something in my luggage that I had left outside the bathroom, anything to give me enough time to make sure she’s really gone.

Finally satisfied she’s out of sight, I drag my feet up the stairs, still replaying our run-in.

I recall the sharp lines on Lena’s face, the way her plump lips pressed together in annoyance, and those toffee-brown eyes—full of fire, full of irritation that almost bordered on hate.

But why? Why would she have so much disdain for someone she barely knows? We’re practically strangers, just acquaintances at best.

So, what could’ve happened to make her see me as the enemy?

Only one thing, of course.

Ah, little brother, what a great help you’ve been to my reputation . Of course, this could only be Derek’s doing.

Who else was there who harbored such an intense resentment towards me, who yearned to see me fall?

No one other than Derek, the misfit of the family, the one who could never find a place that suited him. Considering how creative my brother can be with his lies, she probably thinks I'm the devil.

I shake my head while walking to my room, letting those annoying thoughts slip away. They don’t really matter, to be honest.

I couldn't care less what Lena thinks of me. It’s not like we’re friends or that she is a part of my pack. She’s just someone sharing the same space as I am. Literally.

Oh yeah, Then why do you feel so uneasy? My inner wolf chimes in. Why do you feel like going up to Lena and showing her she has the wrong idea of you?

“I don’t,” I say, louder than necessary, as if the volume alone will make it true. “I couldn’t care less what she thinks. Doesn’t matter to me at all.”

Are you sure about that? My inner wolf seems to be suggesting something different.

I grit my teeth, unable to argue against that thought. It’s true. My inner wolf has been acting very strange since I ran into Lena.

It’s alert in a way I’ve never felt before, restlessly pacing the insides of my being.

Usually, he just sits quietly, waiting to be called upon, but right now, something seems to have riled him up. And that something coincidentally occurred right when I met Lena.

Maybe the two are linked, I question myself. I hadn’t considered that yet.

Are you too afraid of the truth to consider investigating it? My inner wolf taunts me.

“Shut up,” I growl, turning the key to my room and stepping inside. The room is neat and orderly, the bed made with crisp blankets, everything perfectly in place—unlike the chaos swirling inside my head.

I kick off my shoes and flop down on one of the small armchairs lying next to the window. From this part of the room, Hollyridge Lake can clearly be seen, and it’s a dazzling sapphire sheet set into the mountain’s rocky plateau.

The early morning sun is shining down on it in all its glory, setting the gleaming water afire with its radiance.

I continue looking at the lake for a minute or so, hoping it will calm my mood. It doesn’t. My conversation with Lena continues to replay in my mind, making me uneasy every time I go over it.

For some reason, I can’t get that angry expression of hers out of my head.

As I’m lost in my thoughts, wondering what kind of horror stories Derek has spun about me, I notice the light outside dimming.

The once-glimmering surface of Lake Hollyridge Lake is now muted, a sheet of steel-grey under an increasingly heavy sky.

My gaze lifts, and I see that the last clear patch of blue has been swallowed by thick, heavy clouds, blotting out the sun.

A heavy shadow hangs over the world, and I can already see the first flurries of snow drifting down, the wind picking up with a bone-chilling bite.

It's just the start of a blizzard, and according to the weather reports, it’s going to be a brutal one—thick, swirling snow and howling winds that promise to bury everything in its path.

On the other side of the room, my phone rings loudly, its screen flashing with an incoming call.

Tearing my eyes away from the view outside, I rise and head over to it, seeing my father’s name blinking on the screen.

“Hey, Dad,” I answer the call, making my way back to the window and resettling myself in the armchair.

“Tanner, I assume you made it in by now. How are things at the lodge?” My dad’s distorted voice fills my ears. “Is everything going smoothly?”

“Yes,” I answer him, and then add, “so far,” when Lena’s face flashes in my mind. “When will you and mom get here?”

“That’s what I called to talk to you about.” There’s more static drowning out the next thing he says. “Unfortunately, we are not sure when we will make it to the lodge; it will not be tonight as we planned.”

“Our flight was delayed coming in, and we are going to have to find a hotel here for now.

It’s already begun to snow here, and it will make the mountain roads too dangerous to navigate. The last thing we need is to be stranded out in these freezing temperatures.”

“Of course.” I switch the phone to my other hand and observe a flock of birds soaring over the lake, no more than black specks. “There’s no rush. Please make sure you don’t leave until the snow has stopped and when the roads are safe enough to drive.”

“Yes, we know,” My dad answers in a staticky voice that cuts out and then rises again abruptly. “Don’t worry, we’ll be safe. Now, there is something else that you need to know about Tanner…”

Something in my dad’s voice causes my attention to shift to him. I turn away from the window and frown.

“Yes, what is it?”

There’s a pause at the other end, and I feel my father gathering the right words to deliver his news to me.

“It’s Derek, Tanner,” he finally says, and that's when I catch the excitement in his voice, even through the static and distortion. “He’s found his fated mate, and the engagement is secured. It’s a done deal—they’re getting married.”

“What? Oh wow.” I lick my lips uncertainly, not sure what else to say to this news, or how to react. Derek and I have always had a complicated relationship.

While I know I should be feeling happy for him right now, all I can think about is the angry look on Lena’s face and how he’s responsible for it.

It’s hard to feel happy for someone who’s been spewing such poison about you behind your back.

“Yeah, it’s a new chapter in his life,” my dad continues happily, either oblivious to my unease or ignoring it. “And more importantly, it’s a new step forward for our pack as well. It’s the beginning of a fruitful relationship with another pack. Derek’s fated mate is from the Colorado Mountains’ pack. They’re very well known for the loyalty they show in their alliances and how they always have their family’s back. It’s a big leap forward for us, Tanner.”

“That’s great,” I exclaim hollowly, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice and failing. “When you see the couple, do give them my best wishes.”

“I absolutely will. Now, Tanner, I was thinking…”

Ahh. Here we go.

I groan quietly, feeling my chest constrict, knowing what’s about to come.

“You should really start looking for a mate of your own, Tanner,” my dad urges softly. “As pack Alpha, it is your duty more than anyone else’s to expand our community and look for new alliances. Remember, the more our numbers, the stronger we are against any outside threat.”

"Yeah, I know, Dad," I said, rubbing a weary hand against my forehead. The headache was already creeping in. "Trust me, as soon as I find the right mate, you'll be the first to know."

There was a pause on the other end before his voice came through again, sharper this time. "But are you really looking?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "I’ve been trying, but it’s not like I can force a connection. It’s hard to find the time when the pack needs me constantly."

"That’s just an excuse, Tanner," he countered, voice steady but firm. "Being an Alpha means more than just handling daily business. You need to think long-term."

"I am thinking long-term." My voice came out sharper than I intended. "I’m keeping the pack strong. I’m focused on what matters now."

"And what about you?" he pressed. "You can't ignore this forever. The pack needs stability. You need to show them you're committed to the future."

I exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I get that, Dad, but I haven’t found anyone. There's just no one I’ve met who feels right."

His voice softens, but there was still that undercurrent of pressure. "You can’t put it off much longer, son. The longer you wait, the more people will question things."

"I’m not putting it off," I insisted, feeling the frustration build. "I just... need time."

Dad's voice drops to a softer tone. "Time's running out, Tanner. You’ve got to find someone soon."

“Yes, I know,” I murmur through gritted teeth, suddenly wanting this conversation to end. There’s a dull throbbing in the leftmost side of my temples, slowly inching its way forward. “I’ll find someone, Dad. Don’t worry about it. It’s just a matter of time.”

“Of course,” my dad says smoothly, although the doubt in his voice is unmistakable. “Well, I only called to give you the update on our travel and the news about Derek, Tanner. Hopefully, your mother and I will be at the venue soon, and then we can talk further.”

“Great,” I tell him. “I’ll see you then. Take care, Dad. Stay safe.”

“You too, Tanner. Goodbye.”

A sigh of relief whooshes past my lips as I end the call on my phone and fling it back on my bed, before sagging against the armchair.

Great. This was just what I needed at my best friend’s wedding: another burden weighing me down and spoiling all the fun.

You could just find a mate and end all your troubles, my inner wolf suggests. It’ll hardly take you any time. You’re a pack alpha, remember? You’ll have potential suitors lining up outside your room if you make the announcement.

“If only it were that easy,” I mutter sourly to myself, returning my gaze outside the window. This finding-a-mate business has been plaguing me for a long, long time.

I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t seem to feel that connection with anyone I meet. Even if I try to force the connection, my inner wolf simply refuses to accept it.

No matter how hard I try, no matter how much I try to coax it into accepting someone as its mate, my wolf just snorts haughtily and turns its back to them, refusing my demands. I don’t know who it’s looking for or what it wants.

All I know is that when it comes to finding a partner, I have no power over my inner wolf.

In all other matters, it obeys me unconditionally, always jumping to do my bidding. But when it comes to this particular problem…. that’s the one thing my wolf will not compromise on. No matter what.

Which puts me in a difficult spot.

With these troubles looming over me, much like the impending snowstorm looming over this wedding, I continue gazing outside, taking in Hollyridge Lake’s placid surface in the hopes that some of its calm will leak into me.

I spot two little girls playing near its shore, running through the snow-packed fields wearing mittens and oversized beanies, their chestnut pigtails flying behind them.

At the other end of the lake, there sits a couple, their legs dangling over the frozen surface, their hands intertwined, clearly visible even from the distance of my room.

I notice the dreamy smiles on their faces and the ease in their postures, and I feel an unexpected pang of loneliness.

I’m not really a romantic soul, but sometimes, the isolation and responsibility that comes with being an alpha gets too much. If only there were someone I could share it with….

Wait.

Who’s that?

My meandering gaze has stopped at the lake’s innermost edge, the one that’s closest to the lodge. There’s someone standing before the water, someone familiar, with her auburn hair flying all around her in the wind like a tornado of fire.

Lena.

I thought she was going to her room.

I lean in, not knowing why I’m doing so. Why should I care whether Lena is in her room or not?

Where is all this concern within me coming from?

The thoughts arise within me one after the other, but they have no effect.

I squint at her, at her tiny figure near the shoreline, at her head, which is bent towards the ground. What is she looking at so closely?

No. Not looking.

Crying.

Yes, she’s crying, there’s no doubt about it. And she’s trying to do it secretly so that no one else will notice her.

Every few seconds, she raises her hand and casually wipes it against her downturned face. If the clouds hadn’t eaten the sun, and if her face were raised to the sky, I’m certain I would have been able to see the tears streaking her cheeks.

But why?

For what reason?

My headache is gone, as is my tiredness and frustration. Everything within me is awake, alert, and thrumming with energy. And all that energy seems to be pulling me towards the window, towards Lena.

My inner wolf, which had slowly been calming down since I entered my room, is now once again stirring with energy. Or at least that’s what it feels like to me.

I can feel its bristling presence inside me, at the very core of my being. I can sense him pacing restlessly.

He clearly wants me to go to Lena to see what is bothering her.

But why?

What does my wolf want with her?