Christmas with the Grumpy Alpha (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Tanner

Bang! Bang!

“Rise and shine, it’s a big day!”

The pounding on my hotel room door shatters the peaceful quiet of the morning and slashes right through the dream I’m having—Lena’s smiling face vanishes in an instant like smoke blown away.

My eyes snap open, and I'm immediately assaulted by the bright morning light streaming through the window. I squint against it, my vision taking a minute to adjust, and then...

Bang! Bang! The door rattles on its hinges.

“Larry, I swear...” I groan, rubbing a hand over my face as I roll over, hoping he’ll get bored and go away.

“Don’t make me kick this door down, Tanner!” Larry’s voice rings out, teasing yet relentless.

I sigh, dragging myself out of bed. I grab my pair of boxers and step in them as I stumble to the door.

The moment I unlock it and swing it open, Larry stands there, grinning like the devil himself, clearly pleased to have woken me up.

“Seriously? Do you know what time it is?” I mutter, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “If you weren’t my best friend, and if this wasn’t your wedding day, I’d totally deck you for this.”

“I know, I know,” Larry says, shamelessly. “That’s why I’m taking full advantage while I can. Besides, you weren’t going to stay in bed all day, right? We’ve got things to do, man. You’ve got duties to attend to.”

“Yeah, yeah, my duties,” I grumble, leaning against the doorframe. “You do realize I’m your Alpha, right? You’ve got a pack for that.”

Larry just smirks. “Oh, come on, you think I’d let you off the hook that easy? Best man privileges. Now get your lazy butt up. The sooner you’re out of bed, the sooner we can make sure everything’s set for today.”

“Do I get coffee first, or am I just supposed to run on sheer willpower?”

“Coffee’s downstairs,” Larry laughs, “but you’ll have to get there yourself.”

“Now I have a bunch of tasks for you to oversee today.” Larry holds up a finger. “First, go check with the caterers and see if everything is going as planned. I think there’s some issue with the storage of chocolate fondue that needs handling. Secondly,” he holds up another finger. “Go and—”

“Hold up.” I rub my head quizzically and fight off a big yawn. Larry won’t be too pleased if he sees it. “Can’t you just text me this stuff, man? I can’t remember all of it.”

“I’ve already texted you,” Larry points out. “If only you’d bothered to check your phone and weren’t snoozing. Anyway, that list of tasks can wait. The real reason I came is for the wedding rings.” He raises an eyebrow slowly, warningly.

“You did bring them from the jeweler yesterday, right? Like I asked you to?”

I pause, my brain still foggy from sleep as I try to remember.

Where the hell did I put them?

Then it hits me—the memory of picking up the rings from the jeweler flashes back to me. I can see myself grabbing them before heading to the airport, then tossing them into the nightstand drawer when I got to the room.

“Yes,” I mutter, shoulders sagging with relief. “I got your precious rings, it’s all taken care of.”

“Great!” Larry exclaims sunnily, patting me on the shoulder. “I’ll send Lena over to collect mine from you in a while now that you’re awake and alert.”

He turns around to leave, stopping one last time and glancing back. “And please don’t forget to complete the other tasks I messaged you. There’s a lot that needs doing, and you’re one of the few people here that I trust.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I grunt, fully awake now, with not a hint of sleep left in me. Lena’s name is like a jolt straight to my core, sending ripples of energy surging through my entire body, making my skin bristle with sudden alertness.

Even my wolf has risen hastily from its drowsy state and is now once more pacing my insides, trying to communicate something to me that I just cannot understand.

What is it? I ask it silently.

What do you want to tell me? What do you want?

It only growls in response, a low, guttural growl expressing deep frustration. But frustration at what? Or for whom?

There’s no time to dwell on all of this; there’s a lot to do today to get ready for the wedding this evening.

And I know I’ll be seeing Lena, which, for some reason, makes me want to look my best. I need to get ready—can’t be standing around feeling like a mess when she shows up.

I hop into the shower, turning the knob as far to the right as it will go until I’m standing beneath a scalding spray that stings my skin and reddens it.

The warmth is delicious, rejuvenating, spreading throughout my body and staving off the perpetual cold that marks these parts of the mountain.

Ten minutes later, I’m out feeling much better than before. I pull on a pair of faded sky-blue jeans along with a simple mauve t-shirt. Just as I’ve pulled the t-shirt down past my chest, there’s a knock on the door.

She’s here.

It’s embarrassing the way my stomach twists in a fist of nervousness as soon as I hear that sound.

The way my throat dries up and my pulse begins to zip through my palms and legs, creating a weird, tingling sensation.

I stand there for a few moments, licking my lips, afraid for a reason I cannot understand, and furious at my own fear. Why is this girl stirring up these emotions within me? What the hell is it about her?

RAP!

Three more knocks, sharper than before.

“Coming!” I call out, walking towards the door. My tingly fingers wrap around the handle and twist it around, before pulling it open.

She stands there.

My gaze falls on her, and it’s as if all those feelings I had experienced before were just a firecracker sitting dormant inside me. Seeing Lena in person again, however, has lit that firecracker’s fuse, and now the explosion occurs.

She’s wearing a deep red sweater with tiny silver beading that hugs her figure. The sweater's hem ends just above her waistline, perfectly fitting the festive spirit and hinting at the curves beneath.

Her auburn hair is loose and falling to her shoulders in a cascade of messy curls.

Her eyes are pools of amber, focused intently on me, taking in my damp hair and the t-shirt clinging to my still semi-wet body.

“I uh….” Lena seems to be struck wordless for a second, and I would make fun of her for it, but I am in the same boat. It takes visible effort for me to pull myself back to sensibility.

“You’re here for the ring, right?” I ask, aware that my voice is too high to be expected.

Lena’s head bobs up and down quickly. “Yep, the ring,” she answers, clearing her throat and averting her eyes.

“Wait here, I’ll bring it to you.” I turn around and head back into my room, towards the drawer at the far side of my bed where I kept the item.

While I walk, I sense my inner wolf let out a prolonged, mournful howl within me.

This time, I have no trouble deciphering that howl’s meaning. It’s angry at being taken away from Lena, at having the distance between them increased.

And it’s demanding that I go back, right this very instant.

Calm down , I tell it. Jeez. What’s up with you today?

I bend down over the side table and pull the drawer open, staring into its insides.

I grab the velvet bag that contains the rings, only to find Daphne’s band is missing.

It’s gone.

What? Oh shit. How is this possible?

I close the drawer and open it again, unaware of the absurdity of my actions, thinking that if I just reenact the same scene again, it’ll turn out correctly this time. But it doesn’t, of course.

The drawer is still just as vacant as it was before. Its blank wooden surface stares back at me unflinchingly, giving no indication of where the ring that should be in it has gone.

I’m so fucked. I’m so royally fucked.

“Tanner?” Lena’s voice rings out from the corridor, laced with that sharpness it seems she saves just for me. “You good, or are you just going to make me stand here all day?”

I wince. No, everything is definitely not okay. Everything is as far from okay as it can possibly get.

“Lena?” I call back, trying to keep my voice steady but failing miserably. “Come in here for a second?”

“What now?” she snaps, irritation apparent. “This better be good, I have other things to be doing.” But she’s already moving, clearly sensing something’s off.

“What is it?” She asks, coming inside and over to me.

My throat is suddenly clogged with quicksand. I swallow. “So, it looks like... the ring isn’t where I left it.”

Lena’s eyes widen. “You lost it?” she exclaims, her voice turning shrill. “Tanner, tell me you didn’t lose the ring?”

“Shh! Keep your voice down!” I hiss, glancing at the open door. “I didn’t lose it! I clearly remember bringing it back from the jeweler’s yesterday. It’s just not…. where it was supposed to be.”

“Tanner, what the hell does that even mean?” Lena snaps, crossing her arms tightly over her chest, eyes blazing with frustration. “Larry and Daphne are counting on us to have the rings for the ceremony!” She throws her hands up in exasperation. “Daphne will murder us! What am I supposed to do now?”

“Okay, okay, calm down.” I take a deep breath to quell the worry rising within me. “Let’s calm down and think rationally about this. I’m sure that I brought the ring to the hotel. Of that, there is no doubt. So at least we can narrow down our possible places to look.”

“Are you being serious right now, Tanner?” Lena’s eyes widen.

A single vein throbs at the side of her temples. “Narrowing it down to this place? We’re inside a hotel, for fucks sake!” she practically shouts.

“How the hell are we going to find a tiny ring here, and that too in time for the wedding?”

“Well, we definitely aren’t going to find it if you go on shouting like that,” I answer flatly. “Now, do you want to help me look for the thing, or do you want to fume and stomp around?”

Lena looks like she wants to go for option three instead, which is beating the shit out of me right here and now. But she controls herself with a tremendous amount of effort and takes a large, shuddering breath.

“Okay,” she breathes, glaring daggers at me. “We can discuss how colossally you’ve messed up later, when we have time. Right now, we have to look for the ring.”

“Thank you for understanding,” I respond tartly. “It was tiring being the only sensible person in this conversation.”

Lena’s nostrils flare, and I prepare myself for another verbal attack.

But she says nothing. Clearly, she’s decided that finding the ring is a bigger priority than telling me what a magnificent ass hat I am.

“We need to start with the obvious,” Lena says quickly, taking charge. “Let’s check with lost and found, see if anyone turned it in. Maybe it fell out of your pocket, and some Good Samaritan found it.”

“Right. Lost and found,” I nod, trying to calm my racing heart. “Good idea.”

Lena’s already on the move, and I follow her out of my room, both of us trying to act casually like we’re not dealing with a crisis that could ruin a wedding.

The last thing we need is for Larry or Daphne to find out what’s happening—they’d lose their minds.

“Do you remember where you went after you got to the hotel?” Lena asks as we briskly walk down the corridor. “Maybe the ring slipped out somewhere along the way.”

I run through every moment of yesterday in my head. “Yeah... I went to my room right after checking in, but I headed back to my car later to grab the rest of my luggage.”

“Great,” Lena says, nodding. “Let's check the car next. It’s possible it fell out when you were driving here or unloading. And if not, at least we’ll know it’s not sitting in some crack in the seat.”

We make a quick stop at the front desk on our way out, trying to play it cool. I lean against the counter, and the clerk gives us a polite, questioning smile.

“Uh, hey,” I say, keeping my voice quiet. “Just wondering if anyone has turned in... you know, a ring? Might’ve dropped it somewhere yesterday.”

The clerk tilts their head, tapping the computer for a moment before glancing back up at us. “Sorry, nothing’s been turned in. You might want to check where you’ve been and retrace your steps.”

Lena lets out a small sigh, trying to hide her growing frustration. “Thanks anyway,” she says with a forced cheer before pulling me away by the arm.

“Well, that’s a bust,” she mutters as we head toward the exit. “Let’s get to the garage. Fingers crossed it's somewhere in your car.”

Out in the chilly garage, our breaths puffing into clouds, we rummage through my car like a couple of desperate treasure hunters.

Lena yanks the front seat forward, scouring under the floor mats, while I tackle the back, tearing through every nook it could possibly be hiding in.

It’s all frantic movements, muttered swears, and the sound of me tossing things around.

“Well?” she says after a few minutes, straightening up and brushing some dirt off her coat. “Anything?”

“Nope.” I slam the door shut in frustration, the noise echoing through the concrete space. “Nothing. It’s like the thing grew legs and walked off.”

Lena sighs. “Well, at least now we know it’s not in the car. Where else did you go after that?”

We stand there, freezing, my breath coming out in clouds as I try to think. “I went back to my room... straight there. I definitely had it in my pocket then.”

“Then that’s our next stop.” Lena's eyes narrow in determination. “Come on, let’s tear that place apart because if we don’t find it, there will not be a place we can hide from the bride and groom's wrath.”

We rush back to my room, and as soon as we’re inside, Lena wastes no time, immediately checking every possible place where the ring could have fallen under the bed, between the couch cushions, and even behind the curtains.

“Damn it,” I mutter, checking drawers and tossing clothes around. “I know I put it somewhere safe. I swear I did.”

Lena shoots me a sharp look. “You’re telling me you lost a wedding ring within the safe confines of your own room? You really are hopeless.”

“Gee, thanks, Lena,” I say, rifling through my nightstand. “Nothing like kicking a guy while he’s down.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “Hey, I’m the one trying to save your ass right now. So, forgive me for not sugarcoating it.”

We search frantically for what feels like forever, and I’m just about ready to give up when Lena crouches by the bathroom door. “Hold on—what’s that?”

“What?” I turn, practically tripping over my own feet to see what she’s looking at.

She points toward the base of the sink. “That. There's something wedged in that tiny gap between the sink and the floor.”

I squint at the narrow space she’s talking about, it’s a small opening where the sink’s base doesn’t quite meet the tiles. And sure enough, there’s something shiny jammed inside.

My heart leaps. “Could it be...?”

“Let’s hope so.” Lena gets down on her hands and knees to get a better look. “But this space is tiny. No way you’re getting in there.”

I can already tell she’s right. “Yeah, no chance I’m fitting in there. Think you can reach it?”

Lena gives me a quick, confident smirk. “Well, lucky for you, I’m small enough to fit.”

She maneuvers herself lower, getting closer to the floor, and as she does, I try to focus on the task at hand.

Really, I do.

But she wedges herself between the sink and the floor with surprising ease, and suddenly, the sight of her bent over, hair falling in wild waves around her face, is far more captivating than I’d like to admit.

She shuffles in sideways, managing to squeeze into the narrow gap like it’s nothing.

“You know, it’d help if you didn’t breathe down my neck while I’m doing this,” she quips, not bothering to look back at me.

“Right, sorry,” I mumble, backing up a step.

But it’s useless. My eyes are glued to her, especially as her top rides up slightly, revealing a sliver of pale, smooth skin along her lower back.

There’s something about the way her muscles flex, the curve of her spine, the freckles scattered just above the waistband of her skin-tight jeans, that makes it hard to look away.My cock starts to respond on its own accord.

Keep it together, Tanner.

My brain is shouting at me to be a gentleman, to focus on literally anything else, but it’s like my inner wolf has other plans—buzzing with energy, urging me to close the gap between us.

Every part of me feels like it’s on edge, my pulse pounding loud and steady in my ears as I watch her stretch farther, fingers reaching for the ring.

I swallow, trying to ignore the intoxicating sight and the way my whole body seems to hum at just being near her.

“Almost... got it...” she mutters, grunting softly as she tries to pry the ring free.

I shift awkwardly, dragging my hand down my face to keep myself in check. It shouldn’t be this... distracting, watching someone retrieve a lost ring.

But here I am, like a horny idiot, trying to stop my thoughts from wandering to things that have no place in this bathroom right now.

“Got it!” Lena finally exclaims, triumphant.

She pulls the ring loose, sliding back out from under the sink with a victorious grin plastered across her face. She straightens up, standing inches away from me, the ring gleaming in her hand.

I let out a huge sigh of relief. “You did it. You really saved my ass.”

“Of course I did.” She tosses the ring into my hand with a smirk, eyes twinkling. “What would you do without me, huh?”

I shake my head, half in disbelief, half trying to snap myself out of whatever spell she’s cast over me. “Remind me never to doubt you again.”

“Smart man.” She crosses her arms, still grinning. “Now, let's make sure we don’t lose this thing again. And maybe... try not to get so distracted next time.”

“Yeah... yeah, good idea,” I mutter, trying to play it cool.

But as we walk out of the bathroom, the image of her wedged under that sink is seared into my brain—and I know it’s not leaving anytime soon.

Before she leaves, Lena holds out her hand, palm up. “Don’t forget Larry’s ring,” she says, her tone all business but with a slight edge.

I place the ring in her hand, feeling the brush of her fingers, and she closes her fist around it tightly.

Lena crosses her arms with a sharp grin. “Well, now that I’ve saved the day and wasted an hour and a half of my time thanks to you, I guess I’ll go do my actual wedding duties. You know, the ones that don’t involve rescuing incompetent best men.”

With that, she gives me a mock salute and turns swiftly, striding out of the room with a bounce in her step.

The ring is safely in her grasp, leaving me alone with my frustration—and my inner wolf, still rattling its cage like a madman.

What the hell is the matter with you? I ask hotly.

It simply growls in response, a deep-throated growl that clearly conveys I’m the one being foolish here, not it.

You’ve acted entirely out of line, I tell him. There’s no reason for you to behave the way you just did around Lena. No reason at all that justifies your attitude….

That’s when it hits me out of nowhere. The answer literally fell from the sky and smacked me straight in the face.

An explanation for all this bizarreness which I’ve been experiencing recently.

Is Lena my fated mate?

No way. There’s no way that’s possible. I realize I’m shaking my head vigorously, trying to discard the explanation before I can even fully consider it.

But what is there to consider? The possibility is too absurd, too comical.

And even if it is true, I tell myself grimly. Even if, through some twisted cosmic sense of irony, Lena has been created as my fated mate, it still doesn’t matter.

I stopped believing in that nonsense a long time ago.

My destiny is in my own hands and no one else’s. I won’t let fate determine what I should do with my life, or who my partner should be.

That’s my decision to make.

“Yes,” I mutter aloud, voice filled with resolve. “It’s my choice. Whatever’s happening to me, whoever Lena might be, it makes absolutely no difference, because I couldn’t care less about her. It’s hard to stand her for more than five minutes as it is. She’s no one. Just an acquaintance at this wedding who I’ll never see again once the vows have been made.”

Feeling somewhat calmer than before after this decision of mine, I splash my face with cold water and head off to finish the remainder of the tasks Larry assigned to me.

There are four tasks in total, and they take me a good two hours to sort out.

The rest of the day goes by without any more issues and in a flash with all the wedding preparations.

I am just finishing up the last of my duties when my phone dings with a message from Larry reminding me to get dressed for the ceremony.

I am about to step out of my room, smoothing down my jacket, feeling the day's weight of the day settle on my shoulders.

The hallway is quiet, and I take a moment to adjust the lapels of my emerald green suit jacket, making sure it fits just right over my frame.

The red vest beneath feels festive, almost daring, but perfect for the Christmas wedding vibe Daphne insisted on. It hugs my chest snugly, and I have to admit, the whole outfit is damn sharp.

I glance down, taking in the details. The crisp white shirt peeking out, the polished buttons gleaming under the soft hallway light. Every inch of the outfit screams class and confidence, but I know I’d still prefer to be in jeans and a T-shirt, running the mountains.

Still, there’s no denying that I look like a man who’s about to own this day.

I run a hand through my hair, messing it up just enough to keep that effortless tousled look without trying too hard.

And the way the jacket drapes over my shoulders and chest gives me an air of power that I can't help but enjoy.

I roll my shoulders back, taking one last look at myself in the mirror hanging on the wall. Eyes sharp, jaw set, ready for anything.

A wedding. A party. And Lena.

Yeah, I'm ready. Whatever comes at me this evening, I'm going to look damn good handling it.

I step out of my room and head down the hallway toward the main lobby, my footsteps echoing against the polished floors.

I catch glimpses of the wedding party moving around, finalizing last-minute details, and feel a rush of energy in the air, a sense of anticipation hanging over everything.

My wolf stirs within me, feeding off the buzz of the upcoming ceremony.

As I near the grand staircase leading to the gathering area, I spot Lena standing by one of the ornate pillars, fiddling with the hem of her dress. It’s a stunning green that hugs her figure and flows down to her ankles.

Her auburn hair is loose, tumbling down her shoulders in soft waves, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.

She looks up, our eyes meeting, and there's a flicker of surprise before she schools her features into that familiar, defiant look like she's ready to take me down at any moment.

"Wow," she says, the corner of her mouth tilting up in a half-smirk. "You actually clean up well. Didn't think you were capable of looking this... presentable."

I grin, letting my eyes sweep over her shamelessly. "Funny. I could say the same about you."

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the way her gaze flickers down my form for just a second before snapping back up. "It’s a wedding, Tanner. Not a boxing match. I can look civilized when I need to."

She adjusts her bracelet, her fingers nimble and quick. "Now, let's just get through this without you screwing things up, okay? The bride would kill us both."

"Yeah, yeah," I say, stepping closer until we're just a breath away. "I'll try not to be a disappointment. But no promises. Trouble has a way of finding me."

Her eyes flash, a mix of irritation and something else, something almost playful. "You are trouble, Tanner. It's practically tattooed on your forehead."

"Guess that makes two of us, then," I murmur, my voice dipping lower as I lean in. Her scent is intoxicating—fresh pine and something sweet, like vanilla—and I have to pull back before I do something stupid. Like, I don't know... kiss her.

She lets out a small, huffed laugh and shakes her head. "Please. I’m the problem-solver, remember? Someone has to clean up the messes you make."

"Good thing you're here, then." I flash her a wolfish grin and step back, offering my arm. "Shall we go play nice and walk down that aisle together?"

Lena hesitates but then slips her arm through mine, the contact sparking heat against my skin. She doesn't say anything, but I can see the resolve in her eyes—this is just a duty to her. Nothing more.

But my wolf stirs at the feel of her beside me, itching to close the distance, to pull her closer.

Together, we make our way down the grand staircase to the main hall, where the ceremony is set to take place.

The whole space has been transformed into a winter wonderland—lit by candlelight and filled with the soft twinkle of fairy lights draped across every surface.

Poinsettias, garlands, and tiny snow-dusted pinecones decorate the aisles, and Christmas music plays softly in the background, creating an enchanting, festive atmosphere.

It’s like walking into a dream, the kind of magical setting that would melt even the coldest of hearts.

The pack and family members are already seated, faces turned toward the altar, where Larry stands nervously waiting, a grin plastered on his face as he watches Daphne walk down the aisle.

Her dress is a soft white lace, delicate and elegant, and the way she moves—like she’s floating on air—tells me she’s the happiest she’s ever been.

The ceremony itself is simple but beautiful. Larry’s vows are sincere, his voice trembling slightly as he speaks about how Daphne is his true mate, his heart, and his home.

And Daphne, for once, is rendered speechless, tears sparkling in her eyes as she holds Larry’s hands tightly.

As the officiant speaks the words that will bond them forever, I glance over at Lena. Her face is soft in the candlelight, her eyes bright as she watches her best friend tie the knot.

And for a moment, I wonder what it would be like to stand there beside her, making the same promises—promises of loyalty, devotion, and love.

No, what the hell.

I shake the thought away quickly.

That’s not where this is headed. We’re just walking down an aisle together, sharing a moment. That’s all it is.

But damn, the way she looks tonight... it’s hard to remember where the lines are supposed to be drawn.

The ceremony wraps up with a kiss—Larry dipping Daphne back, her giggling fills the room as the crowd erupts in cheers and applause.

As they make their way back up the aisle as husband and wife, Lena and I step forward, falling into our roles as the maid of honor and best man, walking side by side, the anticipation of the reception buzzing in the air around us.

I lean in close to her, voice low and teasing. “So, think you can handle a whole night of playing nice with me, or are you going to run off and hide?”

She looks up at me, and there’s a flicker of challenge in her eyes. “Oh, don’t worry, Tanner. I’m not going anywhere. And if anyone needs to behave, it’s you.”

I chuckle, but there’s a tension between us that makes my pulse quicken.

Whatever’s going to happen at the reception tonight, one thing is clear: I’m not the only one feeling this pull.

And I’m damn sure going to find out just how deep it runs.