Christmas with the Grumpy Alpha (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Lena

I saw him.

He might not have realized I caught him, but I did. I saw the way he was watching me during the ceremony—the way his eyes followed my every move.

The candlelight flickered over his face, but it was impossible to miss those sharp blue eyes glowing like polished sapphires.

And those sapphires weren’t focused on the ceremony—they were locked right on me, tracing every curve of my body.

I don’t understand whether to feel excited or offended.

That’s the worst part, this uncertainty within me.

If any other man had done what Tanner just did, I would be red with indignation. I would call him out immediately on it.

But with Tanner…there’s something different about his actions, I don’t know why. They don’t make me defensive and alert in the same way that other men’s passes at me do.

The memory hits me all over again—how close he got tonight—and alone in his bathroom, I freeze just thinking about it.

I can still see him leaning in, the heat radiating from his body, his breath mingling with mine.

His voice was low, teasing, but it carried that commanding undertone that always seemed to send a shiver down my spine.

I remember the scent of his cologne and aftershave—musky, warm, and undeniably intoxicating—as he leaned closer.

And the way the candlelight highlighted the sharp edge of his jawline, catching on every hair of his stubble, making it look like he was carved from stone.

What else do you remember, Lena? My inner wolf asks knowingly.

I sigh, dropping my head and staring down at my stomach, trying to steady myself.

If I concentrate hard enough, I can still feel the lingering warmth from when Tanner leaned in close, teasing me with that cocky whisper of his right before we walked down the aisle.

It took everything I had to keep my real reaction under wraps, to act like he didn’t get under my skin.

But it was impossible to ignore—the way his lips brushed against my ear, his breath hot on my neck.

Having him that close felt like standing next to a lit match, ready to spark something explosive. He didn't burn me completely, but he sure as hell didn’t back off either.

Stop it, Lena. You have more maid of honor duties to attend, you are only here to support your best friend. Get ready.

It’s true.

Half an hour has passed since the wedding dinner concluded, and I’m supposed to be downstairs at the afterparty, not sitting here in my bathroom having conversations with myself.

Conversations that will never lead to a resolution anyways.

Tanner is one mystery that will remain unsolved until the day I die, I’m beginning to think.

Turning towards the bathroom wardrobe, I slide it open and take out my dress for tonight’s reception.

A plum-colored, spaghetti strap gown that flows down to my shins.

I pair that with black heels and decide to leave my hair as it is, untamed and undone. I toss the red curls behind my shoulders and make my way down once again.

The party has already begun. Music is playing loudly, but this music is very unlike the gentle piano notes I was hearing earlier in the evening.

Now that the wedding has been completed, Daphne and Larry have abandoned all subtlety and returned to their true selves.

Pounding drums and sharp guitar riffs pulse through the air as I make my way to the main hall.

Disco lights flash wildly around me, colors bouncing off the walls and floor like the lighting crew just decided to go nuts. And in the middle of all this chaos, a packed crowd sways and moves to the music, a sea of bodies lost in the beat.

Daphne is dancing in the front, sitting atop Larry’s shoulders, a gleeful grin plastered on her face.

In her hands, she’s holding a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels that is swaying dangerously, sprinkling the air with droplets every time she raises it to her lips.

I wind my way through the crowd, my eyes on Daphne. She sees me a few seconds later and cries out happily.

“Lena!” Daphne calls from her spot perched on her new husband’s shoulders. “Here, have a sip! Loosen up a little!” Then, without a second thought, she does the craziest thing I’ve ever seen her do—tosses the uncorked bottle right at me.

“Daphne!” I shout, eyes wide as I scramble to catch it.

My hands dart up, grabbing the neck of the bottle just in time, the liquid inside sloshing dangerously close to spilling. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Oh, relax!” Daphne laughs, clearly having the time of her life. “I knew you'd catch it! You've always had perfect timing when it counts!” She winks before leaning down to whisper something to her husband, who nods and kneels, letting her gracefully slide down.

I take a long swig from the bottle as Daphne hops off her husband’s shoulders and saunters toward me, eyes sparkling with wild excitement.

The alcohol hits me immediately, flooding my mouth with its sharp, bitter taste and sending warm dizziness straight to my head.

Daphne reaches me, giving my shoulder a playful slap.

“That’s more like it!” she cheers, practically bouncing. “C’mon, take another swig! Tonight’s about letting loose and celebrating—no holding back!”

I laugh, feeling the buzz start to loosen me up. Grinning, I raise the bottle for another gulp, the burn spreading down my throat, and the familiar tingle taking over.

Everything feels lighter, the room starting to blur in the best way possible, and I can’t help but break into a wide, silly grin.

“Your turn.” I hand the bottle back to Daphne, and without hesitation, she tilts it up, chugging like a pro.

“Whoa, whoa! Easy!” I laugh, stepping closer to steady her—maybe steady myself too, it’s hard to tell at this point. “One sip at a time, okay?”

Daphne flips her hair back, waving me off like I’m speaking nonsense. “Pshh, sips are for amateurs!” she shouts, leaning in toward me with a conspiratorial grin. “Come here, I’ve got something to ask you.”

I lean closer, the music pounding around us, and Daphne’s voice comes out in a loud whisper right against my ear. “I need a favor. And you’re going to say yes, right?”

I tilt my head, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What kind of favor?”

She bites her lip, trying to hold back a guilty smile. “There’s someone here I want you to meet.”

“Daphne, absolutely not.” I shake my head, backing up with my hands raised like she’s about to attack me. “Please. Don’t make me go through one of your set-ups tonight. I’m so not in the mood for this.”

“Why, Lena?” Daphne complains loudly. “It’s been over a year! When are you going to give love another chance? Come on!”

I shrug. “I don’t know. But not now. I just don’t want to.”

Some of the festive spirit fades from Daphne’s eyes. Her eyes lose their excited twinkle, and she turns sober again. She leans towards me.

“You can’t keep going like this, Lena, not unless you want to end up alone.” Her breath is tinged with alcohol, but her words are level and clear.

“If you don’t allow yourself to experience love again, it won’t find you. It can’t. You must be willing to take that risk again, no matter how badly last time may have turned out. That’s life. We move forward on faith, hoping next time will be better. And it almost always is.”

I force a smile on my face. I don’t want to have this discussion right now and ruin Daphne’s special night. Tonight isn’t about me. It’s for her.

“How about this?” I ask her, bringing my face close to hers.

“Tonight, let’s just focus on having as much fun as we possibly can. Tomorrow, I promise I’ll have this discussion with you. We aren’t going anywhere.”

Daphne stares intently at me for a moment, checking to see whether I’m serious or not, and then she smiles.

“Understood. No serious discussions tonight.” She hands the bottle back to me, and I take another sip, grimacing at the sharpness of the drink.

Daphne laughs at the expression on my face.

“Come!” She says, grabbing my hand and leading me through the crowd toward where Larry and the rest are. “Let’s make the most of tonight! No more serious talks for this day!”

“Sounds like a good plan!” I raise the bottle to the sky and hoot, feeling foolish a moment later but laughing nevertheless.

Daphne takes me right into the middle of the group, and everything dissolves into a feverish blur of music and voices.

I close my eyes and let all the day’s worries slip away, focusing on the music’s rhythmic beats that are pounding within me like a second heart.

They rise higher and higher, the lights blinking and pulsing in a frantic rainbow of colors, traveling in sync with the sounds as they ascend to their crescendo.

I dance like I have never danced before, each muscle in my body moving with a life of its own.

Everything else in the world slips away, everyone else slips away, and all that is left is the music and the throbbing hues of the light flickering like fireworks against my closed eyelids.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but when I open my eyes and look around again, I find the crowd thinner than before, slowly waning.

People are retiring to their rooms, exhausted beyond measure by a whole day of activities.

I’m more exhausted than any of them, since I didn’t get a chance to relax even during the morning, and my tiredness is gradually making its presence evident to me.

All that dancing has left my body aching, every muscle sore and tired.

My feet feel numb, filled with that tingling pins-and-needles sensation you get when you’ve pushed yourself way past your limit.

“Hey, Lena.”

I turn around towards Daphne. She’s standing before me, looking as disheveled as I’m feeling right now, except that there is no fatigue evident on her face.

“Did you have fun?” Daphne asks softly.

I nod, finding it too tiresome to open my mouth and reply to her.

“I’m glad.” Daphne clasps my hand and squeezes it. “Let’s call it a night and get some rest. Have a good night’s sleep. In the meantime, I have to prepare for my second event of the night…” She winks at me and glances slyly at Larry, who’s standing a little distance away, speaking to someone.

I can’t help it. I laugh. “Good luck, Daphne. Hope it’s a night for you to remember.” With that, I turn away from her and begin walking towards the nearest bathroom.

I’ve only taken a few steps forward, however, when I stop once again, spotting someone else at the far edges of the dispersing crowd.

Tanner.

His coat is off and draped on his shoulders. His shirt is damp with sweat, clinging to his toned frame.

His sleeves are rolled up, and the top two buttons are undone, exposing his chest and forearms to the soft light.

I pause and blink quickly twice. Tanner’s left hand is raised, and there’s a phone pressed against his ear, which is pressed far too tightly for it to be normal.

His upper lip is curling further upwards in the beginning of a scowl.

His eyes are slits, and the hand that is holding the phone is clenching it with such force I can see the large veins crisscrossing Tanner’s forearm even from here.

They’re bulging from his skin as if trying to break free.

What’s going on?

I don’t know, and I shouldn’t care. It’s not any of my business. I should be heading to the bathroom right now before going to my room.

Then why are you still standing here, Lena?

I swallow, gripped by that same unnamed feeling that has been haunting me ever since I arrived at this wedding and ran into Tanner.

It swirls and crackles within me, unaffected by my exhaustion, still as powerful as ever. And I can feel it drawing me forward, nudging me in Tanner’s direction to find out what is bothering him.

Stop it, Lena. Stop this right now.

Suddenly, Tanner’s gaze catches mine from across the room just as the bride and groom say their good nights and leave for their honeymoon suite.

His expression is dark, and he flexes his jaw.

Something about the way his lips move, silent from the distance, makes me want to take a step toward him but I manage to remain frozen in place.

What am I doing? This is Tanner, the man I hate, and I am not about to risk myself more heartbreak, but my traitorous body does not seem to agree.

My heart skips a beat, my skin tingling with awareness.

What the hell? Maybe I am more buzzed than I thought.

Gathering all my remaining willpower, I tear my eyes away from him and force my legs to continue moving toward the bathroom.

My inner wolf lets out a hurt whimper at my actions, but I ignore it.

Once inside, I go to the sink and splash my face repeatedly with ice-cold water, taking away some of the wooziness the alcohol in my stomach is causing.

Then I give myself a final look in the mirror, patting down my hair with one hand before heading outside.

Most of the people have left by now.

The remaining few are standing together, nursing glasses of bourbon in their hands, reluctant to abandon such a beautiful night and head back to the boredom of their rooms.

Looking at them, I kind of feel the same way, but at the same time, I’m also so tired I can barely keep myself standing.

As a result, I make a compromise between the two options.

I pick up a glass of my own and decide to take it to my room to finish off the night in peace.

Holding the wine glass by its stem, I make my way carefully to the stairs, each step a little wobblier than the last in these ridiculous heels.

I take my time, steadying myself with each step, feeling a slight sense of victory as I reach the top without spilling a single drop.

Man, I really should have taken these heels off before leaving the reception area but oh well, I am almost to my room now.

As I take my first step down the hallway, my ankle wobbles, twisting slightly in the heel.

Before I can even register what’s happening, my balance slips, and I feel myself pitching forward—the wine glass tipping in my hand.

I brace for impact, for the floor to meet me painfully, but it never comes.

A strong arm snakes around my waist, pulling me back firmly, and I stumble into the solid warmth of a solid chest.

He catches me with such ease, it’s like he’s done this a thousand times.

My heart hammers from the surprise, and I whirl around to find myself face-to-face with him—because, of course, it’s him.

“Tanner,” I say flatly, trying to ignore the rush of heat rising to my cheeks.

I don’t sound angry, just exasperated.

It's like the universe handpicked him to shadow my every move, ready to pounce whenever I least expect it.

My body presses up against his, which is all that is consuming my mind.

“Lena, are you okay?” His cobalt eyes search mine with a flicker of concern. “Looked like you were about to take a dive.”

“I was fine,” I huff, trying to straighten up without leaning on him.

I point to the broken shards of glass on the ground, now painted red with the wine I’d been so carefully holding. “That was my last drink of the night, by the way. I was going to enjoy it in my room. Thanks for that.”

His lips twitch with amusement, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that infuriatingly charming way of his. “Guess I saved you from a bad fall and a hangover, huh?”

I roll my eyes, pulling away from his grip, but his hand lingers for a second longer, just long enough to make me notice. “You really have a way of showing up at the worst possible moment.”

“Or maybe,” he says, the grin spreading wider, “you should thank me for my impeccable timing. If I hadn’t been here, you’d be wearing that wine instead of drinking it.”

The irritation bubbles up in me, but so does something else, something warmer. I take a step back, shaking my head. “Well, now my night’s ruined. I hope you’re happy.”

“Extremely,” he says, and the way he’s looking at me, with that mix of teasing and intensity, makes my pulse quicken in a way that drives me crazy. “Tell you what—I’ll make it up to you. How about another drink? My treat.”

I cross my arms, leveling him with a look. “And risk you knocking that one out of my hand too? I think I’ll pass.”

His laughter is low and soft, and it’s impossible not to notice how it makes his eyes light up. “Suit yourself.”

Tanner smirks. He takes a step closer to me.

“You know I’m a werewolf, right, Lena?” His voice has dropped to a murmur, and it is grazing my ears, making them shiver. “I can smell your scent right now, and it does seem like you need something.”

Oh my God…

The blood rushes to my cheeks, and it is just as well that some of my hair has fallen across it, because it hides the color. Much to my embarrassment, Tanner is right.

I am feeling something right now, a need I cannot admit, even to myself.

It is too shameful, too damning. Especially considering the person it’s directed towards.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I sniff as if unbothered by his comment and raise my face to meet him.

His eyes are locked in on me, intense as ever, and there is a glow in them……no, not in them, behind them.

I frown and shift my focus, realizing what I’m seeing. There’s something hanging above us, glowing merrily.

A pretty garland of leaves with a red bow at the top, surrounded by tiny lights.

Mistletoe.

Really?!

We’re standing underneath Mistletoe.

Tanner looks back to see what has caught my attention. When he returns his face to me, the smirk is gone from it.

All that subtly mocking humor is gone too. For the first time in my life, he is looking at me seriously.

“I know Derek may have told you a lot of things about me. But not everything is as it seems, Lena. Remember that.”

The softness in Tanner’s voice, the vulnerability marking it, is the strangest thing in the world.

Strange enough for it to push my guard down.

I take another deep, shaky breath, building up my courage.

“Maybe I was wrong about you on some things.” The words feel utterly alien, leaving my mouth, and yet, at the same time, they warm my chest. I feel no regret saying them.

“Perhaps you were.” Tanner steps forward even closer until our chests touch and our breaths move together in sync. He raises one hand and lightly brushes a lock of my hair away from my face.

The gesture is simple and restrained, but it sends a mad burst of energy through me. I must fight to remain steady on my feet. I must fight to continue breathing steadily.

I look into Tanner’s eyes, and I feel I can keep looking into them forever. Their cerulean depths are endless, an ocean of brightness inviting me to dive into its infinite embrace.

And that is precisely what I want right now, to lose myself in those eyes.

My desire is so strong that Tanner seems to sense it, for he steps even closer, and his pink lips are all I can focus on.

The world seems to have come to a standstill, frozen in time, waiting for one of us to make the first move.