Christmas with the Grumpy Alpha (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Tanner

“Lena, there’s some good news for you! Or bad news, depending on how you want to see it.”

Snickers all around.

I raise my attention from my half-eaten omelet towards Daphne, who has just walked up to our table.

“What good news?” Lena asks.

“Wait,” Daphne answers, sliding out her chair and settling down on it. “I think the concierge is about to come and tell you himself.”

Sure enough, a few moments later, the glass doors slide open and a bald man wearing a crisp suit and white shirt walks out. He heads straight towards Lena, his gloved hands swinging while he walks.

“Good morning, madame,” he greets her politely, bending slightly at the waist. “I would just like to inform you that the tree blocking the path to your room has been cleared away.”

Oh.

A strange wave of sadness rises within me instantly, far stronger than I had expected.

It is only then that I realize how much fun I’ve been having in the past few days with Lena, how perfectly she’s distracted me from all my burdens of being an alpha.

But I guess all good things must come to an end, eventually. For a moment, I consider telling Lena to stay with me regardless, but that’ll sound foolish. Especially here and now, with everyone else listening.

“That‘s good news!” Lena says. “When can I return to my room then?

The concierge consults his watch and puts on a slightly apologetic expression. “Madame, I assure you we are doing all that we can but I’m afraid I cannot give you a definite answer for that. While the tree has been cleared enough for our workers to access your room, we’re still inspecting the structural integrity of the area and want to ensure your room is completely safe. There was quite a bit of damage, and we are limited in our resources right now due to the storm and the holiday. In the meantime, to make things more comfortable for you, we’ve retrieved some of your belongings. You can pick them up from the reception.”

“Oh, fabulous,” Lena states. “I’ll be right there.”

She turns towards me. “Tanner, can you come? I might need your help getting my things, and I’m going to have to take my stuff to your room for now.”

“Of course,” I reply, struggling to keep the smile from spreading across my face.

Relief floods through me, though I try to hide it.

The thought of her continuing to stay in my room, close and under my protection, brings a wave of possessive satisfaction.

My wolf settles, knowing she’ll be near. I’m not ready to let her go just yet—and clearly, fate isn’t either.

As we head down to the lobby, my mind keeps running through how right it feels to have her near me, safe.

Protecting her is instinctive, and the idea of her being out of sight—even for a moment—tightens something in my chest.

At the reception desk, the receptionist brings out a large box filled with some of Lena’s belongings—mostly dresses, a pair of silver pumps, and what looks like a small box of jewelry.

Before Lena can reach for it, I step in and grab the box myself, feeling the weight of it but unfazed.

“I’ve got it,” I tell her firmly, my voice steady. “Let’s just head back to the room. You can check everything once we’re there.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but then just nods, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

As I carry the box, I can’t help the possessive pride swelling in my chest. She’s staying with me for a little longer, and that’s exactly where she belongs for now, and if I have any say in it, for a lot longer.

We make our way back to my room in comfortable silence, the soft thud of my boots on the carpet the only sound filling the hallway.

Lena walks just ahead of me, her steps lighter, as if she’s finally relaxing after days of tension. I let her lead the way, content to follow with her things in my arms.

When we reach the room, I shift the box in my grip and push the door open with my shoulder, motioning for her to step inside. Once we’re in, I place the box down gently on the bed and turn to lock the door behind us.

The quiet intimacy of the space settles around us, a comfortable warmth rising between us.

Lena sits down on the edge of the bed, her fingers already itching to dive into the box. I lean back against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her with a sense of satisfaction.

“Oooh, they got all the important stuff!” She celebrates once we’re inside, and she’s sitting on my bed with the box in front of her.

She draws out a gossamer silver dress with tiny pearls crowning its neck. “I was hoping this wouldn’t get misplaced in all the chaos.”

I squint at the dress she’s holding. “This is the same one you wore to the Winter solstice, right? The one that happened last year?”

Lena looks up at me slowly. There’s surprise scrawled all over her features.

“You remember?” she asks softly.

I shrug. “Of course. It’s hard to forget a woman like you in a dress like that. Anyone would remember.”

She shakes her head, a small smile on her face. “Derek didn’t,” she tells me. “He could never bring himself to care about anything I wore, no matter how much effort I put into making myself look good for him.”

“Well, I’m not Derek,” I insist. “And just because you dislike me doesn’t mean I’m a terrible person in every respect.”

“I don’t dislike you!” Lena protests. “I just…didn’t have the right impression of you,” she finishes lamely.

“So, you just assumed I was a dick, based on what you heard,” I sum up for her.

Lena nods, her cheeks red.

“Ah.” I sigh, and come closer to the bed, sitting down on its edge. “See, the thing about assumptions, Lena is that they can make basically anyone look like the devil. Even a saint.”

Lena nods again.

“What exactly did Derek say about me?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me. I give Lena a playful grin, trying to lighten the moment. “Come on, you’ve already said some lovely things since our little collision in the lobby. This can’t be any worse.”

She flushes slightly at the memory, taking a moment before speaking. “Well… Derek always told me you were kind of... rude. Especially to women who showed interest in you.”

I raise an eyebrow but let her continue.

“He said you had this habit of shutting women down in the harshest ways. Like, if someone approached you in public, you’d just blow them off. Sometimes, he even claimed you acted like they didn’t exist, even if they were right there, talking to you.”

The room goes quiet for a beat, tension thickening the air.

“I see,” I finally say, keeping my voice steady, though irritation simmers just under the surface.

“But,” Lena rushes to add, “now that I’ve gotten to know you, I’m sure that’s not the full story. You don’t have to explain anything if you don’t want to. I mean, it’s pretty clear you’re not that guy.”

I run a hand through my hair, letting out a long breath. “No, I should clear the air, especially if Derek’s been running his mouth.”

Lena leans forward slightly, her eyes fixed on me, waiting.

“Look, what Derek told you isn’t completely false. Yeah, he exaggerated it to make me seem like the bad guy, but there’s a grain of truth in there.” I pause, watching her reaction, then continue.

“I’ve definitely turned women down, Lena. Not to be cruel, but because... I just wasn’t interested. Sometimes, when I’m focused on my responsibilities as Alpha, I might come off as distant or dismissive. But it’s never been about intentionally hurting anyone.”

Lena nods, her expression softening. “I get that, Tanner. I do. It’s not easy, being pulled in a million directions.”

I give her a small smile, relieved. “Yeah. And sometimes, I was so wrapped up in pack problems, I didn’t even notice what was happening around me. But it was never about putting people down on purpose.”

“I believe you,” Lena says quietly. Her sincerity eases some of the tension still coiled in my chest. “Thanks for being honest with me.”

There’s a brief pause, and I can see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes as she shifts slightly on the bed.

Her hands fidget with the edge of the silver dress in her lap, and for a second, she looks almost... nervous.

She takes a breath, glancing up at me with a hesitance that sets off alarm bells. “Have you ever considered... looking for your fated mate? They exist for a reason, you know. To help carry the burden.”

Fated mates?

My heart skips a beat. Why did she bring that up?

The thought swirls around in my head as I study her. Her nervousness, the way she avoids my gaze for a split second. Is she trying to tell me something?

Does she know...?

I clear my throat, pushing those thoughts aside, even though my wolf stirs restlessly. “Yeah, I’m not a very big fan of destiny or fate or whatever else you call it,” I say, keeping my tone casual.

“We control our own lives. We make our own destiny.”

I glance at her, watching carefully to see how she’s taking my answer. She bites her lip, clearly weighing her next words.

“What do you think?” I ask, curious now.

Lena stays silent for a few seconds, then looks up at me with quiet resolve. “I actually disagree with you,” she says, and then quickly adds, “not with the part about controlling our lives. I believe that. But when it comes to fated mates... I think some things are meant to happen. Like they fall into place perfectly, the way pieces of a puzzle do.”

I cannot help it. I snort. “Really? You believe that?”

Lena nods her head fervently. “I do, Tanner. I think a fated mate bond is the most special, most sacred thing there is. I don’t think it’s like the other aspects of your life, which you can choose to deny or walk away from. I think fated mates always end up together, always. Without exception. I mean, there’s a reason they’re called fated, you know.” She laughs.

“Wow,” I say, somewhat taken aback by this revelation. I hadn’t expected Lena to be holding such views.

I scratch my head, unsure what to say next; the atmosphere in the room has suddenly changed after this conversation.

There’s something between us now, something hanging in the air, heavy and strange and unmistakably real.

“Well,” I get up from bed and smooth my pants to break up this intensity and because I don’t want to look Lena in the eyes just now. “I’ll let you change into your new clothes. Let me know once you’re done.”

And with that, I walk out of the room, trying to understand precisely what it is I’m feeling, and why it’s making me so uneasy.

You heard her , my wolf growls, restless and eager. Mates always end up together, no matter what.

Shut up , I snap back silently, trying to keep him at bay, but he’s pacing inside me, pushing me toward Lena, the urge to claim her stronger with every passing second.