Christmas with the Grumpy Alpha (Feuding Hearts Christmas)

15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Lena

“Okay, what’s wrong?”

I put down my plate of food on Tanner’s bed and look up at him.

Tanner shrugs, poking listlessly at his own plate of rice with a fork.

“Nothing,” he says sullenly. “Nothing’s wrong. Why would you think that?”

I roll my eyes at him. Grab his untouched plate from his hands and gently place it aside, until there is nothing lying between us anymore. Then I scoot closer to Tanner and grab his hand.

“Look,” I begin, staring intently into his hooded eyes. “I know something’s bothering you, and I know you were planning on telling me anyway. You were building up to it, I could clearly tell. So, I’m just going to skip that whole painful process and cut right to the chase. What is it?”

Tanner looks at me.

The blue of his eyes is clouded, made murkier by some secret he isn’t sharing. His jaw is set in a tense line, sharper and more prominent than ever.

And the most obvious of all is his throat, bobbing up and down as he swallows repeatedly, trying to get rid of his unease.

“Tell me, Tanner,” I insist, leaning closer. “What’s bothering you?”

Tanner presses his lips together grimly. His hand tightens over mine, as if by telling me, he’s transferring all of his burden onto my shoulders.

“My family is coming to the lodge tomorrow,” he mutters in a low voice, his eyes never leaving mine. “Coming to meet the bride and groom, meet me…and meet you as well.”

Damn. No wonder he looked tense.

“Oh,” I murmur with surprise, suddenly too full and too queasy. I shouldn’t have eaten that much, not with such wonderful news awaiting my attention. “Is….Is m—is Derek coming too?”

The question slips out before I can stop it.

I instantly regret it, but the thought nags at me.

Derek always found a way to keep me at arm’s length regarding his family. I never met them, not once, during the time we dated.

I was always lucky enough to avoid them, or so I thought back then. But now? Now it feels like yet another red flag I missed. It was a clear sign that he wasn’t taking me seriously.

Tanner nods darkly, further causing my insides to dive uncomfortably. I exhale and lean away from him, trying to remain calm.

“Okay,” I whisper to myself. “Okay. It’s fine.”

“Lena.” Tanner grabs my hand, his grip firm and reassuring, but I can feel the tension thrumming beneath his skin.

His wolf is on edge, ready to protect. “Nothing—and I mean nothing—will happen to you, I swear it. Derek won’t lay a finger on you, won’t even look your way in a threatening manner. I’ll be there, watching, protecting you. I promise.”

Tanner’s tone is so vehement, and his eyes so fiercely protective that I can’t help but crack a smile.

“You will?” I ask softly. “Why? Why do so much for me?”

Tanner returns my smile with a slightly sly one of his own. “I think you know, Lena. I think you’ve known for a while. Your inner wolf must have told you many times, just like mine has been telling me.”

I try to act innocent, but my flushing neck betrays me.

There’s no point. You can’t hide something like this. It would be as pointless as trying to cover a volcano with a blanket, hoping no one notices the eruption beneath.

“Fated mates,” I confess, my shoulders sagging now that it’s out in the open. “We’re fated mates.”

“We are.” Tanner agrees gently. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

I raise my eyes up to him. “But you don’t believe in the concept of fated mates,” I say, hating the way my voice has acquired a whiny tone.

“I don’t,” Tanner agrees instantly. “I believe in crafting my own destiny. What does it matter whether the universe has any plans for us or not when we’ve made plans of our own? Fated mates or not, if we decide to be together, nothing else should be relevant.”

A bitter chuckle flutters past my lips before I can stop it. “Together? Tanner, all we’ve done this weekend is fight, sleep together, and fake a relationship. What does that word even mean?”

Tanner smiles. “It means that there’s more to our relationship than just sex and faking our romance. It means that we’ve finally gotten to know each other, and I’ve finally let you see my true, vulnerable side. Only once you’ve seen that, can you decide whether we’re compatible or not.”

I gulp. Tanner has never been so open in front of me before. It’s oddly unnerving.

“How will I get to see that side of you?” I ask him timidly.

He grabs my hand and grins. He leans towards me until his canines fill my vision. “Do you trust me?”

I nod.

Tanner’s grin widens and turns dangerously exciting.

“Then come.”