Page 80 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

We waited at the stage door for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only twenty minutes. But with my lycan pacing and just as eager to lay eyes on Haven after watching her dance on stage for the first time as I was, the time dragged on and on.

The door opened and closed again, and all of us turned to stare at it, only to be disappointed to find Maya walking out of the theater instead of Haven.

“Way to make a she-wolf feel appreciated,”she linked us, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.“I promise your girl will be out soon,”she added privately to me with a wink.

“I just have to say, it warms my heart to see such strapping young gentlemen have an appreciation for the arts,” an older woman standing near us said.

Reid flashed his signature smile at her and her friends. “Well, our friend is in the company, so—”

“Oh, how lovely! Which role did they dance?”

“She was the Lilac Fairy,” I told them, and I couldn’t stop the hint of pride from sneaking into my voice.

“She was just divine!” one of her friends replied to me. “Her stage presence and grace? Just wonderful!” she gushed.

My lycan sat up straighter and puffed his chest out. As if he was the one who should take credit for Haven’s performance.

“Yes, she was phenomenal,” I agreed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the stage door open and close, and the voices of the women and my friends faded to almost nothing as Haven walked out. My lycan perked up, and our eyes never left her as she made her way through the crowd.

She looked breathtaking in a light purple chiffon gown with one strap that draped over her shoulder and down her back, almost like a cape. Her hair was still in her sleek, low bun from her performance, and the smile she wore on her face was dazzling.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and I smiled at her. But before she could reach us, she was waylaid by some enthusiastic crowd members, telling her how wonderfully she danced and asking her for her autograph.

We all stood at the edge of the crowd at the stage door, waiting for her as patiently as we could, watching her work through the admirers and fans. I could sense the anticipation from my friends that almost matched my own as she slowly made her way towards us. She was humble and gracious with each of her interactions, even though I could see her gaze sliding towards me every so often.

She even stopped and took extra time to speak with a little girl dressed in an elaborate tutu and a princess crown, bending down to her level and talking to her for several minutes.

And the entire time, both my lycan and I had the same thought— she would make a perfect luna.

I had already decided to take her as a chosen mate and make her my luna if she didn’t turn out to be my true mate. But seeing her interact with all of those people clinched it for me. She was a natural.

The last people she greeted were Jack and Shirley. They gave her quick hugs and words of congratulations before politely ducking out of the crowded stage door area to head home.

When she finally reached us, looking like a goddess with her skirt trailing behind her and her radiant smile and slightly flushed cheeks, I couldn’t help myself. I thrust my bouquet and gift for her into the hands of whichever of the three stooges behind me was closest, then walked right up to her, pulling her into my body by her hips.

Her cheeks turned even pinker as I lowered my face to hers and placed my lips to her mouth in a gentle yet passionate kiss. My lycan preened in my head as we staked our claim on her in front of everyone around the stage door.

“People are watching,” she muttered as I pulled back and took a calming breath to settle both my lycan and my dick.

“Good,” I replied, my voice a deep rumble in my chest. “Then everyone will know you’re MY Twinkle Toes.”

She shook her head at me with a half smile but reached up to peck me again on the lips.

“You’re ridiculous, Pal,” she chuckled.

“Maybe. But I’m your ridiculous Pal.”

Holy Goddess, when did I become so fucking cheesy?

The coughing and hissing behind me told me that my friends had definitely heard my stupid one-liner and were one hundred percent judging me for it. Idiots. I never gave them shit about their actions around females.

Okay, no, that’s not accurate at all.

I swear my lycan laughed in my head along with them, and I thanked Selene that Haven changed the subject. “Are you going to give me an official introduction?”

She tilted her head a bit and stood on her tiptoes to peek at them over my shoulder.

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