Page 81 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

Oh, he’s serious.

I hesitate. Only for a beat. Then—without overthinking it—I move. I climb onto his back, carefully settling myself againsthim. And the second I do, he rises, lifting himself to full height, his movements smooth and effortless.

And then—we’re moving.

His steps are heavy but steady, the soft thud of his paws against the earth filling the night. The trees blur past us, the wind slipping through the leaves, and I laugh again.

A full, unrestrained sound that feels like freedom. It’s ridiculous, surreal, something straight out of a dream, but I don’t care.

Because right now, in this moment—I feel like a kid again.

And Alex… Alex is the puppy I always wanted.

Chapter Twenty

Alex

The sound of her laughter fills the night, weaving through the trees, bright and full of something light. Something free.

Her arms tighten around me, her body pressed against my back, her warmth sinking into my fur, and my wolf is beside himself. He feels her, feels the way she clings to us, trusts us, and he thrums with joy, a deep, pulsing excitement that rattles through my chest. I can’t help it—I nudge her gently, urging her to hold on tighter.

She does.

She squeezes her arms around me, her body molding against my back, and that simple touch—that simple, innocent embrace—destroys me. I can feel her heartbeat drumming against me, fast and alive, syncing with mine, fueling something inside me, something instinctual and unshakable.

And then I run.

The forest blurs around us as I move, my paws pounding against the earth, the wind whipping past us. She lets out another laugh—loud, unrestrained, filled with pure, unfiltered joy—and I swear I feel it in my soul. It’s like she’s weightless, like the world hasn’t been sitting on her shoulders, like nothing has been trying to break her. I live for this moment. For the way she trusts me enough to let go.

I push myself faster, the thrill of the run surging through me. Her legs grip my sides, her hands fist into my fur, and I know this is one of the happiest moments I’ve ever had.

She’s here. She’s with me. After everything. After all the ways I’ve fucked up.

Eventually, I slow, my paws pressing softer into the dirt as I come to a halt in a clearing, the trees stretching high above us, the stars blinking against the deep navy sky. There’s a massive tree in the center, its branches stretching wide, and I let out a slow exhale before lowering myself just enough for her to climb off.

She slides down, her fingers running through my fur one last time, and fuck—that simple touch, that carelessness of it, nearly undoes me.

She’s still laughing, her voice breathless, her cheeks flushed, her entire body glowing. And then I shift. My body pulls itself back together, bones cracking and realigning, fur retreating into skin, and in seconds, I’m standing in front of her again. Human.

Her eyes meet mine, still filled with laughter, and I glance down at my watch. It’s midnight.

I look back at her.

“Happy birthday, Katherine.”

Her smile is immediate, so damn effortless, and she exhales a small, almost disbelieving laugh. “I feel like fifteen-year-old Katherine again.”

Something in me clenches at that, at the way she says it, at what it means. I swallow hard and force a small smile. “I’m glad I could make your wish come true.”

We sit under the tree, the quiet settling in around us. And for a long moment, neither of us speaks. Because this is what it should feel like.

Just the two of us. No tension. No anger. No weight between us. Just her. Just me. Just this.

I rub a hand down my face, exhaling slowly. My chest feels heavy, my thoughts pressing hard against my ribs. And then,before I can second-guess it, before I can let my own pride hold me back again, I look at her and say—

“Katherine, I need to say this.”

Her eyes turn to me, the lightness in them dimming slightly.

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