Page 80 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

Because he does this to me. He has a way of pulling things out of me.

Alex’s brows furrow, his face twisting with thoughts I can’t quite read. And then—he smiles. Not a smirk. Not that unreadable, controlled expression he wears so well. A real smile.

“Well then,” he says, voice dipping into something almost playful. “How about we fulfill that birthday wish for you?”

I blink, caught completely off guard. A surprised laugh bubbles out of me. “What? You’re going to get me a puppy?”

“Oh no, Katherine,” he says, shaking his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I’m going to be your puppy.”

I stare. My brows twitch, confusion flickering across my face.

He just gently tugs on my arm, leading me toward the door. “Come on,” he says. “I’ll show you.”

Before I know it, we’re outside. The night air is crisp, cool against my skin. A gentle breeze stirs my hair, wrapping around me like a whisper. Alex holds my hand, his grip steady, firm, but never demanding.

We walk without speaking, the rhythm of our steps syncing naturally as we cross the road, moving toward the dense woods ahead. The trees stretch tall, their canopies thick, the moonlight slicing through in silver beams. The world feels different here, quieter, more intimate. It’s just me and Alex, swallowed by the night, and yet there’s no fear curling inside me. No panic. Just this—this strange, unexpected ease settling deep into my bones.

He leads me a few steps into the woods before stopping, turning to face me with something unreadable in his expression. And then, with a small, knowing smile, he says—

“Let’s make that wish come true, shall we?”

And then—he changes.

It happens fast.

One second, he’s standing in front of me, tall and commanding, and the next—his body shifts, the movement so seamless yet so unnatural that a jolt of alarm pulses through me. I stumble back instinctively, my breath catching as I watch him—watch his bones realign, his muscles shift, his entire being morphing.

I hear it, too. The sound of bones stretching, reshaping. A deep cracking that should sound painful but doesn’t seem to phase him. His face changes, his form contorting, and then, in the span of seconds, he’s not Alex anymore.

He’s a wolf. A huge one.

The process is nothing short of breathtaking. Even though I’ve seen Alice shift into her wolf form before, seeing the transformation never ceases to amaze me.

The moonlight spills across him, highlighting the sleek, powerful coat of fur that ripples over his muscular frame. His presence is just as commanding as it was before. There’s something almost… ethereal about him, something primal and untamed, yet completely assured.

And then I look into his eyes. Even in this form, even with the drastic change, it’s still Alex. The same piercing gaze, the same quiet intensity.

For a moment, I just stare, suspended in awe.

And then—he moves.

Slowly, carefully, he steps closer, his massive paws silent against the forest floor. He nudges me lightly with his snout, his tail giving a small wag.

And that’s what breaks the tension. Because it’s so unexpectedly adorable that I can’t help it—I laugh. A full, bubbling, real laugh.

The sound of it surprises me, the way it bursts out of me so naturally, so easily. I drop to my knees, reaching out, my fingers tentatively running through his fur. It’s impossibly soft, but beneath it, I can feel the power in his muscles, the quiet strength that makes him who he is.

He leans into my touch, a low, pleased sound rumbling from his chest, and then, just as I think I have a grasp on what’s happening, he does the most ridiculous thing—

He licks me. Right on the cheek. I let out a startled laugh, shoving lightly at his thick fur. “Alex! Gross.”

He just nudges me again, more insistent this time, stepping back slightly before lowering himself onto his haunches. His tail sways, and then—he turns, his body shifting just enough that it’s almost inviting.

I blink. It takes me a second to understand what he’s doing.

“Oh, you cannot be serious,” I say, narrowing my eyes.

Alex wags his tail.

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