LENA
The weather had finally turned after a few days of rainy weather, and the sun bathed everything in a warm glow. The pack's common area was buzzing with life today: laughter, chatter, and the sounds of children playing and people sharing stories. It was an impromptu gathering—one of those spontaneous moments where everyone seemed to come together without much planning.
I had found myself wandering the edges of it all, still trying to find my place. Everyone was so comfortable with each other, so easy in the way they interacted, like they were born to be a family. I wasn't sure where I fit in yet, still unsure about everything. But something about today—the warmth in the air, the smell of food wafting from the makeshift tables, the ease with which everyone laughed and talked—made it feel like I could almost belong.
Evan and his sister, Sienna, had been my guide through all of it, a steady presence by my side. He had a way of making everything seem so natural, so easy.
"See those kids over there?" he asked, nudging me with his elbow, nodding toward a group playing tag near the trees. "Dom's usually the one leading the charge when they start getting rowdy. You'd be surprised how much they adore him. But don't tell him I said that. He'd never hear the end of it."
I glanced over at Dom, who was, indeed, surrounded by a few of the younger pack members. He was kneeling down, his large hands scooping up one of the smaller children, twirling them around in the air as the other kids ran circles around him. His face was soft in a way I rarely saw, his features relaxed, and his laugh—genuine, free of the usual tension—made something in my chest ache.
"You're right. I never would have imagined him like that," I murmured. It was strange, seeing Dom in this light. Here, among his pack, there was no armor. He wasn't the brooding Alpha I had first met. He was just... Dom. And I could see how loved he was. The way the kids surrounded him, the way the older members smiled and exchanged easy conversations with him—it was clear that Dom didn't just lead with authority. He led with love, too. A deep, unspoken connection that went beyond his role as Alpha. He had their respect, but more than that, he had their hearts.
Evan smiled, almost knowingly. "Yeah. He might act all hard and distant, but trust me, Dom feels every moment. His pack is his family. He loves them, and they love him right back. I think that's why he tries so hard to keep everything together. He has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, but he carries it because he cares."
I swallowed, my heart clenching at the thought. I had seen the weight Dom carried in his quiet moments, when his gaze grew distant, when his jaw tightened at the smallest hint of threat to the pack. I knew he had been shaped by that responsibility, and it wasn't something he took lightly. But standing there, watching him with the kids, I couldn't help but wonder if he ever allowed himself to let go of that burden. Did he ever let himself just be?
"Does he ever—" I hesitated, unsure if I should voice the question that had been gnawing at me. "Does he ever get a break? From all of it, I mean?"
Evan looked at me, his expression softening. "Not really. He doesn't take breaks. I think he believes if he does, everything could fall apart. But... it doesn't work like that. Not really. The pack knows him. They know what he's done for them, and they love him for it. But they also want him to let himself be human sometimes, you know? To let himself be Dom."
I nodded slowly, my thoughts swirling as I watched him again—this time, Dom was playing catch with a few of the older kids, his laughter light and genuine. The scene, the way everyone was so wrapped up in each other's presence, felt like a snapshot of something I could never fully be a part of. A piece of me longed for that sense of belonging, that sense of family. But no matter how much I wanted to be part of this pack, there was something I couldn't ignore.
I wasn't one of them. I wasn't a shifter. I didn't have the bond they did. I couldn't share in their strength, their shared history, their instincts. I was just a human among them, an outsider with no real connection to the heart of this place.
My heart clenched at the thought.
"Still thinking of escaping?" Evan's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
I sighed, feeling the weight of my own silence. "I realized it's not that simple.I decided to stick around a while."
Evan's expression softened, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding. "It's tough, huh? But I think... I think Dom would be able to help if you let him. He's never known anyone like you before, someone who doesn't fit the mold, but he's clearly smitten beyond the bond. And I think it's driving him crazy."
I couldn't help but laugh, a nervous sound escaping my lips. "You're telling me."
Evan chuckled, but then his tone grew more serious. "You should talk to him about it, Lena. Don't let that distance grow between you. It's hard enough for Dom to let people in. Don't make it harder on him or you by pulling away, okay? Besides," he nudged my shoulder playfully, "I like having you around. Sienna and I would be sad if you were gone."
I was quiet for a long moment, watching Dom again, my heart a tangled mess of emotions. I wanted so badly to be part of this. I wanted to be part of him. But every time I tried to imagine it—imagined myself living among them, among all these powerful beings, walking beside Dom—I couldn't see how it would work. How could I possibly fit in when everything about me was so different?
I was lost in my thoughts, the swirling emotions of wanting to belong and the reality of being an outsider battling inside me. But the moment I glanced back over at Dom, my breath hitched. There was something in his expression—something that pulled at the ache in my chest. It wasn't just his presence or the undeniable pull of the bond. It was him—the way he softened when his eyes found mine.
It was subtle, but I caught it—a slight easing of his posture. It was as though the weight of the world lifted just for a second. He wasn't the Alpha right now. He was just Dom.