LENA
I swallowed the lump in my throat, shaking off the sudden rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. Without thinking, I took a few steps forward, towards him, my heart pounding in my chest.
Evan had left me alone with my thoughts, slipping away to join another group, giving me space to figure out what I was feeling. I didn't know exactly why I was walking toward him, but something inside me was calling me forward. I wasn't sure if it was the bond, the strange connection we had, or just the sheer fact that I needed something more than this uncertainty that clung to me like a shadow.
Dom hadn't seen me approach at first, too caught up in the moment as he threw a ball for one of the older kids to catch. But the moment I stood before him, he looked up, his features softening just a fraction.
"Hey," I said, my voice a little breathier than I intended. I tried to keep my tone light, like the tension between us wasn't as palpable as it felt. "Looks like you're having fun."
His lips quirked up into that small, rare smile of his. "Yeah, they're a handful, but it's worth it."
I was standing close enough to him now that I could see the way the sunlight hit his skin, the warmth of it making him look even more relaxed than usual. There were no layers of authority around him now—no wall that made him the Alpha. He was just Dom. It was like I was seeing him for the first time, like, actually seeing him. I realized how much I wanted to see more of that side of him, that vulnerability I rarely got a glimpse of. It made everything feel like it had been turned upside down for a moment.
"You don't have to do this alone," I blurted out, surprising myself. It was a thought that had been building in me, the quiet acknowledgment that Dom shouldn't have to carry the weight of everything on his shoulders.
He looked at me, and his expression flickered, something unreadable in his eyes. He opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself, the usual guardedness returning for just a moment.
Before he could say anything, I took a step closer, not wanting to give him the chance to retreat back into his shell. "I've never seen you be so relaxed. Or have fun, I guess. I like seeing you like this. I mean," I added, a little softer. "You don't have to carry it all by yourself, Dom. Being Alpha or whatever. Let them help. Let me help."
He stayed silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between my eyes and the ground beneath us. Then, to my surprise, he exhaled slowly, still tossing the ball back and forth. "I know," he said quietly. "I know I don't, but it's hard. This whole thing-" He waved a hand vaguely around the pack. "It's not just about being a leader. It's about keeping them safe. I can't afford to let my guard down. Not with so much changing now, especially."
I understood what he was saying—his role as Alpha required so much more than just strength. It was about responsibility, protecting the pack, ensuring they didn't fall apart. But I also knew that it wasn't healthy for him to carry that weight alone.
"Maybe you don't have to do it all the time," I said, my voice low but firm. "Maybe there's room for you to just be Dom sometimes."
His eyes flickered toward me, then away, like he didn't know how to respond to that. And for a brief moment, I felt like I was too much of an outsider to truly understand what he was going through. But as I stood there, staring into his eyes, I felt a strange sense of comfort in the silence that fell between us. There was something unspoken in the air, something shared. And as much as I still felt like I didn't belong, I could tell Dom was starting to let his guard down, if only a little.
I felt a wash of embarrassment at my bold statement, for coming to him like this, when I hadn't so much as initiated a conversation since I arrived. But Dom didn't seem to mind. In fact, he reached out his free hand and brushed my wrist before catching and throwing the ball again. It sent heat racing through me, which he had to realize because he grinned down at me and winked.
I glanced away, shy, awe struck, and confused.
That's when I noticed the pack members—some nearby, some from across the lawn—watching us. Their smiles were subtle but warm, their whispers a soft hum beneath the laughter and chatter of the gathering. A few of them exchanged glances, and I felt a twinge of embarrassment at the attention we were getting.
But then, one of the women from the pack—someone I'd seen around but hadn't spoken to much—came over, smiling brightly. "Lena, right?" she asked, her voice warm and inviting. "It's great to see you out here with us today. I hope you're settling in okay."
Her words, simple as they were, made something in my chest expand. She wasn't just speaking to me out of courtesy. She wanted to talk to me, wanted to include me. And I could see it in the way her eyes twinkled with kindness, in the way she extended a hand.
"I'm Cora," she added, giving me a quick but friendly hug that caught me off guard. "We've all been wanting to get to know you better."
I stammered out a reply, feeling the warmth in my cheeks, but just as quickly as she had appeared, she was gone, off to speak with someone else. The gesture left me feeling oddly touched, yet still so far from truly being part of this family.
Dom noticed the interaction, his gaze narrowing slightly before softening. "The pack is a bit like that," he said, almost as though reading my mind. "They may seem like they're giving you space, but they're welcoming. They want you to feel at home, even if it takes time. They don't want to push, I think."
I nodded, not entirely convinced, but also not sure how to voice the dissonance I was feeling. They were kind, yes, but I wasn't sure how much of that kindness was meant for someone like me.
And then, as I caught sight of a couple of other pack members watching me with smiles—genuine, not forced—I felt my chest tighten once again. It was too much, too fast. I didn't know how to process it all.
I wanted so badly to feel like I could stay, to feel like this—they—could be my family. But I still wasn't sure where I fit. What was I to them? A human? A stranger? Someone to pity? Someone to love?
I looked back at Dom, still standing just a little too far from me, his attention caught by one of the kids tugging at his arm. And for the first time, I saw a flicker of something else in his eyes—a flash of guilt, maybe, or maybe longing. But it was there.
I swallowed hard, the familiar ache in my chest growing.
It was easy to feel like I didn't belong here. Easier still to imagine slipping away, escaping back to where I knew I didn't belong, even if it meant leaving behind the family I could almost taste. Leaving behind him.
But something told me I couldn't stay forever in this half-life. Sooner or later, the truth of who I was would weigh too heavily on both of us. And when that happened—when it all became too much—I wouldn't know how to leave without breaking both my heart and his.
But then, a little girl tugged at my hand. Startled, I looked down into her deep brown eyes. "Hi," she said. She couldn't have been more than five or six. "You're Lena."
"Hi," I found myself smiling. "I am. What's your name?" I crouched down in front of her, bopping a finger against a worn stuffed bunny's nose. "And who's this?"
She grinned, "This is Bun. I'm Sara. Are you going to marry Alpha Dom?"
My cheeks burned and I glanced up at where Dom was organizing kids into teams for some kind of game. He smiled at me, clearly not hearing Sara's question. "I'm not sure," I told her.
"Hmm. Well, I hope you do. You're pretty."
I laughed, delighted by her sweetness and eagerness to talk to me. "Not as pretty as you."
Sara giggled. "Do you like to play baseball?"
"Well, I don't know," I told her honestly. "I've never played before."
A shadow fell over my shoulder, Sara beamed up at our guest and I tilted my head back to meet Dom's gaze. "Well, that won't do," he grinned. "Everyone has to know how to play baseball."
"Oh. I don't-"
Sara pulled my hand again, cantering towards the teams. "Play with us, play with us!"
I laughed. "What if I watch and learn instead? I'll cheer for you."
"'Kay! But you have to cheer for my team the loudest. Alpha Dom says he won't pick favorites and cheer for my team only."
"He does?" I asked. "Hmm, well, then if I'm cheering just for your team, does that mean Dom should only cheer for the other to keep it fair?"
"You don't call Alpha Dom, Alpha?"
I looked to Dom, "Should I?"
He shook his head and smiled at Sara. "Lena has a pass on that one."
"Because she's so pretty, right?"
My face flushed again when Dom answered her, "Absolutely." He winked at me again and then sent Sara to her team.
"So," I said, "How does baseball work?"
He laughed and threw an arm around my shoulders, "It's pretty cut and dry. What you really need to concentrate on, though, is that when my team wins, you're gonna owe me."
"Owe you what? When did I make a bet?"
He grinned and motioned for me to stand off to the side of their small home plate. "I haven't decided yet."
"What if my team wins?" I challenged.
He raised a brow, that same wicked grin in place. "What would you like, Lena?"
I gulped. What would I like? Things I wouldn't allow myself to even think right now. "I'll think of something."
The air was charged. I fought my body's reaction to him, my desperate desire to melt into his side.
We began cheering as soon as the first kid stepped up with a bat. It was adorable, as it was fierce. "These kids are ruthless," I muttered to Dom.
"I think they're showing off for you."
"What?"
He gestured at Sara, waving at me from where she stood on third base. Her team was up one point, and I was feeling pretty good about winning. Though some part of me was pretty sure I'd end up winning either way if the glint in Dom's eye was anything to go by.