Leah

Alex doted on me as much as he could for the next few days. He practically begged me to let him feed me, which I thought was weird but Jon said it's a 'mate thing' so I let him do it. He is adorably clueless about humans and has asked a million questions about how humans mate. I can't help but laugh when he refers to it like that. The whole idea of dating, learning about someone, falling in love and choosing to be with them is like rocket science to my wolf.

"So what is a wedding then?" He asks another question as he gives me another spoonful of soup. I rolled my eyes when he brought another bowl. The kitchen is switching up the kinds and they are all delicious, but I can eat solid foods.

I'm not a baby, even though I'm about as fragile as one in their eyes.

"A wedding is when two people legally and spiritually join themselves together. Think of a wedding ring like a mark." I explain and he thinks on that for a moment.

"But a ring can be removed. A mark can't." He responds and I nod.

"A marriage can also legally be broken." I tell him and he gasps.

"Well, why do it at all in the first place?" He asks incredulously and I chuckle at how offended he seems.

"Humans aren't like wolves. We're not given a soulmate. We have to guess. Humans change as they grow, and not all humans stay in love for their whole lives." I explain and he looks at me curiously.

"Do you think you could be with me forever?" He asks quietly and I smile at him.

"Hmmm... I don't know. That's quite the sacrifice I'd be making." I tease and he grunts in response.

"We could do the wedding thing. If you wanted... It sounds fun." He says and I shake my head while smiling.

"Slow down you impatient wolf. You're skipping over the best part." I tell him.

"And what part is that?" He asks amused.

"Falling in love." I say with a shy smile. He smiles in response and leans down to kiss my cheek. Warmth spreads through me at the affection and I know my face heats up in a blush. I take the soup bowl from him and place it next to me on the table.

"Alex..." I say, sitting up on the bed and throwing one leg over his lap so I can straddle him. His eyes go wide at the movement and he lifts his hands before setting them back down, like he's not sure what to do with them.

"Yes?" He asks, his voice hoarse and nervous.

"Would you like to kiss me?" I ask curiously, threading my arms around his neck. He looks in my eyes and nods enthusiastically making me giggle. I reach down to grip his hands, and put them around my waist. I feel his fingertips dig in to my sides and pull me a little closer to him.

I lean forward until my lips are only inches from his ear. "Then do it." I whisper. A low growl leaves his chest and the sound makes goosebumps erupt over my entire body.

His hand snakes up to thread in my hair and he gently pulls me back until he's looking in my eyes. I lick my lips and he trails the motion, groaning a little until he leans forward.

The first touch of his lips to mine is tentative and nervous. He skates his mouth over mine and I inhale a sharp breath at the pop and sizzle of pleasure that mounts within me. He presses his lips firmly to mine and I kiss him back, parting his lips with my tongue. He growls again as I taste him, learn him, how he feels, what he likes. I press myself further against him until our chests are flush. He holds me gently, but securely as we continue to explore each other. I move my hands so I can run my fingers through his hair, pulling on it a little earning me another sensual moan from Alex. I feel my core begin to drip with excitement as every nerve in my body feels alight with a passion I've never experienced before.

Alex gently breaks the kiss, pecking me a few more times before pulling away to look at me with a bright smile. I giggle a little nervously as I admire his red puffy lips and hooded eyes.

"You're right. This part is fun." He says with cocky, almost boyish grin that makes me laugh before I tuck my face into his neck. He tightens his hold on me in a sweet hug and I decide that I want to stay like this for as long as he will let me. I allow my body to relax against him as he runs his hands down my back and plants kisses on my head. He pulls the blanket up and wraps it securely around me, making me feel almost like a child, but I know he is still worried about me getting cold.

"You know it's impossible for me to get cold with you so close, right?" I ask amused as I close my eyes, soaking up the warm comfort he provides. The feeling of safety I've never been lucky enough to experience before.

He chuckles and I feel the rumble of his laughter where our chests are pressed together.

"I know. It seems reflex now. Are you still hungry?" He asks. I shake my head and burrow further into him making him chuckle again.

"If this is annoying I can get off." I say, even though it's the last thing I want to do.

"It's not annoying at all. It's nice." He says quietly, rubbing his cheek against me. I smile at the movement and look up at him curiously.

"Why have you been doing that so much lately?" I ask, not having seen anyone else do that before. I swear a tint of red develops on his cheeks as he looks away embarrassed.

"My wolf wants his scent on you. Rubbing my skin against yours is the easiest way to do that. Half the time I don't even realize I'm doing it." He admits and I snicker a laugh before rubbing my face all over his neck and cheeks. He laughs before pushing me back, tucking me back under his chin.

"Ok, ok that's good. You smell like me plenty." He says with a laugh. I giggle and relax back into him, my eyes flitting open and registering the sight out the window. I gasp in excitement and sit up, accidentally bumping Alex's chin with the top of my head. He growls a little and I give him a sheepish smile before climbing off of his lap.

"Sorry." I mutter before throwing on an extra pair of pants and another sweater plus a coat.

"What are you doing, little one?" He asks me curiously, climbing out of bed while watching me.

"It's snowing!" I exclaim excitedly while pointing out the window.

"Ok. So what are you doing?" He asks, obviously confused. I grab his hand and start pulling him towards the door.

"We're gonna go play in it!" I yell and he pulls me back, stopping my progress.

"Leah. You're still sick. You shouldn't go outside yet." He says worriedly and I groan in annoyance.

"I've been in bed for days! Days, Alex! I need fresh air, to breathe the scent of the wild yonder!" I exclaim dramatically making him chuckle at me. He looks at me for a few moments before he sighs and runs his hand through his hair.

"I find it very hard to say no to you, little one." He says before gripping my hand and pulling me towards the front door.

He throws a hat and gloves on me as well as another coat, an extra pair of socks and a pair of boots that are much too large for me.

"I feel like this is overkill." I mutter, but Alex pins me with a firm look, silencing my complaints.

"Why don't we just get me one of those heated sweatshirts?" I say jokingly and Alex's eyes dart up to me.

"They make those?" He asks and I nod giggling.

"Jon!" He yells and Jon pokes his head out from the kitchen.

"Yes, Alpha?" He asks.

"Buy Leah any form of heated clothing you can find." He says firmly and Jon laughs before he nods.

"Yes, Alpha. What are you guys doing?" he asks, eyeing me curiously.

"Going to play in the snow! You want to come?" I ask and he nods.

"Heck yes! My wolf loves snow!" He says excitedly and Alex grumbles

"You'll tell me if you get cold, right?" He asks me seriously and I roll my eyes before I nod.

"Yes! Now let's go!" I nearly trip trying to walk in the boots he put on me, but I make it out the door and Jon shifts, jumping through the snow playfully in wolf form.

He comes up to me and leans down, so I climb on his back and hold on as he runs through the snow, the cold air whipping across my face. I can feel my cheeks stinging from the chilly air and climb down from Jon before plopping back and making a snow angel. Alex looks down at me, watching me affectionately. I ball up some snow and, when he's not looking, chuck it at him smacking him in the shoulder. He narrows his eyes playfully at me.

"Oh. It's on now." He says, leaning down to make his own snowball. He throws it at me and Jon jumps in front of it, it hitting him in the side. He flails on the ground dramatically, whining and howling in mock pain making me giggle.

I look around and to my joy almost the entire pack has come outside. Children building snowmen and having snowball fights, some people clearing off the paths and others running around in wolf form, sniffing around in the snow. Laughter rings out through the otherwise still afternoon and a sense of peace washes through me.

Alex comes up from behind me and lifts me, pulling me against his chest and letting his warmth seep into me. I look up at him and smile, him smiling in return before leaning down to kiss me gently.

"See, little one? I told you. You're good for us."