Chapter 22
“IT LOOKED LIVELY HERE, Serena commented as they stepped out of the car, her eyes scanning the city plaza. There were lots of establishments, food carts, and stalls that caught her interest; however, what intrigued her the most were the numerous individuals greeting Alpha Perez as they strolled by
He seemed respected and admired by the people around him, which was no surprise considering he had been deemed the alpha of alphas in the northern regions of the country,
“Do you want to look around first before going to the boutique he asked, aware that Serena was eager to explore more locations, especially since it was her first visit here.
“I’d love to, but I don’t want to be a burden on your schedule. You already have so much going on—”
“It’s fine, Jarren’s taking care of the matters that needed to be done, Alpha Perez, let out a reassuring smile, his busy schedule momentarily forgotten as he looked upon her. Accompanying her may not have been on his original plan for the day, but the thought of spending time with her was too enticing to pass up
Besides, he also wanted to give her a tour of his personal territories and allow her to breathe in the fresh air instead of being cooped up inside the packhouse fretting over the upcoming banquet.
“Let’s go, I’ll show you around. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better.” He reached for her hand and held it firmly, guiding her towards the center of town. Serena couldn’t help but stare at their hands clasped together, a small smile forming on her lips
She was aware that holding hands in public with someone like Pérez could attract attention, but she surprisingly didn’t mind. There was really something about his touch that made her feel safe and protected in a way she hadn’t expected.
“Do you eat skewers?” Serena turned to look at him, intrigued. Back in her old pack’s territory, she had seen vendors selling skewers and it always made her mouth water. However, Luna Emilia would always scold her for stopping at any street vendor whenever they went out together, saying that the food sold on the streets was unsanitary.
Because of that, she never dared to try them, afraid that her mother would be disappointed for disobeying her.
“I haven’t had the chance to try it, she admitted honestly, causing Alpha Perez to nod and purchase two skewers. He handed one to Serena before they settled themselves by the fountain. She then gazed at the skewers with curiosity before taking a bite. Her eyes widened as she tasted the sweet meat, its texture both savory and slightly sugary with a touch of saltiness.
“How was it?”
“It’s tasty and juicy,” Serena answered after savoring the bite, feeling the tangy, rich flavor of the sauce linger on her tongue. Alpha Perez chuckled low in his throat and reached for her lips, where a small drop of the sauce had dripped off the corner. Serena’s heart fluttered as she watched him lick his thumb clean with a slow, deliberate motion. “W–what are you doing?”
“Can’t let it go to waste.” He smirked mischievously, then licked his lips as he stared at her, almost as if he were trying to seduce her. She was taken aback at first, but then she shook her head and chuckled. Somehow, she was beginning to feel more at ease around him and had grown accustomed to his ways.
“You’re such a flirt, it’s hard to believe you didn’t have any dating experience before you met me, Serena exclaimed with delight as they savored their skewers, enjoying the fragrant smoke and the tender meat all the while watching the children play around the fountain.
It was a refreshing sight, a stark contrast to the grueling scenes that had unfolded before them during the war. The sounds of laughter and splashing echoed around them, washing away the memories of destruction and cries of agony.
“Well, I guessed it just came out naturally when I’m with the person I’m interested in,”
Alpha Perez responded, causing her cheeks to flush and her eyes to shift away from him. After all, she was well aware that he
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Chapter 22
was referring to her. “Does any open display of affection make your uncomfortable?”
65%
“Not really, it just caught me off guard. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that you’re attracted to me,” Serena toyed with the stick in her hands, mustering up the courage to ask him the question that had been on her mind since he admitted his attraction for her the night before.
Despite her attempts to convince herself she shouldn’t need to know the answer because it may put her in a vulnerable position, there was still a lingering desire isnide her to know his true thoughts. He would now be a part of her life, and they were getting married, so she felt it was only natural to have a better understanding of Alpha Perez’s feelings towards her in order to set boundaries
After all, she wasn’t ready for any romantic involvement yet, so knowing the truth could help her navigate their relationship
“Can I ask something?” she finally uttered, her heart racing.
“Hmm. go ahead. I’ll answer everything honestly.” He gave a subtle nod and fixed his gaze on her, taking the stick into his mouth and relishing the last bite of his skewers.
“Does your attraction towards me run deeper than just physical? She blurted out the question, not wanting to meet his gaze as she focused on finishing her food. She could sense his shock from her peripheral vision and instinctively tightened her grip on the stick in her hand, feeling nervous.
Finally, after a few seconds, she mustered up the courage to look at him directly when he didn’t answer, her heart racing as she saw a loving smile spread across his face while he gazed back at her with so much affection and adoration.
“I’m attracted to you romantically.” Alpha Perez said in a soft, gentle voice. His amber eyes almost seemed to glow under the sun, and his lips curved upwards as Serena’s cheeks blushed.
His gaze held such intensity that it sent shivers down her spine and made her heart race once more. She was starting to get lost in her thoughts when suddenly, a loud boom of thunder broke through the sky.
“It looks like it’s going to rain. Maybe we should go to the boutique before it starts pouring.” He reached out his hand to take the empty stick from Serena’s grip and disposed of it in a nearby trashcan along with his stick. Then, he extended his hand to help her up.
Serena hesitated briefly, trying to make sense of the situation, but ultimately gave in as the sky darkened. As soon as their hands connected, they headed towards the boutique and were welcomed by a middle–aged woman who appeared to know Alpha Perez.
“Serena, this is Anita, she’s a member of our pack and she’s also Jarren’s mother.” he introduced, “Anita, meet Serena–the
wife.” woman who will soon be my
their attention towards the person who had just “What?!” A different woman’s voice chimed in, causing both of them to snap entered the boutique. Alpha Perez’s eyebrows furrowed instantly, while Serena stood there with a look of confusion on her face, trying to figure out why he was reacting that way to the blonde woman’s presence. “What do you mean she will soon be your wife? Alpha, please explain-
“I don’t believe we are in a relationship where I owe you any explanations about my personal life. Learn your place,” Serena’s eyes widened as Alpha Perez’s demeanor suddenly turned cold as he spoke harshly to the blonde woman. It was like he was a completely different person, and it made her question if he had been two–faced all along
Or perhaps, he was only showing his soft side when he w into such an unfriendly and hostile mode.
with her. Regardless, it made Serena shiver seeing him change
“Uhm, who is she?” Serena asked, feeling the tension in the room thickening with each passing second. The blonde was clearly taken aback by the Alpha’s words and stood there in silence, her expression showed a mix of disbelief and fear.
“She’s nobody.” Alpha Perez answered, causing the blonde woman to bite her lip. She seemed on the verge of complaining, but held back, knowing there could be consequences for showing her frustration. Instead, she shot a glare at Serena before
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Chapter 22
storming out of the boutique.
“What’s with her?” she muttered, feeling as though she did something wrong to her. When the door closed, Serena turned to look at Alpha Perez, finding his expression softening slightly as he looked at her. His demanour turning back to how he usually was around her.
“Sorry, that woman was not of importance. Let’s start on finding the perfect dress for you to wear at the party,” he said, placing his hand on her back and leading her deeper into the store as they continued walking. Serena pursed her lips and glanced at the door for a second, wondering what kind of relationship they had since she could tell that the woman was in love with Alpha Perez.
SEND GIFT
