Falling in love with my Ex's Alpha Chapter 81

My parents stifle a laugh at Kaiden's reaction, and I release the breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I run my hand through my hair, the strands slipping through my fingers like silk. Relief surges through me, a comforting tide that washes away the tension that had gripped my body.

Apparently, my parents accepted Kaiden because their tense shoulders finally relaxed.

I move closer to Kaiden, my fingers reaching out, their tips trembling with anticipation as I gently clasp his calloused hands in mine. The warmth of his skin seeps through my palms, and I can feel the roughness of his calloused fingers against the softness of my own. And then our hands interlock.

Kaiden still looks furious, but it looks more like he's confused than angry.

I've seen him angry. I know the difference.

My dad asks a little more firmly despite his relieved face. "Did he... mark you?"

The question catches the attention of my mom, who looks at him and then looks at me, expecting the answer.

"No, I wanted to tell you first since he's from another pack," I admit.

"I also couldn't believe that an Alpha like me would be fated to mate a human like Katie," Kaiden says, and I take a deep breath to try to control my anger at him, reminding me of that.

My parents don't seem as surprised as Kaiden. They smile at each other as if they're speaking via mindlink. My dad responds, "Yes, of course."

"It must have been a big shock for you, dear," my mom says with a comforting smile on her face as if she understands Kaiden.

"Yes, it was. It took me a while to accept it at first." Kaiden confesses as he rubs the back of his neck with the hand that isn't intertwined with mine, his gaze becoming a little distant with the revelation.

I've already forgiven him for that, but it still hurts to remember, so I try to change the subject, but my dad comes up to us and pulls Kaiden into a hug in a way that makes Kaiden startle, and before he reacts, my dad is already hugging him, "welcome to the family, son," he says to Kaiden, who is standing unresponsive.

Kaiden looks at me as if he expected me to rescue him from my dad's affection, I just smile at him and pretend I didn't understand what he wanted.

When my dad lets him go, my mom hugs him right away, and I try to control myself so I don't laugh at Kaiden's reaction. Or rather, his lack of reaction. "I'm relieved it was just rumors. We don't usually take gossip seriously, but your reputation was well publicized." She tells him.

"If Katie says you're a good person, I believe her. Besides, I can tell you're a good man," my dad says.

"How? How are you so sure?" Kaiden asks indignantly. As if he was upset that my dad accepted him.

Kaiden, help us help you!

"I've lived long enough to know, son," my dad tells him while holding his shoulder to reassure him.

"Alright then, old man," Kaiden replies with a shy smile.

My parents and I chuckle at him.

🐺 🐺 🐺

After taking a shower, I went to Kaiden's room to call him for dinner, but he wasn't in his room.

It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders by my parents knowing about Kaiden and, mainly, because they accepted him.

I feel like Kaiden needs more people in his life who support him. I'm sure he must miss his parents. I can't imagine losing my parents, it must have been a very difficult time for him.

When I go downstairs, the first thing I hear is Kaiden talking to my brother. Dustin has always protected me and always supported me. I hate living so far away from him and my parents.

I still can't believe he's Char's mate. It seems that the goddess Selena herself led me to ask her to come here and meet my pack.

I refuse to believe otherwise.

Char is such a strong werewolf, I'm so very proud of Dustin having her as a mate. The friendship I built with her was so instant, it was truly her destiny to be the Luna of my pack.

"There's my favorite sister," Dustin says, smiling at me when I enter the living room where he and Kaiden are, the two of them are sitting in an armchair. The huge size of the two fills each seat.

"You only have one sister!" I retort, going over to him to hug him again.

"Okay then, you are the best sister in the world!" He hugs me and ruffles my hair, I ruffle his hair, too, and sit on a sofa close to them both.

"Where's Char?" I ask him.

"The love of my life is taking a shower. She's going to come in a little while," Dustin says with his eyes shining. It's impossible not to believe he's in love. "Thank you for bringing her to me. If I had known that she was in the pack you were studying all this time, I would have gone there a long time ago," he admits, his voice with a hint of self-disappointment.

"You know what? I want a gift for this, so show me how grateful you are," I tease him to change his sad expression.

He laughs and nods, "Okay, you deserve it."

"Pups, your parents are already in the dining room waiting for you to eat, shall we?" Beth enters the living room and calls us.

Kaiden looks at her indignantly. "Pups?"

Dustin and I laughed and followed her. Beth has always called us pups, for her, we are still children. However, Kaiden is not used to this treatment in his pack.

He holds my hand, and we go together to where my parents are. Before entering, I can already smell the delicious and nostalgic aroma of the food. We enter the dining room, and straight away, I see a table full of delicious food.

"Beth, you're the best!" I talk to her while sitting next to my dad, and Kaiden sits next to me.

"I'll go get Char," Dustin leaves in a hurry.

"Your mom made most of it. She loves making food for you," Beth admits, and I smile at my mom.

"Thanks mom, I missed your food!" I say happily to her as I start filling my plate.

"It still feels like a dream! Dustin finally found his fated mate. She's so incredible. I only spoke to her for a short time, but you can see how much of a good person she is. A little introverted... But she definitely has a good heart." My mom talks as she puts food on her plate.

Dustin walks in with Char, she gets a little shy, and he pulls her to sit on the other side of the table, next to my mom and him.

"Char is one of my best warriors!" Kaiden says firmly, and my parents raise their eyebrows in surprise.

"Thanks, Alpha," Char responds with a smile and then starts filling her plate with food as well.

"I'm sure you'll be a great Luna, Char! I'm so happy for you," I say excitedly, I don't know whether to say or eat. I decide to eat it, because everything is very tasty.

"Let's schedule the ceremony!" my mom says with her hands together, barely containing herself with happiness.

I'm sure she's happy because Dustin found his fated mate, but it also means that she'll have someone to share the work with in the pack. I used to help her when I lived here, but now that I'm away, I can't do much. I'll feel much calmer with Char helping her. Or rather, her helping Char.

"Actually... We're going to have to wait a bit. I need to sort out some things in my pack first. Besides, I have a younger brother there, I need–"

My mom interrupts her. "Bring him too! He's family now. We're going to love having him here!"

"No!" Kaiden speaks instantly, and my parents look at him confused.

"Her brother is Kaiden's Beta. He can't live here, mom." I explain, and my parents give Kaiden a smile, understanding his reaction.

"Of course, honey. You're all family now. You can come here whenever you want!" My mom responds, and Char seems to be happy with the answer due to her smile.

"What about you, Sunshine? Are you going to live... permanently at Diamond Claw now?" My mom asks hesitantly. My dad looks at me, as well as Char and Dustin, in anticipation of the answer.

I look at Kaiden because I don't know exactly what to say.

We haven't talked about it yet. Because we're still in a pretend contract, he didn't tell me if he wanted me to actually be Luna in his pack.

He's already said so many times that I'm human that I don't even know if he wants me to be his Luna.

Kaiden looks at me and then shouts at my parents. "Of course, she will. She belongs to me now!" My parents widen their eyes in surprise at his response, and he continues, "I promise to protect her. No one will ever hurt her while she is in my care." he utters firmly.

My parents relax a little and look at each other, then look at Kaiden and nod in agreement. As if what he said was good enough for them.

I'm intrigued by this being their *priority*, but I don't say anything, I go back to eating in silence.