Page 89 of Oakheart

I trudged out there, the sky a deepening purple as the sun’s last rays disappeared.

He’d—had he built a tent?

He’d propped up a sheet as a small canopy, and flickering lights filtered through it. I walked around and beneath it, he had his mother’s picnic basket. There were plates and food spreadout, and my stomach twisted at the memory of our interrupted picnic. That had been years ago—an opportunity lost.

I caught my breath and met his eye. He smiled from his place on the spread blanket, reaching his hand out for me. “Come here.”

My mouth went dry, but I knelt there with him. The candles were lovely, the food smelled delicious, but the important thing was him, there. He’d... he’d done this for me. Created this secret little space for us.

It wasn’t for work. We weren’t hiding.

Fuck, I was going to cry.

Aleks’s eyes widened, and he pushed up onto his knees. “Hey, hey—” His hands were on my face, his thumbs brushing away tears that I hadn’t meant to let overwhelm me.

This was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for me, and there I was ruining it by crying.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m just... I’m tired.”

He shook his head and drew me closer with a gentle shushing sound. His hands stroked my shoulders, cradled the back of my head, and combed through my hair. He drew me against him and let me cry.

When I relaxed, he tipped to the side and we wound up curled toward each other on the blanket, my face still buried against his chest while he traced the shell of my ear.

I wasn’t just tired, but he—he didn’t say anything even though he knew it too. This was all just overwhelming. Aleks, my alpha, the man I loved and who loved me?—

I knew he was good, but I’d never really expected anyone to be this good tome.

When I calmed down, he stroked my cheek and smiled at me. “You are silly.”

I wrinkled my nose. “What?”

“I bring you good food, light all these candles, and youcry. In front of all those stars and everything.”

He waved his hand out. There really were a ton of them visible tonight. We hadn’t been able to see them in San Francisco, but I saw them now. They were beautiful.

Once, Aleks’s sarcasm had been barbed and defensive, but I’d seen it with the pack since he’d taken over. Now, his teasing was kind. It broke the tension, and I laughed wetly, wiping any tears from my cheeks.

“You’re right. Wouldn’t want to bring the stars down.”

He blew a raspberry and flicked his hand. “Impossible. The moon, maybe? But she listens to wolves. Not the stars.”

I laughed again. “Never the stars.”

“Will you eat with me?”

“Of course.” There wasn’t a thing on this planet I wouldn’t do with him.

We ate and talked about the day. I calmed down, mostly. It was still overwhelming, to think he’d taken the time for me when he had so much else on his plate, but all I could be was grateful. I was in awe of him.

After supper, we wound up on the blanket again. Aleks was on his back, his arm looped around my shoulders, my head perfectly nestled in the dip between his chest and his collarbone.

I stared up at the stars, and peace washed over me. This was right. I wasn’t meant for San Francisco or Jax’s pack. This was my home, and it was the place my work mattered.

“Cash?”

I hummed as Aleks stroked his fingers down the back of my arm to my elbow and up again.

“I wanted to talk to you about—” He broke off, and I felt the soft huff of his breath against the top of my head before he tried again. “I’d like you to—Do you want to... mark me?”