Recap:

Eventually biology regained control over our bodies as we broke apart, panting for breath, as wide smiles broke out over both of our faces.

One word was all I could muster up.

"Wow."

This was not how I had foreseen my Thursday evening playing out, but I definitely was not complaining.

----

His darkened eyes focused intently on my own. My view of his slightly blurred by the bottle of red in my system.

He sighed, almost contentedly, and lifted me effortlessly on to his lap, facing sideways. He tangled his long fingers in my chestnut hair and placed a lingering kiss on the side of my head.

"Mm. Mate."

That word. Again. I couldn't understand why he would give me the best first kiss I'd ever had then take the mōtherfūcking pīss. The red flowing through my blood only ramped up anger and I tried to stand, prying myself from his grasp.

Immediately, he pulled me back on his lap, groaning when I tried to wriggle free.

"Lily, please, for the love of-." He growled out lowly. "I advise you to stop wiggling or I'm not going to be able to keep up being a gentleman."

"Let. Me. Go. Alex." My voice was laced with tears, threatening to bubble out.

"No. I don't know what I've done now but please just talk to me, Lil." He huffed out, keeping his hold on my waist tight.

I sighed and stopped struggling. I guess we'd have this out right where I am then... on his lap.

"Fine. What the actual fūck? You think it's funny to just swoop into my life -my coffee shop, my apartment, my red wine (!) and then mock me because of what I write? I knew you were reading over my shoulder. I should have known you'd be just the same as him." I finally paused to take a breath, my face red between frustration and lack of oxygen.

"I-. I don't know what to say. I'm sorry if I've caused you distress. I couldn't help myself from meeting you; I was captivated by you from the minute I walked by that coffee shop. I wasn't even going to come in until I seen you sitting there, all curled up on the armchair, in a world of your own." He sighed and placed his head to the back of mine.

I remained facing forward, not wanting to have this conversation face to face for fear of either crying or punching him in the face; the outcome depending on his next words.

"I promise, I don't know what you were writing. I couldn't take my eyes off of you for even a second, Lily." He mumbled into my hair, feeling his lips place a small kiss to my hair.

He seemed like he was being honest with me, but that didn't explain why he kept saying that word.

"I honestly want to believe you, Alex. I've never felt such a strong connection to someone, you know, immediately after meeting, and you seem like a nice guy. But..."

I sighed and turned in his lap, looking him in the eyes. "If you didn't read the story I was writing, my story about werewolves and romance, then why do you keep calling me 'mate'?"

I shut my eyes as I waited on his answer.

I felt him suck in a breath, his hands rubbing up and down my arms as he breathed out.

"You write about werewolves? That's... well, that's quite unusual. Why?"

"My Grandma... she used to tell me these stories. She would tell me about them growing up in packs, finding mates they'll love forever, having alpha's, luna's and beta's, and shifting between being human and being a wolf.
She was a batty old thing, but I loved her to death, and her stories stuck with me."

I shifted in my 'seat' and glanced up at him again. Our eyes locked, my blue to his almost fully black.

"When she passed, I decided I'd expand her stories. Share them with the world." I smiled as I thought about the feedback I'd received on my books. "There's a whole lotta love out there for werewolves, you know."

Alex breathed out heavily, drawing his lower lip between his teeth, gnawing furiously. He then took a few deep breaths before finally stilling.

Taking my hands in his much larger, warmer ones, he placed a kiss on each before beginning to speak.

"Your Grandma sounds like an amazing woman, and I'm sure she'd be proud of you sharing her stories." Smiling, he took another deep breath and continued on.

"What I'm about to say may sound ridiculous, and you may not believe me, but you have to trust that I'm telling you the absolute truth." He searched my eyes, pleading.

"I call you 'mate' because you are. You're my mate; the love of my life, my other half, my soul mate. I knew it the minute I walked down the street towards and was drawn to the coffee shop. Once I seen you and walked in, I was hooked. Then I smelled the most mouth-watering scent and I couldn't leave your side. I- I'm what you write about. Werewolves aren't just magical, mystical beings written about in fairytales or bedtime stories, Lily. We're real."

His eyes raked over my face, searching for any hint of reaction. I was stunned. Stunned to silence. It certainly was a tale, that's for sure.

I quickly became unable to contain myself.

"Hahahahaha. Oh, no more, no more." I clutched my stomach as I was bent over double on his lap, laughing my arsē off.

"Ah, well if you care enough to come up with that pile of crāp then I'm going to let you off the hook for reading over my shoulder, big guy." I slapped his arm and continued guffawing in his lap. The giggles kept on coming, rendering me a jiggling, giggling, ball of laughter.

Alex looked on, dumbstruck. This was obviously not how he'd seen me reacting. He'd expected shock and awe, or a kick in the nuts, but not this hilarity.

He cleared his throat and tried to bring me back to him, but I was so far gone it wasn't funny. Tears raked down my face, my stomach cramping from so much laughter. I mean, really, what am I? Five years old?

"Gee, Lily, for someone who got offended when you thought I was laughing at your story, you sure know how to cut a man down."

Alex grunted out his statement curtly, his arms folding over his chest.

I calmed myself down, taking in his seriousness. I expected him to be laughing with me that I'd figured out his joking and teasing.

I abruptly stopped laughing and studied his face. He was seriously pissed.

Gosh, what if he actually does believe he's a werewolf? And you've just gone and insulted his beliefs. Way to go, Lily!

"Umm, I'm sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to offend you. I believe you. You're a werewolf." I mumbled out my apology, hoping he'd accept it and we could move on. Besides the whole 'delusional wolf' scene, tonight had been one of the best I'd had in a while... and he was definitely better looking than my four walls.

The second I finished my apology, his eyes immediately found mine, his stare penetrating right into my head. I swear he could hear every little thing I was thinking.

Just don't think about what he'd be like above you and we'll be all good, girl.

Whoops, did I just make you think of that? *cackles*

Sure looks good though, huh?

I wonder if he can hear us? Whatcha think? Huh, Lil?

Dear Lord, you are an idiot. Please shut up.

"Don't say that if you don't mean it, Lily. You think I'm crazy." He sulked.

I turned around in his lap, almost straddling him. Putting my arms around his shoulders, I tried to soothe him. Who was I to argue with him if he believed he could transform into a wolf?

"You- You kinda did just tell me that werewolves existed and I was the love of your life... even though we met less than 10 hours ago.
I'm sorry. You just took me by surprise is all."

I smiled softly at him and put my head on my arms on his shoulders. Wellllll, we're all a little crazy, right?

His hands began rubbing up and down my back as he held me tight, the low hum of a growl reverberating from his throat.

After what seemed like forever, my eyes began to shut. His soft mumbles and body heat working in partnership with the red wine to lull my body to a peaceful sleep.

----

I awoke to a bright and warm Friday off work with a dull, thudding headache. I glanced at the clock and seen it was already 10am. Considering my hectic schedule, I was quite glad that I'd managed to get a long lie for once. Obviously Sam was holding his wee in this morning. What a good boy.

I patted around on my fluffy duvet, looking for a sleeping Sam, only to find he wasn't there. Shooting out of bed, and only managing to stumble slightly because of the residing alcohol effect, I raced out of the room and into the livingroom. The sight that met me was the sweetest I'd seen in a while.

Sammy was curled up in his crate, snoring softly, with one paw trapping his beloved blue stuffed puppy. Creeping over, I snapped a quick photo before lifting the warm bundle of fluff in my arms and cradling him there. Yes, I treated him like a baby, but he was. All pups need a Mummy to look after them.

Turning around, I made to walk to the hall to fetch his lead and my boots. Walkies would be extra quick this morning if my head had any say in it.

Catching movement out of the corner of my eye, I glanced towards the kitchenette, only to let out a high-pitched screech that a cat would be jealous of.

"AAAAaarggghhh! What the fuuuu-?!"

Sam whimpered at the noise before changing his tune and beginning to squirm and wag his tail.

Stood there in front of my open fridge, chugging Diet Coke like it had gone out of fashion, was a tall, dark and hot as fūck, semi-naked Adonis.

Wearing only a pair of plain black, low slung boxer shorts, he turned towards me, startled. Diet Coke dripped down his chin, past his pecs, and down into the fuzzy trail leading to aforementioned underwear.

You have got to be freakin' kidding me. Looks like we're not gonna be the only ones he's given wet underwear this morning. Huh, Lil?

He smirked as he took in what I can only assume was my absolute riot of a birds nest hair, blotchy, sleepy morning-face and very possibly some drool marks on my chin, before speaking in a gravely, deep voice.

"Good morning, gorgeous."

----

A/N**

Dear Bloodhounds,

As you can gather, I believed *squat* of his story. In fact, I believed diddly squat.
He was a wolf and in love with me? Please.
The funny thing is, it wasn't the most ridiculous line I'd heard. Guys really would say anything to get into your bed.

I decided at this point to give him a pass on his crazy. After all, I'm not the most sane person either. Plus, Sammy seemed to give his approval. Props to Alex.

Let's pick up with my semi-naked Adonis next time.

Have a good weekend, Bloodhounds.

xoxo Lily 🐺

----

A/N
Hello there, 'Bloodhounds'. How's it going?
Saaarry about the slow update. No excuses.

Are we enjoying the Lily, Alex and Sam show?

Let me know you've been here by clicking that little star and leaving a comment.
It's nice to know you're with me.
I don't bite... much 😉. Honest.

And if you're a fan of Gotham and Jerome Valeska (or just Cameron Monaghan in general), then check out my other book.  Link:  http://my.w.tt/UiNb/EladqqRXjC
Light, dark, fluffy and smutty. Hang on to your hats, 'cause it's got it all, folks 😏.

- Ellie  💋