Page 19 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow (Eternal Oath Saga #2)

Katherine

The city skyline stretches beyond the glass walls of my office, but I barely see it. My hands rest motionless on my desk, fingers curled around a pen I haven’t written a single word with. My mind is a chaotic mess, a whirlwind of emotions I can’t seem to tame.

Last night plays over and over again in my head like a film reel stuck on repeat.

Alex’s voice. His eyes. The way he looked at me, like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Like he’d been drowning and I was the only thing keeping him afloat.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a second, inhaling sharply, trying to clear the image from my mind—but it doesn’t leave.

The truth in his voice, the raw honesty in his eyes when he told me everything… it rattled something deep inside me. He went through hell. Fighting for his throne. Betrayed by his own blood. Exiled. And on top of all that, he carried the weight of trying to protect me, too.

And yet, as much as the truth shakes me… that’s not what keeps my pulse hammering. That’s not what makes my stomach twist and my breath hitch.

It’s the way I felt when he got close. The heat of him. The scent of him. The pull of him.

I hate it. Hate that no matter how hard I try, no matter how many walls I put up, my body betrays me the second he’s near. It’s like my soul recognizes something I refuse to admit.

I still have such strong feelings for him.

I grit my teeth, my fingers tightening around the pen in frustration. That’s why I left last night. It was too much—too intense.

I barely managed to sit through the car ride home with Jimmy, my mind so tangled up in Alex that I could barely form a sentence. Jimmy didn’t push. He didn’t pry. He just gave me this quiet, understanding look—one I was deeply, deeply grateful for.

Before I got out of the car, he mentioned he’d come by my office today. Said we needed to talk. And now, for the past hour, I’ve been wondering what he wants to say.

A knock on the door snaps me back to the present.

I sit up straighter, adjusting the cuff of my blouse, smoothing a hand down my lap as if that’ll somehow fix the mess in my head.

“Come in,” I say, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

The door swings open, and Jimmy steps in, dressed sharp, as always. That same easy confidence in the way he carries himself. But there’s something different in his expression today—less playful, more thoughtful.

I swallow, forcing a small smile. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He shuts the door behind him, then leans against it for a second, watching me. “How are you feeling?”

A wry laugh slips from me before I can stop it. “Like my brain is running a marathon I didn’t sign up for.”

He smirks, pushing off the door and making his way toward my desk. “Yeah. I figured.”

There’s a beat of silence. Then, he exhales and slides his hands into his pockets. “Listen… about last night.”

My throat tightens. “Yeah?”

His gaze flickers over me, as if he’s assessing something, before he nods to the chair across from me. “Mind if I sit?”

I shake my head.

He lowers himself into the seat, elbows resting on his thighs, hands clasped loosely together.

“I just wanna say—I get it.”

My stomach clenches. “Get what?”

He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. His usual smirk is gone, replaced by something softer, something real.

“Look,” he starts, his voice steady but gentler than I’ve ever heard it. “I think we both know what’s going on here.”

I move in my seat, swallowing hard. “What do you mean?”

His lips twitch like he’s holding back a chuckle. “Katherine.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I see it. I saw it last night.” His eyes meet mine, unwavering. “You still have feelings for him.”

The words land like a direct hit to my chest.

I open my mouth to argue, to deny it, to say something—but nothing comes out. Because what the hell am I supposed to say?

He’s right.

I look away, my mind scrambling for an explanation that won’t make me sound like a complete wreck.

But then, Jimmy lets out a small laugh—light, easy. “Relax, Kat. I’m not mad. Honestly? I don’t even think I really started to feel anything for you.”

My head snaps up, eyes wide.

He grins. “I mean, don’t get me wrong—you’re gorgeous, you’re sharp as hell, and any guy would be lucky to have you.” He tilts his head, studying me. “But me? I was never really into it, not the way I should’ve been.”

A slow realization creeps over me.

“You…” I shake my head, blinking. “You were just… protecting me?”

He shrugs, like it’s the simplest thing in the world. “Alice asked me to.”

A small, stunned laugh escapes me. Of course. Alice sent him when she could tell how bothered I was about Alex being constantly around me.

I shake my head again. “You know, for a guy who spent the last couple of days flirting with me, that’s a pretty unromantic confession.”

Jimmy smirks. “What can I say? I like to keep things interesting.”

I let out a small smile. Jimmy watches me for a moment, then stands, straightening his jacket.

“Well, this has been fun,” he says, offering me his hand. “No hard feelings?”

I stand too, still smiling, reaching out to shake his hand. “No hard feelings. And for what it’s worth, I did have fun with you. You’re a charming man, Jimmy.”

His grin widens. “I know.”

We both laugh, and just like that, any awkwardness that could’ve lingered between us disappears. He turns toward the door, making to leave, but then he pauses, looking back at me.

His expression twists—still light, still teasing, but there’s a flicker of something more serious beneath it.

“I won’t tell you what to do,” he says. “You’ll make your own decision. You should make your own decision.”

I nod, pressing my lips together.

“But…” he continues, tilting his head slightly, “if you and Alex are fated mates, then both your hearts must be breaking from being apart so much.”

His words hit a part deep inside me, because goodness, I feel it. It’s been a constant, aching pull in my chest.

Jimmy holds my gaze for a second longer, like he’s waiting to see if I’ll say something. But I don’t. I just nod, because it’s the only thing I can do.

He gives me a knowing look, then smirks again. “Take care, Kat.”

And with that, he turns and walks out the door, leaving me alone in the silence of my office.

I settle back into my chair and try and focus on the days work. The numbers on my screen blur together as the hours tick by. I even glance over at the most recent email update I received from James. The one where he explains that he’s closer to finding evidence that some of the board members were involved in my parents murder, but he can’t find anything linking them to the attack on me besides the manner of the attack.

I inhale deeply, my fingers moving against my temple as I think of what Alex said, how the attack was orchestrated by his uncle.

There’s too much happening all at once. My thoughts feel tangled, like a mess of wires sparking in every direction, and no matter how hard I try to sort through them, nothing connects the way it should.

I glance at the time on my computer screen and realize the workday is over. I don’t even remember the last few hours passing. I sigh, rubbing my temples one more time before packing up my things.

As I reach for my bag, my gaze flickers to the calendar in the corner of my desk. June 12. My fingers freeze.

Tomorrow is my birthday.

I inhale sharply, something heavy pressing against my chest. It’s funny—I don’t think about my birthday much. I don’t celebrate it, haven’t since I was a kid. But somehow, I always find myself remembering it at the last second.

My stomach knots as old memories surface—ones I don’t want to think about.

I was fifteen the last time I let myself care about my birthday.

I remember how excited I was when my parents promised to get me a puppy. I spent weeks thinking about what kind I wanted, what I’d name it, how I’d take care of it.

And then my birthday came. And the puppy never did.

I remember standing in the middle of our oversized living room, barely able to contain my disappointment as I asked them about it. My mother didn’t even look up from her laptop when she said, “Oh, Katherine. Don’t be silly.”

Silly.

Like my feelings weren’t real. Like I was ridiculous for wanting anything from them.

That was the moment I stopped asking. For anything. And I never celebrated my birthday again.

My throat tightens, and I shake the memory away, forcing myself to move.

I leave the office, stepping into the cool night air, and wave down a cab. Driving is no longer an option for me—not with James’ warnings about unpredictability and changing my routine so no one can track me.

By the time I reach my apartment, exhaustion weighs down on me, both physical and mental. I drop my bag by the door, take off my coat, and move straight to the kitchen, filling the kettle to make myself a cup of tea.

I need something warm. Something to soothe the ache in my chest.

I’m halfway through the motions—grabbing a mug, reaching for the tea bags—when the doorbell rings.

I freeze. My heart lurches into my throat.

I glance at the clock. 10 p.m.

No one should be here. A chill crawls down my spine, and my fingers tighten around the mug.

What if it’s them? What if Alex’s uncle, or whoever he is working with knows where I live?

My pulse pounds as I move cautiously toward the door, barely breathing as I press my eye to the peephole. And it’s Alex.

My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my throat as I stare at him through the peephole. He doesn’t move, doesn’t fidget like someone uncertain about being here. No. He stands there, solid and steady, like a force of nature that decided to plant itself outside my door.

The moment stretches unbearably long until his voice cuts through it.

“Katherine. Can I please come in?”

His voice is calm, soft even, but there’s that unmistakable edge beneath it. That command. That Alex-ness.

My fingers wrap around the doorknob before I even think about it. I turn it, and the door swings open.

The second he steps inside, it’s like the air changes. The entire atmosphere bends, yields to his presence. His sheer size, his sheer existence in my space, makes everything feel different. Smaller. More intense.

I close the door behind me and turn, folding my arms under my chest in an attempt to ground myself, to put some kind of barrier between us. But Alex just looks at me. Not saying anything. Not moving. Just looking.

And for an impossibly long moment, we just exist in this charged silence, staring at each other, feeling whatever this is stretch between us.

I don’t want to admit it, but I miss this. I miss him standing in my apartment like he belongs here. I miss the way it feels natural in a way that nothing else ever does.

Finally, he speaks. “I really had to come see you,” he says, his voice low, quiet. “I feel it all the time, but today… today it was worse. More insistent.”

I should say something. But my throat locks up. My mind scrambles for words, but nothing forms.

And then, Alex steps closer. His hands find mine, and I let him. His palms are warm, fingers strong but gentle as they wrap around mine. And for a moment, I just stare at them. At the way they engulf mine so easily.

“Katherine.” His voice is softer now, but his eyes burn with something deep, something earnest. “I can’t apologize enough for what I did to you. For the things I said. For the way I made you feel.”

He exhales, his grip on my fingers tightening.

“But I’m hoping… I’m praying that you’ll forgive me.”

I nod. Just a small, almost imperceptible nod. Because I can’t speak. Everything is too overwhelming.

And somehow, he knows. He sees right through me.

“Katherine.” His voice is laced with concern. “Are you okay?”

It’s how he asks it.

So clueless and innocent, so sincere, the way he used to ask when things were simple. When he was just this mysterious janitor with kind eyes and a quiet presence that felt like a safety net I didn’t realize I needed.

A small, tiny smile tugs at my lips.

I clear my throat. “Yeah, Alex. I’m just… thinking about a lot.”

He nods, like he expected that. “Whatever questions you have, I’ll explain everything.”

“I know. It’s just…” I exhale, running my thumb along the back of his hand absentmindedly. The words come before I can stop them. Because that’s what happens when I’m around Alex for too long—my walls just crack open. “It’s not just that.”

His brows pull together slightly, fingers drawing slow, barely-there circles on my skin. “Then what is it?”

I sigh. “Tomorrow’s my birthday.”

His eyes flicker with something unreadable.

“I don’t even know why I’m thinking about it so much. I feel silly. Maybe it’s everything that’s happened lately. The car crash. Almost dying. I don’t know.”

Alex’s face twists. His expression sharpens.

“There’s nothing silly about your birthday, Katherine.” His voice is firm, steady. “And it’s completely understandable to feel this way after what you’ve been through.”

I nod slowly, letting his words settle.

“It’s weird,” I murmur. “I usually don’t feel much of anything about my birthday.”

His head tilts slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

I hesitate for a second. Then, before I can stop myself, I just… tell him.

“Might have something to do with some childhood nonsense.” I exhale, shaking my head slightly. “I wanted a puppy when I was fifteen. My parents promised me one. I was so excited. And then my birthday came, and… nothing.”

A bitter chuckle escapes me.

“I got upset. Like, really upset. And my mom, well… let’s just say she wasn’t exactly sympathetic about it. She told me I was being silly. That it was just a puppy. That I had plenty of birthdays to come.”

I shrug, forcing a small smile.

“Since then, I guess I just started feeling numb about it.”

I don’t know why I’m telling him all this.

No. That’s a lie.

I do know.

Because he does this to me. He has a way of pulling things out of me.

Alex’s brows furrow, his face twisting with thoughts I can’t quite read. And then—he smiles. Not a smirk. Not that unreadable, controlled expression he wears so well. A real smile.

“Well then,” he says, voice dipping into something almost playful. “How about we fulfill that birthday wish for you?”

I blink, caught completely off guard. A surprised laugh bubbles out of me. “What? You’re going to get me a puppy?”

“Oh no, Katherine,” he says, shaking his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I’m going to be your puppy.”

I stare. My brows twitch, confusion flickering across my face.

He just gently tugs on my arm, leading me toward the door. “Come on,” he says. “I’ll show you.”

Before I know it, we’re outside. The night air is crisp, cool against my skin. A gentle breeze stirs my hair, wrapping around me like a whisper. Alex holds my hand, his grip steady, firm, but never demanding.

We walk without speaking, the rhythm of our steps syncing naturally as we cross the road, moving toward the dense woods ahead. The trees stretch tall, their canopies thick, the moonlight slicing through in silver beams. The world feels different here, quieter, more intimate. It’s just me and Alex, swallowed by the night, and yet there’s no fear curling inside me. No panic. Just this—this strange, unexpected ease settling deep into my bones.

He leads me a few steps into the woods before stopping, turning to face me with something unreadable in his expression. And then, with a small, knowing smile, he says—

“Let’s make that wish come true, shall we?”

And then—he changes.

It happens fast.

One second, he’s standing in front of me, tall and commanding, and the next—his body shifts, the movement so seamless yet so unnatural that a jolt of alarm pulses through me. I stumble back instinctively, my breath catching as I watch him—watch his bones realign, his muscles shift, his entire being morphing.

I hear it, too. The sound of bones stretching, reshaping. A deep cracking that should sound painful but doesn’t seem to phase him. His face changes, his form contorting, and then, in the span of seconds, he’s not Alex anymore.

He’s a wolf. A huge one.

The process is nothing short of breathtaking. Even though I’ve seen Alice shift into her wolf form before, seeing the transformation never ceases to amaze me.

The moonlight spills across him, highlighting the sleek, powerful coat of fur that ripples over his muscular frame. His presence is just as commanding as it was before. There’s something almost… ethereal about him, something primal and untamed, yet completely assured.

And then I look into his eyes. Even in this form, even with the drastic change, it’s still Alex. The same piercing gaze, the same quiet intensity.

For a moment, I just stare, suspended in awe.

And then—he moves.

Slowly, carefully, he steps closer, his massive paws silent against the forest floor. He nudges me lightly with his snout, his tail giving a small wag.

And that’s what breaks the tension. Because it’s so unexpectedly adorable that I can’t help it—I laugh. A full, bubbling, real laugh.

The sound of it surprises me, the way it bursts out of me so naturally, so easily. I drop to my knees, reaching out, my fingers tentatively running through his fur. It’s impossibly soft, but beneath it, I can feel the power in his muscles, the quiet strength that makes him who he is.

He leans into my touch, a low, pleased sound rumbling from his chest, and then, just as I think I have a grasp on what’s happening, he does the most ridiculous thing—

He licks me. Right on the cheek. I let out a startled laugh, shoving lightly at his thick fur. “Alex! Gross.”

He just nudges me again, more insistent this time, stepping back slightly before lowering himself onto his haunches. His tail sways, and then—he turns, his body shifting just enough that it’s almost inviting.

I blink. It takes me a second to understand what he’s doing.

“Oh, you cannot be serious,” I say, narrowing my eyes.

Alex wags his tail.

Oh, he’s serious.

I hesitate. Only for a beat. Then—without overthinking it—I move. I climb onto his back, carefully settling myself against him. And the second I do, he rises, lifting himself to full height, his movements smooth and effortless.

And then—we’re moving.

His steps are heavy but steady, the soft thud of his paws against the earth filling the night. The trees blur past us, the wind slipping through the leaves, and I laugh again.

A full, unrestrained sound that feels like freedom. It’s ridiculous, surreal, something straight out of a dream, but I don’t care.

Because right now, in this moment—I feel like a kid again.

And Alex… Alex is the puppy I always wanted.