Alex grew up thinking that he’d fall in love and stay with that person forever. His parents had a relationship like that, his grandparents, his great grandparents. He’s the outlier, he’s the first one to not focus on finding another wolf hybrid. His last partner was a feline hybrid, someone his family did not approve of. He fell fast and hard for them and made space for them in his life without hesitation.

Everything was going amazingly. Alex assumed that they were on the same page, that nothing besides death could break them up. He could never have imagined that he’d learn he was wrong in such a cruel way. He had just lost his leg. He was struggling to cope, struggling with the pain, the nightmares. They didn’t even know if he’d be able to continue his career in the CIA yet when he woke up to all of his partner’s belongings gone with nothing but a note left on the counter. A note that said that they had to leave, that they couldn’t handle his issues.

Finally he understood why his parents didn’t approve. He had never even considered that falling in love with someone whose baser animal instincts didn’t include mating for life could cause him so much pain. So he swore off finding another mate. He told himself that he wouldn’t open himself up to pain like that again and that he was better alone. That’s why he didn’t hesitate before taking such a big role in the Urzikstan Liberation Force.

It not only gave him something to focus on and to work towards, but it got him away from his family who wouldn’t stop trying to set him up with other wolf hybrids. It gave him a purpose but it also brought him you, another CIA operative who took an assignment to help Farah and her forces. He was friendly with you, but he was also distant. From the moment he met you there was some part of him that wanted to spend every moment he could at your side.

He pushed you away. He was polite, cordial, and tried to keep that professional boundary. You broke through those walls without even really needing to try. You showed him patience, you never pushed, and eventually you became friends. For months he tried to convince himself that all he needed from you was friendship. If only things were so simple.

Everything evolved so naturally. Long nights spent talking under the stars turned into you both huddled in the same sleeping bag during the colder nights. You woke up in his arms more often than you woke up alone. Slowly those quiet nights involved stolen kisses and the occasional wandering hands. Slowly Alex realized that he felt more at home with you than he ever did anywhere else he’s ever lived.

That leads to mornings like this one. Mornings where neither of you need to get up as early, mornings where he gets to watch as you sleep peacefully next to him. When you finally start waking he gently cups your face, his thumb gently rubbing your cheek.

“You know,” he murmurs, keeping his voice low so as to not pull you out of sleep too quickly, “I have no clue what I did to deserve someone like you.”