Alex's p.o.v
"Your parents are very nice."
She says as he enters his room. He has a table with three computers; his room is black and white with cool blue led lights.
"Come here."
Noah pulled her into his embrace, stroking his hair gently before planting a kiss on her forehead.
"They are friendly. Warning my mother has a way of getting into someone's head. Stay with me for a while. She is a psychiatrist, a good one. I love her to bits but she is like an unrelenting dog when she sees someone she wants to fix, in a sense. I do not want her to scare you off so please, promise not to leave my side."
Nodding. Not because She was terrified of opening up but because of the concern and love in his gaze, she forced her brave face.
"Ready?"
"No, but let us go downstairs."
.
Noah's family is significantly way richer than she imagined, far from dysfunctional, close and very lively. Now she gets why Noah is always happy or making stupid jokes, there is always someone that gets his way of thinking here and she laughed because they got each other's jokes. Although he is future leader he treated the help with respect. This family is so perfect that being here made her feel like an outsider looking in, perhaps she was and has seen all that he needs to. So as promised she stuck close to Noah only eating what Noah peels for her or put on her plate.
"I am not a child. I can do this myself."
She whispered, these small acts were drawing attention and personally that is the last thing she wants.
"Yes, you can but I want to do it for you."
His parents stared at the two in awe. She decided to let the whole, 'I want to take care of you' thing go because these small acts did assure her about them. Noah's parents watched in amazement; their son finally grew up. They watched as Noah peels the shrimp, place his favourites on his lovely mate's plate. Now his insisting Alex take a bite and taste octopus for what seems to be for the first time.
"Call me crazy but this is not as bad as I imagined."
She took more from Noah's plate trying to understand the dish. It is not chewy, but she has to bite, her mate dipped it in soy sauce, and it transformed the taste. No way. This tastes weird but in a good way, its definitely not the best thing she's ever eaten but is certainly not the worst. She was still deliberating the fish and her fated broke the silence.
"Mom. I love your cooking and I missed it so much... Although my Axx has stuffed me with his delicious meals, mom she makes the best fried rice."
'My.' Wait, did he say 'my'? Her head shot up and she faced Noah. Did he say 'my?' Before giving his parents a embarrassed smile and she bowed her head to cover her embarrassment.
"Interesting. Alex can cook?"
"Yep. This way you do not need to worry about me when I'm gone. I have my own wifey now."
"It is my job to worry about you, it is an unpaid job, but I love it. Just kidding, Alex if you prepared to feed this large overgrown beast... Thank you so much. At least now I know you have your mate there by your side-"
She chocked. They have never spoken about the 'M' word out loud. She looked at Noah and the guy just shrugged smiling. She eventually stopped chocking thanks to to Noah gently patting her back. She did not want to face Noah's mother and father whose eyebrow rose a question.
"Sorry."
Noah's father changed the topic. Thank whatever gods out there.
"Talking about wives, son. How long have you been-"
Never mind… these conversations made her so uncomfortable she started eating to avoid eye contact or direct questioning.
"Common Xing. Let your son eat, besides it has been a long trip for them. Although I am afraid, your father's curiosity might get the best of him-"
His mom adds also desiring an answer to ease her curiosity.
"Dad. I wasn't ready for commitment until I accidentally and quite literally bumped into Alex... To be quite honest I still was not until I got to know her."
"Sis Lexi... Are you also a werewolf?"
Ora asked, lips pursed in curiosity. Yes, she was a wolf but there were things she could do that others couldn't. Her father used to call them her "secret superpowers." A small smile tugged at her lips at the memory, warm and bittersweet. She turned to Ora, her gaze soft, filled with the kind of love one might have for a younger sister because somehow, that's exactly what Ora had become to her.
"Yes," she said gently. "I was born sick, but against all odds, I survived. The doctors thought my wolf was wild… untamed. They said it wanted full control of my body. So, my father tamed her for me, he held her back until I was old enough to understand how to do it myself."
"So, you could shift as a child?"
"Yes, but mostly no. My father did not want me to shift."
She's never shared this about herself not even to her fated knows about this, but she felt comfortable enough to just speak her.
"So, you have known your nature for as long as you were born?"
"No. Although I had my animal, I did not know my nature..."
She down at her now empty plate and grabbed water just to keep her mouth busy. Everyone was listening to every word she speaks, and she cannot afford to let personal details slip.
"I'm scared I will never get to know my wolf. Have you ever shifted? How did it feel?"
"Yes. It was after my dad left us, I was bullied at school and one day she just came out. It honestly felt empowering, none of the kids ever dared to physically bully me. Don't worry about it hun, your wolf will look as beautiful as you do, and she will be healthy."
Ora gave her a toothy smile now content with her rounds of questions. All the attention fell on her once more and she squeezed Noah's hand, nervous.
"How are your studies in medicine going?"
Perm asks her future daughter in law.
"Quite well. Uh. I am going for my PhD after these holidays."
"Fourth year?"
"No fifth. Then I will have two years to be a certified doctor."
"Oh. That is very good. Son where did you find this beautiful, smart, charming young woman?"
She ducked her head not used to any type of praise, her hand still holding onto Noah's.
"Yeah. Uhm. Son, how did you convince such a mature well-spoken woman to go out with you?"
"Dad, I possess a charm."
"More like I turned down his advances so many times in the end he grew on me."
"That's more like it…" -Ora
Everyone laughed and Alex flushed in embarrassment, she did not mean to say all that out loud. Although she did not have to say it out loud due to the super hearing werewolves are blessed with.
"Noah, before I forget can you help me with the data collection loading system upstairs? These operating systems just keep getting more complicated," Mr. Xing called.
"Dad, you're not that helpless. You started the business and trained us on every system how it works and how to fix it," Noah replied with a chuckle.
Mr. Xing turned to Alex, clearly not ready to let the teasing end. "Alex, do you know what Noah does every time he comes to visit?"
"Dad don't go there," Noah warned, a note of exasperation in his voice. But the elder Xing waved him off playfully.
"He always helps out with the family business, and like any good employee."
"Dad, I make my own m-" Noah groaned.
Alex squeezed his hand not painfully, just enough to silence his protest. He looked at her, slightly wide-eyed, but said nothing.
"It's fine," she smiled. "I'll help Mrs. Zheng clean up."
"Are you sure?" Noah asked, searching her face.
She nodded, and with one last look at her, Noah stood and followed his father upstairs.
"I'm going to keep studying so I can move to Moon and live with Noah next year!" Ora announced excitedly before dashing off, presumably toward her bedroom.
Now alone in the spacious room with just Noah's mother, Alex felt a quiet nervousness settle in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, his mother didn't disapprove of her like the mothers-in-law's she's she'dseen. For now, at least, there was a glimmer of hope.
"I will start cleaning."
Uncomfortable situations always made her anxious to do something and her OCD will bother her until she can collect her thoughts.
"No relax they might take hours in that office, come let us talk."
"Haha, talk about what?"
"Just your friends, family and your relationship with my son."
"Uhm okay. His friend is dating one of my closest friends, I guess that's how we officially met. I admit I did not appreciate his attention at first and right now I am not sure about it. But. Noah constantly tries to be there and talk to me, just to hear what I have to say."
Shit now she's over sharing. She's sure she is not one one of those mom's that disapprove of everyone their son brings home, right?
"Mrs Zheng. I completely understand if I am not good enough to be with your son. Sometimes I question why he insists on being with me but whether he wants to or fate, please give us a chance to figure it out."
She told her directly. She ignored her.
"Tell me about your family."
"Family. My mother and I are not as close as we use to be. She has a new husband now, she is happy. I guess it is my turn to move on now."
"What do you mean by move on?"
Memories drifted in and out as the injustice repeated itself. She smiled up at the beautiful, kind, gentle soul and shook the memories to dust.
"Life is not fair. I accept, you cannot change the past, so I don't want to dwell in it. Noah told me that you are a therapist. I do not know what you see in me, but there is nothing I cannot find a way to handle."
The fact that the table was still a mess but have managed to divide her attention between the mess that had to be corrected and the thinking straight. Shes done... She got up bowed and began clearing the dishes. It would be a shame if Noah's mother disapproved her not being able to concentrate on her, but she would be right to.
On paper she's considered perfect but the reality of is that she is always consistently drowning, Noah is a lifeline. A Deucalion, who knew? Who knew that one day she would fall for a man and one of the class she swore to despise forever. Working on the table, then washing the dishes, then she organised the two places she cleaned and then turned around with a satisfied expression. After some time, she then realised there was nothing left to do. She bit her lower lip and turn to see Noah's mom still studying her every move, she finally got up.
"I like you. Not because you make my son happy but because you are who you are. I was serious when I said you can call me ma or Perm, whichever one you comfortable with.... I have a special hobby; do you wish to join me?'
Nodding slowly, she took her to what looks like and art room with original pieces, as well as canvas that belong to her.
"Wow this is all beautiful. Are we going to paint? No way you have paint that has already been blended. This room is perfect, I bet you spend most of your time here... You know Noah is always appreciative of my raft drawings, I think he got his love of art from you... Oh this is cool, how do you ever leave this room?"
"Haha. Yes, today we will paint to our hearts content. I love the wonder you are so freely able to express."
"What should I paint? ... I have never had these many colours."
She asked with paint brush in hand and a smile far from nerves. She turned to face her with a smile on her face also enjoying the effect of this room.
"Paint hope."