Chapter 29 ( Calm before the Strom)

                                    

                                          
James pov:
As I drove back from the inn, the cool night air rushing through the open windows, my thoughts were entirely consumed by Alex. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions I hadn't anticipated. Everything about him felt right, natural, as if we'd known each other in another life. Yet, something lingered-an inexplicable connection I couldn't quite place.
The moon hung low in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the trees lining the road. I had never felt this way about anyone before. Mates were a bond deeper than any other, but with Alex, it went beyond even that. It was like we were two pieces of the same puzzle, fitting together in a way that was undeniable. And yet, there was something about him that stirred my memories, something familiar that nagged at the edges of my mind.
My thoughts kept drifting to Noah. In some ways, Alex reminded me of him-especially the way he moved, the shape of his face, certain expressions he made. It was strange. Of course, it couldn't be anything more than a coincidence. After all, Alex was human, and Noah had no long-lost family... or at least none that I knew of.
Still, I found myself wondering.
By the time I reached the pack house, the feeling had only deepened. It was late, and most of the pack was already asleep, the house quiet save for the occasional creak of the old wood floors. I slipped inside and made my way to my private quarters, exhaustion beginning to tug at my limbs. But as I lay down, my thoughts continued to race.
Noah had been my constant-my rock-through everything. He was more than just my Beta; he was like a brother to me. And now, here was Alex, stirring feelings in me that Noah had never come close to, yet still reminding me of him in ways that made me uneasy. Was it possible there was a connection between them? No, that seemed far-fetched. Besides, Noah had never mentioned a younger brother.
As much as I wanted to brush the thoughts aside, they continued to linger.
I needed to talk to Noah about it, even if it was nothing more than my own overactive imagination. But I also needed to keep my relationship with Alex close to the chest for now. Something told me that revealing everything too soon could complicate things in ways I wasn't prepared for.
Eventually, sleep claimed me, though my dreams were filled with flashes of Alex and Noah-two figures at once familiar and strange, merging and separating in the moonlit woods.
When I woke the next morning, the feeling of unease still clung to me. It was clear that whatever was happening between Alex and me, it was more than just a simple romance. There were layers here, hidden beneath the surface, and I had a feeling that uncovering them was going to change everything.
But for now one thing at a time would be better.