Sanctuary

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek knocked on Christine's door, a mug of coffee in each hand. It was just after eight and he had been up for a few hours already. He had an idea to take her out for the day and continue to build the bond she felt for him. A morning walk, lunch in town, and then a movie.

He wanted her to feel safe in his company, a task well under way after all of their outings and judging by her midnight arrival at his door twice in a row. But his hesitance the other night may have hindered any budding relationship Christine had seen between them and he needed to nurture the sprout before it could blossom.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine was buried under mountains of pillows and covers. She had slept well, but not as well as she had with him laying next to her.

When he knocked on the door she managed to open her eyes. She was confused at first not knowing where she was, when it all crashed on her.

She tried to straighten herself up as well as the bed before managing a hasty, "Come in."

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

He had expected her to be awake. The disheveled mess before him proved he had been wrong. "I've woken you," he said, almost scolding himself. He offered her a mug in apology.

"I thought you got up early." She had told him of her morning runs and he knew she had been up before dawn the day she found the body in the park. He had attempted to be polite by waiting until what he thought was late in the morning to bother her.

[Christine Montgomery]

She laughed, "Your bed was too sinful to escape." she said lazily with a grin, then as if realizing what she said, turned a bright shade of pink.

"Anyway, the late nights and bourbon fueled fun has messed with my schedule." she looked at the clock in the room and sighed, "I overslept."

Not that she needed to keep to a schedule, but it was odd for her all the same.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

He raised his brow at her phrasing as half his mouth curled upward. His bed was too sinful to leave, she would see that soon enough.

"I was thinking of a morning walk. Join me?"

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine honestly couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth, or the way Alek made her feel when he smiled the way he did.

She ran a hand through her hair, then returned her attention to the mug of coffee sipping it gingerly.

"I'd love to."

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"I'll be in my study when you're ready," he said as he turned for the door. He wondered how long a girl like her would take to make herself "presentable" in the morning. She was a natural beauty but always seemed well put together. Living with Christine for a few days would open a whole new breadth of knowledge for Alek that would aid him in his pursuit of vengeance.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine didn't have the routine that Sam did when it came to getting ready. She could primp and prime with the best of them, but for the most part she washed her face, brushed her teeth, ran a brush through her naturally wavy locks and called it a day.

She met him in his study fifteen minutes later, five of which was remembering how to get to his study. She realized then how convenient her skeleton key at her own estates had been.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

The Eiriksen Estate, in comparison to Montgomery Manor, was modest. It was certainly large enough to get lost in when you didn't know your way but Christine would learn her way around quickly enough. There were only so many corridors to try before you spilled back into the main hallway and it was remarkable how quickly one could pick up how to get from point A to point B with the proper motivation. All the best liquor was kept in Alek's study, that would be motivation enough most days.

When Christine arrived, Alek was sitting on the sofa reading. He looked up, impressed by her speed. "Lex takes at least eight times that duration to get ready for a walk," he said with a laugh. He placed a crimson ribbon in the book to mark his page and set the book on the table with the cover facing down.

"If you're not opposed, the woods on the property are quite lovely," he said as he stood.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine chuckled lightly, "Yes I'm well aware. It's a good thing I don't primp otherwise living at the hotel might have been a nightmare."

Then again, while Christine had her own beauty, and indeed was effortlessly alluring. Lex was a blonde bombshell more in tune with her femininity. Christine was a tomboy more or less, though she didn't believe in such labels or restrictions. She liked that she could change it up now again, but she was most comfortable barefoot and dressed in jeans.

"Of course they are." she laughed, "This entire set up is rather like something out of a fairy tale."

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"Would that make me the prince or the beast?" Alek asked in response to her assertion that his home rested in a storybook land. 

He guided her out to backside of the house which opened up to a spacious yard trimmed with colorful flowers that had been enchanted to bloom year round. The further from the house one travelled the grass thinned, the yard transitioning into the edge of a deep forest. The trees were thin for many miles, allowing the sun to easily shine down and illuminate the layer of leaves on the ground. Birds sang as squirrels jumped from branch to branch, chasing each other across the trees.

Alek's pack occupied many places, spanning several countries. He had smaller units stationed far and wide, each with a Beta who reported to him at minimum once a month to keep the territory claimed and the rivals at bay. And while the Eiriksen clan originated in Norway, where the twins' ancestral grandfather had first been turned, Alek had always known this wood to be his home. He felt at ease here, as did his people. But Alek would steer clear of his wolves' encampment while with Christine.

[Christine Montgomery]

"The white knight of course, after all, you always seem to swoop in and save me."

As they walked she became enchanted by the wildlife around them. It was beautiful and surreal, and somehow walking with Alek made the woods seem almost more alive than usual. After her experience with M, the woods should have been the last place she wanted to go, but going there with Alek almost seemed natural.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek played many roles in this fairy tale. He was the white knight, the trickster, and the big bad wolf. He played each part as his plans required, but not once did he view himself as the villain. That title had laid with his father and has since been inherited by his brother. Christine was the innocent damsel, if one could call her as such. She was hardly in distress and knew her way around a bourbon bottle better than most.

They walked along a path that was marked only by the crumbled remains of what were once leaves. Fallen branches had been cleared and the path had been stepped over so many times that the plants struggled to break through the soil, leaving a narrow path that wound through the trees.

The sound of a babbling creek grew closer and Alek put his hand out gently to stop Christine from walking further. He pointed at something in the distance. Through the trees could be seen a mother deer and two small fawns. Their heads were down, lapping up water from the creek that rushed over a bed of rocks.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine held her breath, the delicacy of the moment made everything else slow down. They were beautiful creatures, and for a moment Christine felt a deep peace inside her.

She smiled. Her hand reached for his outstretched one and she enjoyed the moment coming to some sort of unspoken conclusion.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek's fingers entwined with hers, a smile playing on his face. He turned toward her slightly and the rustling of his feet on the leaves was enough to make the deer look up and stare at them for a brief second before the whole family turned and elegantly pranced away, deeper into the trees.

[Christine Montgomery]

She wanted to thank him for the moment. She wanted to thank him for being in her life, for giving her a place to stay, for rescuing her time and again, for making her laugh after all was said and done.

She leaned on her toes and kissed him. It was different than their other kisses. She wasn't trying to devour him and run away from the pain or hurt of the past. She wasn't inebriated with her defenses low. She was sober and she was grateful. This kiss had nothing to do with Dorian, and everything to do with Alek.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

And he felt it. There was something new between them now and it made Alek once again ponder if he didn't have actual feelings for her. Again he pushed the thought aside, his inner voice sounding remarkably like his father's as he scolded himself for being weak.

Alek kissed her in return, gently but with a purpose. He closed the small space between them as his hands found their way to her face.

[Christine Montgomery]

To be fair, Christine never really had a chance. He had rescued her too many times to count. He had supported her and believed in her. She needed him since she had managed to push almost everyone else away.

In that moment of realization Christine gave a part of her heart to him.

The kiss ended, but the moment would last in her memory. It was the moment she saw beyond Dorian.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek stared deep into her eyes, his mind battling itself over his intentions. He cared for her. But he was using her. She was a means to an end. But he didn't want to see her hurt. He was losing both sides of the war.

He brushed her cheek then pushed her hair behind her ear. "You are exquisite," he said softly with a hint of amazement in his voice.

[Christine Montgomery]

She lifted a hand to his cheek feeling the soft stubble there. It was as if she were noticing him for the first time. He was beautiful. Handsome was too masculine a word to describe him, though he was indeed masculine. Alek positively oozed masculinity and rugged charm. But just beneath the surface there was an artist. A sensitive soul with a true appreciation for beauty. Perhaps it was buried very very deeply beneath the surface, but Christine could see it.

"And you aren't nearly the devil you delight in making others think you are."

She would never call him soft, but she could see how he was purposefully jagged around the edges sometimes. You could only push so far before he either changed the topic or got downright testy. He and his brother were similar in that way.

Before he could argue about whether he was more devil than she knew she leaned forward and kissed him again. Kisses always won in every argument anyway.