The One

Our World in Our Arms

As the night wore on and the fun continued, Leonard felt the weight of fatigue and sobriety wrap around him like an unwanted blanket. Karol, however, was relentless in her mission to keep him downing drinks, maintaining her rhythm with a sing-song chant: 'I drink one, you drink three.'

Before he could excuse himself, Leonard linked with his Alpha. "Alpha, I'm sending them back now," he informed, receiving an instant reply from Arlo, "Okay, I'll help you." They severed the link, and without further ado, Christian sprang up.

"Jason, let's go retrieve our queens," he declared, striding towards the door that the vigilant guards swung open with impeccable timing. Together they marched towards the other VVIP room. Once they stepped inside, the heavy aroma of vanilla laced with excess alcohol hit Christian like a tidal wave.

Leonard, startled by their sudden appearance, scrambled to his feet, standing awkwardly to the side as the two alphas searched for their mates. It didn't take long for them to spot the ladies, nestled side by side on the sofa, wrapped in coats and sweet slumber.

Christian and Jason moved closer, gently draping their coats over the two slumbering figures. But Leonard, feeling utterly dwarfed by the sheer power of these two titans, protested softly, "Alpha, Don, please..." His words faltered as Arlo issued a warning growl, layered with the possessiveness that thrummed in the air, directed at Leonard, whose expression shifted to one of nervous resolve.

As Arlo growled, Karol stirred slightly in her sleep, pulling the coat wrapped around her up to her neck, leaving a tantalising glimpse of her thigh exposed. Arlo's low growl rumbled again as he gently tugged the coat down to her knees, protective instincts flaring.

"I'll take my mate," Christian and Arlo declared in unison, effortlessly cradling their sisters in a bridal hold as they exited the room, leaving a stunned and speechless Leonard behind.

They slipped out of the club through the VVIP back door, holding their mates securely against their chests, and made their way towards their cars. Christian carefully lowered Karol into the front seat, adjusting it to a reclining position, before jogging around to the driver's side. Karol shifted her body to face the window, surrendering to her drowsiness.

Moments later, she woke in a hazy, drunken state, one eye squinting open as she turned to face the driver. "Leo, where's my phone?" she slurred, her voice thick with sleep.

Christian couldn't help but smile at her dishevelled appearance as he parked by the side of the road, turning to her fully. "Mate, your phone is left at the club," he replied, his low voice sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.

Karol frowned for a moment, shutting both her eyes tightly before pushing herself up, one eye stubbornly closed. "Turn around and go get my phone. How can we go home if we don't know the address?" She leaned closer, her expression a mix of annoyance and determination. "Why do I smell cinnamon?"

Christian smirked, relishing her closeness, but pulled away slightly. "You don't remember your address?" he deflected, steering the car back towards the club.

She let out an exasperated 'tsk', closing her eyes again as she leaned back. "How would I know the long-ass address?" she mumbled, the car's motion lulling her towards sleep once more.

As they approached the club, Christian mind-linked his pack member, Leonard. "Leonard, get your ass down here and fetch my mate's phone."

"Yes, Alpha!" Leonard's response was immediate. He sprang into action, retrieving Karol's handbag from the couch and rushing down to where Christian waited in the VVIP parking space. Christian snatched the bag in one fluid motion, ensuring Leonard didn't catch a glimpse inside before rolling up the tinted window.

With the window closed, he turned to his sleeping mate, gently shaking her shoulder. "Mate, your bag."

Karol stirred, voice thick with irritation. "Gosh, Leo, leave me alone! I need a five-minute break from your constant wake-up calls!" She turned away, determined to return to her dreams.

Christian smiled fondly at her, thinking, *Why is she so cute?* Lowering his voice, he teased, "Erm, okay then. Sorry, my mate, but I'm going to invade your small bag. Let's check your face first, shall we?"

He rummaged through her bag and fished out her phone, placing it in the car's cup holder, before gently turning her back towards him. This time, Karol blinked awake, still teetering on the edge of drunkenness. As she held her head, she reached for her phone and met with the reality of her situation.

"Here, cinnamon..." she murmured, tossing the phone at him before sinking back into her seat and drifting back to sleep. Christian couldn't help but smile at her antics.

Following the GPS route, Christian drove at a leisurely pace, glancing at Karol peacefully asleep beside him. Almost two hours passed before they finally reached the address, leaving him puzzled and slightly shocked.

Christian mind-linked Arlo, *Wait, she's the one who moved in a few weeks ago? The new tenant?*

*Apparently, she is. Talk about coincidence and fate,* Arlo replied, amusement evident in his voice. *Goddess, we could have easily come here to ask them over to the packhouse!*

Arlo's reminder echoed in Christian's mind. *We need to take it slow, Christ. She's human and might panic. If we move too quickly, she might run away.* Christian nodded in understanding.

Upon arriving at the house, Christian parked outside and quickly opened the front door. He scooped up Karol in a bridal style, her stirring barely breaking her slumber as she mumbled sleepily, "Home, cinnamon?" opening one eye to take in her surroundings.

He drew her closer, whispering, "Yes, mate, home." He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, a warm smile spreading across his face as he basked in the moment.

The moment they stepped into the house, Karol quickly requested to be put down—a plea Christian readily obeyed. He turned back to close the door, but his pace faltered as he noticed Karol crawling slowly up the staircase towards her room. "Damn that ass," Arlo remarked with a low growl, relishing the view. In an instant, he sent explicit images racing through their mind link to Christian, who quickly suppressed his annoyance and rushed to assist Karol.

"Don't be a pervert, Arlo," he scolded, severing their link. "Your filthy thoughts might scare our mate away."

Christian grasped Karol's hands with one hand while his other arm encircled her hips, steadying her against the threat of falling. After a few unsteady steps, they reached her bedroom. Too intoxicated to manage her boots, Karol collapsed onto the bed, and Christian removed her shoes, placing them neatly in the cupboard. He slid off his jacket and draped it over her, ensuring her comfort before climbing in beside her.

Gently, he drew her closer, wrapping her in his warmth, and admired the serene beauty before him, brushing his fingers against her cheeks and planting soft butterfly kisses on her skin.

"You have no idea how long we've searched for you, my mate," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Arlo echoed his sentiments silently, their combined affection coaxing Karol to lean into the caress, inhaling deeply and snuggling closer as she muttered, "Hmm, cinnamon..."

Christian pressed a tender kiss atop her head. "We've searched for you high and low, always returning empty-handed. But not now. We finally have our world in our arms." Arlo, equally present, shared in the embrace as they cocooned Karol, relishing the moment.

Without restraint, Arlo surged forward, taking control to plant a gentle kiss on Karol's cheek. "Yes, we really do, don't we?" he chimed before relinquishing control back to Christian, both of them enveloping her in warmth as they drifted off to sleep. The night enveloped them in tranquillity, the sweetest lullaby, yet as all good things must, it inevitably drew to a close. Daybreak heralded the need for Christian and Arlo to leave Karol to embark on their morning patrol.