[center][img]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll64/CK_Slade/AlexClaudia.png[/img][/center]
[center][h1] [color=007236]Alex[/color] & [color=f49ac2]Claudia[/color][/h1][/center]

Alex yelled. [color=007236]"Piper! Come back here!"[/color] When she walked away he stared into Claudia's questioning eyes. His lady had the power to calm him and right now he was needing that so much. 

[color=palevioletred][i]75 years ago?[/i][/color] What was Piper talking about? Claudia laid a hand on Alex's chest as Piper dragged her wolf out of the bar. As soon as the hybrid and the wolf left, she frowned at Alex. [color=palevioletred]"Was all that really necessary? It's pretty difficult for us to resist the person we imprint on. You can't blame Piper for that."[/color] She took a deep breath, not really sure she wanted to ask. It was one thing to assume that there was something between Alex and Piper in the past. But it was another to actually hear it from him. Apparently, she didn't even need to ask. 

He put his arms around Claudia and said, [color=007236]"I owe you an explanation."[/color] Since Tabitha and that loud guy were at the bar and she was capable of serving them he took Claudia into the office and closed the door. Alex looked suddenly worn out. He sat in the chair and sat her on the desk so he could wrap his arms around her and pull her to him. Alex let her see a side of him she hadn't yet. She got to see the vulnerable side of him, the one he protected at all costs.

[color=007236]"Lucinda saved Piper during her wolf transformation. When she brought her home and we met it was like love at first sight for both of us. Things were great for about 87 or so years. We had trouble the last 13 years or so. She wanted to spend time in a pack and I wouldn't let her go. Yeah I was a bigger asshole back then. Eventually she wrote me a note and left. For a long time I resented the note. For me it was like I got no closure on the relationship. I was a walking functioning open wound. She stayed away for 25 years. By then I was with Sookie and that only lasted a couple of years. When Piper came back she said "Hi big brother." So we never spoke of it and just slipped into this place were we can do everything together except talk about what happened."[/color] Alex looked up at Claudia and he reached up and kissed her deeply. [color=007236]"You know I love only you. I want only you. There is just this hurt that was never fully healed. I still care about her obviously but I don't want her back. I need you to know that."[/color]

As the words spilled out from Alex's lips, Claudia had no idea how she was supposed to react. Knowing that he loved someone that much to carry the pain for so many years was... She shook her head. She had no words to describe it. She couldn't even imagine it. Like the way she couldn't imagine losing him. But a part of her began to resent Piper. Because she left him in this state. Because he loved her that much. Because while she had definitely imprinted on him and while he told her he wanted no one else, she had no idea if he'd eventually leave and go back to her. Because there were so many what ifs. She sighed and let him kiss her, responding with the same intensity but keeping silent afterwards.

Alex watched her face and he could feel a difference in her kisses. It tore at his heart that he had hurt her. Alex pulled back and he said something that he couldn't have ever thought possible. [color=007236]"As much as I loved Piper for over 100 years and as bad as losing her felt...If I lost you...Nothing could hurt me worse than losing you. I think it would kill me. Please Claudia." [/color]This time he kissed her so gently and tenderly, the love was so deep and pure that when he moved to kissing her neck it made her body shiver in reaction. [color=007236]"God I love you Claudia."[/color]

Claudia heard what he had to say and saw the sincerity in his eyes. And even though she was sure she'd still feel threatened by Piper, she knew that she'd stay by his side. Now, tomorrow and for all of eternity. She intertwined her fingers through his as they kissed. [color=palevioletred]"Nothing will keep us apart. I love you too, Alex,"[/color] she whispered.

Alex kissed her and whispered into her ear. [color=007236]"I think Lucinda just walked in. Let's let her run the place for a little while."[/color] Alex went back to kissing her and only when the door opened did he pull back and look at Lucinda.[color=ed1c24] "What did you do to the bar? You broke it! There is broken glass everywhere!"[/color] Alex dropped his gaze in guilt. [color=007236]"Yes I did that."[/color]

[color=ed1c24]"Well? What happened?"[/color] She said putting her hands on her hips. [color=007236]"Piper...and I-"[/color] Lucinda glared at him. [color=ed1c24]"So the two of you pick NOW to talk about something that happened what? 75 years ago? And you thought it was okay to break my bar! That's real mature of you both. Now get out of here and go cool down!"[/color]

[color=007236]"Lucinda, she imprinted on a wolf."[/color] Lucinda's expression changed, [color=ed1c24]"What about Grant? I thought that's what it supposedly was between them."[/color] [color=007236]" Apparently not, but who she imprinted on is the problem."[/color] Lucinda prepared herself. [color=ed1c24]"Who?"[/color]

[color=007236]"Lukas Liekos, one of Samuel's wolves."[/color] Lucinda barely managed not to scream, enraged that it would be one of their enemies. Calming herself seemed to be something she did better than Alex. [color=ed1c24]"I'll deal with that when I see her next." [/color]Alex nodded and he pulled Claudia with him and they left the bar. 

Claudia remained silent all throughout Lucinda and Alex's conversation, shaking her head a little when Piper imprinting was again brought up. She really didn't think it was anything to worry about. And she told Alex her thoughts once they were out of the bar. [color=palevioletred]"Having Piper imprint on this Lukas can work to your advantage, given of course that he imprinted on her as well. If he truly imprinted on her, he would no longer be loyal to anyone but Piper. Not even the commands of the alpha would make any difference."[/color]

[color=007236]"Yes or it could make her loyal to him and whatever he wants to do."[/color] Alex thought for a moment and smiled. [color=007236]"But Piper is hybrid which means she is Lucinda's to command wolf or no. Lucinda can command her to stop seeing him or at the very least to bring him to our side."[/color] Relief flooded through his body and he seemed less stressed.

Claudia nodded. [color=palevioletred]"Exactly."[/color] She looked at Alex. [color=palevioletred]"So... where are we going?"[/color]



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