Paint Hope Part 25

ALEX'S P.O.V

"Your parents are very nice."

"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.

"Ready?"

"No, but let us go downstairs."

.

Noah's family is significantly way more richer than she imagined, normal (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 others jokes. Although he is future alpha 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 him or put on his 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 peel the shrimp, place his favorites on the lovely protective mates 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 he has to bite, he 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 in gone. I have my own wifey now."

"It is my job to worry about you, it is an unpaid gig 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… this 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 add also desiring an answer to ease her curiosity.

"Dad. I wasn't ready for commitment until I accidentally and quite literally bumped in to Alex... To be quite honest I still was not until I got to know her."

"Sis Lexi... Are you also a werewolf?"

Ora asked and her lips pursed. Yes shes a wolf but she can do somethings others can't, her father used to call it her secret super powers. She smiled at the memory then faced Ora with the same love she would give a younger sister she kinda found in Ora.

"Yes. I was born sick but against all odds I survived. Doctors guessed my wolf was untamed that it wanted control over my body so my father tamed it for me until I was a bit old enough to understand how to control it."

"So you could shift as a child?"

"Yes but mostly no. My father did not want me to shift, I technically have never shifted for as long as I can remember."

Shes never shared this about herself not even to her fated 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 can no 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 medicine studies going son?"

Perm asks her future daughter in law.

"Quite well. Uh. I am going for my PhD after these holidays."

"Forth 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 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 I need help with the data collection loading operating system. Come upstairs to the office and help your old man out with this technology that keeps being innovated."

"Dad you not that pitiful in fact you started that business and showed us how every single data system operates and how to fix it."

"Alex, do you know what Noah does every time he comes to visit?"

Mr Xing continues.

"Dad. Don't go there."

His son warns but his warning is taken lightly.

"He always helps out with the family business and like an employee I give him a salary he the use as his allowance."

"Dad-"

She squeezed Noah's hand not hard enough to hurt but hard enough that it stole his protest.

"It is fine. I will help Mrs Zheng clean up."

"Are you sure?"

Nodding her consent. Noah got up following his father.

"I am going to continue studying so that I can come live with Noah there in Moon next year."

Ora jumped up and ran to the direction that has to be her bed room. Now in the spacious room is a shy frame and the mother. Perhaps her boyfriends mother or whatever they are now did not disapprove of her like many of the mother in laws she sees on TV.

"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. Your son supported me though all of the darkness, although I am still terrified I went through with it last night-."

Shit now she's over sharing. Oh, she's is good... Although what if she is one of those mom's that disapprove of everyone their son brings home?

"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, give us a chance to figure it out."

She told her directly. She ignored her.

"Tell me about your 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. Noah told me that you are a therapist. I do not know what you see in me but it 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 sometimes her concentration is not the best.

On paper shes considered perfect but the reality of is that she is always consistently  drowning, Noah is a lifeline. An alpha, who knew? Who knew that one day she would fall for an alpha, the class she swore to despise forever. Working on the table, then washing the dishes, then she organized the two places she cleaned and then turned around with a satisfied expression. After some time she then realized 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 beautifully. 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 this much colors."

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."