Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 178: Our Home

As time passed, both Lewis and I changed.

I stopped hiding how I felt. I no longer swallowed emotions just to keep things calm.

And Lewis who had always been controlled and guarded started opening up to me in ways he never had before.

Love isn’t about one person giving everything while the other only receives.

It’s about care flowing both ways. About learning each other. About growing side by side.

He loves me deeply. I feel it in the way he watches me, in the way his presence stays close without suffocating me.

Still, my past with Julian sits like a thorn in his chest.

I understand why.

I slipped my arm around Lewis’s neck and leaned closer.

"Since we keep running into everyone," I said softly, "maybe we should move out. Go back to our own place."

The moment I said our home, his mood shifted.

His eyes brightened, and something warm rolled off him, steady and sure.

"Yes," he said in a low, rough voice. "Let’s go home."

When we returned to the yard a few days later, I barely recognized it.

Fresh decorations lined the path. Lights glowed in the trees. The air carried that quiet excitement that comes before the New Year.

It made my heart lift.

As I looked up at the lights swaying gently above us, my thoughts drifted to Grandma.

"What’s on your mind?" Lewis asked. "It’s cold. Come inside."

I smiled faintly and pulled my gaze away.

"With the New Year almost here," I said, "I want to spend it with Grandma. I’m just worried I’ll cause trouble."

He shook his head gently.

"Now isn’t the right time. Moving her from the hospital would draw too much attention. Let’s wait until next year. When things have settled down, we’ll all be together."

He said it like a promise.

Like next year would be brighter. Safer.

But Camilla’s shadow still pressed heavily on my heart.

The people behind her had been planning for years.

Could we really win without paying a terrible price?

I was afraid.

Winning always costs something.

I’ve already lost family.

Lost love.

Even lost my own life once.

I can’t bear to lose anything more.

The future feels uncertain, and that frightens me.

Lewis saw straight through me.

He turned to me, his gaze warm and steady, grounding the restless pull inside my chest.

"Don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet, Elena," he said. "Trust me. We’ll come out on top."

"Okay," I said, forcing a smile.

I pushed open the front door, and warmth rushed over me.

The new furniture I had chosen had arrived. The house looked complete settled, claimed, lived in.

Everything was spotless. The staff had kept it perfect while we were away.

And Snowflake

The moment it saw me, it abandoned its toy and leapt straight into my arms, purring loudly.

"Hey," I laughed softly.

It rubbed against my cheek, its warmth easing the shadows in my heart.

Lewis closed the curtains, sealing us inside. Outside, snow fell quietly, blurring the world beyond the glass.

Our home felt like a hidden den. Private. Safe.

"I’ll cook," he said.

I nodded without hesitation.

I curled up on the sofa with Snowflake and turned on an old movie while Lewis moved around the kitchen.

The sounds were simple. Familiar. Comforting.

For the first time in a long while, life felt slow.

I used to be too busy to follow shows or trends. Now I had time but I felt distant from this world.

My mind was still caught in the relentless pace of my past life, even though I now lived in a younger body.

What do people my age enjoy now?

What do they watch? What makes them feel alive?

They were probably not like me.

Most people my age liked new shows and fast noise. I stayed with old movies and familiar stories. But sitting there with Snowflake curled in my lap, her steady purring warming me from the inside, felt right.

The house was calm.

The coffee machine hummed softly.

A steady chopping sound came from the kitchen.

As the sun slipped away and night settled in, I gently placed Snowflake in her little bed. Then I walked quietly to the kitchen and leaned against the doorway, watching Lewis move.

For the first time, I understood what a bonded life could be.

Not grand gestures.

Not loud promises.

Just this.

Being chosen. Being steady. Being safe.

It was only an ordinary afternoon, yet it eased every ache I carried.

Lewis turned and caught me watching.

"It’ll be ready soon," he said. "Go wash your hands."

"Okay," I replied, smiling softly.

I set the table while he plated the food.

The old movie ended in the background, its warm music filling the room. Steam curled up from the dishes.

Life felt simple like this.

Outside, fireworks cracked through the night. This area didn’t restrict them, so the sky often came alive after dark.

I used to hate that sound.

But I’d heard it so many times now, the fear had faded.

Maybe it was because he was beside me.

I even pulled back the curtain and watched the colors bloom across the sky.

Lewis stepped up behind me.

"Not scared anymore?"

"With you here," I said, "I’m not afraid."

He was quiet for a moment, then said, "The night’s still young. Want to visit Grandma at the hospital? It’s almost New Year. She shouldn’t be alone. And after everything at the Morrigan residence, I doubt anyone’s watching over her properly."

I turned to him, surprised.

"Lewis... it’s like you read my thoughts."

He smiled faintly. As we got ready to leave, he draped a scarf around my neck.

"It’s cold in December," he said. "Just hold on a little longer. Spring is coming."

"Yeah."

We brought New Year gifts with us.

Before we reached the hospital entrance, I spotted the Morrigans’ car. I grabbed Lewis’s arm.

"Let’s wait a bit. I don’t want to run into them right now."

"Alright," he said calmly. "They usually don’t stay long. Mr. Morrigan tends to linger, but even his visits have been shorter lately."

It was clear Lewis had been quietly watching Lena’s situation tracking visits, patterns, timing.

"And Camilla?" I asked.

"She’s been here a few times. Always brief. Probably just checking Grandma’s condition."

"When Grandma can speak again," I said quietly, "she’ll be a key witness against Camilla."

"That day will come," he replied.

As we talked, the Morrigans started leaving.

From a distance, I saw Vivian arguing heatedly with Camilla while Malcom tried to calm her down. I couldn’t hear them, but I could read their lips.

My name.

Nolan’s name.

Nolan’s death had stirred doubt and suspicion among them.

There was no proof yet, but Camilla’s appearances were too well-timed to ignore.

Vivian had always been direct, never subtle. It was natural for her to point fingers.

Malcom, on the other hand, still stood with Camilla likely protecting the fortune tied to her.

Thinking back to how they once united against me, the irony almost made me smile.

Eventually, Malcom guided Vivian to their car. The brothers left together.

Camilla stayed behind.

Through the tinted glass, I saw her standing in the shadows.

She smiled.

Cold.

Satisfied.

The car pulled away, and her gaze stayed fixed in our direction like she knew exactly where I was.