Loki had won the Challenge against the other Alpha without question. It wasn't even a real fight. The team dealt with the press while you calmed Loki down afterwards. In winning the Challenge, Loki had won the right to court you. Had the other Alpha won, he would have had to step aside and let that Alpha attempt to court you and claim you. That Alpha was an asshole and would have just claimed you without your consent. So it was a good thing Loki had won. Not that there was any doubt.

Loki could be challenged again by another Alpha. Until he'd officially claimed you, any Alpha could challenge him for the right to court you. You hoped no one would be stupid enough to do that. Not after they saw what Loki was capable of.

"Can we find something to drink?" You asked Loki, keeping his attention on you. Not only were you keeping his attention on you, but you were redirecting him from anger to assistance. It was one of the ways to get an Alpha away from the killing edge, redirect them toward helping an Omega. You didn't need help getting something to drink. You both knew it. But you also knew that with Loki on edge, he wouldn't let you out of his sight, so it was best to ask him to accompany you to get something to drink.

He nodded and offered you his arm. "Of course, Elskling," he said warmly. You placed your hand on his arm, appreciating the rich quality of the material of his suit and the feel of his arm beneath. He escorted you over to the refreshment table and accepted a glass of wine for you after asking your preference. One glass of wine wasn't going to impair you. Loki got a glass of dark red wine for himself and a couple of the little chocolate desserts that were being served for you both to munch on. You ate your snack and sipped on your wine as you made the rounds with Loki. The press accepted his actions in the Challenge as he was well within his rights to do so.

"Are you alright?" Nat asked the pair of you when she caught back up to you.

You nodded "Everything's ok," you reassured her. "I wasn't hurt." She still had to look you over for herself to be sure. Loki accepted that the pack needed to check on you and Nat was the most palatable of them at the moment, when he was still on edge. Besides Thor. Neither of them would try to challenge him.

Thankfully, the event didn't last too much longer and you could all head back to the tower. You piled back into the limo, and Loki made sure you were in first, away from the press and the Alphas there. He was clearly getting stabby and it was good you were getting away from the crowd. He followed you in and sat next to you, taking in your aura to stay calm.

The trip back was much more subdued than the excitement of heading out to the press event. You were looking forward to finding more comfortable clothes and getting rid of your heels. And cuddling up with your plushies in your den. That sounded like the perfect end to the evening.

Loki helped you out of the limo when you got back to the tower. "Are you heading up to your apartment?" He asked you as you headed inside together, your hand on his arm again.

You nodded "It's been a long night," you replied. You needed to decompress in your den with your plushies and giant Lokibear.

"I will escort you," he said, clearly still overprotective of you, of his Omega.

You gave him a bright smile. "I'd appreciate that." You didn't say how shaken up you'd been from the assault, but it hadn't been pleasant. Nor was the knowledge that Loki had killed for you. You appreciated that he had won the Challenge, that he had come to help you. That didn't make you less shaken by the events. You appreciated Loki escorting you to your suite. You knew you were safe with him. The rest of the team knew it now too without a shadow of a doubt.

Loki nodded to the team and you said your goodnights before you let him escort you up to your apartment. He remained perfectly polite and courteous as he escorted you like the prince he was. You paused outside of your apartment's door, out in the hall on your floor. "May I come in?" He asked softly. "I... wish to verify there are no intruders," you understood his concern. He wanted to make sure you were safe and Alphas were overprotective.

"Of course," you replied and opened the door so you could both head inside. Loki had you wait by the door while he checked the apartment for intruders. He returned to you when he verified it was safe. There hadn't been any doubt, but it was still nice of him to check.

It was also sexy as hell that he would do that.

He returned to you and cupped your cheek gently. "Your apartment is safe, Elskling," he reassured you. His smile turned warm, turned... interested. "And might I tell you again how radiant you look this evening," he purred, making your insides all melt.

"Thank you," you said softly, looking up into his emerald eyes.

You felt the spark pass between you. He leaned down, slowly, carefully, giving you the chance to bolt. A chance you didn't want to take him up on. He paused with his lips a breath away from yours. "May I?" He asked. You could practically feel him against you, but he waited, pausing, wanting consent before moving forward.

Consent was sexy.

"Yes," you breathed, wanting nothing more than to feel his lips against yours.

The next moment, you had your wish. His lips brushed yours, then pressed more firmly. They were soft and cool, the kiss tender and gentle. There was no hurry and he didn't press for more than the chaste kiss. You closed your eyes, enjoying the taste and feel of him. He tasted of a mint, a crisp winter's day, and magic.

It was absolutely perfect.

He pulled back, leaving you breathless and wanting more. More would come. Tonight was just the first of many kisses to come.

You saw the look in his eyes. He agreed with your assessment that it was a very satisfactory kiss. "Goodnight, Elskling. Sleep well," he bid you warmly, choosing, properly, to end the evening with the kiss and not push you both further than you were ready for. He lifted your hand to his lips and bowed over it to kiss your knuckles.

"Goodnight, Loki," you replied a bit breathlessly.

You saw him out of your apartment and went to prepare for bed. You curled up in your den in your pajamas, cuddling Lokibear, in giantlokibear's arms and fell asleep thinking of that perfect kiss and the promise of more kisses to come.