"You organized all of this?" Garrett asked in awe, his eyes scanning the room filled with an elaborate spread of food. The aroma of delicious dishes wafted through the air, tantalizing his senses.
"I wanted to do something special for you. You have done so much for me in such a little time. This was the least I could do," Lily replied with a warm smile, her eyes shimmering with affection.
This was not what Garrett had expected to come home to. He had braced himself for Lily's fury, anticipating her anger at his prolonged absence of 48 hours. Instead, he was greeted with a feast fit for a king-an expression of love that left him speechless.
'For an Alpha," Berric, Garrett's wolf, corrected him in his mind. 'She is a proper she-wolf. She is worthy of us, worthy to be our Luna.''
Garrett couldn't help but be impressed by the effort Lily had put into preparing this magnificent feast. However, a flicker of doubt lingered in his mind. 'She couldn't have done all of this on her own,' he mused, voicing his skepticism to Berric.
With a smug tone, Berric challenged Garrett, 'She is capable. Do you smell any other wolves here? You sent home the staff days ago. But, if you do not trust our nose, ask her then.. Find out for yourself.'
Garrett's curiosity piqued as Berric was right. He couldn't smell anyone but Lily. Garrett focused his attention back on Lily. "Wait, you cooked all of this, on your own?" he asked.
Lily nodded, her eyes shining with a mix of pride and humility. "Of course. As an Omega, I learned how to cook just like the rest of them in my pack," she explained. "I often cooked for my family."
Garrett struggled to comprehend how Lily could discuss this incredible feat so casually. His heart ached at the realization that such a genuinely kind and loving soul had endured moments of cruelty in her past. Berric, too, was restless within him, howling in recognition of a deeper significance to Lily's actions.
'Why are you doing that? It's just food,' Garrett questioned Berric, his confusion evident. 'You're starting to give me a headache. Calm down.'
Berric's voice echoed with urgency, reminding Garrett of their shared history. 'It's not just food. Don't you remember anything from our youth?' Berric exclaimed. 'She is accepting of our advances. She is beginning the first stage of the mating ceremony.'
The words struck Garrett with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. He hadn't even realized. Any knowledge about mates had been pushed to the back of his mind. Even though he was going along with getting to know Lily, he never thought about what to do or what would happen when she started to show interest outside of the fleeting makeout session.
'No, she wanted to wait until Spring,' he countered, struggling to reconcile Berric's revelation with Lily's previous statement.
'Then why would she do all of this? She can't not know tradition. She is the daughter of an Alpha. She would know!' Berric growled.
Garrett's mind whirled with uncertainty, but he couldn't deny the intensity of Lily's gesture. "This is incredible. Why? Why did you do all of this?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Lily's eyes softened, and she took a step closer to Garrett. "I couldn't figure out what to get you since you pretty much have everything," she confessed. "You're rich. So, I thought what is something that you probably haven't received in a long time not since you were a pup. A homecooked meal, right? So, I prepared a holiday feast for you from your favorite recipes that I found in your cookbook."
The mention of the recipes struck a chord deep within Garrett. His gaze shifted to the bookshelf, where the previously organized cookbooks now stood in disarray. Gratitude, affection, and a hint of despair flooded his heart, mingling with the aromas of the festive meal.
'Has she found out the truth? No. She wouldn't. She wouldn't understand,' Garrett thought.
'It doesn't matter. None of that matters now. She has chosen us. We must accept her gift as the Alpha that we are,' Berric encouraged him.
Lily noticed the shift in Garrett's demeanor and concern flickered in her eyes. "What's wrong? If I overstepped, I apologize. I just thought this would be better than another watch," she said, her voice tinged with worry.
Then, amidst the fragrant atmosphere, Lily's senses heightened, capturing a low rumble that reverberated through her body. Her heart quickened with recognition. She felt it deep within her, pulsating in areas that made her flushed.
'What is that? I think I've felt this before,' she thought, her mind racing to comprehend the significance of the sound. Then, she remembered the first night that Garrett started training her. He had did it then too.
'It is the Alpha call,' Dina whined. She was becoming restless, wanting no needing to go to Garrett but Lily would not move. The Alpha call commanded unruly pack members into submission, calmed the distressed, and bring pleasure to the Luna.
Lily couldn't resist the primal instinct that welled up within her. As her body responded to the call, she tilted her head to the side, offering her neck to Garrett, a display of submission and trust. The sight stirred something deep within him, igniting his senses and tantalizing his primal desires.
'Mark her,' Berric demanded. His voice becoming more primal as time went on.
Garrett, driven by an overwhelming surge of emotions, approached Lily with purpose. Looping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close, their bodies pressed intimately together. He leaned in, his hot breath caressing her earlobe, causing her to shiver in response.
"You didn't have to do this, Lily," Garrett whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion. "This is the best gift I have ever received. You have given me unconditional support and companionship-things I never thought I would receive from a woman."