The upscale restaurant hummed with chatter and the clinking of glasses as Kelly, Jack, Kenneth, and Mandy sat at a private table tucked away in a dimly lit corner. The scent of deliciously cooked meat filled the air, mingling with the anticipation of an impending conversation.
Kelly stirred her drink with a thoughtful expression on her face, breaking the silence. "Kenneth, about the deal with Lily..."
Kenneth's gaze met Kelly's, and he straightened in his seat, a touch defensive. "Yeah, what happened? I didn't receive the amount we agreed upon. I could easily go to the public about this."
Jack leaned back, his alpha aura evident even in this public setting. "Once you attempted to steal your daughter's money for her education, Garrett took interest in the arrangement. He was the one who sent you the money, so you will deal with him moving forward," he said calmly. "My son does not like anyone to interfere in his personal matters."
Kenneth's hackles rose, but before he could respond, Mandy interjected, her voice smooth like honey. "You know, we could settle this issue by having Garrett mate with Brandy. It would strengthen our bond and benefit all of us."
Kelly and Jack exchanged a quick glance, both knowing how sensitive this topic could be for all four of them. "No, Mandy," Kelly said firmly. "We have already insulted the Moon Goddess once. We won't do it again."
"We won't use our children as bargaining chips. They should be allowed to choose their own mates," Jack added, backing up his Luna.
Kenneth scoffed and growled, "Interesting that you're taking the high road now. You didn't have an issue about it before."
Jack leaned forward, his tone stern. "That was because we were under the assumption that she was carrying Matthew's pup; however, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. It was our mistake for acting too quickly that we won't be guilty of doing anything."
Mandy's eyes narrowed and she attempted to steer the conversation toward a more diplomatic path. "All I am trying to do is find a resolution to the impotence of your youngest son."
"Excuse me?" Kelly stammered.
"It is clear that your son is impotent. Brandy has slept with him multiple times and has yet to be impregnated. It would make more sense that Brandy is mated with Garrett. I believe..."
"You shut your mouth, Mandy," Kelly growled. "There is nothing wrong with my son. Perhaps you should consider that there is something wrong with your daughter since it is common knowledge that she has been with almost every male in this city."
"Brandy is..."
"This is not up for negotiation," Jack said firmly, ending the squabble between the two Lunas before it escalated. "You will deal with your and your daughter's decisions on your own, Mandy. We will not interfere in our children's lives again. This is non-negotiable."
"So be it," Kenneth said, earning a glare from Mandy.
"Let's focus on the Winter Moon celebration," Jack stated.
Kenneth tried to feign ignorance. "What about it?"
Jack's gaze bore into Kenneth's, unwavering. "Don't pretend you don't know. The Winter Moon celebration is a significant event for all werewolves."
"And?" Kenneth said, sipping his wine.
"And with the Lycan king attending this year, it's even more crucial to maintain unity and follow the rules. All pack wolves no matter the rank need to be there or you will deal with the consequences of your actions without our backing," Jack continued. He didn't care about their alliance. Jack was not going to risk his pack for something that could be easily remedied.
Kenneth's bravado faltered, and he finally met Jack's intense stare. "Alright, alright," he relented. "I'll make sure to follow the rules."
Lily woke up the next morning, feeling the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the curtains. She turned over in bed, expecting to find Garrett beside her, but the space was empty, the sheets cool. A slight frown creased her forehead.
'So much for jumping his bones in the morning,' she thought.
'You could've just done that last night instead of playing games with him,' Dina pouted.
Stretching her limbs, Lily sat up, her senses slowly coming alive. She reached over and touched the pillow where Garrett's head had rested, still feeling the residual warmth. He must have left not too long ago. Lily swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, making her way towards the bathroom to brush her teeth.
As she entered the bathroom, the sound of running water caught her attention. Lily's eyes widened in surprise as she saw Garrett through the foggy glass of the shower enclosure. Her heart skipped a beat, her body frozen in awe as her eyes roamed over his muscular form. The steam curled around him, accentuating the strong lines of his body and the scars that marred his back and chest, scars she had never noticed before.
Dina, stirred within her, her voice echoing in Lily's mind. 'Oh, Lily, look at him. This is the perfect opportunity. Get in the shower with him.'
Lily blinked, momentarily taken aback by Dina's suggestion. 'Dina, are you serious? What if he doesn't want me there? What if it's too intimate?'
'Too intimate? It's not intimate enough!' Dina's voice grew more insistent, a mixture of excitement and encouragement. 'Forget Tiffany's advice. We're not cats. We're wolves. We take what we want and we want him. So, let's show him.'
Lily hesitated, her conflicting emotions warring within her. But the yearning to be closer to Garrett, to feel what she felt with him again, became too potent to ignore. She took a deep breath and pulled off the t-shirt.
Summoning her courage, Lily pushed open the glass door and stepped into the steam-filled enclosure. The warm water cascaded over her body, mingling with the droplets running down Garrett's strong frame. He turned abruptly, surprise evident in his eyes as he took in Lily's presence.
"Lily," he breathed, his voice a low growl mixed with a hint of concern. "What are you doing here?"
Lily felt her cheeks flush, her gaze meeting his intense stare. She didn't say anything but leaned up to kiss him. Garrett pressed her hard against the shower wall as he roughly kissed her back. One hand rubbing her breast, pinching her nipple while the other snaking its way between her legs, plunging two fingers into her earning a moan. Garrett began pumping his fingers in and out of her while Lily clung to him. She grabbed his hard dick that was pressed against her and began stroking it when Garrett abruptly stopped, putting space between them.
Garrett's expression was blank as his eyes continued to shift back and forth as Berric fought to take control. His eyes darkened with desire, but a hint of caution lingered in his gaze. "Lily, I need you to understand...I only have a few moments before I lose control."
A shiver ran down Lily's spine as she met his gaze, her voice steady and resolute before closing the distance between them. She gripped him again slowly moving her hand up and down his shaft. "I know, Garrett. And I trust you. I want to see every part of you, scars and all."