I nodded, not trusting my voice. We worked in comfortable silence, ladling soup into bowls, grabbing spoons and napkins. He carried everything outside while I followed with two glasses of water, and we settled into the chairs I'd arranged on the porch years ago. The soup was perfect—simple and warm and exactly what I needed. We ate quietly, watching the last of the sunset fade into twilight, and I found myself relaxing in a way I hadn't in hours. There was something peaceful about Garrett's presence, something that didn't demand constant conversation or performance.
"Can I ask you something?" I said eventually, setting down my empty bowl.
"Anything." He said without hesitation making me blink in surprise.
"Why me?" The question had been building all day, through all the conversations and revelations. "You said the pack is interested in courting me. But why? I'm not... I'm not easy or friendly or any of the things that would make sense for a pack to want."
Garrett was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. "Do you really want to know what I see when I look at you?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted, tilting my head to look at the Alpha beside me. He was the one I had the most interaction with but he was still hard to read, "But I think I need to hear it anyway."
He turned in his chair to face me fully and I took a deep breath as I got a whiff of his scent full force, "I see competence. Real, practical skill that comes from hard work and dedication. I see independence—not the fake kind that's just stubborn pride, but genuine self-sufficiency. I see someone who knows her own mind, who doesn't bend just because it would be easier."
He paused, and his voice softened. "But I also see loneliness trying to pretend it's contentment. I see walls built so high because the person behind them has been hurt too many times. I see someone desperately trying to convince herself she doesn't need connection when every part of her is starving for it."
The accuracy of his observation stole my breath.
"I see someone," he continued, "who deserves to be chosen on purpose. Not as an afterthought, not as a consolation prize, but as a deliberate, conscious choice. And I'd like the chance to be one of the people choosing you. If you'll let me."
Tears burned behind my eyes, and I blinked them back furiously. "That's a lot of pretty words, Garrett."
"It's the truth." He didn't look away, didn't soften the intensity of his gaze. "And I'll prove it through actions, not just words. That's what Wednesday is for. That's what all of this is for—giving you the chance to see that we mean what we say."
I pulled my legs up into the chair, wrapping my arms around my knees like I could make myself smaller, safer. "What if I'm too broken? What if I try and I just... can't do it? Can't be what a pack needs?"
"Then we figure it out together." He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Daphne, we're not expecting you to be perfect. We're not expecting you to have this all figured out. We're just asking for honesty. For you to show up as you are and let us show up as we are, and we'll figure out the rest as we go."
"That sounds terrifying." I laughed out, pushing back the tears as I looked at the man in a new light.
"It is terrifying." His smile was understanding. "But it's also kind of exciting, don't you think? The possibility of something real?"I rested my chin on my knees, looking at him in the growing darkness. His face was shadowed now, but I could still see the sincerity in his expression, the hope he wasn't quite hiding.
"I told Viola I'd try," I said quietly, trying to make sure I didn’t end up crying as I talked. Today had been way too emotional, "I told Micah the same thing this morning. I guess I'm telling you now too. I'll try. I can't promise it'll work, and I'll probably panic and mess everything up, but... I'll try."
The smile that spread across Garrett's face was worth every ounce of fear churning in my stomach. "That's all anyone's asking, Daphne. Just try."
We sat in comfortable silence as full dark settled over the property. The crickets started their evening song, and somewhere in the distance, an owl called. These were the sounds I'd grown so familiar with over five years of solitude, but tonight they felt different with Garrett beside me. Less lonely. More like they were meant to be shared.
"I should probably get your number," Garrett said eventually as he broke the silence. "Before Wednesday. Just in case you need anything, or want to talk, or..." He trailed off, looking almost shy. "Or just want to yell at me for being annoying. Whatever works."
Despite everything, I felt a small laugh escape. “I guess that could be arranged.”
Garrett pulled out his phone, a big smile showing how eager to have my number. It made my heart flutter as his smile grew and asked, "What's your number?"
I rattled it off, then immediately sent me a text:This is Garrett. Now you have my number. No pressure to use it.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to save his contact. Two new numbers in one day—Viola and now Garrett. Two people who wanted to be able to reach me, who wanted me to be able to reach them. It felt significant in a way I couldn't quite articulate.
"The others will probably want your number too," Garrett said after a second of thought. “ But we can handle that Wednesday if you want. No rush."
"Okay." I stared at my phone, at the two new contacts that represented the new cracks in my carefully maintained walls. "This is weird for me. Having people to text…but you can give them my number too."
He gave a laugh. “I’ll tell them.” He grinned at me again, the fullering in my chest growing as he stood, stretching, and I realized how late it had gotten. "I should head out. Let you get some rest. But Daphne?"
I looked up at him.
"Thank you," he said quietly, a gentle smile on his face. His grey eyes looking at me with such gentleness it almost made me want to cry. "For letting me stay. For talking with me. For being willing to try. It means more than you probably realize."
"You made me dinner," I pointed out out softly, not having the energy to speak any louder "I should be thanking you."
