Page 48 of Howl About That

Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Meeting his pack as his mate felt monumental, official in a way that made everything real. "How do you think they'll react?"

His smile was pure Alpha confidence. "They'll respect you because I do. And if any of them have a problem, they'll haveto deal with me directly." He paused, considering. "Plus, this will be the perfect opportunity to invite them to tomorrow's groundbreaking."

The idea sparked in her mind, expanding into something larger. "I should bring you to meet my pride afterward. We can invite them too." She sat up straighter as the vision took shape. "What if we turn the groundbreaking into something more? A ceremony celebrating not just the retreat, but what we represent?"

Keiro's eyes lit with fierce approval. "You want to make a statement."

"I want to show everyone that we're stronger together. That what we're building will make everyone stronger." The words came out charged with conviction. "Let them see that unity isn't weakness—it's evolution."

"Brilliant." He leaned down to brush his lips against her forehead, the kiss soft but claiming. "Tomorrow will be the beginning of something extraordinary."

When he straightened, his smile turned mysteriously pleased. "Speaking of which, I may have gone into town while you were sleeping this morning and bought you a little something."

"Keiro—"

He moved to the chair near the bed, retrieving an elegant shopping bag. "Consider it a small gift for our new beginning."

Poppy accepted the bag with raised eyebrows, her fingers finding tissue paper that rustled with expensive whispers. She pulled out a sundress that made her breath catch—pure white linen that managed to look both innocent and sophisticated, with delicate embroidery along the neckline that would complement her skin perfectly.

"I figured we should match today," he said, gesturing to his white shirt and tan slacks. The combination made him look like he'd stepped out of some impossibly elegant magazine spread.

"You didn't have to do this." But even as she protested, she was running her fingers over the soft fabric, imagining how it would feel against her skin. "But thank you. It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful." The simple statement carried such conviction that it stole her breath. "And besides, I want to spoil you. I want to take care of you and watch you realize that you deserve everything and more."

The words hit something deep and vulnerable inside her, a part that had been starved for exactly this kind of attention and devotion and care. Not because she was useful or competent or strong, but simply because she existed and was loved.

"Get cleaned up," he said, his voice lowering to that commanding register that made her toes curl. "I'll meet you downstairs in thirty minutes."

He moved toward the door with that predatory grace but paused at the threshold to look back at her. The intensity in his dark eyes made her feel simultaneously exposed and treasured.

"Poppy?"

"Yes?"

"Last night changed everything. For both of us." His smile was slow and devastating. "I hope you're ready for the world to see exactly how powerful we are together."

Then he was gone, leaving her alone with racing thoughts and a dress that represented so much more than fabric and thread. It was a symbol of the life she was choosing—one where she could be both strong and soft, where she could lead and be led, where she could finally stop proving her worth and simply exist.

She rose from the bed, her body still humming with the aftereffects of their bonding, and headed for the shower. Todaywould mark the beginning of their public life together. And for once, the future felt like a gift rather than a burden.

Two hours later, Poppy found herself standing beside Keiro's Bentley outside the weathered brick building that served as the Izell pack's town hall. The structure looked like it had witnessed centuries of pack meetings, its windows glowing warmly against the afternoon light. Her stomach churned with a mixture of anticipation and dread—introducing herself to an entire pack of wolves as their Alpha's mate felt like stepping onto a stage where half the audience already wanted her to fail.

The white linen dress Keiro had chosen for her felt perfect against her skin, the fabric flowing as she moved, but it also made her hyperaware of every detail. She was representing more than just herself now; she was representing the future they were trying to build together.

Keiro's fingers intertwined with hers, his grip firm and reassuring. "Relax," he murmured. "They'll soon see everything I see in you, and they won't be able to help but love you as much as I do."

Despite her nerves, his words drew a genuine smile from her. The completed mate bond hummed intensely, carrying his confidence and devotion, wrapping around her like armor. "Easy for you to say. You're not the lioness walking into a room full of wolves."

"No," he agreed, bringing their joined hands to his lips to press a soft kiss against her knuckles. "But you're not just any lioness. You're their Luna now."

The absolute certainty in his tone steadied her resolve. This was their chance to demonstrate that the old divisions between their kinds were nothing more than outdated prejudices. That unity wasn't just possible—it was powerful.

Keiro guided her through the heavy wooden doors into a space that smelled of old leather, pine, and decades of packmeetings. The main hall stretched before them, filled with rows of folding chairs occupied by wolf shifters of all ages. Conversations died as they entered, replaced by the weight of dozens of curious stares.

Most faces showed genuine interest, some carried skeptical expressions, but one glare cut through the room like a blade. An older man with silver-gray hair and pale blue eyes that seemed to burn with disapproval sat in the front row, his weathered hands gripping the arms of his chair like he was restraining himself from action. That had to be Helias, the pack elder Keiro had mentioned. The man who'd helped raise him and now clearly viewed her as a threat to everything he held sacred.

Poppy lifted her chin, letting her lioness's natural authority surface. She'd faced down rooms full of doubters before. This was just another test, another opportunity to prove herself worthy.