The air outside the changing room felt cool against my flushed skin, a stark contrast to the heat that still bloomed on my face. A wave of gratitude washed over me, a silent thank you that Derick had respected the boundary, but the memory of his touch was electrifying. The mere press of his arousal against my core had sent ripples of exquisite sensation through me, a discovery that was both thrilling and deeply intimate. As he then carefully ensured I was properly dressed, his thoughtful attention was a balm to my soul. My heart swelled, a palpable ache of tenderness spreading through my chest, confirming that with every shared moment, my love for this man was growing stronger and more undeniable.
"I know your back is still sore, and the last thing you probably want is to try on more clothes," Derick said softly. "But is there anything specific you'd like to wear for the date tonight?" He gestured subtly with his hand, where the tag of my new shirt dangled, while my old, soiled shirt hung casually over his other arm.
I nodded, my gaze still lingering on his thoughtful expression. "A little," I admitted, a soft smile playing on my lips. "But I'm not sure what I want. Something… comfortable, but also something that feels special. Something that makes me feel like *me*, but a slightly more put-together version of me." I glanced down at the soft cotton of the new blouse he'd helped me into, its gentle drape a welcome change from my usual worn-out favorites. The sensation of his fingers brushing my skin as he'd adjusted the neckline still sent a faint tremor through me.
Derick's eyes crinkled at the corners as he surveyed the rack of clothing. He didn't offer suggestions immediately, instead, he let his gaze wander, as if seeking inspiration in the fabric itself. The quiet hum of the store faded into the background as I watched him, appreciating the way he was so present, so attentive to my unspoken needs. It was these small, thoughtful gestures that had woven themselves into the fabric of my affection for him, making my love feel less like a sudden storm and more like a gentle, persistent sunrise.
"I have an idea," he said, his voice a warm rumble. He reached for a dress hanging on a mannequin, a simple yet elegant A-line cut in a deep emerald green. "This one caught my eye. It has a lovely flow, and I think the color would be beautiful on you." He held it up, letting the fabric catch the light, and I felt a hopeful flutter in my chest. It was more than just a dress; it was another thread in the tapestry of our shared experience, a symbol of his care and my growing certainty.
I offered a shy nod. Though I wasn't typically a dress person, dressing up felt appropriate if he was taking me somewhere nice. He was right; the dress looked fantastic. And as a bonus, its backless design allowed me to finally show off my new ink. Afterwards, we moved on to the shoes, where I selected a nice pair of black flats. I'd certainly had my fill of heels for the time being.
We checked out quickly, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the saleslady was actively avoiding our eyes. An urge to disappear behind Derick washed over me. With wolves' enhanced hearing, I could only imagine what she'd overheard.
"There's just one last spot I'd love to show you before we head back to the hotel for a little rest," Derick announced, his words accompanied by a gentle squeeze of my hand. I simply nodded, letting him lead. As we exited the shop, Matt was already waiting with the car. Derick courteously held the door open for me, and it wasn't until I was safely buckled in that he made his way to the driver's side.
I stole a glance at Matt. He swiveled in the driver's seat, his gaze locking with mine in the back. "Have a good time, Cassy?" he asked. Heat crept up my neck. I'd had an amazing time, but the thought of what he might have heard sent a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. "Were you waiting long?" I blurted out, my voice thin with unease. My mind was already scrambling for an exit strategy, anything to escape the impending awkwardness. As Derick slid in beside me, his hand finding mine, Matt gave a nonchalant reply, returning his focus to the wheel. "Nah, just got here myself. Was looking for a gift for my mate."
I breathed a silent sigh of relief. The alternative – Matt overhearing Derick and me fooling around like horny teenagers – was almost too mortifying to contemplate. I consciously willed myself to calm down and changed the subject. "You have a mate?" I inquired.
Facing the road, Matt practically vibrated with happiness. "Yep!" he exclaimed, a soft smile gracing his lips. "We were childhood sweethearts, so it wasn't much of a choice." He added, his voice gentle, "We always knew we would choose each other." My heart swelled for him, happy he had such a beautiful story to tell.
I heard Derick grunt next to me and turned, raising my brow. "Just ignore him," Matt said with a laugh, explaining, "Derick and Nicki never got along."
"She's a menace to society," Derick grumbled, and as Matt gave a resigned shake of his head, Derick continued, "Seriously, if there's trouble to be had, she's always in the middle of it."
My question hung in the air, unfinished, as we pulled to a stop outside an electronics store. Matt killed the engine. "I'm sure you'll love her, Cassy," he said, a grin spreading across his face as he turned to me.
"Why would she need to?" Derick's voice cut in, and a wave of annoyance pulsed through our bond.
Matt sighed, shaking his head. "Did you forget? As the Beta female, she'll be assisting the Luna with her duties."
My eyes widened, a sudden, sickening lurch in my stomach. Luna Duties. **Luna**. The word echoed in my mind, amplified by the terrifying realization that this wasn't just some small pack I would be overseeing, I would be a Luna Crown Princess and one day Luna Queen. A cold dread washed over me. How could I have forgot? The sheer enormity of it crashed down, stealing my breath. Would I even be good at it? **Could I possibly do it?** I knew the basics, the elementary responsibilities of a Luna, yes, but this… this was a kingdom. A whole, sprawling, complex kingdom. My hands began to tremble, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. Panic clawed at my throat. What if I failed? What if I was utterly, catastrophically inadequate? The weight of it was already crushing me.
Derick's hand tightened on mine, a silent anchor in the swirling chaos of my thoughts. He must have felt my sudden distress, the tremor that ran through me. "Cassy?" he murmured, his voice laced with concern. I couldn't answer, couldn't articulate the overwhelming dread that had seized me. The word "kingdom" pounded in my skull, a relentless drumbeat of my impending doom. I looked at Derick, then at Matt, both seemingly oblivious to the internal earthquake happening within me.
Derick knew immediately something was wrong. A fact I was going to have to get used to, though right now my stomach was a knot of pure dread. "Baby," Derick said, his voice a gentle tug pulling my attention away from the swirling chaos in my head. "What's wrong?" He asked, concern etching a deep line between his brows, and I felt a fresh wave of panic crest as I struggled to form a coherent answer, my breath catching in my throat.
I took a deep, steadying breath, counting to ten as I usually did to quell the rising panic. My gaze then settled on Derick and Matt, their worried expressions a perfect reflection of my own internal turmoil. "Sorry," I murmured, the apology a soft release for the surge of anxiety. "I'm better now." They didn't comment, a silent understanding I was grateful for, allowing me to continue. "I just now realized," I confessed, a wave of embarrassment and shame washing over me, "that I would be a Luna."
"Hey, you'll be fine!" Matt said, his laugh tinged with a soft-hearted reassurance that, unfortunately, did little to soothe my nerves.
Derick's thumb stroked the back of my hand, a silent question in his eyes. I swallowed, the knot of anxiety tightening its grip. "I'm worried I won't be a good Luna, that I'll fail you and the kingdom, and make you look bad for choosing someone like me," I admitted, the words tumbling out in a rush, raw and vulnerable. My gaze dropped to our intertwined hands, the contrast between his strong, steady grip and my trembling fingers a stark reminder of my perceived inadequacy. The weight of the title, of the future, pressed down on me, threatening to suffocate me. I knew he was the Alpha, the Crown Prince, destined for greatness. And I… I was just Cassy, the shy girl who'd hidden her scars and her anxieties for so long. How could I possibly step into those formidable shoes?
Derick's gaze softened, a deep understanding in his eyes that bypassed my fear. He didn't immediately offer platitudes or reassurances that I would be the best Luna. He knew, as I did, that such promises were hollow when faced with the enormity of the task. Instead, his voice was a low, resonant hum, meant only for me. "Cassy," he said, his thumb tracing the curve of my knuckles, "I don't care what kind of Luna you are. I don't care if you're the most organized, the most graceful, or the most diplomatic. All I care about is that you are *my* mate. That is all that matters to me. If anyone else has a problem with who you are or how you lead, then they can," he paused, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly, "they can fuck off. I don't care about them. I care about you."
He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to my palm. "I know what a good person you are, Cassy," he murmured, his voice laced with a sincerity that chipped away at the wall of my panic. "I see the kindness in your eyes, the strength beneath your shyness. You have a good heart, and that's more than enough for me. You are enough." The unwavering conviction in his words ignited a fragile, burgeoning hope within me. The prospect of facing the "kingdom" still loomed, daunting, but the thought of doing so with Derick by my side, knowing he truly saw and accepted me, made the impossible suddenly feel a little less so.
Without another second's hesitation, I launched myself at Derick, the seatbelt protesting as I pulled him into a tight embrace. "I love you, Derick," I confessed, the words tumbling out with a certainty that belied the mere day we'd known each other. In that moment, I knew with absolute conviction that he was the only one I wanted.