Page 52

Selene

I knew that something was going on the second I opened the door. For some reason Caelon insisted on having a traditional date night. He wanted to pick me up and keep everything a surprise.

He is just standing there, not saying anything.

Just taking me in, as if he didn’t see me this morning. As if he hasn’t been with me every day since we found out we were mates.

His button-up shirt is tucked into his black slacks, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair is slicked back in a way that is sharper than usual, but his eyes are hungry as they ran over me, making my throat tighten and my legs clench.

“You’re staring,” I say.

He blinks, slow as if he’s entranced. “You’re stunning, as always.”

“You’re overdressed,” I counter, tugging gently on his collar. “Should I change?”

“Absolutely not,” he says as he pulls a long, black silk ribbon from behind his back. “Trust me?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Depends. Do you plan to kidnap me or drag me into the woods, wolf boy?”

“A surprise.” His voice drops as his eyebrow hooks up.“Something I’ve been working on for weeks. Now.” He twirls his finger in a circle. “Be a good girl and turn around.”

My pulse picks up. “That sounds dangerously, deeply romantic.”

He grins, mischievous and smug. “Good. Come now, turn around.”

The blindfold slides over my eyes, taking away all the light, reminding me of another time we played with a blindfold. His fingers move nimbly as he ties it snugly to my face. My skin prickles when he runs his hand down the back of my neck following the trail of the open back.

He leans in close to my ear, whispering, “Ready?”

My lips pop open as I breathily say, “Yes, I’m ready to be abducted by my mate.”

His low chuckle tickles the side of my neck as his hands slide down my arms. “Not abducted. Worshipped.”

He leads me, one arm firmly behind my back, the other grasped firmly in my hand.

Guiding me down the steps, I allow him to pull me where we are going.

I know that we are heading towards downtown based on the turns we are taking.

The sounds of town, people chatting, and the assortment of smells wrap around me.

I can smell the bacon scent that always comes from You’re Bacon Me Crazy. Where are we going? I feel the shift in the air, something is happening. The muffled voices, footsteps, the low chuckle of someone close.

“Are we in town?” I whisper.

“Mmhm.”

I can feel it, smell it in the air. Is that fresh paint? There’s something sweet and buttery. The low notes of a guitar playing in the distance.

He gently pulls me to a stop.

“Okay, don’t move,” he says as he lets go.

“Caelon?”

He steps away, I can feel him moving further from me. I hate how exposed I feel without his warmth wrapped around me. There are too many scents around me to really determine who is here. As if he wasn’t gone, he is back with his arm around my back, warm and steady.

“I’m going to count to three,” his words whisper against my ear. “When you hear three, I’m going to take off the blindfold. I want you to see everything the way that I do. Okay?”

“Bit dramatic don’t you think?”

“Not dramatic, deserved,” he replies. “One…two…”

The fabric slips from my face, falling away.

“Three.”

Light floods my vision.

I blink my eyes a few times, waiting for them to adjust to the sunlight.

The reflection of everyone standing around glints off the wide windows along the front.

Soft banners flutter in the breeze in front of the warm wood and dark iron fixtures along the building.

It’s clean and modern, but has this air about it like it’s always belonged.

Above the dark paned double doors hangs the most stunning hand carved sign.

The Howlery.

The name knocks the wind out of me.

This isn’t just a gallery, it’s ours .

Flowers line the sidewalk in front of it, not just any flowers, and certainly not ones that he bought in the store. These are wildflowers, similar to the ones in our field. It’s the kind that is completely us.

I take a step forward, I don’t even realize that I have.

The world softens as I take in all the little touches.

The time he took to really build something that speaks volumes of how much he sees me.

From the soft, pastel ribbon wrapped around the pillars to the wolf paw print into the concrete in the threshold of the door.

Caelon’s hand tightens around my side. “Say something.”

My throat tightens.

“I…” My voice breaks. “I don’t think there are words to describe how I’m feeling. Nothing that would ever capture my thoughts.”

He gives me a soft smile. “Good, because we are far from done.”

There’s movement behind the doors, drawing my attention. The door opens, and I see them. Odessa beaming, Lou waving, Fern clutching pottery, Bea wiping her eyes, and Gail, standing proudly with a ribbon and scissors in her hands.

The whole pack. Every single person who means the world to me, outside of my parents.

They are here, waiting for me.

Waiting to welcome us.

Gail walks forward waving a gigantic pair of gold scissors as if they are the prized possession of the night. A long strand of wide, red, satin ribbon dangles over her arm.

“Who would you like to hold your ribbon for you?” Gail asks.

Looking around the group of people gathered around me, I know exactly who when my eyes come to them. There is nobody else I can imagine being part of this moment than them.

“My parents,” I say as I call them over.

They each take a side of the ribbon, standing on each side of the pillars as I walk around to stand behind the ribbon. Caelon is standing there, watching as I come to a stop.

“What are you doing? I’m only here because of you. Come on. We will cut the ribbon together.”

He nods his head and joins me.

“Ready?” Gail asks, as everyone moves in closer.

Caelon places his hand over mine. “Do it together.”

And we do.

The blades snip through the ribbon, the crowd cheers, and just like that…

The Howlery is real.

Ours.

“Ready to see the rest?” Caelon asks as he leans in closer to me, hooking his arm around my back.

Gail and Fern pull the doors open as we walk in. The gorgeous dark hardwood floors glisten against the warm rail lighting dangling high above. The tall ceilings with beams crossing from one side to other giving an open air feeling.

The soft notes of the guitar I heard earlier play over the speakers throughout the room. I barely notice the crowd around us as we walk inside.

My breath halts in my lungs as I see it.

There in the center of the room is a beautifully framed picture that I didn’t even think would see the light of day.

During one of our trips to our field, I pulled my camera out and snapped photos of us as we laid in the flowers together.

The one he chose is of both of us mid-laugh, a lightness to our faces, as we looked at each other. It’s so perfectly us.

“I couldn’t resist a moment to display something that represents us. It’s my favorite photo you’ve ever taken.”

He pulls me gently to the left side of the room. “We designed this to be like your display at the Summer Solstice. Telling a story of your life.”

We stop in front of the first photo. There is a sign beside the first photo calling the series…

Through Her Eyes.

The first photo I recognize as the very first one I captured with an actual camera instead of my phone. It seems a lifetime ago now, when Warrick caught me taking photos with my camera and encouraged me to take the leap.

We walk together, stopping in front of each one as we go down memory lane of the last few months of my life. Watching as each one becomes more developed, clearer, more emotional.

We round the corner to Bea’s bright and full of joy section.

At the front of the room in one of the corners, are snapshots of her bakery, flour dusted hands, and steamy cinnamon rolls.

In the center of her table is a framed photo of me.

A beautiful headshot that I didn’t know had even been taken while I was in the midst of taking a photo myself.

She stands proudly behind her table with a wide smile across her tan face. Her long, black soft waves fall down her front.

“Bea, thank you for being here,” I say as we come to a stop in front of her. “What is this amazing looking frame?”

She beams with pride. “This frame is my own twist on this photography display. I thought wouldn’t it be amazing to have an edible frame with wildflowers and paw prints to really tie in the theme.” She winks.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper in awe.

She truly outdid herself with this. It’s a piece of art all on its own. Along with all her desserts on the table. So many things I can’t wait to taste. She even included honey cakes, my favorite thing she makes. She sees me eying them and smiles before handing me a tiny plate with one on it.

I nod my head as Caelon moves me to the next stop. A wall with wooden shelves displays stunning ceramic plates designed like various flowers. These have to be from The Muddy Paw.

We make one final stop at Hazel’s table where these small jars sit with this midnight purple liquid swirls with a sparkle. She is stunning with her pastel pink summer dress and her long, dark curls hanging loosely.

“Now, what is this?” I say as I pick up a jar and twist it around.

“Moonlight and Memories. A nod towards your name and what you believe in.”

“I love that,” I say before taking a sip of the juice. “It’s wonderful Hazel. Thank you.”

“I’ll leave you to mingle with your supporters, my love,” Caelon says as he moves off to talk with Silas and Nova.

I spend so much time chatting with everyone that I don’t even realize how much time has passed until someone is tapping me on the shoulder.

I turn around to find an older woman with short, curled gray hair and aged skin. I’ve never seen her before.

“Hello,” I say as I hold out my hand towards the woman.

“Oh, I’m so very glad to finally meet you, Selene. I truly have heard so much about you, and I simply couldn’t wait to see your wonderful photos in person. My name is Lena Qamar.”

Gasping, my hand flies up to my mouth. The National Geographic rep I have been struggling to find the right words to say to is standing in front of me, in my very own gallery. How?

A warm hand presses against my back as Caelon comes to my side.

“Mrs. Qamar.” He shakes her hand gently. “I’m so glad that you were able to make it. Have you had a chance to take a tour yet?”

“I haven’t, but I have something I want to talk about with Ms. Selene first.” She pulls out a stack of papers from her bag. She holds out the papers towards me.

My hands shake as I grasp the papers in my hand. I read over the title of the paperwork. Proposal of Contracted Services Between Contractee and National Geographic LTD.

My eyes bulge as my mouth drops open. I glance between the papers and Cal, unsure if this is real. He nods his head, giving me an encouraging smile.

I look back at Lena, who is standing with her hands clasped in front of her, waiting patiently.

“Is this real?” I ask as the tears well up in the corner of my eyes.

“It certainly is, but I really would recommend reading over it carefully and perhaps taking a few days to truly decide if it’s something you’d genuinely like to do.”

“I can’t…” I look at Caelon. “I don’t even know how you found me.”

Caelon clears his throat. “That would be me. I saw your email to her and after much consideration, decided to send it on your behalf. I know you’d been battling with what to say or how to say it.

But, I also know that your work would speak for itself.

It only needed a gentle push. So one morning while you were sleeping, I snuck onto your computer and sent it from my email.

She reached out immediately and I invited her here.

I didn’t know about the contract though. ”

I’m staring in disbelief. I can’t…I don’t even know what to say. All these amazing things that he has done for me. I can’t even put into words the emotions flowing through me.

“I think I’ll…” Lena starts when Bea yells interrupting everyone as we all turn to the commotion.

There, in her small pine nut form, is Marlowe running across the floor with one of Bea’s cinnamon rolls tucked in her mouth. We all burst out laughing as the tiny little claws scratch against the door before someone pushes it open letting her run down the sidewalk.

“My, my, it seems things are always quite exciting around here!” Lena giggles, her eyes alight with humor.

“You can say that again,” Caelon says with a laugh.

“Anyway, as I was saying. I think I’ll certainly take my chance to explore your gallery opening. Do enjoy yourself, and I look forward to hearing from you very soon,” she says with a dip of her head as she turns to walk away.

“Cal…this is too much. I can’t believe that you did all this.”

“I love you.” He kisses my temple.

“I love you too,” I say leaning into him.