Page 23 of The Alpha’s Forced Plus-Size Mate (Silverfang Creek Wolves #3)
The backyard buzzed with the sound of laughter, the sizzle of food on the grill, and the low hum of chatter as the pack gathered for the first annual Red Canines Fall Fest. The community garden, Naomi’s brainchild, had transformed into the perfect spot for the celebration. String lights crisscrossed above, casting a soft golden glow over the garden beds, now brimming with vibrant fall flowers and vegetables. Bonfires crackled in the corners, their warmth battling the brisk October air as some of the younger wolves toasted marshmallows and pack members passed around mugs of cider.
I leaned against the fence, watching Naomi laugh with Rhonda and Penny as they worked the grill. She had a way of lighting up the space around her, her smile soft and genuine, her laughter cutting through the cool night like music.
The pack was at ease, and for the first time in months, I felt it, too. My wolves—gritty, leather-clad bikers who once thrived on chaos—were smiling, joking, and genuinely enjoying themselves. It wasn’t just the festival or the food; it was this new chapter. They’d started calling the garden “Naomi’s Garden,” a nod to her vision and effort, and it filled me with pride to see her woven into the fabric of the pack. She was their Canine Queen, even if she didn’t fully believe it yet.
There was more to tonight than just the fall get-together, though. I checked my pocket for the millionth time, clutching the little black box, uncharacteristic nerves swamping me. I had the perfect plan, and my father was in on it, so why in the hell did I feel like I was going to vomit from stress?
And why the hell was I, the Alpha of one of the most notorious packers around and a man who had recently fought off demons, stressed to the point of puking at the prospect of proposing?
One glance back at Naomi answered all my questions. She was radiant, even in just her ripped jeans and wine-red sweatshirt. There was nothing on the earth worth more than her, and I was about to ask her to be my wife.
We’d gone from kidnapping to proposals in less than a year. It had been one hell of a ride. Now, I just had to convince myself that she was going to say yes.
After all we’d been through, it’d be crazy for her to turn me down. We’re already mate-bonded, for God's sake. We even have our wedding clothes already tailored, just waiting on us. Of course she’d say yes.
But—what if she didn’t?
Snap out of it, asshole! I scolded myself mentally. Stop acting like a coward and make that woman your wife!
Dad sidled up to me as I was having my internal crisis and waited for me to snap out of it before bumping me with his shoulder. “You ready, Kid?”
“Yes. No. Yes. Fuck.”
He laughed heartily. “That sounds about right. I’d be more worried if you were calm. Losing your mind before proposing is like a rite of passage.” He adjusted the collar of my motorcycle jacket before patting me hard on the shoulder. “You’ll do fine, Son.”
I swallowed once and then twice, but the inside of my mouth still felt like it was full of glue. A clang was heard as Naomi, on the other side of the garden, turned off the grill and shut the lid, dusting her hands off. Dad grinned at me, almost giddy. “Looks like your lady is all done with her job. That’s my cue.”
Dad stepped up to the center of the group, tapping his beer bottle with a fork to call for quiet. His gruff voice, usually reserved for dry humor, carried over the crowd. “I want to say a few words, Canines!” The wolves whooped and hollered in response to their old Alpha.
“When my son brought Naomi home, I didn’t know what to expect. The boy made his share of mistakes—and brought home his share of trouble.” That earned a ripple of laughter from the pack and a mock-offended look from me. “And our sweet Naomi came to Red Canine territory in, let's say—a less than typical fashion—” This got a groan from Naomi.
“But Naomi—she’s different. She’s not just smart and hardworking; she’s got heart. She reminds me of my late wife in that way.” He paused, his voice thick with emotion. “My wife had a way of making people feel seen, feel wanted. Naomi, you’ve got that same gift. You’ve not only brought my son peace, but you’ve brought this pack together when we needed it most. Welcome to the family, Naomi.”
The applause was loud and genuine, and Naomi blinked quickly, like she was trying to hold back tears. She stepped forward, her voice steady but her hands twisting nervously in the hem of her sweater. “I don’t have parents,” she said, her eyes scanning the crowd. “Not like most of you. I’ve always kind of felt like I was on the outside looking in. But being here, with all of you—It’s the first time I’ve felt like I really belonged somewhere. Thank you for welcoming me. I—I can’t tell you how much it means.”
Naomi sniffled, wiping her eyes before something else occurred to her. “Oh! And sorry I made you guys quit drugs,” she said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “But I promise to be a good mate to your Alpha.”
Dad let out a loud guffaw, slapping his knee. “Hell, I think we’ll forgive you for that one, Naomi. Probably saved us a few years of our lives!”
She smiled, full and genuine, and it was like looking into the sun—impossibly bright but beautiful all the same.
My heart clenched inside my chest, and I knew it was time. As the applause died down, I stepped forward, reaching into my pocket for the small velvet box. My pulse thundered in my ears, and I wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or anticipation, but either way, there was no going back.
“Naomi,” I said, and her eyes snapped to mine, wide and startled. The crowd fell silent. I reached for her hand, pulling her closer. “From the moment I first heard your name, I knew you were going to change everything. You’ve made me better. You’ve made this pack better. You’ve given me something I didn’t think I’d ever have—a future worth fighting for.”
I dropped to one knee, flipping open the box to reveal the ring—a delicate band with a solitaire diamond, simple but perfect for her. “You’re my mate, my partner, my everything. Will you marry me?”
Her hands flew to her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks as the pack erupted in cheers and whistles. For a moment, I thought she might be too overwhelmed to answer, but then she nodded, her voice breaking as she whispered, “Yes. Hell yes.”
I stood, slipping the ring onto her finger before pulling her into my arms. The pack howled around us, their voices blending into the crisp night air, but all I could hear was her soft laugh and the steady beat of her heart against mine.
I kissed her then, not caring who was watching, making sure she knew just how seriously I took this. When I released her, she stood beside me, her cheeks flushed from the cold and from the attention, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
“To the future Mr. and Mrs. Turner!” someone from the crowd called, and the cheers started all over again.
Naomi gave a small, self-conscious laugh. I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, feeling how she fit perfectly against my side. She might still be getting used to this—being in the spotlight, standing next to me as the Canine Queen—but damn if she didn’t look like she was born for it.
As the night continued, we made our way around the garden, chatting with the pack members, thanking them for coming and listening to their ideas and concerns about the changes we were making. People asked to see Naomi’s new ring, and she showed it off happily, flushed with all the congratulations she was receiving. It felt good—like we were building something real, something lasting.
Best of all, there were no mentions of the Reckless Stalkers or demons the entire night.
Later, when we finally had a moment alone, Naomi turned to me, her expression thoughtful. We were sitting on the edge of one of the raised planters, hidden by the tall tomato plants, so we could have some privacy.
“So,” she said, tilting her head, “are we going to jump right into planning this wedding, or are you going to let me catch my breath first?”
I laughed, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “How do you feel about getting hitched—oh, on Halloween.”
Her face went blank, then flushed, and then white. “You’re kidding.”
I didn’t want to laugh at her, but she was so damn cute when she was shocked. “Not at all.”
“I, well—woah. That’s super fast. Like two weeks fast.”
“It is,” I agreed, but then it was time for me to make a minor confession. “But I rented the venue the day you were brought to Athens, so—”
Her eyes went wide, and there were a few seconds where I was sure that I had fried Naomi’s brain for good. Then, thankfully, she laughed, throwing her head back with the force of it. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Oh, I’m well aware.”
“Halloween,” Naomi repeated, tapping at the corners of her eyes to catch any tears that had appeared during her laughing fit. “You know what? Fuck it. Let’s do it Halloween it is.”
“God, I love you,” I sighed, kissing her soundly. “I would have rescheduled if you wanted to, but damn, that was a big deposit I put down. Any stipulations, Mate?”
She smiled, leaning into my touch. “Let’s see—I want it big enough to celebrate with the pack and small enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. That’s about it. Deal?”
“Deal.” I kissed her, slow and lingering this time, savoring the moment. “We’ll plan it together. Every step. Just like everything else.”