103. Winter Party

Eric

“Where are you?” Lilith asked over mind link. “My office, and be forward my father is here and, he is being weird, like weirdly nice. It is fucking weird.” Lilith didn’t respond but she did walk in the room, and I swear my heart felt like it had stopped beating. Lilith stood there in her gown. The light blue fabric ran along her body tightly with little gems that made her resemble a star or snowflake. The dress had been tight, and her stomach was clearly visible. Then there was her neckline that was not overly low cut, but her breasts were pushed up and they looked divine without being completely out.

Her hair was partly braided around her head making it look like a crown and then a smooth wrap with the long black hair. I noticed the tiny blue sparkles in her hair. Her face looked young, and she had on very light makeup. She looked like some kind of snow queen. He light blue eyes that were striking and popping with the light blue dress remained fixed on me as my father rushed her. I watched as he threw his arms around her giving my mate a hug. “Congratulations.” Then most confusing of all he kissed her cheek. “Thankyou.” She spoke.

“Dad and I will meet you at the party.” Noel stopped by Lilith. “You look beautiful.” She gave him a soft smile and said, “thank you.” My eyes could not restrain from looking at her. My hand felt around in my suit pocket I planned to do this tomorrow, but the way she was looking now, was prompting me to do this now. I wanted her as my own. Lilith said, “Eric are we going?” I finally stood up. “In a few minutes.” I walked past her shutting the door of my office behind her. “Eric now is not the time for sex.” She said and I had to try to not laugh. I came and stood in front of her. She really did look otherworldly.

I ran my hands along her face then I reached into my tux. I had been carrying this ring on me since I bought it. I didn’t want to risk Lilith finding it. I didn’t know why I was so nervous. But I forced down my nerves and kneeled in front of my mate. She looked surprised. “Lilith, you are the most incredible person I know. You are kind and funny. You are beautiful and smart. You are downright difficult sometimes, and challenging. But I always look forward to facing those challenges every day. I want to have you with me every day of my life. You are doing the most incredible thing for me, not just carrying my sons but encouraging me every day. You are the love of my life, and I do not want to be separated from you, not by fate or anything else. I know marriage is not as deep as a mate bond, but I want the world to know you are mine. Not just the shifters but the humans too, it would be an honor if you would accept this token of our relationship and marry me?”

I opened the little black box I had pulled out. Lillith didn’t look at the ring at all but at my face. I could see her eyes looked like she was on the verge of crying. But it was not sad because her mouth had a defined upturn. “Eric of course I will marry you.” I stood grabbing the back of her neck with my free hand to pull her face to mine. I kissed her and she opened for me. Wanting me close. I pulled away, I wanted this ring on her finger. She watched as I slid the diamond and aquamarine ring on her finger. She smiled at the ring then me. “It matches my dress.” That was a fortunate coincidence.

“I believe we are supposed to be at this wonderful ball my wife put together.” She snorted and lightly swatted my chest. I offered my arm which Lilith took leaning into me. As we walked downstairs, I said, “I do not think I told you how beautiful you look tonight.” I could hear her smile when she said “Thank you, you are fucking hot” I laughed. That was Lilith a hundred percent. She had a mouth of a sailor but was always sincere. We walked outside and I saw the boardwalk she had put up over the snow. I had seen her putting this together all week. It ran all over the pack area. The snow was starting to become so frequent that she didn’t want people trudging through it in their formal attire.

We got to the large outdoor space that was covered. She had moved all the equipment out and set up heaters everywhere. It was not cold even though we were all outside. Everyone turned to face us as we entered. Lilith nudged me. She wanted me to say a few words before the party really started. I mind linked Noel to get the music to pause. He did and now it was time for my address. I didn’t know what I was supposed to say really. “Tell them thank you for working so hard, for being here. That you are glad to spend the holiday with them and view them as family.” Lilith mind linked me.

She should be the one speaking she is the one who made all this happen. “Welcome Pack, I am glad that you all came. I want to thank all of those who helped put this together.” Lilith mind linked. “The family part” She reiterated. “As you all know I view you as family, because that is what a pack is. It is a family, and I am so grateful that all of you are part of that. As for those who have been training. I am proud of how far you all have come. All of you have an endurance that is well beyond that of other generations. For that I thank my mate.” I smiled at Lilith.

Someone shouted from the crowd. “Luna kicks ass” I chucked. “That she does, lots of things have changed since I found my mate, a lot of joy has come back into this pack. I am sorry for my lack of encouragement over the years after such a devastating attack. I am sure that if something like that happened again, we would be much more equipped to survive and protect those who can’t protect themselves. That is because of your Luna. We have been fortunate to have someone who came in and changed a lot of things that needed to be changed. She also is carrying the future alphas of our pack and we are all so fortunate to have her. That is why I proposed to her and she said yes.” The pack erupted in cheers.

“Cut it out this is embarrassing.” Lilith said over mind link. I looked at her and she was blushing. “I hope everyone enjoys their evening. Now Noel blast the music.” Music filled the air. “I am not that great Eric.” Lilith said to me. “That is where you are wrong, love.” Lilith looked concerned. “What is wrong?” I asked. “Nothing just.” She paused. “Doesn’t matter soon it will be over, and we can just focus on our family.” I gave her a questionable look but before I could ask more Roxie and Marcus approached. Lilith smiled at her friend. “Holly, shit you look gorgeous.” Lilith said to Roxie.

Roxie was wearing a big strapless red dress with tule. “Thank you, you look like some snow queen.” That had been my thoughts on the matter. I then looked around and noticed all the women were wearing things they never would have even a year ago. I knew Lilith had been trying to change the fashion around here. I had seen the changes over the months, but it seemed like now everyone was just dressing to please themselves. “Are you excited about the baby shower?” Lilith asked Roxie. “Yes, thank goodness I don’t have to plan it though. It would have been too much with helping you with all of this and planning that.” Lilith nodded.

I realized then that Lilith had no one to throw her a shower. My grandmother had thrown my moms, and my sister had my mother, and her mother-in-law help her. Maybe I should call her sometime and ask her to help with Lilith's. I looked at Marcus while the girls started to talk about random things I knew nothing about. “How is the shop almost ready?” I asked. “Yes, should be opening right after new year's.” I still didn’t know how he had gotten funding and was curious. Marcus as well as the other guys from the gym were not wealthy by any means. I had pitched in a little for him to start up, but it wasn’t enough to really set him up.

“Marcus I am not trying to be rude at all, but I am curious how did you get money for your shop?” He looked at Lilith. “Your mate actually.” My eyebrows rose. She had not told me. I knew she had a bunch of random things she stole. The Rolex had paid for the fall festival, but she had a lot of other things. I never looked through her horde, but it had to have a lot of valuable things if she could back people like that. “You ready for that baby?” I asked him. “Yeah, kind of freaked out honestly, what do I know about girls?” He would be amusing to watch.

Lilith leaned into me. “Do you want to dance?” I asked her and she nodded. I pulled her to the center of the party to twirl her around. Her eyes kept falling to the desserts on one of the food tables. It was the largest table of food, no doubt to her constant need for sweets. “After this dance I want so of the Macrons.” She said and I tried not to laugh at her craving. Lilith had taken to having bags of candy next to our bed. Not only that but she had stashed sweets all over the house. I found some in my desk just yesterday it was a large bag of skittles. Then there were marshmallows on our bathroom sink all last week. “Lilith I am not trying to parent you, but you may want to eat some of the actual food you had made before you go straight for the sweets, just so you get nutrition.” Lilith rolled her eyes and said “Fine, but I want one of every sweet when I am done.” I nodded.

Just as we finished dancing my father came over. “May I have a dance with my Luna?” He was so weird since he got here. Lilith nodded and said over mind link it would be okay.” I gave her hands to my dad and walked to find Noel. He was eating some of the food off to the side. With a full mouth he said, “Have you tried some of this stuff it is delicious.” I looked at his plate. “What is that?” I asked. “It is like a pizza pocket but homemade and in the shape of a Christmas tree. You know Lilith rocks right. You are dam fucking lucky.” I smiled I knew it.