Submitting

"Twelve grandpups at the very least, I should think," she mused aloud, as if I weren't there, her words painting images of a future I hadn’t dared to envision just yet.
"Twelve?" I echoed faintly, caught between disbelief and a sudden, unexpected surge of warmth at the idea of such a large, lively family.
"Yes, darling." She laughed lightly, directing me toward the steaming pool of water. "And we must start planning the wedding! Such a grand affair it will be."
Standing by the edge of the bath, she turned to me with a matronly authority that brooked no argument. “Now, let’s get you out of these clothes. You’ll need a proper bath, and I shall oversee it myself.”
My cheeks flamed, and the mark on my throat throbbed anew, as if in protest. To be bathed by the Alpha's mother—it was an honor, surely, but one that left me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
"Mother, I can manage—" I tried, but she waved my words away like inconsequential smoke.
"Nonsense, child. It is the duty of the Alpha's mother to ensure his mate is well cared for. Now, let’s get started. We've much to do and little time to waste."
Her hands were efficient and surprisingly tender as she helped me undress, folding my clothes with care. As I stepped into the warm embrace of the water, the tension began to leach from my muscles, and despite my mortification, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging.
"Relax, Amina," she soothed, beginning to lather a cloth. "You are home now, and soon, you'll see just how wondrous life can be as the Alpha's mate."
As the scent of lavender and wild herbs filled the air, I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be cared for, even as the thought of weddings and grandpups fluttered like butterflies in my mind.
The scent of roasted meat wafted toward me, growing stronger with each step I took down the long corridor. My future mother-in-law, a woman with eyes that seemed to pierce through the facade of anyone she met, led the way with an air of pride and certainty that was almost palpable. Her stride was confident—a reflection of her status within the pack—as she guided me toward the grand dining room of the pack house where the feast was about to commence.

"Prepare yourself, Amina," she murmured without glancing back at me, the silver streaks in her hair catching the light from the flickering torches that lined the walls. "Our gatherings are quite... abundant."

Nothing, however, could have prepared me for the sight that greeted me as we stepped into the cavernous dining hall. The table stretched on almost endlessly, a dark wood behemoth groaning under the weight of the feast laid upon it. My eyes widened in astonishment, taking in the mountains of golden-brown bread loaves, the towers of glistening fruit that sparkled like jewels under the chandeliers, and platters piled high with meats that ranged from the familiar—chicken and beef—to the exotic and unrecognizable.

"By the moon," I whispered under my breath, unable to contain my awe.

I had known that werewolves possessed appetites to match their larger-than-life personas, but the reality of it was something else entirely. It wasn't just a meal; it was a testament to the pack's prosperity and strength—an edible showcase of their dominion over both the natural and supernatural realms.

"Surprised?" my future mother-in-law asked, a rare, small smile curving her lips as she watched my reaction. She stood beside me, her stature commanding even in silence, reveling in the display of opulence before us.

"Overwhelmed might be the better word," I admitted, meeting her gaze briefly before turning back to the feast. My stomach gave an appreciative growl, but it was more than hunger that stirred inside me. It was a budding realization of the enormity of the world I was stepping into, the life I was about to embrace by joining this powerful pack.

"Come," she said, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "Let's find our seats. The Alpha won't be pleased if we delay the meal any further."

Her touch grounded me, and I nodded, following her lead as we moved toward our designated places among the pack , the sheer abundance of dishes laid out before us was breathtaking.

"Is it always like this?" I couldn't help but ask, pausing for a moment to take in a particularly elaborate centerpiece—a sculpture of what appeared to be two wolves entwined, carved entirely out of ice.

"Feasts such as these are for special occasions," she replied, her eyes following mine to the ice sculpture. "Celebrations, full moons, or when the Alpha deems it necessary to bring the pack together."

The purpose behind each dish became apparent as I looked closer. The variety wasn’t just for show; it reflected the different needs and preferences within the pack, from rare steaks that would satisfy the blood-hunger of the shifters, to hearty vegan options for those with more human palates. It was unity in diversity, an edible symbol of the pack's solidarity.

"Your union with Shadow is one such occasion," she continued, pulling me gently from my reverie. "Everyone here wants to share in the joy of welcoming you to our family."

"Thank you," I said, feeling a swell of gratitude. The nerves that had been knotting in my stomach began to loosen slightly, replaced by an unexpected sense of belonging. My gaze drifted over the feast one last time before I allowed myself to be fully led away, eager now to take my place at the table and participate in the tradition of my new family.

I lingered in the doorway, the hum of conversation and clinking silverware filling the air. My eyes darted around the room, searching through the sea of faces for one in particular—my alpha, my mate. The murmurs of the pack melded into a distant buzz as I sought him out, feeling incomplete without his presence.

He was the gravity that anchored me in this unfamiliar world, a potent force I gravitated toward without conscious thought. The weight of expectation on my shoulders lightened at the mere idea of finding him amongst his people, knowing he was mine as much as I was his.

A sudden warmth pressed insistently against my lower back, startling me from my thoughts. Instinctively, I stiffened, but then I detected the familiar scent that wrapped around me like an invisible embrace. Alpha Shadow stood close, so close that the rigid evidence of his arousal was undeniable against me. His silent arrival, ghost-like despite his stature, was a testament to the predatory grace inherent to his kind.

Tension crackled between us, a silent communication that needed no words. My heart hammered in my chest, thudding with the shock of his bold touch and the unspoken promise it carried. He was a man—or rather, a wolf—of intense passions and desires, and as his future mate, I was the central orbit of his world.

His proximity was electrifying, pulling a mixture of emotions to the surface: surprise, anticipation, and an acute awareness of the bond that was still new, yet as old as time itself. This was a dance of dominance and submission, of claiming and being claimed, played out before the unknowing audience of the pack. It was both an assertion of his right to me and a reminder of the intensity that pulsed at the heart of our connection.

In the midst of the great dining hall, surrounded by the pack that would soon be my family, I felt a surge of power from the alpha behind me. Without a word, he had staked his claim, and despite the audacity of his touch, I couldn't deny the primal part of me that responded to his silent call.