Wolf pack

Anu's Proposal

"This tastes amazing." Melody barely breathed between bites. She had nearly forgotten what real food was like.
Nate had remembered the way she ate the food that appeared with his first pack in Valia's prison. The werewolves never did enjoy the human food, but he was always glad she did. She was, sadly, the only good thing that came from that experience.
Nate winced at the thought. His old pack was one of underdogs, rescues. All members were taken under his massive wings. He was a protector. A pretty lousy protector. They fell right into Valia's trap and he could do nothing. In fact, he felt it was his fault entirely. It was him who had been so entranced by her, who had introduced her to his pack. It was her who taught him to splice and create new werewolves.
It was under his leadership that they were captured and forced to act as a snake pit for any escapes. If he had actually tried harder he could have gotten them out earlier, if he had tried he could have kept the unity.
No, he had to spend those days pouting his loss, pathetically giving up on fights he could have won deaf and blind. He let his pack split and mutiny. He let it all happen until eventually he had no pack. What pathetic alpha did that? A supermoon no less.
If he had been as bad a protector for Melody as he was for the pack she would have died. If he was honest with himself, he would discover he was so protective of her because he had been such a failed protector before.
No sooner had these thoughts arise did Nate spot Anya watching him. Her face was stone but her eyes showed everything. She knew. She knew everything he was feeling. Not because she also felt it, not because she went though the same thing but because she could read his emotions like an art critic with a painting.
Nate quickly changed his train of thought, switching his attention to now. He was a better guardian for Melody than for his pack. He was succeeding. Besides, he had a new pack now. A better one.
Having his emotions shift positively, those elegant silver eyes drifted off elsewhere.
Jynx was pretty freaky alright, but Anya concerned him even more. He would rather have his reality change than for someone to know the truth about his own.
The meals were devoured quickly.
This time they all left, Jynx taking the room key, transforming it into a folded sticky note and putting it in his pocket. Sometimes he did things just because he could.
It was easy to find the mall again, Lokan basically danced the entire way.
Anu kept an arm around Cleo. She was getting better at walking, but was still weak.
She kept herself quiet, barely speaking a word at all. He didn't like it.
Cleo was a queen, a leader, not a peasant or a cit.
Every step was stronger, but he was hesitant to let her on her own. What if she fell?
Anu shifted his arm to an angle, so she could hold his arm but work more on her own support. It did not help her confidence she lacked her own clothing.
He slowly gave less and less support as they walked, finally holding nothing but her hand. She was not entirely steady, but it was the best she could do for now.
As they entered into the mall he hoped her strength was enough. He relaxed his grip and let her walk on her own.
Anu stood back as he watched Cleo head into the shopping center. Soon as she was distracted by the new clothing he pulled Jynx and Anya aside. "Hey, I need your help."
They looked at each other then back at him, shrugging. "What do you need."
Anu shot another glance at Cleo then exited the shop, walking with them past the various mall attractions and to an expensive jewelry store.
Jynx folded his arms and laughed. "Please don't tell me you want to get your ears pierced."
He shook his head. "Heck no. I would rip them out." He then shifted his gaze over to the shining rings on display. "I need your help with something else."
Later that day, Anu found himself sitting on a park bench with Cleo as the rest of the pack had taken their cue to leave.
Her hazel eyes were on the ducks begging for bread in the pond a short distance away. She wore a red, black and white striped hoodie and black jeans that reminded him of her coat in wolf form. No matter what morph she took, she was still the most beautiful lady he had seen.
He felt his heart pump nervously in the way only she could make it do. "Cleo?"
"Yes?" She turned to face him gracefully.
He fiddled with the objects in his rough hands. "I know you are not aware of human customs, and I don't care for them either. It's just-" he wanted to tear his jacket off as it grew itchy with his sweat. "-as wolves we are mates, but to the humans you are nothing but my girlfriend."
She looked at him in confusion, nodding slowly.
"You are so much more to me than that, and while I felt a big party and event was not necessary; I feel that you deserve this."
Her confusion only grew as he sank down in a position she only had seen him take before when tying his shoe or picking up his dagger. Except this time he wasn't leaning down, his posture was straight and he was looking up at her instead. His arms were out, and in his hand were two rings.
One smaller and elegant with glittering jewels woven in a vine-like pattern.
The other larger with smaller jewels embedded in a masculine band.
Cleo did not know the customs of humans, but she did recognize what she had seen on various couples throughout her stay. If they meant what she thought they meant-
Cleo covered her mouth with her hand, looking down at the rings. She gently opened his hand up to see them better.
He slowly stood, grabbing the smaller ring in his hand and gently holding her own. He carefully slipped it onto her finger, smiling as he looked down into her eyes.
"Here, now you can see it better."
She stared at the ring on her hands for only a few moments as her face grew that lovely shade of pink.
Anu slipped on his own ring and gently kissed her on the forehead, wrapping his arms behind her back. "What are you thinking Love?"
Her response was to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him.
He nearly jumped in surprise, then relaxed as he let himself melt. Even with the annoying cheers of Lokan and Jynx in the background, for that moment nothing else existed.