Two Mates, One Heart

Dinner with the family

*(Gloria's Narrative)*

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When Arnold asked me to have dinner with his family, I couldn’t hide how nervous I was.

It felt like a big step… one that made my heart race wildly as I tried to convince myself everything would be fine.

I was still living temporarily at the pack house — that massive building that housed all the unmated wolves of our group.

My room was on the third floor, while Arnold's was up on the fifth.

Most of the time, we would bump into each other in the hallways or in the large dining hall downstairs.

But tonight... tonight was different. Special.

I wore a simple dark blue dress and took a deep breath before making my way down to the first floor, where Arnold was waiting for me.

His smile, warm and genuine, made it feel like my mere presence had lit up his entire world.

He led me to the Alpha’s house, a more luxurious building that also held the main office and the grand guest hall.

And there... was his family.

- Alpha Arthel, his father, a man of powerful presence but a kind smile.

- Luna Elin, his mother, a graceful woman whose face radiated warmth.

- And finally… *Adele*, his ten-year-old little sister, who ran up and hugged me as if we had been friends forever.

I felt warmth spread through me.

They were nothing like what I had feared.

We sat around the large table, filled with delicious dishes and mouthwatering scents.

I didn’t feel like a stranger at all… instead, I felt a strange, magical sense of belonging.

Throughout dinner, I could feel Arnold's eyes following me.

They were filled with care, pride… and something deeper that words could barely touch.

I laughed with his family, exchanged playful banter with Adele, and blushed when his mother suddenly said:

*"Arnold talks about you all the time, Gloria."*

Arnold nearly choked on his drink, and I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

At the end of the evening, when we stood by the door ready to leave, Arnold gently took my hand.

*"Thank you for coming,"*

he whispered, like a new promise… a promise that this was only the beginning.

I looked at him, my eyes shimmering with unshed tears, and gave him a small smile before whispering:

*"Don’t thank me, Arnold... I’ll be more than happy to be with you."*

From that night on, we began writing our new story together.

A whole week passed like a beautiful dream: we went out every day, laughed endlessly, wandered through the forests, visited the city, and shared all the little things that wove happiness into our days.

Arnold treated me like I was the most precious thing in his world, like a dream he had waited a lifetime for and had finally caught in his arms.

With every moment we spent together, the bond between us grew stronger and clearer.

One evening, as we sat by the lake under the glow of the moon, he took my hand in his and, with a deep, determined voice, said:

*"Gloria... I want you to be my wife.

I want us to be bonded when the next full moon rises, a month and a half from now.

That night... I’ll mark you, and you’ll be mine forever."*

I could only smile shyly, my heart about to burst from the overwhelming joy.

At that moment, I knew my life had changed forever.

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After just two days, Arnold’s father announced his decision to travel to the human city, as the private company urgently needed his presence during this period. With a sense of responsibility, he informed his pack that he would be leaving temporarily and appointed Arnold as the new Alpha during his absence. Early in the morning, he took his mate and daughter with him, bidding farewell with a mixture of determination and longing, heading toward an uncertain future filled with hope.