Matilda's POV
The next morning, I woke up feeling strange. Not sick, not tired,just aware.
Aware of the way my lips tingled when I thought about last night. Aware of how my body still felt warm from being so close to Marco.
I kissed him.
The realization made my cheeks burn all over again.
I groaned and flopped back onto the bed, covering my face with my hands. I had no idea what came over me. One second, we were playfully teasing each other, and the next… I was kissing him.
And the worst part? He kissed me back.
And it felt good.
Too good.
"Good, you're up!" she said, stepping into the room.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. "What's going on?"
Ana grinned. "Some of the pack members want to meet you. Especially the mates of the warriors. They're curious about you."
I blinked. "Me?"
She nodded. "Of course! You're Marco's mate, which makes you important to them. They've been waiting for a chance to welcome you properly."
My stomach twisted. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Meeting so many people at once sounded. overwhelming.
Ana must have noticed my hesitation because she gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, they just want to get to know you. No pressure."
I exhaled slowly. "Okay…"
"Good!" Ana clapped her hands together. "Now, let's get you ready. You can't meet them looking like you just rolled out of bed."
Before I could protest, she was already moving around the room, gathering things.
"I ran a bath for you," she said, pushing me toward the bathroom. "Go relax, and when you're done, I have the perfect dress for you."
I sighed but obeyed, stepping into the warm water. As I sank into the bath, I let the warmth soothe me, but deep down, I couldn't shake the nervous flutter in my stomach.
Meeting the pack meant stepping deeper into Marco's world.
And I wasn't sure if I was ready for that yet.
The warm water did little to ease the nervous energy twisting in my stomach. As I soaked in the bath, my mind kept racing.
Marco's world was so different from mine. And now, meeting the other pack members,especially the mates of his warriors felt like stepping into something much bigger than me.
Ana knocked on the door lightly. "Are you almost done?"
"Yeah," I called back, exhaling.
I stepped out, wrapping myself in a towel before heading back into the room. Ana was already waiting with a dress draped over her arm.
When I saw it, my breath caught.
It was beautiful. A soft, flowing dress in a delicate shade of cream, simple yet elegant. It looked nothing like the clothes I usually wore,nothing like the Matilda who was just a waitress struggling to survive.
Ana smiled knowingly. "You'll look perfect in this."
I hesitated. "It's.a little much, isn't it?"
"Not at all." Ana shook her head. "You're Marco's mate. Whether you like it or not, people look up to you now. And besides, you deserve to feel special."
I bit my lip, feeling conflicted.
But then I remembered how Marco looked at me last night. How he had walked me to my room, reassuring me that it was okay to be nervous.
Maybe Ana was right. Maybe it was time to start trying to fit into this world, just a little.
I nodded slowly. "Okay."
Ana beamed and helped me into the dress. Once I was dressed, she styled my hair, letting it fall in soft waves. When she finally stepped back, I barely recognized myself in the mirror.
I looked.different.
Not just because of the dress or the way Ana had done my hair. But because, for the first time in a long time, I didn't look like a girl running from her past.
I looked like someone who belonged.
Ana grinned. "Perfect. Now, are you ready to meet them?"
I swallowed hard and nodded.
Ana took my hand and led me down the hall. My heart pounded with every step.
What if they didn't like me? What if they thought I wasn't good enough for Marco?
Ana must have sensed my nerves because she squeezed my hand. "Relax. They're excited to meet you."
I forced a breath out. "I hope so."
We stepped outside into a beautiful open courtyard, where a group of women was already waiting. The moment they saw me, their eyes lit up.
"There she is!" one of them said, smiling warmly. She had long, dark hair and bright green eyes.
Ana pulled me forward. "Matilda, this is Lena, Beta Darius's mate."
Lena stepped closer, giving me a once-over before nodding approvingly. "You're even prettier in person. No wonder Marco is so possessive."
My face heated instantly. "Oh, I "
Another woman chuckled. "Don't let Lena embarrass you." She had soft brown curls and kind eyes. "I'm Mara. My mate is one of the warriors."
One by one, the other women introduced themselves. They were all mates of high-ranking wolves, and despite my nerves, they welcomed me warmly.
"We've been waiting to meet you," Lena said. "Marco has never brought a woman into the packhouse before. You must be special."
Special.
I wasn't sure how to respond to that. But before I could say anything, Mara leaned in with a teasing smile. "Tell us,what's he like as a mate?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
Lena smirked. "Oh, you know. Marco can be… intense."
That was an understatement.
I thought about last night,the way he looked at me, the way he spoke about mating and the bond. My cheeks burned again.
The women laughed at my expression. "I knew it!" Lena said. "He's probably over-the-top protective, isn't he?"
I hesitated before nodding. "Very."
Mara sighed. "That's how Alphas are. Fierce, possessive, and completely obsessed with their mates."
Lena grinned. "Especially Marco. He's barely let you out of his sight since you got here."
I swallowed, my mind spinning. I knew Marco was protective, but hearing it from them made it feel even more real.
Ana nudged me. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."
Would I?
I wasn't sure.
The conversation flowed easily as the women continued chatting, sharing stories about their mates and life in the pack. It was… nice. Warm. A feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time.
Lena leaned in with a teasing smirk. "So, tell us, has Marco scared you off yet with all his brooding and possessiveness?"
I let out a small laugh. "He's.intense."
Mara grinned. "That's one way to put it."
Ana nudged my shoulder. "You'll get used to it. Besides, you have more power than you think."
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Mara exchanged a knowing glance with Lena before turning back to me. "Alphas are strong, but their mates? They hold all the real power."
Lena nodded. "Exactly. Marco may act all dominant and terrifying, but trust me,if you told him to sit, he'd do it."
I blinked in surprise. Marco, listening to me? That was hard to believe.
Ana chuckled. "You'll see soon enough."
Before I could ask more, a soft chime echoed through the halls.
"That's the dining call," Mara said, standing. "Come on, let's get you something to eat before Marco starts growling about you skipping meals."
Lena looped her arm through mine. "And while we eat, you can tell us all about your date."
My face heated instantly.
They definitely weren't going to let me off easy.
After breakfast, Ana walked me back to my room. "You handled that well," she said with a grin.
I let out a breath. "They're nice. I just… didn't expect to feel so welcome."
Ana smiled. "You're our Luna, Matilda. You belong here."
I swallowed hard at her words.
You belong here.
Did I?
Before I could dwell on it, Ana stopped at my door. "Marco sent word earlier. He wants to see you in his office."
I tensed. "Do you know why?"
She shrugged. "No idea. But don't keep him waiting too long."
With that, she left, and I stood there for a moment, my heart pounding.
Marco wanted to see me.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and walked toward his office, my pulse quickening with every step.