CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Silvana's Point Of View.

A bright ray of morning sun tickled my eyelids, pulling me from a deep sleep. I stretched my limbs, my fingers reaching out to find Garrick beside me, but the bed was empty. A soft chuckle filled the room, and I turned to see him standing by the wardrobe, his smile as radiant as the morning sun.

"Wakey wakey, sleepyhead," he teased, his eyes sparkling. "I have a surprise for you, but first...you need to get ready,"

"A surprise?" I asked as I shot up, my curiosity piqued. "What kind of surprise?"

"That would ruin the fun now, wouldn't it?" He winked and moved away from the wardrobe, walking towards me and gently placed a soft kiss on my forehead. "Just trust me, it's something you'll enjoy. Now, hurry up before it gets too late." With that, he planted another kiss on my forehead and disappeared out the door, leaving me to wonder what he was up to.

Clara arrived shortly after, not wanting to waste further time. I instructed her to get the bath ready. A few minutes later, the other maids arrived and within a jiffy, they had everything set.

As I soaked in the water, surrounded by the scent of lavender and roses, I couldn't help but wonder what Garrick had planned.

I was dressed in a simple, flowing gown of pale green silk, perfect for a warm spring day. After a quick brush of my hair, I was ready to go. I hurried out of my room, headed towards the garden.

Wait- that reminds me...he never told me anything minus to get ready.

Just as I stepped foot into the garden, I spotted Lachlan from afar.

"Lachlan?"

"Luna?" He turned and bowed. "Is everything okay?"

"Have you seen Garrick?" I asked as he started walking towards me, immediately his face brightened up. 

"I know you'd find him."

He instructed me to a secluded spot a short distance from the palace.

I arrived to find the area deserted. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers, and the sound of birdsong echoed through the trees. It was a peaceful, idyllic setting, far removed from the palace life. After taking a deep breath to admire the beauty of the place, I sat on the bench, waiting for Garrick to arrive. 

As I did this, I kept wondering why he asked to wait.

Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes made me jump. A huge, dark wolf emerged from the trees, its golden eyes gleaning in the sunlight. I gasped in shock and horror, my heart pounding in my chest.

What's this? Should I scream? Could I escape before it attacked me?

Just as I wanted to bolt from the bench, the wolf moved closer...slowly. As I stared deeper into its golden eyes, I recognized the familiar glint in its eyes.

"Garrick?"

The wolf moved closer and nudged me with its head, a low rumble emanating from its chest. I giggled and gave it a head scratch, its fur thick and soft beneath my fingertips. "Show off," I muttered, knowing he could understand me, even in his wolf form.

The wolf then moved back and began to nudge my arm even more. "What is it?" I asked, genuinely confused by what he wanted. He kept on nudging my arm, making me more confused.  "Wait...should I get on?"

The wolf slowly nodded, a human-like behavior. Oh- I giggled softly and climbed on. Which was a bit difficult considering his size but eventually, I settled on him perfectly.

"So, Garrick's wolf, where are weeeee-" I was cut short when he sprung into the forest, running fast.  "G-Garr-Garrick! S-sssslow Down!" I hissed as I tried to get a grip of his fur but the speed he was running with made it highly impossible to even see clearly.

Hell, how haven't I tripped off him yet?

Eventually he slowed down, making me compose myself and finally grabbed a fistful of his fur- careful enough not to hurt him or rip his fur off. He took me on a ride around the palace, the streets and mostly around the pack, places I hadn't seen before. However, the ride was discreet and I could only admire from afar... I guess he didn't want anyone to see us. I also didn't notice any of his guards around but I knew they were positioned in strategic places just in case an emergency came up.

After the ride, we stopped near a lake, where I climbed off his back only for him to run off and return a few minutes later in his human form. His hair was tousled, and his eyes sparkled with affection. He wore a simple tunic and trousers, his bare feet sinking slightly into the soft earth.

Something about that was oddly attractive-

"So, that was the surprise?" I asked, arching a brow, trying to appear unamused, even though my heart was still racing from the exhilarating ride.

"You don't like it?" He asked, his voice laced with concern. He stepped closer, his eyes searching my face for any sign of disappointment. "It wasn't fun?"

"I loved it!" I gasped, throwing my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "The wind in my hair! The rush! The speed! Everything.....it was amazing, Garrick, thank you!"

"Figured," he said, grinning, his arms wrapping around my waist, pulling our bodies even closer. "I thought you'd enjoy it,"

"That's so thoughtful of you, Garrick. Thank you."

He leaned in and rested his nose on mine. "That's not all." Taking my hand, he led me deeper into the woods, away from the clearing and towards a small building nestled amongst the trees. It was a cottage, built of weathered stone and covered in ivy, seemingly untouched by time. The air around it hummed with a sense of peace and tranquility.

As we stepped inside, a wave of warmth and a delicious aroma washed over me. The cottage was small, consisting of a single room, but it was filled with a rustic charm. A crackling fire burned in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the wall. A small table was set with simple earthenware plates and wooden utensils. A basket of freshly baked bread sat beside a steaming pot of stew.

"Shall we?" He asked, gesturing towards the table.

I clapped my hands in the air, feeling extremely excited. "We shall!"

We sat together at the table, Garrick opposite me. We sat in comfortable silence, savoring the delicious food and the cozy atmosphere. After we finished, curiosity finally got the best of me.

"This place is beautiful, Garrick. Where did it come from? You built this?"

His face clouded over, his brow furrowing. "My mother did," he said quietly. "She needed a place to escape the pressure of the Palace, a place where she could be herself. It was her own hideout, a secret sanctuary."

I nodded, sensing the pain in his voice. "It's lovely," I said softly, squeezing his hand. "That explains why it feels so special and warm."

I wanted to ask more, but I decided not to. I won't push him further about his mother if it was too painful.

He smiled and kissed my nose. "It is. And now, I want to share it with you because you're my sanctuary."

A blush crept up my cheek and I playfully punched him. "Oh you sly wolf!"

Later, we curled up together on a soft rug in front of the fire, the fire tickling and warming our feet. I sat nestled between his legs, my back against his chest, his arms wrapped around me. The rhythmic sound of his breathing filled my ears, and the warmth of his body enveloped me.

We stayed there in silence, but my attention drifted away from the fire and focused on the man holding me in his arms. I tilted my head back, looking up at him.

His gaze met mine, a smile appeared on his lips. "What?"

"Hmhm." I murmured as I shook my head.  I wanted to kiss him badly, but I was scared to make the first move....but what if he's still scared? What if he wants us to wait until later? Would he think I'm being too forward.

Almost as if he read my mind, his hand cupped my face, his thumbs gently caressing my cheekbones. My heart pounded in my chest as he leaned closer, his lips hovering about mine, I could feel his breath on my skin, the heat of his body radiating through my clothes.

"Garrick?" I whispered. "What if I say I want you now?"

He laughed softly and leaned in closer. "Ah, fuck it."