The proposal

The proposal


Flora's POV

After dinner, I returned to the living room and dropped onto the couch, hoping Lucy would join me soon. She had promised she would be back after helping with something downstairs, but twenty minutes had passed, and there was still no sign of her.

I sighed and stared at the clock.

“Where is this woman?”

I had already finished everything I could possibly do. I had eaten, washed my hands, checked my phone several times, and even rearranged the pillows on the couch just to keep myself occupied.

Nothing worked.

My eyes drifted toward the staircase.Alpha Malcolm was upstairs. He had gone to his study immediately after dinner, saying he had some pack matters to handle. I knew he had been unusually busy lately, especially with the tension between packs and the possibility of another war hanging over everyone like a dark cloud.

I hesitated.

I didn't want to disturb him.

But then again, I was bored.

And perhaps I wanted to see him.

That thought made me smile.

I quickly stood.

“I'll only stay for a few minutes.”

At least, that was what I told myself.

I climbed the stairs quietly and walked toward his study. The door was slightly open, and warm light spilled into the hallway.

I knocked lightly.

“Come in.”

I pushed the door open.

Alpha Malcolm was sitting behind his large wooden desk, surrounded by papers. His sleeves were rolled up, and his usually neat hair looked slightly messy, as though he had been running his fingers through it repeatedly.

He looked tired.

But somehow, he still looked handsome.

He glanced up when he saw me.

“Flora?”

I smiled.

“Am I disturbing you?”

His expression softened immediately.

“Never.”

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

“What are you doing?”

He looked down at the papers scattered across his desk.

“Pack expenditures.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds boring.”

He chuckled.

“It is.”

I walked closer and looked over his shoulder.

There were lists of supplies, weapons, food, medical equipment, patrol expenses, and several other things I couldn't even begin to understand.

“And you're doing all of this yourself?”

“I have people who help me,” he explained. “But I need to know what's happening with my pack. Especially now.”

“Because of the war?”

His smile disappeared.

“Yes.”

The single word carried more weight than I expected.

I moved around the desk and stood beside him.

“What are you planning?”

He leaned back in his chair.

“If there is a war, we need enough food to last. Medical supplies. Weapons. Reinforcements. We need to know which borders are vulnerable and which packs might stand with us.”

His fingers tapped against the table.

“And if the war comes sooner than expected, we need to be ready.”

I swallowed. I hated hearing him talk about war.

It reminded me that no matter how peaceful this moment felt, danger was still somewhere out there waiting for us.

“You're a good Alpha,” I said quietly.

He looked at me.

I smiled.

“You really are. You care about everyone. You worry about your pack, even when you're exhausted.”

He stared at me for a moment before a small smile appeared.

“I'm only trying to be the best Alpha I can be.”

“You already are.”

His eyes softened.

“I love my pack.”

Then he paused.

“And I love you more.”

My heart stopped.

For a second, I wondered if I had heard him correctly.

I felt heat rush to my cheeks.

“Alpha Malcolm…”

He smiled when he noticed my embarrassment.

I looked away quickly.

“Well, Lucy is taking an awfully long time.”

He laughed.

“That's what you're going with?”

“Yes.”

I folded my arms.

“She's wasting my time.”

“She probably isn't even aware you're waiting.”

“That doesn't matter.”

He stood.

My heart began beating faster.

There was something different about the way he was looking at me.

Something serious.

He walked around the desk until he stood directly in front of me.

I instinctively took a small step backward.

He noticed.

But he didn't move away.

Instead, his voice became softer.

“Flora.”

I looked up.

“I never expected this.”

“What?”

“To fall in love with you.”

I froze.

The room suddenly felt too quiet.

Outside, the wind brushed against the windows, but inside the study, I could hear nothing except the pounding of my heart.

He continued.

“When I first met you, I thought you were trouble.”

I laughed nervously.

“I was.”

“You were.”

We both smiled.

“But somewhere along the way,” he said, “you became the person I looked for whenever I walked into a room.”

My smile faded.

“You became the person I worried about.”

He stepped closer.

“The person whose pain affected me more than it should have.”

I couldn't speak.

“And eventually, you became the person I couldn't imagine losing.”

I looked down at my hands.

I didn't know what to say.

My life has changed so much.

There had been a time when I couldn't imagine being accepted in this pack. A time when I thought everyone would hate me forever.

And now Alpha Malcolm was standing in front of me, telling me he loved me.

It was almost too much to comprehend.

“I don't know what to say,” I whispered.

“You don't have to say anything right now.”

I looked up.

He reached for my hand but stopped just before touching it, as though giving me the choice.

That small gesture somehow made my heart ache.

“I want you to think about it.”

“Think about what?”

His eyes never left mine.

“Marrying me.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

“I want to marry you, Flora.”

The words echoed in my head.

Marry me.

I stared at him, convinced I had somehow misunderstood.

“You're serious?”

“Completely.”

My lips parted, but no words came out.

He gave me a faint smile.

“I know this may be sudden.”

“Sudden?” I repeated. “You just asked me to marry you!”

“I know.”

“And you're saying it like you're asking me to have dinner with you.”

He laughed softly.

“I'm nervous too.”

That surprised me.

“You're nervous?”

“Terrified.”

I couldn't help smiling.

“You don't look terrified.”

“That's because I'm an Alpha.”

I laughed.

For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then something crashed outside.

We both turned toward the door.

My smile vanished.

Alpha Malcolm's expression changed instantly.

He moved in front of me.

“Stay here.”

“What was that?”

“I don't know.”

He walked toward the door.

Another sound came from downstairs.

A low, heavy thud.

My heart began racing.

“Malcolm…”

He held up a hand.

“Don't move.”

He opened the study door slightly and listened.There was then footsteps, very slow footsteps.Som
eone was walking through the hallway downstairs.

Alpha Malcolm's eyes narrowed.

He stepped into the hallway.

I followed despite his warning.

“Flora.”

“I’m not staying behind.”

He looked irritated, but before he could argue, a familiar voice floated up the stairs.

“Flora?”

I almost collapsed with relief.

“Lucy!”