noun ~ the main meal of the day, taken either around midday or in the evening

"Are you sure you will be okay travelling so far?"

I sighed, turning to Sean with a scowl. It had been just over a week since the sunset on the hill, about three since I had that horrible white wolf dream. Today I was preparing my things in a suitcase, ready to travel to the mountains. It was a twelve-hour car ride, not including any breaks. We were leaving first thing tomorrow morning.

Sean was driving there and was insistent on making sure that I was okay being a car for so long. The last journey we had gone on, was one with Molly three days ago and it took an hour. I had travel sickness about halfway through and Sean had been wary of taking me out again in case I vomited in his car.

"I'm fine. I think it was because I just had dinner before we left. I've only been in a car like five times in my whole life." I laughed.

He rolled his eyes at me, folding the bed sheet in his hand before putting it in the basket. We were doing laundry together, something that we often did before I had mated Phoenix. It was nice to get back into an old routine, doing things like this with each other. It felt normal, even though I had people telling me they would do it for me, I had shaken my head, not wanting to be treated so specially.

"Okay. But take some sick bags with you just in case." He narrowed his eyes in warning.

I laughed at him but nodded my head. "Okay. If it keeps you happy."

"Well, I need some kind of control, being stuck with both Charlie and Pollux."

"What's wrong with me?"

I exhaled loudly with a groan. "Are you some kind of wizard? Speak your name and you appear?"

Charlie's eyes widened with amusement. "You know, I'm glad you are finally biting back, but if you're going to talk crap about someone maybe not do it in public."

I laughed at his wink, hiding the blush that covered my cheeks. "We are not talking crap about you."

"Sure you're not." His grin widened as he turned to eye Sean.

I noticed how Charlie's eyes scanned Sean's appearance, and they exchanged a brief nod before he turned back to me. I frowned, picking up my laundry basket filled with clean bedsheets and towels.

"What are you doing in the laundry room anyway?" He asked.

I blinked, dumbfounded. I glanced at the huge basket in my hands, to the fact Sean was still folding his things from a clothes airer.

"The laundry..." I gave him an incredulous look.

"Okay, good... Bye then." Charlie smiled before walking away.

I turned to Sean, who has finished folding, with a confused expression. He shrugged, a smile on his face as he came to stand beside me.

"I don't even know."

We laughed as we left the room and up the stairs. We parted ways once we reached his floor and I made my way down my own private hall. Phoenix was in his office today, his bond wide open to me which meant he wasn't doing anything too strenuous. I made my bed, humming a random tune as I did so. I had to launch myself across the bed at one point to get the far corner of the sheet on, but once it was done, I sighed in satisfaction.

Checking the time, I found it was close to six o'clock and made my way to Phoenix's office. It was the last dinner I'd had with him for a while and I knew the pack was wanting to all eat together before I left for a month. I knocked on his door before entering, poking my head around to make sure he wasn't too busy.

His hand was in his hair, elbow on the desk as he glared down at some paperwork. When I walked in, he raised his eyes to find me, a small smile covering his lips. He put his pen down and leaned back in his chair. I took that as my invitation and made my way over to sit in his lap. He hummed as I sat on his thighs, my thighs weaving beneath the arms of his desk chair, his hands on my lower back.

"Hello, mate." He breathed, kissing me gently.

I pulled away to smile at him. "I've come to get you for dinner."

His eyes cast away to look at the large clock on the wall. "Oh yeah, the last supper."

I laughed at him as he nuzzled his face into my hair. "You make it sound like I'm not coming back."

He didn't comment for a moment and I pulled away to give him a look. "I am coming back."

"I know." He smiled before standing from his chair, me still in his arms. "Let's go, they must be waiting for us."

He carried me like a koala all the way to the dining room where he set me down on my feet in the hall. I watched as he straightened his shirt out, smoothing the lines out and pushing his hair out of his face. He looked down at me with a raised eyebrow but I just quirked my own in response which caused him to roll his eyes with a smirk.

"Come on." He spoke, hand coming to the small of my back.

He opened the door, his large frame taking up most of the room as he pushed me inside. Most wolves were stood around talking but some had already seated themselves at the table. Many greeted us, smiles and waves on their face as we made our way to the end of the table. As always, Alpha's sat on the end, the Luna on their left and the Beta on their right. Phoenix pulled my chair out for me, allowing me to sit before he sat himself down.

"Not going to pull mine out for me?" Charlie pouted.

Phoenix rolled his eyes and just when I thought he was going to sit himself down, he moved closer to Charlie's chair. Charlie's eyes widened with shock as Phoenix pulled it out, a mischievous smirk on his face. Charlie grinned, sitting in the chair as Phoenix pushed it back in.

I laughed behind my hand at his enthusiastic expression as he thanked him. Phoenix had that stupid smirk on his face as he came to sit in his own chair at the head of the table.

"Ah, I can feel the power," Charlie smirked.

Phoenix chuckled, pouring himself a glass of water. "Don't get too comfortable."

Other pack mates began to sit down at the table and my eyes lit up with excitement when I saw Calida enter the dining room. A few people turned to look at her but most were unbothered by her appearance. She stood nervously, looking for a source of comforting recognition in the room. I smiled widely at her and she reciprocated it with nerves.

As if sensing her, Charlie turned around in his chair. He spotted her and stood to his feet, pushing his chair to the side so he could stand beside it. They exchanged small hellos and she eyed the empty chair beside him warily. I saw how she was unsure of the male wolf beside it, and Charlie must have too because he held his chair out for her to sit. She stared at Phoenix yet, before meeting my eyes. I kept my face a gentle smile as she took the open seat, Charlie pushing her in right after.

He sat down beside her, next to the male wolf she wasn't so sure of. Phoenix was sipping his water, looking at her from the side of his eye. When he placed the glass down, she looked up at his imposing figure warily.

"Nice to see you here, Calida." Phoenix nodded.

She smiled, a blush covering her cheeks. "Thank you."

Sean and Rose came to sit down, Rose choosing the seat next to me with Sean on her other side. Once they were sat, other wolves began bringing in large dishes and lining the centre of each table with food. We were sat at the head table, only big enough for eight people, and faced the room of the rest of the pack.

"Hey Rose, how you doing?" I asked, turning towards her.

"I'm doing good, thank you, Nova." She smiled, turning her dark brown eyes to me. "So, last dinner together for a while, right?"

I grinned at her, nodding my head. "It is...Are you going to be okay without Sean?"

She shrugged and I saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "I think so."

Sean looked to the two of us, a frown on his face as he overheard our words. I felt guilty, for having to take him away from his mate. I turned to Phoenix, but he was already watching the exchange, a frown on his face as he drank a randomly appearing whiskey. Where does he magic this stuff from?

Does Sean have to come with me? I asked.

His face gave away no emotions as he looked to the small girl beside me. It's for your protection.

But Rose isn't very comfortable yet. I pointed out. She is still shy, she isn't Calida; she's not confident enough.

His jaw clenched. You are going to a foreign territory, you need protection.

I have Charlie and Pollux. I hinted.

He frowned as I leaned forwards, pressing my chest against the table. His eyes followed the motion, narrowing at the sight. I rolled my tongue in my mouth, trying to stop the laugh that wanted to escape. I was merely adjusting my position, but it seems that it was taken the wrong way.

Are you trying to persuade me? He mused.

I shook my head with a small smile. Not in that way. More with my words.

He raised an eyebrow. Sean is one of my strongest wolves.

Charlie is your Beta. I stated. And I doubt Aldren is going to let harm come to me after he saved me at the ball.

He paused, deep in thought. Eventually, he sighed and nodded, setting his glass down on the table. I will speak to him about it after dinner.

How about now? I faux grinned. She thinks it is their last dinner together.

He inhaled deeply but nodded. "Gamma Sean, I have decided you are to stay here and not go to the mountains."

Sean blanched at him, his mouth opening without noise. I watched as Rose's face lit up with happiness and my heart raced inside my chest. I was glad she felt better, I didn't want her to feel unsafe and scared.

"With all due respect, Alpha, I thought my job was to be protection for Nova." He shook his head.

I interjected. "I'll be fine with Charlie and my brother. It's nothing against you Sean, I just feel you'd be more helpful here...with Rose."

Phoenix nodded. "You can help me with the trainees too."

Rose looked at me bewildered; her brown eyes wide with confusion. I smiled at her and Sean when he gave me the same expression. I didn't want him to think I didn't want him with me, it was nothing personal.

"Thank you, Alpha, Luna," Rose muttered.

I hated it when my close circle called me Luna, but I took it with a smile. She was showing her respect and my wolf appreciated it. Sean's arm wrapped around her chair and he pulled her close to him to whisper in her ear. She smiled, her eyes closing in content as he then placed a kiss upon her cheek.

I turned back into the room, to find Calida and Charlie in a light conversation. Phoenix was watching me, a small smile on his face. The last of the food had been placed on the table and all wolves were waiting patiently for the Alpha to make his first move. It was pack nature for the Alpha to eat and serve himself first.

Phoenix cleared his throat, before reaching over to the dish before him. Grabbing some tongs, he pulled some meat from the plate and turned to place it on his plate. He then piled it with potatoes and vegetables, a smaller portion than normal. I was frowning at it as he finished with some green beans, wondering if he was feeling okay. His fingers scooped the underneath of the plate and I watched with wide eyes as swapped my empty one with his own.

I stared down at my suddenly full plate, my heart racing in my chest. He smiled at me softly before he began to pile twice as much food onto his new plate. I saw most of the pack staring at me with smiles or curious gazes and I didn't blame them.

Phoenix had just shown the pack that he thought me higher of himself. An Alpha serving their mate first was a way of showing not only affection but that they will provide and care for their mate more than themselves. It also was a sign of providing for children, and by feeding me he was unintentionally telling others I was with child, and that my health was more important. Unfortunately for me, that meant the new eyes I had were overly curious as to whether that was true or not.

Phoenix took the first bite of his food and the rest of the pack followed suit, their murmurs filling the quiet room. I shook myself out of my daze, the blush fading from my cheeks as I poured gravy on top of my dish. He had chosen all my go-to foods too; roast potatoes, peas, carrots, broccoli, and meat stuffing.

A nagging on my mind had my eyes lift to Charlie. He was staring at me intensely, his fork hovering over his food as he waited for me to let him in. I frowned as I did so, wondering what I had done to cause such a reaction.

Am I an uncle? His voice rushed through the link.

I laughed slightly, shaking my head which caused him to frown. Not yet.

Yet? His eyes lit up and he glanced to Phoenix. I have never seen him so caring before, I thought for sure you were, and that was his instinct.

I smiled softly, chewing on a potato. I'm just special.

He chuckled at my attempted banter. Of course, you are, Luna.

I rolled my eyes, deciding to leave it at that and dig into my food. My last meal with them all, my last evening with Phoenix and it was already going so well.

•••
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The next chapter is... Steamy lemme just say. Gotta have some good times for their final night together 😩🙈

Anyway, hey everyone. Update is late as I have been so ill the past few days with an ear infection. I've been unable to eat solid food and Sunday I spent mostly in and out of sleep. I'm way better today thanks to antibiotics ✌️ still deaf in one ear tho lol

Question of the day:
What did you get up to this weekend?

Oh and Happy Hanukkah to anyone who celebrates

Tomorrow is my new month for Patreon, so if you wanna read all the steamy naughty smut, bonus chapters and up to chapter 37 link is in my bio or by searching deafeningsilence on Patreon!

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