"What should I do? Does Talvi know I have a crush on her? This is so confusing!" Cedar exclaimed as he ran his fingers through his hair. Oak rolled her eyes and replied, "Oh, she knows, you idiot! You've been following her around like a lovesick puppy all morning. It's quite cute, really." Cedar's face flushed red with embarrassment, but he was also relieved to know that his feelings weren't entirely one-sided. He watched as Talvi continued to play with the pups, occasionally shooting him a sly smile from the corner of her eye.

"Just talk to her about how you feel already; your musk is ruining my nose." Oak nudged him playfully. Cedar hesitated, taking a deep breath before mustering up the courage to approach Talvi. He walked over to where she was sitting, watching the pups tumble around in the grass. "Hey, Talvi," he said softly, trying not to sound too nervous. She looked up at him with those amber eyes, her expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "yes, Cedar? What is it you wanted to say?" she asked curiously.

He gulped, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. "I just wanted to say... I'm really glad I got to join the pack. And I really appreciate all the help you've given me. You're going to be a great alpha one day, Talvi. And... I hope I can be as good a wolf as you are." He took another deep breath, steeling himself for her response. "I may have feelings for you, but I don't know how to say it or if you feel the same. I just wanted you to know." He confessed that the tips of his ears are as red as beet roots.

She smiled brightly at him, her amber eyes sparkling with warmth. "I'm glad you feel that way, Cedar. I've enjoyed getting to know you as well, and I have to admit that I've felt something special towards you too. You're not like the other wolves, but that's what makes you so unique and interesting. And yes, I do have feelings for you." she expressed, she thought of a place where they would see each other properly.

She leaned close to his ear, her breath tickling his neck. "I met me at the clearing behind the den tonight, at midnight. We'll see each other properly then." Talvi said softly, her golden eyes never leaving Cedar's face. He nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness coursing through him. "I'll be there, Talvi. Thank you." He said this before turning away and walking back to where Oak was sitting.

"How did it go?" she smirked, watching him blush. "I take it things went well with Talvi?" Oak teased. She puffed her chest out with pride. "Yeah, I mean, she feels the same way," Cedar exulted, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "She invited me to meet her at a clearing behind the den tonight, at midnight." He added, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What are you waiting for? It's only afternoon; you have time to get ready." Oak teased him, nudging him playfully. Cedar blushed even harder, trying not to let his excitement show. He knew that tonight was a special night, and he wanted to make sure he looked his best for Talvi. He spent the rest of the afternoon grooming himself meticulously, making sure his fur was smooth and free of any knots. He also picked out a sprig of fragrant lavender to wear behind his ear, hoping it would make him smell nice and soothing for her.

"Hey Oak, should I stay in human form or form for talvi? What do you think?" Cedar asked, his hazel eyes glued to a crystal-clear lake as he washed his arm, free of dirt and mud. "I think it's up to you, Cedar. If you want to impress her, maybe stay in your human form. She seems to appreciate your more civilized side. But if you think she'd prefer to see you as a wolf, then by all means, shift." Oak gave him some advice, trying to help him decide. "It's really up to you and what you think she'd like best." Cedar considered this for a moment. He knew that Talvi was a strong and capable follower of Sage, but she also seemed to have a softer side around him. He decided to go with his gut feeling. "Thanks, Oak. I think I'll stay in human form tonight. I want her to see the real me, you know?" He grinned, feeling a bit more confident now that he had made his decision.

Oak shrugged. "Well, that's your call, man. You know Talvi better than I do. Whatever you decide, I'm sure it'll be the right choice." she said, patting Cedar on the shoulder. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon as they continued to chat, the air growing cooler with the approaching night.

"It's time," Oak says, breaking into his thoughts. "You've been staring at the sky for the last five minutes. Go see her, man." She nudged him playfully. Cedar nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness course through his veins. He took a deep breath, gathering his courage, before heading off towards the clearing behind the den. The night air was cool and crisp, and the stars twinkled brightly above him. The scent of lavender from the sprig behind his ear filled his nose, reminding him of Talvi.

"This is such a terrible idea! I shouldn't have backed out!" He thought to himself nervously, his heart racing as he approached the clearing. "What if she doesn't like me anymore? What if she's just playing with my feelings?" He tried to calm down, taking deep breaths. He reminded himself of how special she made him feel and how unique she was. "There's no way she would do that," he told himself. "she's different."

From the clearing, he heard a soft rustling of leaves. The nervousness in his stomach only intensified. He took another deep breath, steeling himself as he walked forward. The moonlight cast a soft glow over the clearing, revealing Talvi sitting on a large, flat rock. She looked even more stunning than he remembered, her white fur shimmering in the moonlight. She turned her head slightly as she heard him approach, her amber eyes meeting his.

His mouth almost dropped to the mossy ground as he saw her. She was even more beautiful than he had imagined. Her fur shimmered like moonbeams on the surface of a quiet lake. He felt like he was in a dream. He took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his. He swallowed hard, and his throat suddenly dried.

"You look beautiful tonight," he stammered, taking another step closer. The air between them seemed to crackle with electric energy. She smiled shyly, her amber eyes never leaving his. "T-thank you," she replied softly. "So do you." He felt his cheeks flush even deeper at her words. "I wanted to thank you," she continued, "for helping me these past few days. You've been such a good friend, Cedar. I don't know what I'd do without you." Her voice was soft and sincere, and it made his heart ache with happiness.

"Should you shift to human form for this? It doesn't have to be weird for the both of us." Cedar asked, blushing even harder. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. Talvi smiled, her amber eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "No, it's okay. I like being with you like this. Besides, I wanted to show you something." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "You know how I told you that I had a vision of us together?" He nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness course through him. "Well, I wanted to show you something else. Something special."

He doesn't understand what she was going to do next; he almost held his breath in anticipation. Talvi took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes, her amber eyes glowing in the moonlight. She let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh, and her fur began to shift and move beneath her skin. At first, it was almost imperceptible, but then her limbs began to lengthen and her body contorted. The moonlight glinted off of something silver and furry as it slipped free from her back, falling to the ground with a soft thud. Her legs now resemble those of a human, but her torso is turning into the soft skin of a human, her arms are shifting into limbs, and her tail—well, it's shrinking. Her fur slowly began to fade, revealing pale, smooth skin beneath.

Her silvery, fuzzy fur lay next to her on the ground. Cedar stared at Talvi in awe. She was...beautiful. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight, and her long, shimmering hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. She was dressed in a simple, flowing dress that accentuated her curves, and her bare feet were callused and dirty from spending so much time running through the forest. He couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness toward her.

"How do I look?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her amber eyes searched his face for any sign of disapproval or disappointment. Cedar swallowed hard, unable to find the words to answer her. He simply stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest and his breath catching in his throat. Talvi seemed to sense his confusion and discomfort, and she reached out to gently touch his cheek with her soft, warm hand. "You don't have to say anything," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "Just know that I...I like being like this around you."

He smiled as he leaned into her touch, feeling the warmth of her hand on his cheek. "She's so beautiful," he thinks, her skin so soft and her eyes so deep and wise. He knows this moment is special and that something has shifted between them. He wants to be with her, to protect her, and to show her the world.

"Will you be my mate?" He professed, his brow wrinkled with worry. The words feel like they're coming from somewhere deep inside of him, like they're the most important thing he's ever said. Talvi's eyes widen in surprise, her amber iris shining with unshed tears. She looks at him for a long moment, searching his face, before slowly nodding. "Yes," she whispers. "I will."