Chapter 4

Arielle

The first thing I noticed when I woke was the smell.

Coffee.

Fresh coffee.

I smiled before I even opened my eyes.

The second thing I noticed was the warmth.

The bed was still warm beneath me, and for a moment I wondered why Joss wasn’t beside me.

Then I heard the quiet sound of footsteps approaching.

I opened my eyes.

Joss stood in the doorway.

And he was carrying a tray.

I blinked sleepily.

“What are you doing?”

He smiled.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

My heart fluttered.

“Is that breakfast?”

“No.”

I stared at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

“It’s actually a very complicated collection of decorative objects I’m carrying around for no reason.”

I laughed.

“Very funny.”

He walked toward the bed.

“Move over.”

I shuffled across the mattress, making room for him to sit.

Joss carefully placed the tray across my lap.

Breakfast.

Fresh fruit.

Toast.

Eggs.

Bacon.

And, of course, a steaming cup of coffee.

I looked at him.

“You made all of this?”

“I did.”

“You?”

He placed a hand over his heart.

“Are you questioning my culinary abilities?”

“Yes.”

He laughed.

“I’ll have you know, I am an excellent cook.”

“When?”

“Several years ago.”

I laughed again.

“Several years ago?”

“Yes.”

“What did you make?”

“Toast.”

I burst out laughing.

“Toast?”

“It was excellent toast.”

“I bet.”

Joss leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“I thought my mate deserved breakfast in bed.”

I smiled up at him.

“She certainly does.”

“She?”

“Yes. She’s very beautiful.”

“She sounds arrogant.”

“She is.”

I reached for my coffee.

“This is perfect.”

“I knew you’d like it.”

I took a sip and closed my eyes in appreciation.

There was something about mornings like this that made me feel incredibly lucky.

I had spent years dreaming about finding my mate.

And somehow, I had ended up with someone who still made my heart race after four years.

Joss sat beside me and watched me eat.

“You’re staring.”

“I like looking at you.”

I smiled.

“You’re very sweet this morning.”

“I’m always sweet.”

I gave him a sceptical look.

“Most of the time.”

“That’s better.”

He laughed before stealing a piece of bacon from my plate.

I slapped his hand.

“Hey!”

“What?”

“That was mine.”

“I brought it to you.”

“That doesn’t mean you can eat it.”

He grinned.

“I was testing it.”

“For poison?”

“For quality.”

“And?”

He nodded seriously.

“Excellent.”

I shook my head.

“You’re impossible.”

“And you love me.”

I leaned closer and kissed his cheek.

“Unfortunately.”

He wrapped an arm around me.

“Good.”

For a while, we simply sat there together.

Talking.

Laughing.

Enjoying the quiet morning.

Eventually, Joss glanced toward the clock.

His expression changed slightly.

“There’s something I need to remind you about.”

I immediately became suspicious.

“What?”

“The party.”

I groaned.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Tomorrow.”

I stared at him.

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Oh, Goddess.”

I pushed the breakfast tray aside.

“We still have so much to do.”

Joss laughed.

“Relax. Everything is under control.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who decided we needed three different dessert stations.”

“I believe that was your decision.”

“Tori helped.”

“Ah.”

He nodded knowingly.

“That explains everything.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Are you complaining?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Good.”

Joss smiled.

“I actually can’t wait to see what you’ve planned.”

I smiled back.

“You’re going to love it.”

“I know I will.”

He reached for my hand.

“But I want you to make sure everything is perfect.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Everything?”

“Everything.

He squeezed my hand.

“The Alpha of Golden Fern will be here, along with several members of his pack. I want our guests to feel welcome, and I want our pack to put on a celebration they’ll remember.”

I smiled.

“Don’t worry. It will be perfect.”

“I know it will.”

He leaned forward and kissed me softly.

“And I know you’re going to make it incredible.”

His words warmed me.

I loved that he trusted me.

I loved that he believed in me.

I loved everything about the life we’d created together.

After breakfast, I climbed out of bed and began getting ready.

The moment I was dressed, I was already making a mental list.

The flowers.

The decorations.

The food.

The music.

The fireworks.

The guests.

The Golden Fern delegation.

Everything needed to be perfect.

I wouldn’t settle for anything less.

Not for Joss.

Not for our pack.

Not for this celebration.

And certainly not for the life we had built together.

I walked downstairs with Joss following behind me.

The house was filled with morning sunlight.

Everything felt peaceful.

Safe.

Perfect.

I smiled as I looked at my mate.

I had everything I’d ever wanted.

And tomorrow, our entire pack would come together to celebrate it.

I didn’t know then that tomorrow would change everything.

Because while I was busy making sure every detail of the party was perfect…

someone else was making plans of their own.

And by the time the first guest arrived, my perfect life would already be standing on the edge of a cliff.