"That's the point," Christopher replied, moving closer until he was standing directly in front of me. "Half the fun is the anticipation."
Miles chuckled from behind him. "Christopher's idea of romantic suspense usually involves elaborate schemes that go sideways in entertaining ways."
"Name one time," Christopher protested, turning to face Miles with mock indignation.
"The picnic with the aggressive swans," Julian said dryly, rolling his eyes at the memory.
"They were not aggressive," Christopher insisted, whirling back to face Julian. "They were passionate. There's a difference."
"They chased us for a quarter mile," Miles pointed out, his green eyes dancing with amusement. "You had to climb a tree."
"A strategic retreat," Christopher corrected, but his lips twitched with suppressed laughter. "And I looked magnificent doing it."
I giggled at the mental image of Christopher perched in a tree, fending off determined waterfowl. "I think I'd like to hear this whole story sometime."
"Oh, I have albums of stories," Miles promised, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "Years of Christopher's romantic misadventures. The swan incident wasn't even the most dramatic."
Christopher's eyes widened in horror, as he narrowed his eyes at Miles. "You wouldn't dare."
"I absolutely would," Miles countered with a serene smile. "Consider it my solemn duty to ensure Lilianna knows exactly what she's getting into with you."
"Betrayal!" Christopher declared, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead in a dramatic gesture. "From my own packmate!"
I laughed, the sound bubbling up freely from my chest. It felt good—natural in a way laughter never had before. Being with them was easy in moments like this, the banter flowing around me like a current I could slip into without fear of drowning.
"I think I'd enjoy hearing all those stories," I admitted, meeting Miles's gaze with newfound boldness. "Every embarrassing detail."
Christopher's jaw dropped in mock offense. "Lilianna!?"
Julian chuckled, his hand still warm against my lower back. "I believe our omega has chosen sides."
I laughed again, just enjoying the atmosphere of being in the presence of these Alphas…these men. I couldn’t wait to see what these dates would hold.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lilianna
Ilooked at the list before me, the computer open beside me as Julian and Nicolaus sat beside me. The other two had practice so it was just us this evening. We were going to make my social media account, something that felt both thrilling and terrifying.
"These usernames are actually beautiful," I murmured, scrolling through Mara's suggestions. Names like BloomingPages, QuietGrowth, WildflowerWords, and GardenOfPages caught my eye, each one somehow capturing different facets of who I was becoming.
"Any standing out to you?" Julian asked, leaning closer to see the screen. His proximity sent a flutter through my chest, his warmth and scent wrapping around me like a comfortable blanket.
"I think I like WildflowerWords," I admitted. "It feels... right. Like something growing in unexpected places."
Nicolaus nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It suits you. Wildflowers aren't cultivated or controlled—they emerge where they choose, when they choose."
The metaphor wasn't lost on me. I'd spent my entire life being carefully pruned and arranged according to my parents' vision. Now I was growing on my own terms, in my own direction.
"WildflowerWords it is," Julian said with a warm smile, helping me select the username on the account creation page. "Now for your profile. Mara suggested keeping it simple—perhaps a quote that resonates with you?"
I considered this, thinking about all the books I'd devoured since arriving here, all the conversations that had shifted my perspective on who I could be. A line from one of the poetry books I'd purchased yesterday came to mind.
"'She bloomed where she was planted, but dreamed of wild meadows,'" I said softly, the words feeling perfect for this moment.
Julian's eyes softened as he typed the quote into the bio section. "That's beautiful, Lilianna. And very fitting."
Nicolaus leaned forward slightly, his analytical gaze studying the screen. "For your first post, Mara suggested something simple. Perhaps a photo of your current read, or something from the garden that speaks to you?"
