赤裸裸的滑稽故事

The party was held within the main campus in a large courtyard. At the center was a fountain that sparkled in the moonlight.

Caleb and Ashleigh had both requested that the event be kept light and casual.

Rows of twinkling string lights hung over the courtyard, with random paper lanterns hung among them. There were rows of tables lined up beside each other like two long picnic tables and decorated with flowers and branches. Centerpieces were made of empty glass bottles with string lights inside.

The tables surrounded an ample open space. Here the wolves already in attendance were dancing and laughing together to the music. Along the walls of the courtyard were tables filled with food and drink, like a buffet-style picnic.

At the front of the courtyard was the party’s focal point, a makeshift cabana with sheer white curtains pulled back. Inside was a deep red carpet that covered the grass below. There was a couch covered in pillows and a few throw blankets. Surrounding it were lanterns of various sizes and styles, all lit up. And finally, there was a small table covered in multiple charcuteries and empty glasses waiting to be filled.

Caleb stood not far from the cabana that was intended for the Alpha and Luna. He waited anxiously for Ashleigh to arrive.

He had planned to wear a shirt to match Ashleigh’s dress but received a different one just an hour before the party from Corrine.

Having learned that Corrine always had a reason for the things she did, he didn’t question it. Instead, he simply put it on and left for the party.

So here he stood awaiting his wife, in his dark grey slacks and a buttoned shirt of hunter green.

“They sent another message,” Fiona whispered so only Caleb could hear her as she arrived beside him. She smiled and waved at someone across the courtyard. “They are getting impatient.”

“Don’t you look lovely, Mother.” Caleb smiled as he looked down at her.

Fiona wore a formal pantsuit, lilac with quarter sleeves, and gaucho pants. There were rhinestones that covered the front of the jacket, giving her just enough glitz without becoming tacky._.

“Thank you,” Fiona replied, quickly returning to her point. “You need to leave tomorrow. You should be able to meet with them by the next day.”

“When we sent them word, they ignored us. Now they can wait,” Caleb replied.

“Caleb, we need to secure all the allies we can, not alienate other packs because they ignored us.”

“I’m not alienating them,” Caleb scoffed. “Just holding off a few days.”

“They have already waited almost three weeks.”

Caleb sighed.

“What’s the problem, Caleb?”

“I’m worried about leaving Ashleigh right now,” he said softly.

Fiona sighed and touched his shoulder gently.

“Sweetheart, you and Ashleigh have been to hell and back just trying to find a way to stand side by side,” she said. “Tomorrow, or next week, you will always have a hard time leaving her. But you both have responsibilities. Right now, yours is to meet with Burning Ember.”

“Galen has responsibilities too, but he went home to his wife,” Caleb grumbled.

“First off, he sees his wife for three days every couple of weeks. You saw your wife two hours ago!” Fiona growled playfully. “Second, they are having a baby; he needs to be there for Bell and himself as much as he can.”

“I know…” Caleb sighed.

“And third,” Fiona said quietly. “You know as well as I do the reason that he left.”

“He had already requested these days for a visit to Winter weeks ago,” Caleb replied.

“Oh please, he would have rescheduled.”

“Didn’t you just say how important it is for him to be with his wife and child right now?” Caleb said, moving away from her to grab a drink.

“It is, but it is also important that my boys not fight,” Fiona said following after him.

“We didn’t fight.”

“Bull.”

“If we fought, don’t you think everyone here would be talking about it?” Caleb said.

“Yes, if you had a public fight people would talk, you didn’t have a public fight. But you definitely fought.”

“No, we didn’t,” Caleb sighed, walking away faster.

“Oh!” Fiona cried out and stumbled, grabbing her hip.

“Mother!” Caleb called out, catching her before she could fall. “Are you alright?”

“Gotcha.” She smiled.

Caleb growled and let her go once she was standing upright.

“Childish.”

“Strategic.”

They both let out soft growls when a squeal of excitement called both of their attention.

“She’s here!” Clara shouted joyfully as she jumped up and down and pointed toward one of the residential buildings.

Caleb immediately began walking in that direction.

“We will continue this conversation, Caleb!” Fiona called after him.

“Not tonight!” he called back.

“Stubborn punk, you get that from your father,” Fiona scoffed and went back to find her chair.

The crowd gathering at the courtyard entrance kept him from seeing her. But the expressions on the faces of his people, seeing how happy they were, how excited to greet her they were… It filled him with relief.

Caleb stopped and crossed his arms, enjoying the moment. He reflected on all the arguments and demands to prevent this Winter wolf from entering their territory. The anger in his pack at her presence and the influence she seemed to hold over him.

Now they welcomed her with open arms, they congratulated her, hell, they hadn’t even congratulated him yet.

The sea of people parted, and he finally caught a glimpse of her. She was turning to greet another wolf.

She wore her hair in loose curls, and her dress was the same deep shade of green as the shirt Corrine had sent him. He smiled. Ashleigh’s long neck and bare shoulder called to him. He ached to kiss her and wrap his arms around her.

He took a deep breath and continued to admire her. His gaze moved down along the ruffled skirt of her dress and the golden etching along the edges. She looked terrific, as she always did. Though he was surprised.

He had chosen the red dress for its simplicity. He never expected she would want to wear something as classically formal as this.

And then, she turned.

He saw the Winter braids in her hair. The pauldron and bracer. Four small hilts of four throwing daggers in her corset.

Caleb’s eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat as he saw the completed image of his wife and Luna, the woman and warrior that he had fallen in love with.

Ashleigh lifted her eyes, feeling the heat of his gaze on her.

The familiar glow began to settle over his eyes. Ashleigh knew he was coming to her.

He planned to whisper into their bond and tell her how much he wanted her.

She pushed against their bond and forced him back.

Caleb was surprised by her action and confused. Until she gave him a mischievous grin and then ran at him. He opened his arms just in time to catch her as she jumped into his arms and captured his lips in a passionate embrace.

There were shouts and cat calls, laughter and applause. Clara did her best to keep from laughing as she tried to direct the rest of the crowd to disperse and give the couple their moment.

Over at one of the tables filled with food, Corrine moved to stand beside Fiona.

“Well, that was a choice,” Fiona laughed, watching their children continue to act as if the world around them had fallen away.

“Ashleigh has always been a strong believer in the show not tell,” Corrine laughed.