Roxanne smiled at the question. She had tried to deny it and run from it, but she can’t do that anymore. She accepted it now, her fate.
“The Luna of the Rockwood pack, and your future daughter-in-law.” She said confidently.
John mused as he watched Roxanne leave. It was amusing to see such a girl speak so boldly in front of him, though he knew she was trembling at a point.
“She must really want me to come, uh? Oh well…” He muttered.
“Looks like you found yourself a good mate, kid…”
[Friday, 25th December ]
The night was magical… The air was clear and the feeling was pure bliss to everyone present. The glow of the moon was no longer the sole source of light. The fluttering fireflies let their bright-colored shine, making everything seem unreal.
Roxanne looked around her. The previously sad and downcast werewolves were chattering happily. It took a great deal of work and effort, but finally, she had achieved it.
The giant Christmas tree was open for everyone to see. It looked stiff and unnatural for a Christmas tree, but it was perfect. The glow around it and the decorations made all about it made it appear even more majestic.
The bonfire was very large, causing the flames to rise, as though dancing to the music played by the wolves who handled the instruments. As the drumbeat and tambourines sounded, the fire swerved back and forth. Everyone danced, they were elated. They laughed. Roxanne didn’t recognize the dance, it must have been a traditional one. But she laughed as she watched them.
They are to their fill, drunk to their fill. Roxanne could only take one cup, afterward deciding that she had had enough. This was no night to get drunk.
As she watched the celebrations continue, someone approached her. It was Asher.
“Hey…” He smiled as he moved even closer, stretching his hands to her.
“Want to dance?”
She laughed softly as she took his hand and moved closer to him as well. They moved closer to the bonfire and made a space for themselves among the other dancers there.
As they walked there, Asher looked at Roxanne, who also returned the gesture, they laughed as their eyes met.
“I-I saw my dad… He was just standing at a corner and watching us. He probably thinks he is being cool by hiding there, but… He’s just embarrassing himself.” Asher chuckled.
Roxanne also laughed at his words, though she feared that he might disapprove of John’s presence.
“I know you were the one who invited him… Thank you, Roxanne” He smiled.
“F-For what?” She said with a short laugh.
“For this… For everything. You really thought things through. Initially, I didn’t buy into all of this, but you really pulled this off… I’m impressed, amazed even. And I finally understand the reasons behind your intentions. The pack is better off this way.” He smiled.
Roxanne blushed as he said this.
They finally settled on the dance floor. Roxanne hoped for a slow dance, the kind of romantic one she usually saw in movies or read in books, where everyone disappeared, except the dancer and their partner. She couldn’t be more wrong.
Everyone around Roxanne and Asher stopped dancing, a lot leaving the dancing area as they made room for them.
“W-What is happening?” Roxanne asked, flustered by their sudden reaction.
“Heh, it’s only natural. Everyone wants to witness this… As the king and queen dance before them under the night sky.
Before Roxanne could respond, the beats suddenly changed and the tempo of the music started to rise. The sounds increased as the beat got faster and wilder. The spectators started to clap their hands in a joint rhythm. It was now fast-paced.
“Can you keep up?” Asher smirked.
He moved away from her and began his dance, jumping and swerving his body in action-filled dancing.
Roxanne’s jaw dropped as she saw him making such crazy movements. She could never imagine the stern and awkward Asher pulling off such an impressive dance. He kept his eyes focused on her as he gave her a sexy look, calling her to join him, though it could also be that he was taunting her.
The claps became louder and everyone began to cheer as they watched Asher show off his moves.
“Oh, now you’re asking for it!” Roxanne said, feeling challenged.
She suddenly jumped and made a twist in the air. She landed on her feet and started to make rapid movements with her fear, beating her hands on her body as they made slapping sounds. She turned her face back and forth, swerving her body in sync with the rhythm.
Asher’s eyes widened when he saw Roxanne’s moves. Not only Asher was stunned. Rita, Dax, Damien, Lenard, Larry… Everyone watched with shocked expressions. Suddenly the claps stopped and the cheers. They were all too dumbfounded to do anything but watch as Roxanne was lost in her dance. Even Asher stopped his dance and watched as she energetically kept moving her body.
Her eyes were closed now as she removed her focus from everyone and only focused on her movements and enjoying the moment.
She did this for so long that she didn’t even need sounds or music. She moved to the beats made by her pounding heart. Sweat appeared on her body, but she didn’t stop.
Finally, with a majestic pose, she finished her dance. She opened her eyes slowly as she wanted, realising everywhere had fallen silent. No beat, no ringing, no cheers or chaos. Everyone was staring at her with amazement.
“Did I overdo it…?!” She panicked.
However, before she could complete her thought, a roar of cheers burst forth from everyone as they clapped thunderously. The loud noise covered the entire village as they kept clapping for Roxanne. Asher admitted his loss… She did more than keep up with him. She overtook him.
“How did she learn to dance like that?” Asher muttered to himself
The night was still young, as Roxanne called everyone back to the dance floor and they all danced together excitedly.
Finally, after they had had their fill of the dance, they stopped. Roxanne and Asher looked above them and gazed upon the moon. They could feel the urge coming from within them and they just had to let it out.
In most Christmas celebrations, what people heard were carols and jingles of bells. However, when one had Christmas with the wolves… Things were a little different.
“Awoooooooo!!!!!” Asher gave the first howl.
“Awooooooooo!!!!” Roxanne followed.
Everyone let out theirs as well.
“Awooooooo!!!” They all brought forth.
The sounds of the joint howls made by these werewolves underneath the moonlight made the best music, exceeding even the best of carols.
All the werewolves closed their eyes as they continued this symphony, except Asher and Roxanne. Standing in the middle of the large circle of the pack, they stared at each other. They had stopped their howls, even though the rest continued.
Their eyes met passionately, and they instinctively knew what came next. Drawing their lips closer, they merged in one mutual consensus, drowning in each other’s desires. They kept kissing, tongue meeting the other as their lips smacked together. Saliva drew from their mouth as they kept this pleasant union going, crossing themselves and indulging in their satisfaction.
After they did this, the howls continued.
Asher looked into Roxanne’s eyes and for the first time since he met her, went on his knees. The wolves had their eyes closed, so they couldn’t see a thing. Their howls filled the air, so they couldn’t hear any other voice. It was only Roxanne and Asher that we’re aware of this occurrence.
“Roxanne… Will you be mine, now and forever? Bond with me… I love you,”he confessed.
Tears formed in her eyes as she looked at him. He held her hand and caressed it, not for a second removing his eyes off of her. His sincere eyes expected an answer from her, and she already knew it within her, what she would say.
“Asher…. I…” She began.
“Awoooooooo” The howls filled the air as she spoke.
“I can’t give you the answer now…”
Asher’s eyes fell as he heard this. His heart ached, he didn’t know what to say… He was in pain, but he endured, he still looked at her, perhaps expecting a different answer.
“Tomorrow… I promise you… Tomorrow, I’ll give you the answer!” She declared to him.
She used her hands to raise him back to his feet and her smile showed that she indeed loved him, he could tell… All he needed to do was wait for the next day.
“Alright, Roxanne… I’ll be expecting it” He smiled.
She returned his smile too.
The howls ceased and for a moment there was silence. They all just took deep breaths and felt the cold breeze surround them. After this brief period, the wolves finally resumed their dance and music and ate and partied.
Roxanne excused herself from the crowd and took some fresh air in solitude.
“Ahh…” She heaved a heavy sigh.
She had wanted to tell Asher at that very moment how she felt, how she also loved him and wanted to be his… That she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. But she couldn’t do that yet, not until she took care of one thing that was holding her back… The one thing she never stopped thinking about since she came to the village.
The last match she would be having for the year, the finals for the championship for the season, what she had worked so hard for all year… She thought about it.
And it was this very night!
She wanted to go so badly and win. She couldn’t stop thinking about it, she had to at least have her final match, but this made her feel guilty. She couldn’t tell Asher about it because he wouldn’t let her leave. Besides, it would hurt him if he found out she would rather have her match than stay even longer in the village.
She felt conflicted about what to do. Should she just forfeit the match? But if she did… Roxanne felt that she would regret that decision all her life. She wouldn’t stop thinking about it.
“What do I do?” She muttered.
“My, my if it isn’t Lady Roxanne…” A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.
She looked back and saw the one who spoke.
“Oh, it’s you, Larry…”
Larry smiled innocently at her, which made her remember Lenard. He truly was like his father in some ways.
“I couldn’t help but hear you ask yourself what to do. I guess even you have trouble deciding that…” He smiled.
Roxanne gave him a small smile, she couldn’t tell him anything. It’s not like he would understand anyway.
Larry smiled as he saw her look indecisive and uncomfortable.
“You should just do what you want to do. Sometimes one has to be selfish. The reason we hesitate to do some things at times is that we are often overly concerned with what people think and how they would feel if we take a particular step. However…” Larry said.
“… If those people truly care for us, wouldn’t they want us to do what would make us happy? If they truly care and understand you, then they would understand and respect whatever decision you make… And won’t stop loving you no matter what!”
Larry’s words resonated with Roxanne’s heart. He was right. Asher loved her, he said so himself. That meant even if she stole away this very night, he would still love her. All she had to do was just compete, win, and return to the lake before morning.
Would it be difficult? Yes!
But could she pull it off? Also, Yes!
“I have to do this… So I can finally be free of those thoughts and give Asher my answer.” Roxanne resolved.
“Thanks a lot, Larry, your words helped me a lot!” Roxanne turned to see him, however, he was no longer there.
This baffled Roxanne a little, but she didn’t have time to think too much about it.
She had made up her mind. One last game, her final match for the year… And she could finally continue her blissful time with Asher