The Werewolf King’s Mate
Chapter 32

Cory's

POV:

Lucas and everyone were busy finalizing who should be the new Alpha of the Midnight Moon pack. Lola and I were almost at the packhouse every day. The first few times we were there, it was quite awkward after Austin revealed that we were mates. Some called me Luna, while others were cautious about talking to me. And most of the pack members were still anxious about what had happened.

"It should be 'your majesty! But they kept calling you Luna," Ellie pointed out.

"We don't want his majesty to hear about that," Lola added.

"You're right. He's already so busy and uptight from all these things. I don't want to add to that."

"You know what, we never celebrated the completion of the training. The timing was always off." Iris brought this up.

"So...why don't we....have a celebration!" Ellie perked up whenever we talked about parties or celebrations.

"Yeah! We should do that! Let's tell Lucas."

Hopefully, this will relieve some tension and worry about the rest. We will make it as fun as possible!

Lucas gave the go signal for the party. The four of us were thrilled and immediately began arranging our plans. We also asked others to volunteer and are glad many are willing to help.

The party will be held three days from now. So, we started planning and dividing the tasks. There are three groups - food and drinks, party decor and styling, and the program committee. I volunteered to be part of the food and drinks. Well, I am more confident in my cooking skills than others. I am with Lola and a few members who I have met before. Surprisingly, they have a real talent for cooking. Mia, for one, studied French culinary and planned to look for jobs in Paris! Then there's Philly, a pastry chef. He learned to bake when he was young and now bakes as a hobby. We have Sandra, Crim (short for Crimson), and Andy, who are restaurant cooks in town.

"So, uhm, Luna?" Sandra spoke up.

"Cory is fine, Sandra."

"Uhm, Cory. What do you think of baked ham sandwiches, mini patty burgers, or chicken puffs as appetizers?"

"How about the main course, Cory? Should we have beef or lamb for the steak?" Mia asked.

"For dessert, I would recommend tarts or butter cake slices. What do you think?" Philly enthusiastically suggested.

They had great ideas for what to serve, and I appreciated their suggestions. We continued to plan our menu for the celebration until we finalized it with two appetizers, one soup, four mains, and two desserts. We planned and purchased our supplies, and on the day of the celebration, we had everything we needed to start.

We all started preparing that morning because the party would start at six in the evening. Iris and her team started decorating the whole packhouse - the entrance, living room, and backyard. At the same time, Ellie and her team were making final revisions to the program and the games we would play. As for us, I am glad that all of them are used to serving more than a hundred people daily. Their experience made it easy for us, and we almost had everything set by five in the afternoon.

"Alright, everyone! Good work! We're down to our last two dishes!" I praised everyone in the kitchen.

"Once everything is done, you freshen up in time for the party."

And by six in the evening, people started coming. We could see the look of excitement and joy when they entered the packhouse. When I entered the packhouse, I was wowed at how the packhouse became lively. Iris and her team really killed it with the decorations! They did an amazing job. They had all these colorful banners hanging from the ceiling and these cute little string lights that made everything feel so cozy. And there were even some playful balloons scattered around the floor. "Wow! Iris and everyone did so well! Don't you think so, Lucas?"

"I think so too! They did an amazing job! And I bet the program and food will be as good too, babe!"

"Yeah, you should look forward to it! And just enjoy the party, OK?"

"Don't mind me. Just enjoy yourself, babe."

The program started with the emcee, Ellie, introducing the first game of the night. She called on representatives or volunteers, and she started playing some tunes. It is a guessing game where the person has to listen to the first part of the song and guess the title. It was more difficult than we thought.

The crowd continued participating in the games Ellie had prepared. After all the games had finished, a DJ blasted a lively and upbeat tune. The beat got everyone dancing. People started crowding the "dance floor" or the living room with a bottle in their hands. Ellie handed me a bottle.

"Oh no, I don't drink, Ellie."

"Come on, Cory! Just try it. I think you'll like it."

"Ellie..."

"OK, just one sip." She batted her eyelashes at me.

"Fine, just one."

I put the bottle's mouth on my lips and took a sip. I think it was plenty for a sip, though.

"Cory! I didn't say you should gulp it! Ha ha ha! You almost drank half of it!"

"Oh!"

"Ha ha ha! Alright, that's enough. Thanks for being a sport!"

"You were right, though it does taste good!"

"What tasted good?" I heard Lucas' voice from behind me.

"That! and woah!" When I faced Lucas, I immediately felt dizzy.

"Are you drunk? Ellie, what did you do?"

"Nothing! I just made her sip the beer."

"Sip?! That's almost half!"

"She gulped it when I told her to sip it."

"I will take her back to the cabin."

"But Lucas, I am not drunk. I am completely fine." I protested.

"You are tipsy, babe."

"No, I am just a tinny tiny bit dizzy."

"Yup, that's what tipsy means, babe. Come on. Let's go back so you can go take a cold shower."

****

It looked like I agreed despite trying to stay at the party because I was not in his t-shirt and drying my hair. The cold shower helped relieve the dizziness. So that's what it feels like. "You feeling better, babe?" Lucas asked as he came out of the walk-in closet.

"Yes. The shower helped."

"I told you so."

"But...I would also have preferred to stay at the party, hmph." I pouted and looked the other way.

"Wow! I didn't know you could be a brat, babe."

I was shocked. Me? A brat? I can be all other things, but I don't think I am a brat.

"I beg your pardon. Who are you calling a brat, your majesty?"

"Did that offend you, my queen? Because you are definitely acting like a brat now."

Rising from the vanity, I positioned myself squarely in front of him. I tried to intimidate him, but he was so tall that I was facing his chest. He laughed at my action.

"What are you trying to do, babe?" He's beaming a mocking smile at me.

"Picking a fight with you."

"Huh. Alright, alright, show me what you got then."

I punched him in the chest and checked how he would react. I looked up, and he was smiling down at me. So, I threw another punch. And another. And another. And another.

"That tickles, babe." I rolled my eyes in response.

"Now, my turn."

"W-what?!"

Before I processed what he was about to do, he lifted me off the ground and dumped me on the bed. I shrieked in surprise. I tried resisting, but he was too strong. I tried pushing him hard. I even tried kicking him. Damn, this man! "So, the brat still wants to fight, huh?"

He started tickling me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I am giving you a chance, babe. Give up now."

"Never!"

He tickled me again. He didn't stop until I was screaming, "Stop."

"Stop! Stop! I give up!" I was laughing hard and breathing heavily.

"Better not to pick a fight with me next time, babe." We were both laughing.

Soon, our laughter died down. We were now both silent. He was still on top of me. He looked me in the eye and slowly down to my lips, then they made their way back to my eyes. I caught my breath when I saw the dark and lustful look in his eyes. Heat traveled through my whole body.

"Lucas," I called his name softly.

The moment his name left my lips, he captured my mouth. This kiss was unlike our first kiss or the other pecks he gave. He kissed me like he wanted to own me-my body and soul. It was getting harder to breathe. My head feels heavy and dizzy. I felt like I would burst from the overwhelming sensation and emotion. But everything felt right with him at that moment.