Wait! The stone.
My fingers tremble as I run up the stairs and crash through my bedroom door. The desk drawer spills onto the floor when I yank on it too hard. I push things out of the way, searching frantically.
“Fuck!”
I snatch up the beautifully painted stone, then whirl and run downstairs three at a time. The icy wind makes my cheeks burn and white clouds explode out of my mouth, but in the few minutes it takes me to get to Main Street, I warm up.
The crowd stops me in my tracks. I have no idea how to get through them all. They are packed shoulder to shoulder. People are talking, cheering. Above us, strings of gold and blue lights shine down, reflecting off glittering snowflakes and raindrops made of plastic.
My mouth falls open, and for a moment, I forget everything but the wonder of what I am seeing.
They found a way to make snow, or maybe fake snow, but there are mounds of it everywhere, and it’s hanging off roofs and signs. There are snowflakes and stars, and everywhere I look, hundreds of candles wrapped in ice-blue satin are burning brightly, leaving everyone awash in a glow of orange light.
The snowflakes glitter as they dance in the wind, and the crowd shifts easily, hands occupied with cupcakes and mugs. I don’t know all these people; there are heaps who appear to have travelled in just to see the spectacle.
Soft music is playing in the background, and as my ears attune to it, I realise someone, probably Felix, has chosen winter-related music. I don’t know why but that detail tickles me. The orange glow of sunset is fading quickly.
It’s almost time. I’m not late.
I can’t see anyone I know, so I push into the crowd, trying to get to the front.
“Excuse me, sorry, pardon me. Please, I need to get through!” I push and shove, and slowly, people give way, letting me through.
“Welcome to Light Knot Night! Our Winter Solstice Lantern Festival and, most importantly, matchmaking event!” Lorelei’s voice slams out of the speakers and into the air. People cheer.
It’s insane, and I love it for her.
“We have more matches than ever, bigger dates, we dragged the whole town into it. Don’t believe me? Well, let’s have a quick look at the highlight reel.”
My mouth drops open as I see a photo of me meeting Sebastian, Fox, and Katsu for the first time as a match. They have projected it onto a huge white screen. I lift a hand to my mouth, staring at Katsu as his lips curl in a delighted smile. Seeing it hurts so good. Music plays over the top of the video, a wildly curling orchestral tune. Every photo stays for about three seconds and then changes to another. My chest fills, and I think perhaps I’m going to cry, but I hold it in.
Clint and Holly are holding each other, laughing. Felix watches impassively as his match vomits on himself. Asher and her date, glaring at one another. Images of the last few weeks of my pack falling in love. In the pool, eating dried sponge under the fake stars, sitting on the love seat, the beach, at dinners. Laughing, always smiling. It's clear as day, we get closer and more comfortable, the intimacy of our expressions intensifying. But it’s the moments I’m not looking at them when they look at me; it’s unguarded, soft, protective, intense. They are in love with me.
That confirmation has my stomach lurching into a butterfly-filled pendulum.
But there’s more.
Photos have been taken of us around town; anytime we were seen together, someone snapped photos.
“I can’t imagine my life without them,” I whisper. Even if they were to leave me, I would love them forever.
The omega next to me squeals, and I startle back to the here and now.
She grabs my arm and jumps up and down. “I knew you were going to match the moment I saw you.”
“Um, okay?” I do not know this person, have never met her before in my life, but I love the enthusiasm.
She grabs me and drags me through the crowd until we’re standing in front of Lorelei. My future pack mother stares at me with a gleam in her eyes. As far as she’s concerned, we’re a done deal, and she’s not wrong. Sebastian and I were never in contention.
But Katsu and Fox still have to hear my truth and forgive me.
I really hope they do.
“And now you’ve seen how strangers can become love matches, scent matches. Will they bond? Will they all become packs? Well, no one knows, but what we do know is that this most perfect of days, when it’s half light and half night, with all you beautiful people here to witness the declarations of our matches and see if they have chosen to keep their hearts or not.”
The crowd’s cheer is thunderous, but I can’t see anyone. In fact, other than Lorelei, the only person I recognise is Clint, who is happily drinking and laughing with strangers, but he would get on with anyone.
“The food’s great, too!” Clint shouts, and I think privately that he might have had too many laced versions of whatever it is he’s drinking.
