The next day, Kinnon and a few representatives from the Night Prowler Pack came by the Silent Walkers Pack House again. They wanted to excuse themselves to go back to their territory. Kinnon gave Lucien a hug and a kiss on his cheek. "I will be waiting," he whispered lovingly before he departed with his pack members.
After the Night Prowler Pack left, the Silent Walkers Pack members were finally able to breathe again. Everyone had more smiles on their faces. The wounded ones were healing faster. Children started to run around cheerfully again. It was as if the war never happened. Only the Alpha family locked themselves inside their apartments and mused about the proposal that needed to be answered within ten days.
Alice forbade anyone to come and see Lucien. If they really needed to see him, then they were forbidden from mentioning the proposal. Alice did not want Lucien to make a decision that he would come to regret. Her son had suffered a lot in the past years. It was too cruel to force him into a marriage with another pack to redeem the Silent Walkers Pack. Lucien was no longer part of the pack. He had not contributed anything to Deacon's decision in marching to war, so he should not be burdened with the aftermath.
Annalynne was constantly on her toes. She was used to speak her mind with her twin brother. Now that she was not allowed to talk about the proposal, she was like an elephant that was surrounded by a bunch of ants. She was restless when Lucien was around, and anxious when Lucien was not around. Eventually Lucien could not take it anymore.
"What is it, Anna?"
Annalynne looked pitiful. She opened her mouth to say something but then immediately pressed her lips together in reluctance. Lucien patted at the empty seat next to him on the couch, gesturing for his twin sister to sit down.
"Say it already. Is it about the proposal?"
"Oh, Big Brother," Annalynne broke in a wail. She sat next to her twin brother and grabbed his hand.
"Mom doesn't want us to talk to you about it."
Lucien sighed in his heart.
"I know. And yet you seem to have something on your mind. Enlighten us. What is the matter?"
Annalynne rubbed at Lucien's hand intimately. "I just... Big Brother, I missed you so much. Mom and I. We missed you so much."
Lucien patted Annalynne's head fondly.
"I missed you and Mom too. Very much."
"I just want to say that... it would be great to have you back. If you marry into the Night Prowler Pack, you will be able to come by often, right?"
Lucien shook his head in response.
"I have not spoken in detail about the post wedding arrangement, but I most likely will live at the Night Prowler Pack's territory."
Annalynne's face fell instantly.
"But you will be back in the werewolf world!" she recoiled in an instant. "We will have a lot more chances to meet up."
Lucien nodded. He was not sure if that was a good or a bad thing. He just knew that Annalynne seemed to be inclined to have him go in a certain direction.
"Do you want me to marry Kinnon, Anna?"
Annalynne's cheeks started to glow pink.
"Not if you don't want to!" she hastily spoke. "Lulu, I just want you to be happy. And I want you back."
Annalynne grabbed Lucien's hand and squeezed it.
"Lulu, do you... do you have any feelings for Kinnon?"
Lucien did not tell anyone about Kinnon's confession to him back in the Alpha Camp. He doubted that Kinnon told anyone. Especially not after Ronan came into the picture.
"We haven't seen each other for years, there could be none."
"Oh. Um... Do you think you can ever have feelings for him?"
"Feelings are unpredictable. Then again it doesn't really matter in a political marriage. There are a few expectations toward the Luna, but love for the Alpha is hardly one of them."
"Oh."
Annalynne wanted to say something else, but at the inopportune moment the door opened up and Alice walked into the room. As soon as she saw Annalynne's guilty face, she furrowed her brows and growled.
"Anna, are you bothering Lulu?"
Annalynne jumped off the couch as if she got bitten by a couch bug. "What?? No, I...!!!"
"We are only reminiscing about the past," Lucien interceded. "Mom, what is it?"
Alice's facial muscles turned taut.
"Lulu, we have guests. You should come to greet them together with the others."
It was an unusual request because Lucien was after all no longer part of the Silent Walkers Pack. Even if he was considered one due to the proposal made by the Night Prowler Pack, he was about to become an outsider soon so there was no need to get involved in the Silent Walkers Pack's internal business.
Lucien and Annalynne rose to their feet and followed their mother silently, not without exchanging curious looks with each other. In the guest reception hall, two groups of people sat at the long table and discussed in a low voice about the pleasant weather, the trip to Blue Hill City, and the hospitality that the Silent Walkers Pack extended to their guests.
The Betas were always in charge of exchanging pleasantries, so Lucien's eyes were quickly drawn to the Beta of the other group. It was Jake. Lucien's eyes quickly moved to the person at his left side, who was sitting in the middle of the row like a celebrated King. Lucien's lips were pulled into a taut line. What was the purpose of the Infinite Eclipse Pack's visit this time? Even the Alpha came along. The Beta or even the Gamma should have been enough for an official visit.
Lucien was given the seat opposite of Ronan, as if he were the reigning Alpha of the Silent Walkers Pack. He could see the scowl on Aunt Catherine's face, but the woman dared not say anything in front of strangers.
Jake smiled at Lucien.
"Mr. Clearwater, long time no see."
Lucien nodded in return. "Indeed."
"We have a proposal to make to the Silent Walkers Pack, and we hope for a good answer."
Jake pushed a rolled leather parchment toward Lucien. It looked a lot like the proposal that Kinnon submitted just a few days ago. Lucien took the parchment and unrolled it. Before he got to read the first line, Jake dropped the bomb dramatically.
"The Infinite Eclipse Pack humbly requests Lucien Clearwater's hand in marriage to our Alpha, Ronan Silverback."