Autumn took the tray, surprised by Jacob's small gesture. On the tray were warm bread, eggs, a few slices of roasted meat, and a steaming cup of herbal tea.
"Thank you," Autumn said. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is Jacob... where is he now?"
Maya smiled knowingly. "He's out hunting with some of the other pack members. They've been out since dawn to prepare food for tonight's campfire." The girl then added enthusiastically, "You'll come to the campfire, right? It's the best event in our pack!"
Autumn smiled faintly. "I... will consider it."
"Please come," Maya urged. "Everyone wants to meet you. It's not every day we get a new wolf, let alone..." Maya suddenly fell silent, as if realizing she might have said too much.
"What else?" Autumn asked, suspicious.
Maya shook her head. "It's nothing. I have to go now, I still have a lot of work to do. Enjoy your breakfast!"
Before Autumn could ask anything further, Maya had already run back towards the main settlement, leaving Autumn with unanswered questions.
Throughout the day, Autumn spent time exploring the area around her cabin, careful not to stray too far into the pack’s territory. The small stream that ran near the cabin provided a perfect place to calm down. The sound of the water helped ease the restlessness she still felt.
As the sun began to set in the west, the sounds of activity from the direction of the settlement caught her attention. In the distance, she could see members of the pack busy preparing the central area for a bonfire.
Some were carrying firewood, others were setting up benches out of tree trunks and large rocks. Children were running around happily, helping in their own ways.
Unconsciously, Autumn stepped closer, drawn by the warmth of community she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“You’re here,” Jacob’s familiar voice startled her from behind.
Autumn turned to see Jacob standing a few feet away, carrying several large logs of firewood over his shoulder. His clothes were slightly soiled with dirt and leaves, evidence of his morning’s hunting.
“I was just… looking around,” Autumn replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Jacob smiled, setting his firewood on the ground. "How was your first day? Was the cabin comfortable?"
"Yes, very comfortable," Autumn answered honestly. "Thanks for breakfast, too."
"You're welcome. I thought you might need some time to adjust before..." Jacob trailed off, his gaze shifting to the slowly darkening evening sky.
"Before the full moon," Autumn finished. "Well, I... haven't transformed around another pack in a long time."
Jacob nodded understandingly. "Transforming with a pack is different than transforming alone. It's more... controlled. The pack bond helps keep our human side dominant, even in wolf form."
Autumn paused, remembering how her transformations had been over the years wild, painful, and always leaving vague memories of what she did in her wolf form.
"Is it... dangerous for me to transform around your pack?" she asked, her voice low.
Jacob stared at her closely. "Not if you allow a pack bond to form, even temporarily. Without a bond, our wolves may see each other as threats." She sighed.
“But I won’t force you. If you’re more comfortable transforming alone, there’s an area in the northern part of the forest that’s far enough away from the pack that you can use.”
Autumn bit her lip, lost in thought. The idea of ​​allowing a pack bond to form, even temporarily, terrified her. But on the other hand, the memory of her previous painful and dangerous transformations made her hesitate.
“I’ll think about it,” she finally said.
Autumn stood in the doorway of her room, her eyes fixed on the piece of paper that lay on her bed. Her heart pounded as she approached and picked up the note with trembling hands. Jacob’s handwriting was neat, but there was something about it that made her feel mixed.
“Autumn,” it read,
“I’m away on business, but I’ll be back soon. I want you to know that you’re my omega now, and I promise to watch over and protect you with all my heart.”
Autumn bit her lip, holding back the flood of emotions that flooded her mind. Omega? The word rang in her mind, conjuring a vivid picture of closeness and new responsibility. She felt confused, but at the same time a warm feeling enveloped her heart.
“Omega…” she murmured softly, momentarily lost in thought. She knew what the word meant in their world. A promise, a commitment. But what if Jacob was gone longer than she had imagined? What if it was all too soon?
Suddenly, the door swung open and her best friend, Lena, walked in. "Hey, Autumn! What happened? You look like you saw a ghost."
Autumn raised the note in her hand. "Jacob's gone. He left this for me," she said in a low voice.
Lena approached, took the note and read it quickly. "Wow, is he serious? Omega? That means he wants you by his side, Autumn. This is big!"
"Yeah, I know. But... I'm confused. Is this all too soon? He's gone, and all I can do is wait."
Lena nodded, understanding her friend's doubt. "Listen, Autumn. If he loves you and you feel the same way, why not? Sometimes we have to take risks, even if it's scary."
Autumn sighed, thinking about Lena's words. "I want to believe that. But I can't imagine life without him right now."
Lena smiled, putting a hand on Autumn's shoulder. "He'll come back. And when he does, you have to be ready for him. Don't doubt your feelings."
Autumn nodded, though doubt still gnawed at her heart. "You're right. I have to believe in us."
As he stared at the note again, he felt hope begin to grow inside him and when Jacob returned, he would be ready to be the omega he wanted to be.