Page 70 of Howl You Doin'

"Sure, blame the shelf." Fiona winked at him. "It had nothing to do with your complete lack of spatial awareness."

Their laughter echoed through the hall, mixing with the sounds of two packs working together as one.

Fiona stepped back to admire their handiwork, the community center's main hall transformed into an autumn wonderland once again. Orange and gold streamers twisted overhead while carved pumpkins lined the windowsills. Her chest swelled with pride - not just at the decorations, but at how far they'd all come this past year.

"Remember when half the pack wouldn't even look me in the eye?" she mused aloud, watching two younger wolves argue over the proper placement of a cornucopia.

"Can't imagine why," Caleb drawled, appearing at her side. "You were only a strange witch who kept challenging their alpha's every decision."

"Someone had to keep you humble."She bumped his shoulder gently with hers. "Besides, look how well that turned out."

The evidence was all around them. Where once there had been suspicion, now there was only warmth. Pack members greeted her by name, included her in their jokes, sought her advice. Even the most traditional elders had taken to calling her "our witch" with fond exasperation.

"The center's never run better," Caleb said, his voice soft with pride. "You've given them something to rally around."

"We did that together." Fiona watched as Emmett showed some cubs how to make paper chains, his weathered hands gentle with the children. "Though I still can't believe you let me paint the activity room purple."

"Let you?" Caleb arched an eyebrow. "If I recall correctly, you just did it and then dared me to change it back."

"And you didn't." She grinned up at him. "Because you secretly loved it."

"Because I secretly love you," he corrected, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

Heat bloomed in her chest that had nothing to do with her fire magic. Twelve months ago, she'd been a stranger in a new town, desperate for work. Now she had a home, a purpose, and a stubborn wolf who'd somehow become her everything.

"Getting sentimental in your old age?" she teased, though her voice caught slightly.

"Don't push it, witch." But his eyes crinkled at the corners, that special smile he reserved just for her.

"Hey lovebirds!" Wade called out from across the room. "Some of us are trying to work here!"

"You're just jealous," Fiona called back, but she pulled away from Caleb with one last squeeze of his hand. There was still work to be done, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Fiona smoothed down her emerald dress later that night, the silk catching the candlelight as Caleb led her into Luna's Garden. The restaurant's glass ceiling revealed a blanket of stars above, and floating orbs of soft light drifted between tables like fireflies.

"You cleaned up nice," she said, taking in his charcoal suit. "Though I'm surprised you didn't try to convince me the community center counted as our anniversary dinner."

"Give me some credit." His fingers brushed the small of her back as the host seated them. "Besides, Wade threatened to stage a coup if I tried to keep you working tonight."

"Smart man." She settled into her chair, warmth blooming in her chest at the way Caleb's eyes lingered on her. "Though I still can't believe you remembered the exact date."

"The day you agreed to stay with me after the Victor fight? How could I forget?" He reached across the table, threading his fingers through hers. "You flipped my world upside down."

"Pretty sure you did that all on your own when you hired a witch to run your community center."

"Best terrible decision I ever made."

The waiter arrived with a bottle of wine, and Fiona caught the slight tremor in Caleb's hand as he reached for his glass. Strange - he never got nervous.

"Everything okay?" she asked after the waiter left. "You seem... twitchy."

"I'm fine." He tugged at his collar. "Just wondering how I got lucky enough to have a fire witch who can actually stand me."

"Stand you?" She laughed, the sound mixing with the soft jazz playing in the background. "Caleb, I love you. Even when you're being impossibly stubborn or growling at perfectly reasonable suggestions."

"I do not growl at reasonable suggestions."

"You growled at the idea of painting the activity room."

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