Bambi's POV
The pack hall smelled like pine candles and warm bread. Fairy lights hung from the wooden beams, a soft and golden color, like someone had caught little stars and pinned them up just for tonight. It was the first full-moon celebration since Dawn marked me as his mate, and everyone kept staring. Not mean stares, exactly—just curious. Whispering. Smiling too wide. I felt like a new toy everyone wanted to touch but was scared to break.
My hand was sweaty inside Dawn's big, warm one. He wore a simple black shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and dark jeans that made him look less like the scary Alpha and more like the man who brushed my hair every night. He squeezed my fingers.
"You okay, little doe?" he asked quietly, bending so only I could hear.
I nodded too fast. "Yes. Just… a lot of people."
