Chapter 19

I stared at the fireworks beautifully decorating the night skies. The winds were gentle, and the atmosphere filled with excited people and their laughter. The children busied themselves at the amusement park set up while the adults were busy engaging in one activity or the other. But here I was, unable to smile, unable to be happy. I just stood by an open bar watching my people enjoy this day to the fullest. But I still felt incomplete. Whether I liked it or not, Zeus absence made me this way.

“Miss me already?" He sounded beside me. I frowned and sharply turned to my right only to find nothing but the bar. I gulped down my saliva as Martha approached me with a stern expression in place.

“Hey,” she said but I couldn't even find the proper words to say. Normally, on a day like this, both of us would have gotten ourselves drunk, dancing like crazy tourists. But this time, our tension made us act like strangers.

“It's time for your speech,” she calmly stated as she gestured towards the center of the field where a podium beautifully decorated was rooted. I glanced at the area and not an inkling of excitement or joy ignited in me. A podium I climbed annually to give this grand speech about our Clan.

I wriggled my head. Not today, this night was going to be different. I was going to spend it where my joy currently was.

“You do it,” I said.

“Green," she called my name in a concerned tone.

“Just do it. No questions." I ordered and gradually walked away from her.

“Where are you going?!" She pitched but I didn't care I was on heels, my pace only increased.

“To meet that Wolf." I whispered with a tiny smile finally dawning on my face. My pace increased and with every step I took, that tingling sensation began to rise. That excitement I long sought for came in tiny bits.

As I eased past the gates of the mansion, my pace came to an abrupt halt. My eyes found him, there he was, seated by the stairway, dressed sharply in his blazing tux with his blonde hair neatly packed. His Hazel eyes instantly gleamed of joy as I sauntered closer. My heart started to race, a burning sensation gradually happening across my cheeks with every step. He arose immediately, striding in the same mannerism as I was. He smiled and it took energy not to blush or even smile.

“You look ravishing, milady,” he softly said as we stood inches away from each other. In his eyes, I could see my reflection, my Rosy red medieval dress and my Black hair braided.

“And you look dressed up already." I commented. "Were you planning on coming?" I frowned.

“I took leap of faith. A part of me guessed you would come back. For me."

I scoffed.

“I only came here to check if you're dying of boredom and by the looks of it, you already look pathetic."

“You mean to say, Handsome." He winked as he reduced the gap between us. His breaths swarmed all over my cheeks and I found it hard to pull away from his enchanting eyes.

“Maybe." I whispered, eyeing his lips that seemed to glisten. "Anyways," I heaved a light sigh. "Continue to be a good boy and remain here,” I said before turning away. A part of me wished he would hold me back, draw me close to him and tell me he never wants to let me go.

As I made to take a step, he held my right wrist and I smiled, enjoying his touch that I'd long been craving for again. But I didn't want him to know I was enjoying it. Hence, I faced him with a glare, but he wasn't intimidated in the slightest.

“I know my mate very well. She didn't just come here to check if I was being an obedient boy,” he chirped. My insides leaped with another wave of excitement, hearing those words.

“You don't know me Zeus. Now let go." My voice trailed in a whispery path. He pulled me closer, so our chest braced against each other. My body shuddered with excitement, enjoying the way his steely chest rocked against mine. In a strange way, I loved the way he took control.

“I love it when you call me by my name Green and you know very much, I won't let go,” he affirmed, his eyes purely gawking at my lips.

“Don't make me hit you Zeus." I whispered. His smile deepened and his other hand curled around my waist. His warm breaths gracefully swarmed all over my face and at this point I was sure my cheeks were faint pink. I should be resisting his charms, I should be the one in control like always but this night, our mate bond was having the say.

“Just this night, just this night alone, let's have this little fun."

“Just this night alone Zeus." I affirmed like a lovestruck lady.

“Do you trust me?"

“No." I smiled, he chuckled.

His hold on me tightened and then his eyes flashed a brief shade of blue. My smile deepened. His Wolf eye color were different compared to other werewolves that were golden brown. He was unique just like mine. I wondered why they were blue though but before I could ponder further, golden butterflies surrounded us. And then we gradually ascended into the sky. In a strange way, it felt like my heels were still against the ground but in reality, we were already amidst the clouds.

We kept our gaze on each other, smiling like children seeing fireworks for the first time.

“You know, I love your hair messy." I remarked while I ran my fingers across his hair. Fiddling with it till it became a gradual mess.

And soon we landed east of Marr, by the river side where the moon shone upon us. We sat on the grass, side by side with our hips touching and my left arm intertwined with his right. I focused on the gentle river before us, where ducks paddled causing silver ripples across the river.

“You should be at the festival celebrating with your kind,” he chattered, our gaze bonded again.

“Just this night, I want to spend it the person I hate." I smiled as I leaned against his broad shoulder.

“You know, I was wrong about you,” he said. "I used to think you were a monster, shrouded in complete darkness but when I met you, that thought changed completely.

Everyone out there thinks City of Marr is an ugly place, a place meant for demons,” he chuckled sadly. "If only they knew how beautiful this place is, or the beautiful people living here. If only they could see their smiles, their unity, hear their laughter."

“I'm still a monster Zeus." I heaved a sigh.

“If you truly are, this people would be mourning today and not celebrating. You're a great leader Green." My eyes closed in order to shun those tears that might try to soak.

“If nobody told you this, I'm telling you now. You're a great leader, one I so much admire."

I thought about my mother, I thought about her smile and in a way, I felt the need to trust my mate.

“You know," I said as my eyes opened to the moon's reflection across the river.

“This Clan wasn't always called the City of Marr. It was the Moonlight Clan back when Darius, the Vampire King reigned. Darius wasn't a monster to the other communities, but he was to his own kind. Treating the women like his slaves, like we were weak, like he owned us." I pursed my lips whilst reliving those moments in my head again.

“To defeat a monster, you have to be a greater one and that's what I did. I led a revolution, and this is the result." I gulped down my saliva.

“Your father must have been so proud of you,” he replied while I smiled sadly.

“I killed him." I blurted but his body still remained calm.

“He killed my mother for sport, he tortured my little sister to death, he let Darius use me like his little sex maid." My palms grabbed my clothes in anger and then raised my head to his face. There was no smile but only care and affection. I didn't see despise nor hatred in those beautiful eyes of his.

I sighed.

“So, I killed that power hungry bastard. I renamed this place to City of Marr because Marr was my mother's name.

Perhaps I did it to honor her or maybe I just did it because I don't want to ever forget her. Maybe I did it serve as a reminder that I shouldn't be weak. Either way, I find the name befitting." I pursed my lips. "I'm sure I've changed your thinking again." I shot him a sad smile.

“I'm sure you must think me a monster now, don’t you? If I could kill my father without mercy, then what's going to stop me from killing you, my mate."

“No," he simply answered.

“Stop lying," I retorted.

“You're not a monster, Green."

“Stop saying what our mate bond tells you! Be real with me!" I yelled with a frown as I separated from him.

“You're not a monster, Green."

“Say it!" I yelled. "Sa—”

He instantly sealed his lips against mine, cutting me off from my useless talk. And even though I didn't want to, I responded. I responded to those sweet and succulent lips I've always craved from the beginning. All my life I'd never felt something this divine fill me. I'd never felt this tidal rush of excitement overwhelm me.

He was gentle, passionate and in a way telling me, he loved me no matter what.

“You're not a monster,” he toned with heavy dose of sincerity as his lips broke from mine. His eyes were glowing blue and mine, glowing its green shade. I didn't understand why neither was I sure he did too but in all, it was beautiful.

He held my chin gently.

“You're my mate. The most beautiful, intelligent, strong and fierce woman I've ever met."

I smiled in oblivion but then realization struck me. I kissed Zeus. The same man I've been trying hard to get rid of, I had let my guard down in oblivion. Yet I didn't regret it, I enjoyed every bit of it.

“Just this night, " he said again, as if he had read my mind. "Let's enjoy this moment, this beautiful scenery and not think about the past but the present." His eyes gradually returned to hazel and mine back to Gray.

“Just this night." I smiled and then leaned against his shoulder again. I closed my eyes, choosing to enjoy this moment. His scent, his warmth and above all, his kiss. Our first kiss.