Chapter 36

LAWRENCE POV:

I release her from the hug before cupping her cheeks in my hands. I stroke her cheeks, looking into her eyes, which are full of pain and loss. Those sparks I saw when she laughed were gone.

"My name means pure, but my heart is not pure. It is dark and filled with hate," she says softly, bringing her head down in shame.

"Everyone has a painful past but it's how you deal with the pain that shows how strong you are." I am taking from experience. It's brave enough to hide the pain, but braver to let go of what you feel.

"So that means you have a painful past?" she asks as she avoids my gaze.

"My father was not always this kind and free. He started training me at the age of six years old." I breathe deeply as the memories cloud my mind. "I never received any love. All he cared about was building me up to be a king. The only person who was able to save me when it got tough and made me smile was elder Mathias."

"My father kept on with this until I was taken away by his most trusted people, his brother and his mate," I say, moving my hands from her cheeks before clutching my fists angrily by my side.

"Calm down, Lawrence," she says, placing her hands on mine. Just the mention of my name on her lips makes me relax.

"They took me away because of their selfish aims to take the kingdom from my dad. I was starved, bitten, and forced to fight for my life. I was just a 12-year-old boy deprived of love and care for a year," I say while taking sharp breaths.

"No one came to save you?" she asks angrily. Confusion laces her voice.

"Elder Mathias came, but before he came, I ended their worthless lives because I shifted at 13, which made it so easy," I say smugly.

She looked at me with wide eyes and mouth agape in amazement.

"I was never the same after that. I became cold, emotionless, and lost myself slowly in regret, but elder Mathias was there to pull me back to the surface," I say, smiling at her, and she returns the smile.

"Thank you," she says, taking me by surprise.

"For what?" I ask confused.

"For being here for me when I needed someone, for pulling me up," she says grinning widely. As she did, her eyes sparkled. I gazed down at her full lips just thinking about those lips on mine.

I move closer as she does the same, staring intensely at my lips. I capture her lips in a passionate kiss, pouring love and lust into this kiss. I lick her bottom lip asking for permission, but she refuses me. Finding another means, I slip my hands to her ass squeezing lightly. She lets out a low moan, and taking this opportunity, I slip my tongue in, twirling my tongue around every corner of her mouth. Her hand sinks into my hair, tugging gently, and making me groan into the kiss.

Feeling the kiss get more demanding, I pull away before resting my head on hers. We stare into the depths of each other eyes.

"As much as I would like to mark you, it won't be in the forest," I say winking. A blush creeps onto her cheeks before hitting my chest playfully.

"Wait I brought you something," I say, pulling out a gold bracelet with an "I love you" charm on it.

I take her hands in mine before fixing the bracelet on her right wrist. "I want you to always put this on to remember that I am never going anywhere," I say waiting for her reply.

Her amber eyes open wide in shock. "You got this for me? Thank you," she says grinning happily.

Should I tell her what she really is? No, it's not yet time for that. "Mi vida, I will be traveling tomorrow for pack work. I will be away for three days." She frowns for a few seconds before smiling.

"Okay," she replies nonchalantly.

We spent time talking before heading to the mansion.

KATE POV:

I am really tired. After all the emotions I felt today, I look down at my wrist. The bracelet is so beautiful. I can't believe he gave me something like this and I feel so happy and special.

"Oh, Moon Goddess, " I say, sighing before falling on the bed and welcoming the darkness of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up this morning feeling happy. My cheeks hurt from grinning so widely. I just feel alive, like something has been lifted off my shoulders.

I was able to skip training. I did my daily routine, leaving my hair to flow freely around my shoulders and applying lip gloss to my lips. I put on a Mexican dress Lillian gave me. It's a black dress with a floral design around the neck and it reaches down to my knees.

Satisfied with the way I look, I leave my room. I need to settle something with Grace, but I don't know where her room is.

"You can use her scent to find where she is," Tiara suggests.

I follow her sent to the back of the mansion where I see her sitting Indian style on the grass with her hands crossed around her body.

She senses my presence, making her stare at me with wide eyes and her mouth open in shock.

I simile at her before sitting close to her on the floor.

"Kate, what are you doing here?" she asks warily, still looking shocked.

"I forgive you," I said grinning widely.

"Kate, I am so sorry that Lillian said those hurtful words to you. It's all my fault, but I told her everything that happened. She's angry with me and refuses to speak with me..." She trails off, not finding the courage to look me in the eyes.

I hold her hands in mine gently. "Gracie, I forgive you," I say one more time to get her attention.

"Kate please...Wait, what? Y-you f-forgive me?" she asks, surprised and not believing what she heard me say.

"Yes, but if you don't want my forgiveness, I can always hold grudges," I say with a smirk playing on my lips.

"NO!" she yelled immediately with fear evident in her eyes.

"I miss you so much," I say sincerely. I really missed her even though I try so hard to hide it.

"Thank you, I miss you too. You don't know how much your words bring me peace," she says with regret, and taking me into a hug. I immediately hug her back.

She pulls away from the hug. "So Katie, I have so much to tell you." She spoke in a shrill voice grinning widely.

"We are back baby!" I yelled as we both laughed.

"I miss this. Sisters?," she sais as she brought her pinky out. I wrap my hand around her pinky.

"Sisters," I say, locking the bond just like old times.

"It's time to do something crazy!" she says pulling me up with her.

We walked into the living room to find Lillian, Becca, Ethan, and Levi all laughing.

"Kate can we talk to you? " Lillian asked nervously.

"Yeah sure," I said, glancing up at Grace and giving her a confused look before looking back at Lillian.

They both lead me into the kitchen. "I am so sorry for what I said to you. I never felt scared that you would blow up on me once," she says looking down in shame while I kept my gaze focused on her.

"We should have never judged you that way without knowing what you've been through, but if you can please forgive us," Becca says warily looking into my eyes for any reaction, but I kept my face blank.

"I will forgive you both if you can both forgive Grace," I say smugly taking a seat across from them.

"I forgive her," they both say nervously.

"Okay then but..." I say smirking mischievously at them.

"But what?" Lillian asks warily.

"But we'll need to get all these sad faces off and have some fun," I said grinning widely.

"Okay by me," Grace says laughing loudly.

We talked, laughed, and did crazy things. If I should write downn my best days, this day would be on my list.

Now we are teasing Grace and Jack. Actually Lillian and Levi are the ones teasing them while Becca and I just can't stop laughing.

"So when will I become an aunty?" Lillian says smirking and making Grace blush a shade of red.

"You have to stop teasing my friend here," I say between laughs.

"Kate, you need to leave here now," Tiara warned me.

"What's going on?" I ask confused.

"Just leave here now. Go to your room," she warned me like she was in pain.

"I will be in my room," I say rushing out of the room immediately. I close the door of my room before pain shoots through the midsection of my abdomen. My body heats up like it's on fire, making me scream in agony.

"Please, don't let it be what I think it is," I say warily.