Chapter Twenty-Seven

TWO DAYS LATER

“And what if I forget what to say?” I looked up at him for guidance, the TV camera following my every move. Today was the day that we were making our announcement to the pack about Luke finding his mate, and I’m sure all eyes would be on me, scrutinising my every move.

“Then you make it up” He shrugged like it was nothing. “Nobody knows what we’re going to say so then nobody will know if you mess it up. Easy”

“Easy” I repeated. “It doesn’t sound easy at all; it sounds very hard”

“Clover, I can already tell that you’ll be a natural, they’ll love you – just like my mother did, and just like I do”

“If you loved me, then you wouldn’t make me do this.” I smiled up at him, but he wasn’t budging. “Fine, okay.”

“Are we ready, guys?” The camera crew called to us, and Luke stared at me for approval before nodding his head to them. “Alright…and we’re live in three, two, one!”

Luke straightened himself up as the little red light appeared on the top of the camera. “Good evening. I’m sure you’re probably all wondering why I have organised this television appearance.” He paused for effect. “It’s because I would like to officially announce that I have found my mate. Her name is Clover Bell and we’re very happy together. She would like to say a few words to her new subjects. Here she is.”

He squeezed my arm gently and I put a smile on my face, trying my best to fit in.

“Yes, thank you. I would just like to say hello. I’d like to think that you’ll be seeing a lot of me in the future, so get used to seeing this face!” Fake laugh. “I’m only joking around. But on a more serious note, I can’t wait to get into the business side of things and really try to make a difference in this pack and leave my mark. I’d also like to thank everyone in advance for welcoming me with open arms, which I’m sure you will all do. Thank you again.”

“Excellent.” Luke smiled down the lens. “I’m positive that all of the packs will give you the warm welcome that you deserve. Thank you again everyone for tuning in on this gorgeous night. I hope you all have a lovely evening.” He waved at the camera, and I joined him, sending a wave to nobody in particular.

The red light disappeared, and my shoulders sank with relief. “Thank god that’s over. Was that okay? It felt a bit strange.”

“You were perfect” He smiled. “Seriously, I’m not just saying that. It was really good for someone who’s never been in the public eye before, and you’ll only get better as we do more and more”

More and more? My head was spinning with anxiety, I didn’t know if I could even do that one let alone many more.

“Oh, great.” I fake smiled, pulling him into a hug. “At least that’s over. I hope people like me. Do you think they will?”

“Definitely. You were charming, and sweet, and if anyone has anything to say, I will personally visit them and banish them myself.”

“Perfect.” I grinned into a kiss. “I would appreciate that very much.”

He looked down at me. “And I appreciate whatever you appreciate.”

***

LATER THAT NIGHT:

Luke had arranged for us to have a private date that evening under the full moon just outside of the Castle on a secluded area of Forest where we would be safe. My mind was still whirring with information that we had been told the day before, and how quickly things would change for us. For all we knew we were still in our fresh dating stage. I knew mates moved fast, but this was unexpected.

We both lay on a checkered picnic blanket looking at the stars. A basket sat next to us with delicious foods we had enjoyed earlier. As I looked up, I couldn't help but think how different things could be in a few months. We could be married, I could be bearing pups, we could be living in the kingdom...

"Love?" He turned to me.

"Yes?" I snapped out my thoughts and faced him. "What is it?"

His hand cupped my face, which I'm sure had worry written all over it. "Is everything alright with you? You look very worried. If it's anything that I've done, then please talk to me."

I quickly looked away and shook my head. "Don't be silly. I'm fine, really. There's nowhere else I'd rather be and nobody else I'd rather be with."

"Clover, I know there's something bothering you. I'm your mate and know you better than anyone else. Please talk to me." He pulled my face towards him, and I let out a groan of annoyance. "Tell me what's wrong."

I pushed up onto my elbow. "You're gonna think I'm crazy, and disrespectful, and ungrateful and all kinds of weird so I would rather not say anything"

"Clover, we need to be honest with each other if this is going to work, okay? There's absolutely nothing that you could possibly say to make me think that" He chuckled at me. "Really, nothing"

I thought about the consequences for a moment before nodding at him and flipping onto my stomach, looking up at him. "This whole thing has been amazing and insane, but also very scary and a lot of new things are happening, but I still can't even believe that any of this is even real, or happening to me..." I trailed off. "I'm frightened that you'll get sick of me because I'm not able to keep up with you, or I'm not as pretty as the other girls, or you'll dump me in the Marshlands when you're finished"

"Do you think that I'd do that?"

"No!" I yelled at him, making him jump back slightly at the sudden outburst. "Absolutely not. I don't think that you would do that, but I guess there's a very small part of me that's frightened that something like that could happen?"

"My love" His hand brushed hair out of my face. "There is absolutely nothing on this planet that could make me not love everything about you, alright? And no, I don't mind that you're moving slower than me, it's very cute that you want everything to happen naturally, and I appreciate that, okay?"

"That makes me so happy." I leaned in and kissed him. "I am very glad that you saved me, you know that?"

He cracked a smile. "Me too."

Since Luke and I hadn't even put a label on what we were, things weren't exactly as easy going as a regular couple would be, but that was okay. Knowing that our future involved being husband and wife, I was excited because it meant that I got to be with him.

After a moment of silence, he turned to me and said something that took me by surprise. "Let's get married."

Pulling a face, I sat up. "What?"

"You heard me." He smiled. "I said that I want to marry you."

"Don't you think it's too soon? I mean, what if people talk about us or your mother disagrees, or what if—"

"What if we get married and don't care about what anyone else says?" He stopped me, taking his hand in my own. "Clover, I know that I love you, and I know that soon enough you'll fall in love with me too. We're mates, it's destined to be."

"I know that, but we could wait for that to happen and—"

"Clover," he interrupted again. "If it's too much for you, then please let me know, but I'm thinking about our future and how I want you to legally be my wife. Why wait?"

"Um," I mumbled, nodding my head slowly. It made sense. If I was legally his wife then I would have the same level of power as him, and the same responsibility, and I would be allowed to go with him on business trips and meetings. "I think we're in the wrong position for this."

Letting out a laugh, he smirked. "I thought that you liked the positions that I put you in, hmm?"

I slapped his shoulder. "Okay, not like that. Of course, I love all the positions that you put me in, but people usually don't get married lying down."

"Yes," he nodded. "The lying down comes after and trust me when I say that there will be a lot of lying down in our future."

I sniggered and kissed him. "I do very much hope so."

"Okay," he breathed out, reaching into the picnic basket beside us before standing up and pulling me to my feet too. "Clover." He bent down onto one knee, and I clasped my hands together in glee. "You are the most beautiful person I've ever met, you are kind, caring, compassionate and incredibly strong willed, but I love that about you. You've accepted me at my darkest times no matter what I've done, and I can't wait for our future when we're really old with lots of grandkids running around." He paused, winking at me. "And we'll still have banging sex, don't worry."

"Luke," I scoffed. "You're getting off topic."

"Right." He smiled. " I'm so excited to see what the next few years has in store for us, but I do know that I want to do it all with you by my side, and there's only one way to make that happen..."

He bent round and reached into his pocket pulling out a small wooden box, opening it to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring. My hands flew to my mouth, I wasn't expecting a ring of this size, it was beautiful.

"Clover Bell, will you marry me?"

Waiting a moment, I nodded my head quickly as he slipped the ring onto my finger, it was a perfect fit. "Yes! I'd love to marry you Luke."

He stood up and pulled me into a hug, kissing me passionately as we stood under the moonlight. It was the most perfect proposal ever. Low howls ripped through the air from the surrounding packs, and it made me realize how surreal this really was. How I was standing here with Alpha Luke, and I was his mate, and we were going to get married.

His arm slung around my shoulder as we looked out onto the skyline. My eyes scanned his perfect face, every feature and ridge of his complexion was perfect, and it was all mine.

My hands gripped his hand tightly as we stood in comfortable silence. I felt different. He felt different.

I felt home.

I had fell before. I had fallen for tricks, and people I shouldn't, and emotions that I wasn't meant to feel at such a young age. I had fallen down hills and stairs, broken bones, and hearts. I had fallen down mentally and built myself back up alone. I had fallen before.

But to fall in love? What an adventure that would be.