75. Open Hearts - Part I

**Mallory **

There was a lot going through my mind; I was worried about Kemy, Henry and the pack attack. I would surely help as much as I could, but going there first and deceiving the Alpha was a very risky plan.

Besides that, I was a bit unsure about Niki and Alev. Having Apollo around wouldn’t be good for them. A sigh parted my lips, I really liked those two dorks together and I wanted them to be happy.

But at this moment, I tried to brush all these thoughts aside and think only about my date with my mate. Fixing my light purple dress, I let my legs lead me to the veranda.

A smile rose on my lips as I saw that the table Daniel prepared for us was perfectly set, with fancy plates and everything. We even had candles and a vase of calla lilies—my favourite flowers.

“I hope I got it right, I asked Alma, Kemy and Nikki about dates, and they gave me some ideas,” he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

“I love it! It’s perfect!” I smiled, my heart racing with so many different emotions. Love, thrill, tenderness, passion, and gratitude. Daniel’s patience and love really helped me to come out of my shelf and feel like myself again.

Like a perfect gentleman, he pulled the chair for me to sit and sat in front of me, “Egan and Marion helped me with the menu, so we won’t have grilled cheese, crisps and noodles for dinner. You don’t have to worry,” he added, a little nervous, listing the only things he could make in the kitchen.

“Daniel, even if we had only crisps for dinner, it would be perfect to me,” I placed my hand on top of his and I could see his stiff muscles starting to relax.

He took the cover off a dish of good-looking tapas, some Spanish specialties that Egan had already made us try: pan tumaca, jamon, salmorejo and tortilla. Even Alessia whimpered within me at how good the food looked and smelt.

Eating almost as fast as my always hungry sister, I finished all I put on my plate. Oh, I shouldn’t have done it on a date! That wasn’t what the ladies in the movies I’ve been watching lately did.

“I am sorry,” I murmured.

“For what?” Daniel asked, tilting his face to the side in confusion.

“I ate so fast, like a starving dragon.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I love that you loved the food,” he replied, taking my hand in his. After the main dish, we both relaxed and could actually enjoy our date. I had nothing to be anxious about, I was with the man I loved and trusted most. He already knew the best and the worst of me, so this date couldn’t go that wrong.

“I am worried about Kemy and Henry, and the pack’s attack plan. But I am also very proud of them, they’ve come so far. Henry is not the same guy that invaded our mansion trying to find and kidnap his mate only weeks ago. My sister took her courage and a considerable leap of faith with him, and now she is ready to fight for his pack and become their Luna. My little sister is really wonderful,” I smiled. My heart was full of pride and the smile on Daniel’s face showed that he shared the same feeling.

“You too have come very far and conquered a lot in these last few months, Mallory. I am very proud of you.” His smile only grew and his eyes seemed to have little stars as he looked at me.

“I did, it’s unbelievable. But a great part of that is thanks to you. As soon as we got close, as we both took the first step towards each other, I started healing,” I told him, intertwining our fingers together.

“I should have run to you as soon as you were found and taken you in my arms,” he exhaled sharply, his eyes cast down for a moment. “When you first came to the mansion, I didn’t get close to you. I was afraid to fail you, but I realised that not trying, staying away when you needed me the most, was the worst way to fail. I’ve failed the people I loved once, and I couldn’t fail you. It would be much worse, I had to be a good mate for you and I was afraid I couldn’t.”

“You are the best mate I could ever have, all I need, all I want, and all I love. You won’t fail me. And if you do, we will fall and rise together, despite all flaws, our past and our fears. There is no one better for me than you, than us,” I replied. Holding his hand wasn’t enough, I wanted and needed to be surrounded by my mate. Standing up in a fast movement, I sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You don't have to be afraid, but if you do, we can work on it together… you can tell me. I will tell you if a glimpse of fear or a ghost from my past comes back to my mind, I will tell you.”

“You are so brave and beautiful in every way, Mallory. A treasure and a flame,” he said, pulling me closer to his chest, his hand cupping my face, our lips almost touching.

My lips moulded with his and I melted in a sweet kiss, filled with raw emotion, passion, trust, love and tears. All of me was his, and I wouldn’t be afraid to consummate our love in bed too. I had an idea, Niki and her tips helped me a lot.

After we parted our kiss, we remained in silence. Our eyes were lost in each other and our foreheads were touching.

“What happened? How did you fail the ones you loved before? Do you want to talk about it?” It was definitely still bothering him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have thought about it when we met. I wanted to help him heal as he had helped and was still helping me.

He swallowed hard and looked at the distance, before nodding, “I was conscripted to join the war, decades ago. Because of my dragon’s crooked wing, my brother - who was an excellent flyer just like Kemy - offered to go in my place. I didn’t want him to do it, but he convinced me. His only request was for me to promise to look after his pregnant mate, Samantha. I failed to protect her, and in a Red Dragons’ attack, she was killed. My brother died immediately, he couldn’t survive the death of the woman who had her soul intertwined with his. I was responsible for the loss of these three lives. My brother, Samantha and their baby. I couldn’t have history repeating itself, that’s why I was afraid of failing to protect you and I thought you were better off without me,” his words were laced with emotion and a single tear slid down his face. I wiped it with my thumb and ran my fingers across the stubble on his cheek.

“I am so sorry, Daniel. I wasn’t and I won’t ever be better off without you. You… you made me realise that I could be happy again, that I deserve love and that love could be good. I love you and I hope you can forgive yourself. I can imagine that it isn’t an easy job to shield someone from the Red Dragons’ attack. They are treacherous and their violence knows no limit. I tried to protect Kemy too and I couldn’t, I failed. I guess sometimes it doesn't matter how much you love them, and that you would sacrifice your life for them a thousand times over, it’s not always up to you, and you can’t save or help the people you love. The war is so cruel and … there is nothing you can do besides forgive yourself” I said between tears.

Hearing about how my mate struggled to forgive himself for not being able to protect his sister-in-mate, actually made me see everything with different eyes. I too suffered and blamed myself for Kemy’s capture, but everything I told him was valid for me as well. I had to forgive myself completely, just like my sister forgave me.

“You did what you could for Kemy, Baby. She never blamed you for that, no one did,” he comforted me, pressing a kiss on my tear-damp cheek.

“I will work on forgiving myself, please do the same. That’s what Kemy wants for me and I am sure that’s what your brother and Samantha would have wanted for you too,” I told him.

“I will try,” he told me, tightening his embrace. His heart beating under my ear was like the most beautiful song I could hear, and made me feel reassured and at peace.

We were both healing together.