Chapter 45 — A Proposal Or A Proclamation

“What the hell?”

Just when you think things can’t get any crazier, your ex-fiancée goes off and asks you to marry him. Why can’t things just be normal for five seconds?

I stare at Marcel in shock. He’s kneeling right in front of me, and I still can’t believe my eyes.

“Marcel, what are you doing? Get up. What are you even saying? You called off the engagement before, remember? We’re not even together.”

“Yeah, but last time, I didn’t get to propose to you. Our families arranged the engagement after Angelica’s vision because you and I are meant to be together. And we are. Don’t you see? You’re my destiny, my true mate.”

I was right. My migraine has gotten so much worse. A ridiculous part of my mind muses that a hospital room isn’t a very romantic setting for a proposal, even in a normal situation. But this is not a normal situation. This feels like the weirdest dream ever, but the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and the throbbing behind my eyes remind me that I’m wide awake.

“But we broke up! You rejected me as your mate. Repeatedly. You pushed me away and said you didn’t want to be with me.”

“I didn’t want to, though. I did all those things because my father forced me to. He said marrying the traitor’s daughter would bring disgrace to the pack. He’s the one that made me break off the engagement.”

“Well, did he force you to be so cruel about it? You turned your back on me, Marcel. Not just as a mate, but as a friend. As a pack member. You humiliated and abandoned me when I needed you most.”

Memories of heartache and shame flash through my mind, interspersed with memories of a happy childhood with my dear friend Marcel. I don’t know what to make of this man. After all these years together, I still can’t make sense of what he’s thinking. Is having a soulmate supposed to be this confusing?

“Even when you decided to help me, you only did it when everyone else was distracted by the storm,” I go on. “And you couldn’t even stand up against your father to defend me. You sold me out.”

“How can you say that? I had no choice!”

“Don’t. Don’t even go there. I risked my life going against the Alpha.”

I know it sounds cliché, but there’s always a choice. Or maybe not always, but, at least in this case, there definitely was. He could have chosen the difficult thing. He could have tried.

“But he’s not just the Alpha to me. He’s my dad. You didn’t know him like I did, Valerie. You didn’t live with him. You weren’t raised by him. You risked everything to honor your father’s memory, but I risked everything to dishonor mine. And I did it. I got you into the basement, didn’t I? I gave you the proof you needed to destroy my own family. I know I made mistakes along the way, but I’m not a fool. There are things I wish I could have done differently, but it’s too late for that now. All I can do is move forward, and I want to do that with you. I did all of this to be with you.”

“Why? I don’t understand. Is this about the prophecy? You’re trying to honor what Angelica predicted. Or is it about duty? Do you think you have to do this? Because you don’t. You were very clear before; you don’t owe me anything. You were right. It’s not your job to marry me.”

“I know that. I’m not asking because I think it’s my job.”

“Then why?”

“Because I love you!” he cries, and despite his exasperation, or perhaps because of it, I know he’s being sincere. I look into his eyes, and I know without a trace of doubt that he really means it. I’ve wanted to hear him say those words for so long, but now that it’s finally happened, the sound seems bittersweet.

“I love you, Valerie,” he says again, softer this time. “I want to be with you. I’ve always wanted to be with you, even when I had to push you away. It killed me to have to do those things to you, but I was trying to do the right thing for the pack. I was trying to do right by my family. But I realize now that you are my family. Those cowards I used to call my parents are dead to me. They mean nothing. You and I together are all that matters now. It’s what we’ve always wanted. It’s what’s best for the pack, don’t you get it? We’re meant to be together as Alpha and Luna. Together, we can rule over the Lobo Pack and make things right. We can fix what my father broke. It’s our destiny, and deep down, you know that.”

“No,” I mutter, and a tear spills down my cheek. I wipe it away with the back of my hand, angry with myself because he’s right. This is what I’ve always wanted. It’s what my parents wanted. Angelica even drew it because it’s what the Moon Goddess wants. Magic binds our souls, paving a path that we can take together. But instead of joy, a thousand other emotions are bubbling up inside me, making my head spin and my chest ache. What if I don’t want to go down this road?

“I used to know that, but I don’t know what to think anymore,” I tell him.

“Valerie, come on. This is us we’re talking about. We’re fated to lead this pack together. It’s meant to be.”

Too many conflicting feelings swirl within me, and I feel like I’m going to drown in them.

“This is too much,” I say quietly, breathing shakily. “I need time, Marcel. I need to think.”

He hangs his head for a moment, frustration clearly eating away at him. Then he gets up and dusts himself up, undeterred.

“You know what? Fine. I get it. Take some time. It won’t matter in the end. Eventually, you will come to realize what we both already know. You can’t outrun destiny. I should know. I tried, and I failed.”

I can’t decide whether his confidence is charming or just arrogant, but I’m leaning towards the latter.

“Charming. How can you be so sure of yourself? Are you asking me to marry you or ordering it?”

“Asking. You know I’m asking,” he says as he heads for the exit. He pauses for a second at the door, turning to face me before he leaves.

“Take your time, Valerie. Take as much time as you need. Sooner or later, you’ll come around. You and me… we’re inevitable.