Chapter 216: The Time Is Now!

**Rameric's POV:**

I was deeply saddened when she started shivering as if she was cold from being pulled free of an icy river. I had to look away from her face for a moment. I was more than angry at myself for what I caused her to deal with. This was my fault! I could not believe that I caused this to happen to her. All of this was my fault, and I needed to make up for my horrible decision of not choosing to mark my mate sooner.

I looked back at her as I slowly attempted to dry the tears from her soaked cheeks. When I had finished drying her tears, I gently placed the cloth over her nose, as I softly mentioned, "Here, my mate. You may use this to blow the debris from your nose."

She furrowed her eyebrows at me for a moment before she raised her hands from beside her head, taking the soft cloth out of my outstretched hand. I was pleased that she attempted to do as I had suggested in blowing her nose. However, it took her several attempts to complete the task at hand as she had been crying decently for a while. It was obvious that she needed to blow her nose more than once to be able to breathe freely once again after clearing the debris out of her nostrils.

"I know you are confused right now," I said, softly, as I slowly made my way up her body again. "I am right here. I do not want you to forget that."

She started crying once again as she closed her eyes before moving her hand back over her face, trying to look above her even as she had her eyes closed. My heart was breaking even more as she spoke next with a broken voice, saying, "No, no it's not possible. Yo-you’re not here! I know you're not! This is all just a cruel trick somebody thought of to taunt me even more till I die of a broken heart. Well, guess wh-what? My heart is already broken after what I did. I can't even live with myself. I just want to die!!"

"Alasia, I know what you think, and I can definitely see how you feel. I want you to know that I'm not dead," I said as softly as I possibly could to her.

Was there anything that I could say to help make this right? I was positioned right over her chest now, as she was still lying there on my padded slumber under the thin cloth I covered her with when I got her out of the bathing basin. I wanted her to look at me, to know that I was right here, but she refused. She still didn't want to believe the fact that I was here with her.

"The time is now, brother," I heard Raiven whisper to me as he took a few steps back.

I looked back at her and furrowed my brows as I looked at her in pity. She kept her hand over her eyes to keep me from her sight. Again, I lowered my head facing downward, instead of looking up at her. The pain deep inside my chest grew with intensity. When I looked back up at this time, I moved my hand as I placed it right beside her cheek and wanted to touch her, but I didn't want her to jump like she did before.

I had to move her hand. She had to look at me. I reached forward with one hand, gently grasping the web of her hand, as I did not want to hurt her wrist if I touched it. I gently pulled her hand away from covering her eyes. She needed to look directly at me if I was about to make my next move.

I could not believe the painful look inside her eyes. Her eyes were red and swollen with tears. I cannot believe that my foolish decision to not mark my mate caused all of this to happen! It was literally staring me in the face. I did this to her. None of this was her fault. I caused her so much pain and torment. I should have been a stronger Lycan to know the difference and when to ignore what others might think about my actions.

"Alasia, I want you to know that I am fully aware that you are hurting right now," I spoke softly to her as I was hovering right over her. "And, I want you to know that I am here to take all of your pain away!"

"That's not possible," she said, trying to hide her eyes from me once more as she sniffled, trying to prevent herself from breaking down again. I gently stopped the movement of her hand by taking it in mine and placing it back down on the coverings on top of my padded slumber.

"As a matter of reference, there is a way I can, and I will do that. Alasia, I want to apologize to you! This is something I should have done *way* before now! I want you to know that I am *so* sorry. It is because of my actions that have placed you in this situation. All of this is my fault! *None* of this is your fault, please know that. I never want you to feel pain like you are feeling right now, ever again!"

"How can you possibly manage that?" She finally asked me, looking at me with a confused look in her eyes. She had her brows furrowed at me as she had a seriously upsetting look across her face. Just seeing it caused a tightness in my chest when she looked at me the way she did.

"I intend on showing you, *personally*. Are you ready for me to mark you? You are my mate after all, and I am going to do what I should have already done by making you completely *mine*! However, I want to know whether you are ready first?"

"You can't mark me! I simply won't let you," she said before laying her head back and looking away from me as she closed her eyes once more.

I turned to look over at Raiven for a moment as we shared a concerning look before I turned to look back at her. "Is it because you think I am not Rameric?"

I was thankful when she looked back at me as she said, "No! You are supposed to be dead."

I couldn't help it as I chuckled a moment as I broke eye contact for a brief instance. Then I looked back at her again as I spoke softly. "I can assure you that I *am* your mate, Rameric."

"How then?! I want you to tell me how it is possible for you to be alive when I know I stabbed you in the chest!" She said, almost screaming out at me with tears streaming down her face. She was sitting up, supporting herself on both of her elbows. She was incredibly close to my face and I wanted to kiss her, to show her that it was me.

"Alasia, please hear my words and know that I am alive and well," I said, speaking softly so as to not frighten her any more than I knew she was already. "I am here to mend you back to health. I will show you that I was wrong by starting right now with my next step. I, Rameric Lamaire Caine, Alpha of The Crimson Caine, accept you, Alasia Lerion, to be my one true mate. Do you accept my offer to become Luna of The Crimson Caine and accept to become my mate, forever?!"