AKIRA'S POV
After I spoke with Nana last night, I refused to go down for dinner even after she and Madam Yelena asked me to. Instead, I ate on my bed and listened to the chattering and laughter from them with pain in my heart.
I know it was wrong of me to still isolate myself even after what Nana and I spoke about but I needed last night to regroup. I needed that time alone to cry and myself together for the last time. I knew that no matter how much I needed to forgive Ares, I also needed to forgive myself.
I needed to stop blaming myself and Ares for what has happened. And I knew that soon, the Moon Goddess was going to bless Ares and I with another child. And if it was meant to be, she was going to restore my powers.
Waking up this morning was really refreshing. I woke immediately I heard the bedroom door beside mine slam shut. Ever since I woke up from unconsciousness, he has been religiously waking up to join them all for breakfast downstairs.
I quickly took my bath before dressing up. I tried to apply makeup but finally opted for eyeliner, lipgloss and a simple blush. I walked to my closet then I picked up a tight-fitting gown but immediately I put it on and saw how thin I'd gotten, I went for a pair of leggings and a crop top that showed my belly button.
I looked at myself in the mirror. "You've got this, Akira," I whispered confidently. I needed all the pep talk I could get this morning.
Once I was ready, I took a deep breath before I shut the door and headed to the elevator. Once it took me downstairs, I headed towards the kitchen and each surprised glance of the guards and maids that came my way was returned with a confident smile of my own.
I got to the kitchen only to find Madam Yelena and Nana involved in a deep conversation with teacups in their hands.
"Oh! There she is." Nana grinned cheerily once she saw me.
I gave her a shaky smile. "Good morning." I greeted both of them, suddenly feeling shy.
Where was all the courage when I needed it?
Madam Yelena smiled softly, murmuring out, "Morning."
"I'm sorry," I apologized, meeting her warm eyes. "I'm sorry for acting like such a baby these past few weeks. I just felt so–" I sniffled and my eyes began to burn with unshed tears. "– alone and unwanted and I took it out on everyone. I'm really sorry."
Madam Yelena walked to me before engulfing me in a tight hug and once again I was welcomed with the soft wift of her perfume and the motherly warmth she gave off, just like Nana.
I cried softly as she coo'ed softly in my ear, telling me how I was the most selfless person she knew and how she was immensely proud of me.
"Thank you," I said once she released me. I was indeed very grateful to Madam Yelena. She never once gave up on me even when she would come to the room to talk to me and I would stare at her lifelessly, only breaking into tears after she would drop a kiss on my cheek before leaving me in the four walls of my room, sad and numb. And they were other days when I would yell and ask her to leave but she would still stay and hug my crying self to sleep.
I looked at the both of them as they stared at me with soft smiles and I knew they would never leave me alone even in my darkest days. They were the strength I needed.
"Thank you," I whispered to the both of them before hugging them together.
"We prepared breakfast for you," Nana said with a knowing smile once we separated.
I quirked my eyebrows in question.
"We knew you were finally going to come downstairs this morning." Madam Yelena explained to me, moving around the kitchen. "I'll make up a cup of tea."
I walked to the door of the kitchen, peeking into the hallway that led to the kitchen before I looked back at Nana whose gaze was on me.
"He went out for the day." She murmured, answering my unasked question.
My heart sank with disappointment and I gave her a small nod. "It's fine. I can talk to him some other time."
Madam Yelena turned from her spot on the stove. "He has been trying to make things right and today is finally the day."
I made sure to keep my face neutral but my heart began pounding like I was in a fucking marathon. "Okay."
They both watched me intently, waiting and waiting and waiting but I gave them nothing.
Nana's grey eyebrows joined together in a frown after some time. "You don't want to know what it's all about?"
I politely shook my head. I didn't want to know, I wanted to hear it from the man himself.
She looked at me for a while before nodding. I knew she was unsatisfied with my answer but I was glad she kept it to herself.
Once Madam Yelena served me breakfast, I was surprised to find out that my appetite was back and I ate until I was scraping the eggs off the plate.
Eve and Lenny joined us in the kitchen and they gave me wide grins when they saw me. Everyone was certainly glad I was coming out of my shell.
I was washing the teacups and everyone was involved in different conversations, chattering and laughing away when suddenly the kitchen got quiet and the air in the atmosphere changed.
I knew he was here, I could smell and sense him. And with the way his heart was pounding through our mind link, I could tell that he knew I was here too. I didn't turn around to find out if he could see me or not but I knew my red hair was prominent enough.
"Has she eaten?" Ares's question went to both Madam Yelena and Nana.
I could sense the smile in Nana's voice when she responded. "Why don't you ask her yourself."
I could barely hear anything besides the sound of my heart beating wildly against my rib which was why I didn't know when they all excused themselves, leaving me and Ares alone.
I tried to listen to the sounds of his Italian loafers tapping on the tiles but I failed because he was suddenly behind me, caging me in with his hands on either side of me.
We waited like that, him breathing down my neck and me gripping the edge of the sink beside his fingers.
I inhaled and exhaled gradually until I felt like I was ready before I finally gathered the courage and turned to face him.
I stilled when I finally met his eyes and my wild heart stopped beating altogether.
"Hey," I whispered, hoping the smile I gave him was not as shaky as it felt.
He ran his wild eyes down my face, taking in my eyes, upturned nose, parted lips and flushed cheeks and I did the same.
He had on a dress shirt the same shade as his eyes and black pants. I tried to control my heavy breathing but I couldn't.
He was so fucking powerful standing in front of me like this.
My fingers itched to trace his scar and my lips trembled with the exhilarating need to kiss him.
And I did just that.
Our kiss was electrifying.
Sizzling. A continuous spark throughout my entire body.
It made me whole once again. It made me feel alive.
Lifting my toes higher, I sucked on his bottom lip, sensually, invitingly. Which earned me a nip on mine in response. And I moaned out in response to the nip.
This! This familiar warmth that came from him as he wrapped his arm around my waist, the familiar desire that coursed through my veins. I missed this feeling so much.
I ran my hands through his hair and a shiver ran down my spine when he groaned. It rumbled around him, around us, around the entire quiet kitchen.
He slowly pulled back and I peeled my eyes open, my thoughts were disoriented as we panted harshly and held each other's gaze.
He breathed in.
I breathed in.
All in one symphony.
"Hey." His deep voice which was thick with arousal rumbled around us. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"
"Mmhmm," I answered, distracted by his face. I was distracted by Ares as a whole.
I clenched my thighs together when he grinned.
God, his smile. His smile was so fucking sexy.
He leaned in, whispering close to my lips. "Yours are really pretty too."
My cheeks flushed and I covered my face in his chest. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"
"You did." Ares chuckled.
"I forgive you," I whispered. "And I'm so fucking sorry for putting you through hell."
He tugged me into him before wrapping both arms around me. "It's okay. Everything is fine now, baby. We're alright."
His words were spoken softly and I knew he was right. Everything was okay. I could feel it.
I finally asked the question I had been itching to ask. "Madam Yelena said you went to make things right. What did you do?"
My voice came out muffled because my face was planted on his chest but Ares heard it and he responded.
"Yes. I invited the Elders over yesterday and I told them that you're my mate." He confessed.
"And?" I proded even though my whole body was tense with anticipation.
"They had nothing to say." He tipped my chin up. "I didn't give a damn them and I don't give one now. They had no choice than to shove their opinions and threats down their throats." He smiled.
I hesitated. "Did you threaten them?"
Ares shook his head. "No. I offered something that would benefit everyone for the better."
My heart thudded fast against his chest. "Which is?"
"I took down my law." He declared.
I waited for him to blurt out that he was joking but he pinned me with his unwavering gaze.
"You're not joking," I whispered, my eyes were already getting blurry from the unshed tears.
He had to be joking.
"Did you do that for me?" I asked.
I needed to know.
"Yes." And the look on his face told me he was sincere. "I did that not just for you but for the good of everyone. For the happiness of everyone. For our future and safety. I did it because it's the right thing to do."
I opened and closed my mouth continuously. "I don't know what to say," I confessed, my voice heavy with emotion.
And it was the truth. I didn't know what to say. This was what I wanted but knowing that he'd done it not just for me but for everyone, meant so much to me. To the point where it had me speechless.
Ares released a shaky breath. "I know. But I've been such a fool, I was supposed to do this immediately after I found you. I know, I know it's ridiculously selfish of me but it would have been extremely hard to take down this law if you hadn't stepped into my life." He was looking at me like I was the next air he needed to breathe. "But the last few weeks brought enough clarity into my life and I knew I had to take it down. I can't keep putting you in danger like this."
He pressed a hard kiss on my parted lips before he continued. "Everyone deserves happiness, Akira. You're my happiness and if I had lost you, life would have no meaning to me."
"I have something else to tell you," Ares suddenly announced. "Or rather, show you."
"And what's that?" I asked. What else did he have to show me?
My confusion deepened when he took my hands and led me outside the kitchen to the living room in the living room stood a familiar figure.
"Orion!" I gasped, I placed my hand over my mouth to stifle the grin I wanted to let out.
Orion was standing in the middle of the living room with a smile on his face. I ran my gaze over him, he was on washed blue jeans and a black tee. His striking blue eyes were staring at me the way they always do.
I couldn't believe this. I quickly ran over to him, engulfing him in a tight hug, his arms wrapped themselves around me and as he laughed at my emotional self, I realised how fucking much I missed him.
I looked back at Ares after releasing Orion. "H-How? When...?" Tears clouded my vision. "Shit. I thought you killed him?"
Ares looked at Orion, giving him the chance to explain himself.
"He didn't. Well, he wanted to but I told him I wasn't in love with you and I only care about you. I gathered enough balls to tell him how smitten you are by him and how he was a fool if he thought you would leave me for him." Orion looked at Ares and they both chuckled at the end of his explanation.
I was indeed surprised that Ares didn't kill Orion after he told him that, considering the fact that Ares loathed Orion.
"Did he tell you how he made me eat skittles as punishment for kissing you?" I asked Orion and I gave Ares a knowing look when Orion suddenly looked like he was about to empty his damn guts.
Lycans and werewolves were truly weird.
"When did he let you go?" I asked Orion.
"It was a few days before things escalated between the both of you."
I knew what he meant. It was a few days before I ran away from my home.
But did Ares truly let him go? Or was he still keeping him as a slave here?
"He did let me go." Orion smiled, answering my unasked question. "I chose to stay here when I found out what happened. But I did go back home to see my sisters though."
"What are you doing here then?"
"He came to tell me that Carla committed suicide," Ares said behind me. He came closer and wrapped his arms around me.
"What?! Why?" I demanded.
"She helped her sister and Salvatore out."
Serena and Carla were sisters?
I wasn't surprised.
"So she killed herself to avoid your punishments?"
Ares chuckled. "Yes, baby."
Again, I wasn't surprised. It was Carla after all.
"I'm glad you're okay but I have to go." Orion suddenly announced. "I can't stay here forever, Akira. I need to go figure out my life and start from somewhere."
I understood where he was coming from, so I nodded. "Promise me you'll pay me a visit when everything is settled?"
"I will."
He gave me another hug and nodded at Ares before walking away.
"I love you. I love you so freaking much." I hugged Ares as soon as Orion disappeared. My heart was blooming with happiness and I never wanted to leave his arms. I didn't know how to thank him for what he did but I hoped he knew I was very grateful.
"I love you more," Ares responded with a full smile.
~
And I knew meant it when I walked into his room later that night and he made slow and passionate love to me on his bed.
We were laying quietly on his bed when suddenly Ares reached into his bedside drawer to retrieve what was a small black velvet box, a mischievous grin on his face.
I tensed in my spot on his arm. "What's in there?" I finally summoned the courage to ask.
He popped open the little box and in the middle sat a glinting diamond ring resting inside a cushion. "It's a ring."
I rolled my eyes at his sarcastic response. "I know that. Who's it for?"
His soft grey eyes stared at me for long seconds before responding. "You."
I gulped before whispering. "What are you saying, Ares?"
He sat up, bringing me up with him in the process. His eyes were shining in the dim lighting of the room with so many unspeakable emotions.
"Marry me." He wasn't asking, he chuckled softly to himself before proceeding. "Lycans don't do marriage with their mates, Akira. I know how much you love love and also romance which is a form of love, I'm not doing this just because it's something you've mentioned multiple times that you fancy, I'm also doing this for myself and my sanity. I don't only want my mark on your skin, I want my ring on your finger so I can own you completely. So anyone who sees you would know that you're mine in all aspects. I –"
"Ares, "I gasped, interrupting his next sentence. "I-I don't know what to say."
And it was the truth, my heart was already in a damn puddle. He always had me completely speechless on different occasions but tonight was ... different. Totally fucking different.
"Let me finish." He demanded in a sharp voice. "I know I may not be the perfect man, fuck, I'm not the perfect man for you, but I want to be your man. I'm willing to be whatever you want me to be. I may be completely irrational most times and very temperamental but I know that I'll always love you and stand by you in the darkest of your days, I'll be your anchor as you'll be mine and I know that together we can conquer every obstacle. I –"
"Shut up," I said, grinning. "You don't need to give a damn speech just to make me yours. I'm yours now and forever and you know it. So, yes, I'll fucking marry you."
"It's not like you had a choice." He said gruffly and I noticed a pink hue on his cheeks. "I would've chained you to my bed either way."
"You know I have no objections to that, dear husband." My voice was sultry when I spoke. "I love you," I whispered sincerely.
And I hoped my eyes were telling him that I meant it.
I didn't wait for him to respond, I quickly used my straddled form and tugged him closer to me, slamming our lips together halfway.
Our kiss expressed how we felt about each other. They told us what our lips couldn't.
And I knew that although Ares and I started on a rocky path, we were going to stand by each other every step of the way.
We were destined for each other and nothing was going to change that.