We didn’t speak for some time. All I could hear besides her breathing was the faint noises from the celebration outside. She was staring at me with those beautiful green eyes moving from my head to my toe. I shifted from her gaze which felt like her hands moving up and down my body. I was barely keeping it together while she stood there calm and collected.
“I thought about this moment for a while. Trying to figure out the best way to apologize,” she started, never losing eye contact. “Now I’m speechless. You look beautiful.”
It was as if those words said everything I wanted to hear. I closed the distance between us and captured her lips with mine. Our kisses were hungry, both of us fighting for dominance. Whatever she was apologizing for didn’t matter right now. I was glad she was here. I was glad that she came back. I was glad she still wanted me. Right? I pulled back as we both fought to regain our breathing.
“This means you take back your rejection?” I asked, looking at her eyes for confirmation. She only smiles while caressing the side of my face. Her hand moved down to my neck as she pulled me closer. She started to plant kisses down my neck.
“Vicky-answer my question,” I said between each gasp as she closed in on my marking spot.
“Fine,” she said with a voice that sounded more like a growl.
That was when I felt her canines pierce my skin. At first a sharp pain shot through my body before it was followed by waves of pleasure. I could feel tears starting to roll down my face as she licked the wound. I felt my knees give out and we both sank to the floor with her holding me.
“I hope that’s the answer you wanted,” she said, looking down at me.
This time I was speechless, reveling in the feeling of being marked by my mate. My eyes were closed and I could feel Vicky wiping away my tears.
“Isabella, speak to me,” she spoke softly.
All I could do was smile. What could I possibly say to make this moment even better? I know. I sat up quickly and kissed her. Then I also moved from her lips to her neck. I felt my canines come out as I bit into her flesh. She gasped as warm blood filled my mouth. I quickly licked her wound and caught her as she leaned back.
“I guess that should say it all,” I said, pulling her against me with our foreheads touching.
“I didn’t quite imagine it like this but I wouldn’t change a thing.” Victoria said while getting up to her feet.
She reached out her hand to help me up as well. I turned her head to look at my mark on her neck. Two half moons intersecting at the peak. I ran my fingers across my mark as Victoria shivered from my touch.
“So what now,” she asked.
“Whatever we want,” I said, planting a kiss on her face with each other before meeting her lips again.
“Isabella.”
A gasp broke us from our embrace as I glared down the corridor at our intruder. My mother stood there with a broken teacup on the floor. The way she looked at me, at us. As if she was looking at something horrifying. Before we could say anything my mother quickly appeared in front of us and pushed Victoria to the side. She grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her.
“How dare you force yourself onto my daughter?” My mother screamed at Victoria. I could feel my mother's power flowing from her making Victoria instantly bow down. Though she is not Luna anymore she was still powerful.
“Luna, I would never-”
“Silence,” my mother interrupted Victoria. “You have no right to speak to me.”
Her grip on my wrist tightened as I tried to pull away from her. I felt Victoria’s uneasiness through our bond. I had to do something.
“Mother, I-”
“I don’t want to hear it, Isabella! You leave the party just to mingle with-with-”
“My mate, mother. Victoria is my mate.” I said, successfully pulling my wrist out of her death grip.
“No,” my mother yelled. “I will not sit here and let you make the same mistake thinking you will get a different result.”
“This isn’t a mistake. This is who I am, mother!” I yelled back at her.
My mother stared at me with tears in her eyes. I never would have thought something like this would bring her to tears. Is being mated to Victoria that horrifying? That question brought pain to my heart and I knew Victoria could feel it but I wasn’t backing down. Not anymore. My mother shook her head.
“Maybe you’re confused. You’ve forgotten who you are,” my mother said, trying to grab my hand.
I moved back to avoid her and walked beside Victoria. I helped Victoria from the ground and saw tears flowing down her face. I growled and stared at my mother. I didn’t like seeing Victoria upset like this.
“I know exactly who I am. I am Isabella Amelie Thorne from the Black Moon Pack and I’m in love with Victoria Mae Price. She is my mate and I accept the Goddess’s gift.”
My mother stared at me with a shocked expression. Everything right now at this moment felt right and I was frustrated with myself that it took this long. I could care less of what she thought. I could only feel the love pouring through my bond from Victoria. Victoria jumped up and embraced me.
“Bella.”
I heard my father’s concerned voice as he appeared behind my mother. I tensed up and Victoria pulled back as we both turned to face my father. I never knew his position in all of this. It usually came down between my mother and I. I felt Victoria squeeze hand, signaling she wasn’t going anywhere. My father grabbed my mother who instantly started crying into his shirt.
“Bella, it’s going to alright. Calm yourself,” my father said, trying his best to calm my mother.
“Calm down? Look at what she is doing, Jack. Do you condone this,” my mother asked, pointing at us.
I instinctively pulled Victoria closer to me. Preparing for whatever my father would dish it. My father finally looked our way. At first I thought I saw disapproval in his eyes but there wasn’t. He actually smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes before he returned his gaze to my mother. She saw she was the only one on her side. My mother shook her head and stepped away from my father.
“She is doomed, Jack. I won’t accept it. I just won’t!”
My mother walked away and disappeared around the corner. My father sighed heavily. Doomed? Really? I couldn’t believe me being mated would be this disturbing. As much as I wanted to be strong right now I couldn’t stop my mother’s reaction from affecting me. I felt the tears rolling and I cried out. Victoria caught me from falling completely to the floor. I tried to stop this feeling of pain in my heart. I didn’t want Victoria feeling this as well but I just couldn’t. Moments later I felt my father's strong arms pull me against his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Bells. Your mother just-Just give her time. She’ll come around,” my father said, but I didn’t want to hear it. I moved out of his embrace and stood next to Victoria. I grabbed her hand as she used the other to clear my face.
“Maybe we should leave-” I started.
“No,” my father interrupted. “You said it yourself. You are Isabella Amelie Thorne from the Black Moon Pack and you will stay Isabella Amelie Thorne from the Black Moon Pack. Nothing will change that. Do you understand?” I nodded. “Don’t worry about your mother. I think a trip away will do her some good.”
I quickly ran and gave my father the biggest hug. If I wanted to spend this time with Victoria I needed my mother far away for as long as possible. So he didn’t know this was a blessing in disguise.
He laughed. “Okay, okay. I’m sure you’re more happy about the going away part right now.” Well I guess he did. “Well, don’t just stand here hugging me all night. Go and show your mate off to the world. I’ll deal with your mother.”
He didn’t have to say it twice. True, I wanted nothing more than to take Victoria back to my room but showing her off to everyone was definitely the right move to make. I took Victoria’s hand and ran towards the courtyard. Before I could pull her outside she stopped me.
“Wait, wait. I need to get my bearings, fix my hair and such,” she said leaning against the wall. “I can’t believe all of that just happened.”
“I know. I’ve been waiting for a day like this since forever. Now the world is going to know you’re mine.” I planted my hands on either side of her head to trap her against the wall. I watched as she licked her waiting for me to close the distance. Please, please, please. Don’t let this be a dream I thought as my lips met hers.
“Aah! Guys, I really have to stop catching you guys like this.” Zira interrupted us once again. We laughed, never breaking eye contact with each other. “You know there are the things called rooms in this house.”
“Yeah and I bet you would find a way to barge in without my consent,” I said, finally looking Zira’s way. There was a huge red stain on the front of her dress. “What the hell happened to you?”
Zira was standing in front of us holding a handful of napkins with a huge red stain on her dress.
“Oh you know the usual. Girl talks to the boy and a she-wolf mate gets possessive,” Zira said, walking past us. “But enough about my fun times. Is this like out in the open now?” She asked, pointing between me and Victoria.
“Yeah. I think it’s time for people to know I actually got the best mate,” I said, pulling VIctoria into a hug.
“Oh My Goddess!” Zira moved my hair to reveal Victoria’s mark on my neck. “Isa, Vicky. This is amazing,” she said then proceeded to cry.
We looked at her as if she was crazy. Why the heck was she crying? “Zira, are you okay girl?”
She nodded and moved away. “I don’t know why I’m crying. My emotions are a little off.”
Before I could say anything Alaia barrels through and knocks Zira back. Alaia didn’t stop to look back or apologize. All I heard was a small growl as I rushed to grab Zira before she did anything rash.