Damien picked me up, and hugged me. I stopped sobbing, hating myself for being so weak. It was obvious that Gavin preferred Rita over me. I had no doubt about that.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Why are you apologizing?" I asked, looking up at him.
He just shrugged. He wiped my cheeks, gently, before taking my hand and walking into the small, cozy café that was at the end of the street.
We sat in one of the corner booths and while waiting for the waitress, Damien said.
"Do you want me to tell you about Rita?"
"Are you trying to be funny?" I asked. "I don't want to know how perfect your ex is."
He gave me a dark look. "She's not perfect, Hanna. Whatever Gavin said was wrong."
"So you didn't go out for four years? You weren't going to mate her? She wasn't everything you wanted?" I snapped.
Before he could answer though, the waitress came to take our orders. "What would you like?"
"Um..." I stammered, not really wanting to eat anything.
"We'll have ravioli and coffee," Damien said. I stared at him in surprise.
"I'm not hungry," I muttered.
"We aren't leaving until you leave," Damien stated. Before I could say anything though, he continued. "I was going to mate Rita. But I didn't. I don't think she was or is perfect for me. You are."
Though what he said made me melt a little, I just gave him a blank look.
"I'm being honest, Hanna," he said. "Sure, Rita and I went out for a long time, but she has nothing on you."
"Why did you break up with her?" I asked, curiosity winning.
"She came home pregnant."
I gasped. That wasn't possible in any werewolf relationship until they completely mated. Not only Alpha relationships.
"She was---" I stopped. Just the intensity as well as the betrayal horrified me.
"She already had a mate." he stated. "According to her it was a drunk mistake, but we both knew that you couldn't mate unless you fully wanted to."
"I--" I stammered. I wanted to apologize, but what's would I be apologizing for? "I was being so selfish, I'm sorry."
He smiled at me and I saw no regret or pain in his eyes. There was...love? I didn't dare to think that and get my hopes high.
We got our food and Damien pulled my chair next to his, feeding me and eating.
"I have two perfectly capable hands," I pointed out.
"I know." he smirked. "But I want to do this."
I grinned as a blush covered my cheeks. "Tell me about yourself," I said just as he held out the fork in front of my lips.
"What about me?"
I shrugged, chewing the food. I took a sip of the fresh coffee.
"We need to get home soon," Damien said. "We'll play twenty questions later."
I smirked, "I know what else we can play."
He looked astounded. Shocked. I silently grinned at myself. It wasn't often that you caught him by surprise. "Hanna!" he reprimanded me, and I grinned at him. I was sure that I looked like a Cheshire cat.
After he paid, we walked to my parent's house, hand in hand, in silence. The silence was good. It was comfortable. I didn't feel the urgent need to break the silence and say something. It was easy.
Once we got home, everyone's worried faces greeted us. I resisted the urge to hide my face in Damien's chest. Gavin looked bored. I was surprised.
"Hanna, honey," Mary started, but I cut her off.
"It’s okay, Mrs. Black. I just don't like hearing about it."
"So you knew?" Gavin asked, obviously surprised about that. "I didn't think Damien would tell you."
I almost growled at him. "Of course I knew. We just ignore talking about it. You caught me off-guard." Before anyone could say anything, I continued, "I'm tired. I'm going to go to bed."
I knew Damien was following up. I added an extra sway in my walk and earned a groan from him.
"You lied," Damien said as I shut the door.
I raised one eyebrow. "Well, I could admit to him that I don't know anything about my mate, except for the fact that he is dominating, arrogant and," I paused for the effect as he glared at me. "Undeniably cute."
"Don't say that," he grumbled. I laughed. He took me into his arms. "Thank you. I haven't really been a perfect mate, but I'll make it up to you."
I leaned into him, kissing him. Before we got really far though, I pulled back. "Goodnight."
He grinned at me. "Only tonight. We'll be together tomorrow."
A blush covered my cheeks as he left the room. Tomorrow. The word held so much promise. I was looking forward to it. We would get married tomorrow morning and leave around lunch. If it was up to me, we would be leaving as soon as we said I do.
I woke up in the middle of the night, unusually thirsty. The jar of water from my room was missing and I went into the kitchen. As soon as I turned on the lights, I heard a voice.
"Hanna."
I almost shrieked and turned around, looking accusingly at the person. Gavin.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, oh well, snapped.
"I wanted to talk to you." he stated and before I could say anything, he said. "You may think that you’re good enough for Damien, but you’re not. You will never be what he wants. I have no idea why he is marrying or mating with you."
"Our relationship is none of your business." I snapped at him.
"Whatever you say. Course, you will be disappointed when he leaves you, like he left Rita."
That had me mad. Furious. All this time, I was handling him because he was Damien's brother, but now I had to draw the line.
"Your precious Rita went home pregnant." I stated and I the shock in his eyes. He became still with shock.
"She was pregnant?" his voice was a horse whisper.
I frowned. "Yes, Gavin."
His face paled, then anger lit up. He punched the table, a dent forming and a piece of wood flew in the air, almost missing me.
Why was he so bothered? Why the hell did he care so much? But as I looked at the varied emotions on his face, I understood. Oh god...
"You mated with her," I whispered and his ashen face met mine.
"It was a mistake!" he protested.
I sighed. "Unless you both wanted it, it wouldn't have happened. Alpha or not, it’s still a mating."
"Don't tell Damien," he pleaded. "That bitch ruined both our lives, and I thought that you would do the same. I'm sorry."
I tried to smile, but failed. It came out more like a grimace. "I won't. Goodnight Gavin."
The next morning, our house was a mad house. Damien and the rest of the guys had booked a few rooms in a hotel. All of us ladies were at home. We were getting married in the garden. It was big and spacious and I always wanted to get married there.
"You ready?" Sophie asked, as she walked into my room. I tugged on the dress.
"Almost."
"Hanna," Sophie said and by the tone of her voice, I knew that it was something serious. I turned to face her. "I know we haven't been able to talk, but I wanted to say that I'm really happy you chose Damien. He makes you happy. All of us can see that. But you'll still be my little sister and you should call me if anything goes wrong."
I could feel the tears in my eyes. "Yeah,--"
"Hanna!" The door burst open and Mary walked in.
"C'mon, Damien's already here."
I smiled at her as Sophie took my hand. She grinned at me, before whispering. "Don't forget, I want all the details."
I blushed as we walked down the stairs. Dad was standing at the foot of the stairs, looking proud.
As we reached him, he kissed my forehead. "I love you honey."
I smiled, blinking back the tears. "Love you too Dad."
I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that we were getting married. I looked at Damien as I said my vows. It was his insistence.
"Damien Black, I like how you know what I want, what I need without me saying it. You have put up with my crying a lot. I promise to stand by you in everything you do. To make you happy. To share not only your joy, but also your sorrow. I promise to be with you every day of my life. And--" I paused for the effect. 'Don't chicken out Hanna!' a voice inside me screamed. "I love you."
His face lit up at the words. He smiled a breathtaking smile. As he spoke, the world became his eyes and his magical voice.
"Hanna Williams, you have had me mesmerized from the moment I laid my eyes on you. You made me a better person. I love the way you scrunch up your nose at the thought of something you don't like. The way you grin for a small bar of chocolate. When you think you’re scary when your mad at me, instead you look like a kitten," Laughter filled the air and I blushed. "I promise to always take care of you, to never let you down. I promise to never make you cry, and to always try and make you happy. I love you."
My breath caught in my throat. I gazed at him, silently asking if he really meant it or he just said it for the sake of it. But I saw the love in his eyes. I bit my lip and his eyes darkened.
"You may now kiss--" before the words were finished, his lips were on mine. They moved with a soft, gentle passion which left me breathless. I tangled my hands in his hair and kissed him back. I was in love with this man, and I couldn't believe he was with me.
As we pulled back, he pressed his forehead to mine.
"I love you Mrs. Black."
I smiled a shy smile. "I love you too Mr. Black."
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