The Arranged Marriage

Chapter 13

After eating what felt like a fifteen course meal, we had dessert, looking at momma I softly spoken,
"I made a birthday cake for you, and some fruit pies." She turned to me shocked,
"You remembered?" Nodding my head I said,
"What kind of daughter would I be if I served her mother, who hates cake, a cake for her birthday?" She giggled and said,
"Thank you." Nodding my head I excused myself from the table and walked into the kitchen to grab the pies, both cherry and apple pies. The cake was already on the table, walking into the dining room I started to sing happy birthday,
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear momma, happy birthday to you!" And sat the pies down in front of her, she smiled brightly and clapped her hands in joy,
"Aww Raven! You didn't have to do all this!" Elijah and Desmond laughed as I blushed,
"Well, it wasn't all just me. I had help from Elijah and Desmond, they were in charge of the decorations, while I baked and cooked." She turned and mouthed thank you to them.

While serving out the dessert, Desmond cleared his throat,
"Um, I have something to tell everyone." I paused as he blushed and chuckled nervously,
"I found my mate." I smiled and walked over to him,
"Congratulations Desmond! Who's the lucky girl?" He looked down and said,
"It's not a girl that I'm mates with." Father looked at him and said,
"It's a guy?" Desmond looked up with tears in his eyes, slowly nodding his head, momma got up from her chair and walked towards him,
"Are you going to kick me out because I'm gay?" He said as she looked at him, momma shook her head towards him,
"Hunny, no! We're not going to disown you! You are my son! I couldn't bring myself to even do that! You are you! You love who you love! I won't stop you from being with your mate baby boy." He cried as she wrapped her arms around her, father then stood up and walked towards mother and Desmond, pulling him into a hug, he said,
"You are an absolutely perfect son, don't think any less of yourself! Now dry those tears and tell us about your mate! What's he like?" Desmond laughed and wiped his tears,
"His name is Darren, he's the star quarterback for the football team. We met at the local smoke shop, and instantly had a connection." Smiling I handed him a slice of German chocolate cake with coconut pecan icing,
"He sounds absolutely perfect Dessy." I said as I sat down next to Stephen after grabbing a slice of apple pie,
"What does gay mean?" Asked Bella who had cake all over her mouth, dad chuckled as he said as he wiped her mouth,
"It means that your lady in waiting is in love with a prince too." She looked at him with her adorable eyes,
"Really! So you have a prince like my maiden of light!" She asked as she bounced in her seat, Desmond nodded his name,
"I do little doe, I do!" She cheered and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck she said,
"Do you think he'll let me dress him up?" Laughter ranged through the room, I smiled as I watched as Desmond talked to her about her tea parties, looking at Elijah who was rubbing a hand on Leah's belly, mom and dad were kissing, everything was okay, it was perfect.

I remember that I had a surprise for mom when Elijah said,
"I think it's time mom opened her presents." Mom smiled and said,
"You guys didn't have to get me presents." Laughing Desmond said,
"You tough it up mom, there's a lot of them." I got up and walked over towards the pile of presents, grabbing her special present from me and Stephen, I handed it to her, looking confused she asked,
"What?" I smiled and said,
"Just open it." She opened the box and pulled out the card, reading it before looking at us, Stephen then put a arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him,
"You've been invited to the royal wedding of Stephen Rydel Lionclaw and Raven Ember Mastermourn on December 18th, 2015. Raven, oh." I smiled sadly knowing that was supposed to be my baby sister's birthday, she sighed and looked back into the box where she pulled out a picture frame. She gasped and looked at me,
"Raven, you did what!" I smiled as she showed my father who had tears in his eyes,
"You, you're naming your firstborn if it's a girl after your stillborn sister?" Nodding my head she launched herself into my arms, sobbing she hugged me tightly,
"I know how much the name means to you mom, and I wanted to honor her and you, I talked with Stephen and he fell in love with the baby name. So we already had a birth certificate signed with the name, all we need is to be married and have a baby." She laughed with snot running down her lip, handing her a napkin she smiled softly at me and Stephen,
"Thank you." Smiling I said,
"We have one more special gift for you." Stephen then walked away and left for a minute before returning with her special gift.

Hearing keys jingle as someone walked into the room I knew that it was Stephen, walking towards momma, he said,
"Raven and I thought that you would like it." And handed her the keys, confused she said,
"Keys? Keys for what?" I smiled at her and said,
"They are the keys to your new house and car. Your still in Elderfell, but you and the pack is now in the forest and mountains of Elderfell, instead of being in town." She looked at me and then at Stephen,
"You did what now?" I laughed and put my hands on her shoulders,
"We build you and the pack new houses, we also hired more pack healers. But unfortunately I will not be living in the house with you." Papa and Mama looked confused,
"What does that mean Raven?" Asked Desmond, I sighed and said,
"I permanently live here now, I mean with the wedding in forty five days we'll be married and taking down over the crowns of the land." Mom sighed and said,
"I forget about that." I softly smiled at her,
"But me and Stephen have a room already done for us when we visit." Her head shot up,
"Really?" I nodded and brought her into a hug,
"Just because I'm getting married doesn't mean you won't ever see me." She laughed and sighed softly as I pulled out of the hug,
"Now open your other presents." And so she did, I laughed as she opened her gifts from daddy first, smiling as she and dad kissed and went back to opening her presents, reaching her last one, she looked at Stephen and nodded her head, holding the present out to him. Confused as the doors open and there stood the king and queen who was smiling at me, Stephen then walked over to me and kneel down on one knee, holding the ring box. Stephen cleared his throat before saying,
"Raven Ember Mastermourn, my mate. Even though we're in an arranged marriage, I have grown to love you, actually no. I'm in love with you Raven, you changed me. I'm so sorry that I've hurt you, but I'm correcting my mistakes. You opened my heart and my eyes when I hurt you the first time, you left, I." He started to tear up, causing me to tear up,
"I never want to lose you again Raven. You are the love of my life, mate or not. I love you, so will you do the honors of marrying me?" I was bawling my eyes out and nodded my head, he jumped up and kissed me, fireworks went off with the kiss, it was electrifying. Pulling away from his lips, I said,
"Of course I will Stephen Rydel Lionclaw, for I am in love with you too." He smiled and pulled me into another kiss, clapping and cheers were heard from our families, after pulling away from the kiss I looked at the silver sapphire and diamond ring, looking at him I said,
"I have a matching wedding band to this. Did you plan this all along?" He chuckled and said,
"I don't know Ms. Mastermourn did I?" Smiling at him, momma ran over and so did Bella and Desmond,
"It's so pretty sissy! I want one!" Said Bella and all the boys and father shouted,
"NO! You're too young!" I laughed and smiled in content, happy in this moment of life. Surrounded by my love and my family.