Trees after trees. I watched the greenery lining the highway as beside me Matthew drove towards the castle.
His wedding band shone on his ring finger and the warm feeling of nostalgia came crashing back down my chest. We had grown up so quickly. It felt like only yesterday when I had met my best friend. And now here he was, six years later, a successful financial accountant, a husband, soon to be dad, and the Royal Beta.
A small smile settled on my lips when his wedding day, an year ago, swirled back into my mind. Rome had been his best man.
Rome.
The same instinctual protectiveness I always got when I thought about my other best friend washed down on me and I reminded myself to call him and talk to him. He hadn't been in the best spirits after deciding to move into his dad's Germany castle when I had talked to him last, before catching the flight.
I shook my head and refocused my attention on the more lighthearted of our trio. He still looked just like he did six years ago, except now he somehow looked more... mature. Refined. It wasn't new though, it seemed like a werewolf thing.
As if noticing my eyes on him, Matthew glanced my way and smiled, the laughter lines beside his eyes crinkling with the same boyish amusement he always seemed to have. His palm found mine and he squeezed my hand gently.
"I missed you too, you know."
I smiled, tears welling in my eyes. It had been six years, a lot had changed, but Matthew and Romanov.. we were all still best friends. That hadn't changed.
"I've never told you how much I appreciate you being in my life, Matt. All these years. Truly, I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you." I mumbled, hooking my fingers with his as I thought back to the time when Matthew had saved me from the fall.
There was a silence in the car for a minute while both Matthew and I seemed too emotional to say anything. Suddenly leaning towards me Matthew sighed before kissing my head.
"You're never going to be able to get rid of me, Thi. Heads up, when the twins are born, you'll be Ethan's godmother."
"Twins!?" I suddenly exclaimed excitedly, turning towards Matthew.
Eyes on the road he chuckled and nodded, turning the wheels to take a right turn.
"Yeah, twins! Both boys. We've decided to name the oldest Emmet, and the younger baby, Ethan."
My grin widened and I flashed my broad grin at Matthew, popping my eyebrow up and down, "Rome will be Emmet's godfather, won't he?"
A loud laugh left Matthew's lips and again, he nodded. I grinned with him, happy to have my best friend and university mate so happy together, Charlotte was due in a month.
"He will, he will tell me to go shoot myself when I tell him at first, but he'll love being made a godfather—" he looked at me and his grin widened. "We know he will,"
I couldn't deny it, no matter how tough Rome acted, he was still a teddy at heart. Soft and cuddly.
"Big day today. Are you nervous?" Matthew suddenly enquired and I felt myself shudder from the suppressed nervousness.
The black square box I had tucked securely at the bottom of my handbag burned through the leather of my bag and I moved the bag a little to the left on my thighs.
I sighed, holding the bag tightly to me.
"I am, Matt. I'm freaking out." I admitted slowly, knowing Matthew would give me the best advices.
"He's got his suitcase packed and ready you know, his flight's in two hours."
I shrugged, knowing completely well Bryce had a flight in two hours, a flight to Cambridge. Where I was supposed to be.
"What if I mess up? What if he gets offended?" I breathe out nervously, suddenly beginning to panic.
"You won't, Thi. And he won't." Matthew reassured me softly, his eyes on the road as he stopped at a red light.
Sighing I nodded, and to calm my nerves brought out a packet of chocolate out of my bag. Ripping open the wrapper I wasn't even surprised when Matthew broke half for the chocolate bar and plopped it into his mouth. All the while humming to a song playing on the radio.
I rolled my eyes and took a bite of my half of the chocolate, a whisper of a smile on the my lips. I stole a quick glance towards the still munching Matthew. I suppose somethings never changed.
"Thanks for giving me a ride Matt." I smiled up to the man I had known as my best friend for six years now. His arms came around me for another hug and I felt him place another kiss on my hair before he pulled back, I held my suitcase in my hand as I took a step back too. The pavers underneath my sandals seemed wet from the recent shower, the tall exterior walls of Dovlore castle surrounded us while we stood just on the courtyard.
"You know I've always got your back, Thi, and if Char didn't have the baby coming so soon and those crazy cravings, I would even stay to watch Alex's reactions—"
"No no! It's okay trust me! You should definitely go back home! Tell Charlotte I said hi, and that I'll come visit tomorrow. I've brought all the things she asked me to." I quickly cut Matthew between his sentence. Smiling warmly when I thought about all the scented soaps and baby things Charlotte's mum had packed to bring over for her.
Matthew smiled appreciatively and I watched, waving as he got back into the car and drove back away, sending a wave my way before he drove towards the gates.
"Miss Theia?"
A gasp escaped my lips as I quickly flung around, eyes wide with fear. Immediately a breath of relief left me and I loosened my grip on my bags.
"Hello Earl," I greeted the castle's manager affectionately.
The old man's grey silver hair shone under the sun, his light blue eyes almost silvery behind his thin rectangle spectacles. His eyes narrowed at me suspiciously but the smile that was slipping out made sure to show his fondness of me.
"Alexander does not know of your arrival."
Immediately my eyes widened and I took a desperate step towards the tall elderly man. "No, and you mustn't tell him. It's ... It's a surprise!"
The old man blinked, his face usually void of expressions just the same as he watched me, his eyes twinkling when he made his mind up and nodded.
"As you wish, Luna."
Wrinkling my nose at the formal acknowledgement I quickly picked my bags up and rushed inside, running my way up the three floors.
The duty of accompanying Bryce around his nations for Alpha King responsibilities had exposed my existence as Luna quite naturally to the whole Were and Lycan world. It had been five years now and I was still learning. I suppose such a large responsibility came with time.
In the meantime though, I had but one rule.
No calling me Luna, unless something is very serious.
Halfway running up the stairs, I realized running up the stairs wasn't exactly the best idea.
I almost kicked myself by the end of the stairs on the second floor, panting like crazy.
Slowly dragging myself through the corridors I cursed myself for being excited enough I forgot that running up the stairs, with my bags, would very well leave me as best unconscious.
My aching muscles almost cried with joy when Bryce and my bedroom's door came into view. Slowly reaching it, I slouched over the door for a minute, panting trying to right my breathing before finally turning the knob and walking inside.
The man in the room immediately let out a low growl, before turning around and freezing. The ferocity in his eyes melted away and he took a step forward, his eyes running all over me.
"I was supposed to fly over today," Bryce frowned, confused as he took another step towards me, his alarmed eyes taking in my tired, panting form.
I stood on my spot, still panting lightly. I felt the circular metal in my palm begin to heat against the skin of my closed fists.
"Is everything okay, love?" Bryce urged, taking another step forward, I blinked.
He took another step forward, "Babe?"
I sunk down to my knees. It was crazy. I was freaking out. It wasn't conventional, doing this. I took a deep breath in, then out.
Clearly alarmed Bryce dropped down to the floor too, directly before me.
His hands found my face and he tipped my head up, those bright blue eyes of his wide with apparent fear, I however watched the small patch of brown. My heart warmed with all the love I had for this man.
We had spent six years together. We had lived through a lot together.
Six years felt like a lifetime. But I was still ready to live as many lifetimes I could live, with him.
He made me smile, he made me cry, he hurt me, he saved me, he supported me, he encouraged me, he helped me, he loved me, and he tried.
My soulmate wasn't perfect. But he tried. And that, that was as perfect as I wanted him. Being just him. Completely imperfect. Completely mine.
"What's happened?" Bryce whispered, his tone clearly surprised and on the verge of panicking. I felt for the platinum in my hand and quickly fiddled it between my thumb and pointer. Holding it between them.
Clearly unsure of what was happening and slightly panicking Bryce leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine for a kiss. Pulling back he caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb.
"Love, are you okay?"
Between the anxiety I almost smiled.
His blue eyes bore into mine and I finally moved my hand to show the object to him. His eyes trailed towards the object and he stilled. His eyes widened further. Almost as if immediately, his eyes snapped to mine, then back to the platinum ring in my hand.
I breathed in the last bit of bravery I seemed to have at the moment and finally asked what I had come to know.
"Will you marry me?...please?"
His blazing blue eyes snapped to mine again and my breath hitched in my throat when I noticed the sparks of gold in his iris.
I almost flinched, as if burnt when he looked away. The tiny hurt in my chest ached through but I pushed it down. The engagement ring in my ring finger suddenly felt too heavy.
I sighed. Disappointment echoing through me. What now?
Suddenly everything began becoming doubtful. Seated in that flight I had known, I hadn't had anything planned. No candle lights, no pretty dresses. It was a rotten way of proposing.
But hell I had never done it before, and... I sighed. I had messed up.
"Yes,"
Surprised my eyes snapped to his.
Slowly his hand moved forward and he moved his ring finger up and down.
Relief washed over me and I watched, wide-eyed, the golds in his eyes as I slipped the ring with slightly shaking hands onto his ring finger.
His hand suddenly caught mine and pulled me against him, taking my lips onto his.
Breaking our kiss I moved back to see a full brown grin plastered on Bryce's face, slowly he slipped the engagement ring off my ring finger and then slipped it back on.
Leaning into his arms I wrapped my arms around him as Bryce hid his nose in the crook of my neck, placing a loving kiss on his mark. I sighed happily in his arms.
"For a second I thought you'd say no." I mumbled relieved,a small laugh leaving my lips as I held onto him tighter.
"Me? Say no? Never. In fact, how about we get married tomorrow?"
I couldn't help but let a laugh at that.
"That Impatient, huh?"
Strangely, Bryce's eyebrows narrowed at my remark and his grip on me tightened.
"For you? Always."
F(wB(),2)f