"Aloo." Came a soft sound through Willow's phone. It took everything in Willow to not cry.
Lisa was Willow's older cousin, the one on the phone was Emma, Lisa's two year old daughter.
Willow had to restraint herself from cooing. She had to switch into her acting mode. Willow smiled her best smile. "Hey, how are you?"
The line was silent from the other side.
Willow wasn't bothered. "I'm well too."
Willow knew it was rude to answer phone calls when she seated but she had to take the risk to avoid staying here. She stole a glance at Rowan, who furrowed his brows at her. The rest of the table had started up a conversation. But she only wanted the people near her to hear her conversation.
"Baby shark dududududu." Started Emma.
Willow dropped her smile. "What?" She couldn't believe that she had not seen Emma for half a year and now she started to sing! "You're coming to Onyxscar? No? You're an hour away?" Willow nervously looked at Rowan as if to ask 'What should I do?'
Rowan was fighting a smile when her eyes met his, she didn't think much of it, which she would later regret. Instead she took the smile as encouragement.
Willow paused when Emma had reached daddy shark. "No! What do you mean I'm not home? Why wouldn't I be home?" Two seconds later. "Of course I'm, where else would I be if not at home?"
When Emma started about grandpa shark, the line went off. Willow couldn't believe Emma hung up on her, she didn't even get to record Emma singing!
But what mattered most was that no one would call her, normally there aren't many people calling her, but when you are dealing with lemons, life pours bitter lemonade over you. Willow was very worried that someone would call her at this crucial moment, but she didn't show anything on her face.
Truly, Willow was reconsidering about joining an art college after high school, but now she wondered if she should join acting.
"Sure,"
"Mhm, mom will be back in a few days."
"Okay then, I'll see you soon. Bye." Willow kept her phone face down on the table. She couldn't risk anything.
Willow smiled apologetically at Rowan's parents.
"Looks like little brother's mate can't stay here." Said Dane. "A pity."
Willow wondered what was wrong with them, her acting was top notch, but she didn't fuss over it for long. "I'm so sorry, but my cousin will be coming over to stay, so I'll have to leave. I actually wanted to stay here, but," Willow trailed off shrugging her shoulders, her face showing how regretful she felt.
"Oh! It's okay honey. You should head back home." Said Leona smiling at her.
"We'll be leaving soon." Said Rowan.
"You can stay," Said Willow. "If you want to." Though Willow didn't want to leave without Rowan, but she didn't want to sperate Rowan from his family.
"I want to go back with you."
Willow wasn't going to stop him. She didn't want to, in the first place.
A chuckle resounded in the room which had quieted down. Willow felt chills run up her spine. "I don't believe this. She's a human, she doesn't know the first thing about a Vampire and we're here waiting for her to rule over us. She's going to lead us to destruction!"
That wasn't true Willow knew the first thing about a Vampire, which happens to be the fact that they live on blood. She mentally huffed.
"Easton." Called the King.
"What? Am I wrong?" Said Easton. "We don't even know for sure if she's his mate! Rowan is not even eighteen."
"I know." Said Rowan. "I'm sure that Willow is my mate."
Easton scoffed.
"I'll be turning eighteen soon, you don't have to worry for me brother." Rowan picked up the glass beside him, which Willow had noticed had been untouched throughout the meal. She saw him grimace after sipping it.
It was just red wine, not blood at all Willow chanted in her mind, turning her head away. Harmless red wine and not a body fluid at all.
Willow felt very awkward. Sitting through a watching someone else's family disputes wasn't her ideal first meet scenario. Though a part of her wished that she had popcorn throughout that ordeal.
She felt even more awkward because they were talking about her as if she wasn't even in the same room. She really hoped that the red wine that she had been sipping on had some sort of invisibility serum in it.
But her hope was crushed when Rowan turned to her and gave her a reassuring smile, but instead of feeling more awkward for being caught in the middle, she felt relaxed.
A big part of her wondered how the whole soulmate thing worked.
Rowan did previously tell her not to stress on anything his older brothers say. He had been sure that they would question about her.
After the lunch had come to an end, Willow was walking by Rowan's side back to the room they were staying in. She couldn't help but hum a tune and she was very close to skipping. She was very glad that she was done with the meal. Though she was saddened at the thought that she couldn't enjoy all the food.
"Willow." Called Rowan.
Willow who had found her new jam which happens to be baby shark dududududu stopped humming and turned her head to him. "Yes?"
"I want to tell you something." Rowan said awkwardly.
Even after looking looking at his solemn face Willow wasn't worried, her biggest worry was going back home undetected and she did just accomplish it. "I'm listening."
"My whole family is made of Vampires, though my mother might be a part faerie,"
"Your mother is a faerie? Faeries are real?" Willow was filled with amazement. If there was a favourite supernatural creature Willow liked then it was faeries. She had planned her dream wedding to Rhysand after read A Court of Thorns and Roses.
"Well, my great grandmother is a faerie."
"Doesn't that make you a part faerie? Why don't you have pointy ears?" Willow squinted at Rowan's ears.
"That's because my great—wait." Said Rowan. "The point is that Vampires have sensitive ears."
"Oh?" Willow furrowed her brows. Was he bragging? Willow gave Rowan a thumbs up. "That's cool."
"Is that all?"
Was he fishing for praises? Willow sighed before stretching her her hand and patting him on his head. Willow felt like the male lead from a K-drama, but the only thing separating them was the fact that she had to stand on her tip toes to do that. "You're aweso—" Willow's hand froze. "Oh."
"Yes." Rowan said, he was annoyed that she stopped rubbing his head. "Oh."
"Oh. My. God." Willow felt like she was possessed by Janice from friends. Sadly she wasn't laughing at the moment.
Willow felt stupid. The fact the Vampires have sensitive hearing was so obvious that she had overlooked it and embarrassed herself. But she was glad that the King didn't 'Off with your head' her.
"Why didn't you stop me?" Willow looked accusingly at Rowan.
"I was about to, but I was enjoying myself." Rowan chuckled.
"Are you even my Soulmate?"
"You're stuck with me."
Willow harrumphed and stomped away.
After a few steps Willow felt large hands place on her shoulders and turn her around. "You're going the wrong way."
Crossing her arms on her chest, Willow fixed her best 'bitch face'.
"I'm sorry. Don't be mad okay?"
Willow was going to ignore him anyway but her phone went off with the familiar ringtone.
Willow answered the call after looking at her screen.
"Where are you?" Melody sobbing was the first thing Willow heard.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked the first thing anyone might in such situations.
"Are you okay?"
"Mel, what's wrong? Was it JR? Did he hurt you?" Willow started to plan, mentally, for JR's demise.
"No. He didn't do anything. Where are you Willow? Are you hurting?"
"No I'm not. Why would I be hurting?"
"It's Hunter, he—" Melody sobbed harder.
Willow felt Rowan stiffen behind her, his grip tightening on her shoulders. How could she forget his sensitive ears.
"Did Hunter hurt you?"
"Where are you Willow?" Asked Melody, not answering her question.
"I'm not at home." Willow couldn't tell her that she was with Rowan who happens to be a Vampire, now could she? Not to forget that he's her soulmate and she met with his parents, a bit too quickly. Talk about taking a big leap in one's relationship.
"I know, Felix told me." Said Melody. "Are you sure you're not hurt?"
Willow understood what Melody was asking about. The cramps she gets randomly. The ones that feels like her soul and her body is separating.
"I'm not hurting, I swear." Said Willow. "But are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Melody sniffed. "Are you with Rowan?"
"Yes."
There was a long pause on the other end. "Stay with him."
Willow smiled. "I will."
They bid their goodbyes before hanging up.
Willow looked at Rowan who was smiling widely at her. He laced their fingers.
"I'm still mad at you."
"I'll make up to you, but we have to go home now."
"Home? Isn't this place already your home?"
"You're my home." Said Rowan with a breathtaking smile.
Willow felt her heart speed up as blood rushed to her face.
"We also have school to attend tomorrow."
Willows heart stopped. Maybe she could stay here for another day? Or a week? Or a month maybe. Willow wanted to bang her head in regret that she didn't previously accept the offer.