THIRTY

1 week later...

My heels clicked against the tiled floor as I weaved my way through the tables. Heads turned to stare as I walked past and from the corner of my eye, I noticed a few men raking their eyes over my body, appreciating how the black dress hugged my figure. So much for doing this in a classy restaurant where we wouldn't draw too much attention.

A tinge of nervousness pooled in my stomach, making me question why this was ever a good idea. There were like, three other options we could consider regarding what I'm about to do now, but no, Rheon had to open his mouth and suggest this. Nothing I said or did could change his mind.

The mark on the bottom of my breast tingled at the thought of him, causing me to blush at the mere thought of how it happened that late afternoon. He told me where he wanted to mark me after I beat him at pool that one night at the pub, I just never thought he was serious. But there they were, a set of teeth marks just underneath my right breast.

Of course, my first thought after he marked me was: Am I a werewolf now?

But according to the laws of the supernatural world, it takes a few days before the transformation slowly begins. Rheon promised to keep a close eye on me for when I started showing any signs of wolfing out.

The marking itself was unlike anything I ever experienced; to have our bodies molded together so perfectly, to feel him move against and within me, to be consumed with love, lust, and passion all at once. I was seconds away from reaching my first and best climax ever when his teeth locked against my skin under my breast. The moment they sank into my flesh, stars and fireworks clouded my vision as he marked me and pushed me over the edge of ecstasy.

And after marking me as his, he left me unable to walk for the rest of that day. As well as the day after that.

Since then, it has become impossible to resist him. We were at it at every chance we got, and I finally understood why Reyna and Alexander had to go on an early honeymoon to get it out of their systems. So, for the sake of the castle, I suggested we should go on a short vacation to give them some peace and quiet. And that's when Rheon suggested we should visit my home country so he could meet my parents.

It was a horrible idea, really, but he already made up his mind.

I paused when I spotted them sitting at a table near the back of the room, almost forgetting to breathe when I realized I haven't seen my family in a month.

My father was talking on the phone, dressed in his usual black suit. Mom was chatting with Madison, who obviously wasn't listening as she scrolled through her social media.

"You'll be fine," Rheon's voice sounded behind me as he snaked an arm around my waist.

"I'm not worried about me." I scoffed as he walked us towards my family. "I'm worried about what my father will do to you."

"I'm a duke of Scotland who happens to be a werewolf, Ash," he pointed out casually, "I think they'll like me."

My mother looked up as we stopped at their table, doing a double take after not recognizing me the first time. "Ashlyn?" Tapping my father on the shoulder, she managed to distract him from his call. "For Heaven's sake, Markus, put down the phone and greet your daughter!"

The moment he saw me with a man who wasn't Matt, his eyes narrowed. If looks could kill, I would've been ten feet underground before we could even order starters. Dad hung up on the call without tearing his eyes from us.

"Ashie!" Madison chirped. Her chair scraped against the tiles as she jumped to her feet to greet me, causing every person in the restaurant to stare. "Oh. My. Gosh. You look stunning! How was Scotland?"

"Cold." I smiled awkwardly, remembering that she didn't even text me while I was there. "How's college?"

"Interesting. I have an insanely hot professor; it makes going to class so much better."

Mom slid her chair back to engulf me in a hug. "It's good to have you back, honey." I closed my eyes while I absorbed her loving warmth, treasuring the moment I had with her. Goddess knows she's the only person I would actually come home for if she asked me to. Pulling back, her eyes shifted to Rheon, who was patiently waiting for me to introduce him. "And who is this? He's handsome."

"Very handsome," Madison purred. Her eyes travelled up and down his figure as her finger circled the rim of her glass. The way she said it made me want to stab her with a fork. She fluttered her lashes at Rheon, twirling her hair around her fingers as she eyed him up like candy.

"This is Rheon," I introduced him, "We met in Scotland."

Rheon smiled charmingly at my mother, bringing her hand to his lips to place a kiss on her knuckles. I swear I could see her change color at the fine gesture.

"It's an honor to meet the woman who brought someone as beautiful as Ashlyn into the world," he added. Show off.

"Oh my..." My mother sank down into her chair and fanned herself with a napkin to get rid of the blush in her cheeks. "He's quite the gentleman. Why don't you ever say such nice things, Markus?"

Next, Rheon extended his hand toward my father. He only stared at it before turning away.

I shook my head in disbelief. Even after a month, he was still pissed at me for dumping Matt. What part of Matt cheating on me didn't he understand? Was he truly that insensitive to force me to marry a man like that?

My sudden rush of anger vanished when Rheon rested his hand on the small of my back. His warmth seeped into my skin, ridding me of all that pent-up frustration towards my father. With elegant movements, he pulled out a chair for me to sit before taking the seat next to me.

"So, how did you and Ashie meet?" Madison chewed on her bottom lip. "We'd very much like to hear how she managed to land someone like you. You're a bit, how can I say, out of her league."

That bitch.

"Maddie!" Mom scolded her and laced her fingers with mine. "She didn't mean it, honey. You're beautiful. Grandma always said that someday you'll have the men falling at your feet."

"Unfortunately, she didn't mean that as a challenge," Dad spoke for the first time since he saw me that evening. "You want to know what I think? I think the whole reason for you running off to Scotland was to avoid getting engaged to Matt. And it turns out I was right."

Again with the Matt incident.

"Really, Dad?" I said bluntly, "If you're so taken with Matt, why don't you marry him?"

Rheon's brows lifted slightly as he cleared his throat to stifle whatever reaction that got out of him.

Not waiting for my father to respond, I continued, "I showed you the wedding invitation, you knew I was offered a job, and you still believe I used that as an excuse to run from my responsibilities." I paused and shook my head, "You know what, I'm done arguing with you. I'm glad I went to Scotland. It gave me clarity."

Before my father could ask me to elaborate, I slid a file towards him. He eyed it skeptically before undoing the string and flipping open the matte black cover. His expression hardly changed as he browsed through the contents, but I saw the way his jaw relaxed. It piqued his interest and sparked hope within me.

"What you're looking at is the brochure of the first travel agency in Direfair which opens in a month. The pictures you just saw are mine, I took it." Leaning over to flip the pages of the file, I added, "And that is my new portfolio. With Rheon's help, I've opened my own studio in Scotland."

"And before the subject of money is brought up," Rheon said, "it's not a problem."

My father closed the file and handed it back, studying my mate closely. He was trying to read him, something he did to all his clients before he agreed to take their cases. "And what exactly is it you do?"

This time, it was Rheon's turn to slide an envelope across the table. My father opened it suspiciously, but the moment his eyes scanned over the document inside, he stiffened. Victory bubbled in my chest when his eyes locked on Rheon in utter astonishment. "How... did you say the two of you met?"

With a lazy smile, Rheon started, "We met at the wedding. It was love at first sight. The moment I saw her, I knew my life would never be the same - and then she threw me with a box of cereal. Honestly, I have no idea how I'm still alive."

A ghost of a smile flashed across my face at the memory of being locked in the castle pantry. It felt like a lifetime has passed since then. Rheon's hand found its way to my knee underneath the table, giving it a squeeze.

Mom leaned over, trying to read the document over my father's arm. "What? Heaven's sake, Markus, what does it say?"

Even Madison has forgotten about her phone and was staring at Dad and us curiously.

"Which brings me to the reason why I asked Ash to introduce me to her parents," Rheon continued, "I am not the typical lawyer you'd wish for Ashlyn to marry, Mister Grace, but as you'll see in the documents, I am a duke of Scotland who owns quite a few acres of land. And call it old fashioned, but I still believe I should ask your permission for your daughter's hand in marriage."

Mom and Madison's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the mention of him being a duke. Madison's phone even slipped from her fingers and dropped right into her glass of wine.

I was stunned, too, but for a whole different reason. I stared at Rheon in befuddlement, wondering if I heard him correctly. Did he just ask my father for my hand in marriage?

Dad must have nodded or said yes or something, because the next thing I knew, Rheon went down on one knee and took my left hand in his. My heart was beating in ten places at once as the entire restaurant has fallen silent and was now watching the scene unfold.

The world came to a standstill when Rheon spoke, "Sometimes all it takes is one look to know; this is it. This is the person I've been searching for my whole life. And every moment was worth it. You were worth it, Ash. You found me and everything changed."

Tears welled up in my eyes as he slipped a ring on my finger. It's perfect and not too over the top, basically the opposite of the ring Matt wanted to give me. I uttered a sound between a laugh and sob as his thumb brushed over the ring on my finger.

"Ashlyn Grace soon to be Balfour, will you marry me?"

- End -