Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Always and forever

CATALAYA'S POV

The next morning Dre and i woke up wrapped in each others embrace in the small tent on the lake. After cuddling a bit longer and some teasing from Andreas we got up and went for a swim. After our swim we decided to head back, not because everyone would be worried since we'd mind link them last night to let them know where we are and that we wont be back until today. After gathering our stuff and placing them back in the trunk of the car we hopped in and left the lake. Since we hadn't eaten we decide to stop by a diner in town to have breakfast. Driving up to Benny's, one of the oldest diners in town we park and made our way inside. The bell above the door jingled signaling our entrance and immediately benny the owner stood up from under the counter to see who had come in, when his eyes found their way to us a smile instantly lit up his face.

"Catalaya what a wonderful surprise" he says stepping from behind the counter

"Hey benny how are you" I said as he pulled me into a hug

"Am fine dear, even better now that I've seen such a pretty face" he said

A small laugh escapes me as i say "Its always wonderful to see you Benny"

"And who is this?" He asked pointing to Dre who looked stiff as a board. Confused at his actions i was about to mind link him when i realised why

We just recently mated which means he's in that phase you know the wanting to kill every guy comes within 100 feet of me phase. Yup that one. Smacking myself mentally i realized i just hug Benny and though he may be a human so he wouldn't understand the severity of our hug i did and now benny's scent was all over me

Crap.

Ignoring my current dilemma i answered Benny's question by saying

"This is my boyfriend Andreas"

Smiling widely benny said

"Nice to meet you young man hope your treating this little lady good or we'll have a problem"

I notice Dre's eyes narrow and his jaw ticked as he fought to reel himself in. Leaning into him i say

"Of course he does Benny if not I'll let you loose on him" i joked

Laughing benny says "Assuming the mayor doesn't catch him first. You kids go on ahead and take your seats I'll be right over to take your orders"

Telling him thanks i led Dre over to one of the booths and we sat down beside each other. Immediately as we took our seats i started apologising.

"I'm so sorry about that i wasn't thinking. I totally forgot about the intense emotions and the overprotectiveness and Benny's scent rubbing off on me when i hugged him i didn't even realize" i rant

"Shh shh its fine it's ok there's no need to apologise i know you're new to this and so am i it takes a lot of getting use to. I just had to control my emotions there for a bit" he told me

"Are you sure? I asked worried

"Yes am fine besides i felt better the moment you leaned into me" he smiled before placing a chaste kiss on my lips

"Thanks" i say

"No problem" he replies then asks "By the way who's this mayor benny was talking about"

"Oh that, its Sam" i answer

"Wait Sam is the mayor of this town?"

"Not officially they just call him that since he basically runs the town. Saltsprings was a dead end place with little to no people since most of them had already move to other places due to the town's dying economy before sam came here. Since he was looking for some place under the radar to base while he searched for me this place provided the perfect cover but it lacked resources. So, Sam built back the town upgrading businesses and fixing issues the town had hence bring more people here which meant flow of information. Adonis is the one who mainly deals with the people of this town while Sam dealt with finding me and eventually people started calling them mayor. Their appearance here saved a lot of people and their businesses one of them being benny. Though Sam rarely interacted with the towns people, well the humans at least. He's always there in times of trouble and that's why the people view him as their mayor" i explain

"Damn just when i thought your family had no more surprises for me you hit me with another one. I knew the persons in Sam's pack were saved by him in the war but i was always away on missions after that so i didn't know about his search for you until months after he left."

"I know my brother can sometimes seem cold and distant but he's a big ole teddy bear on the inside. Despite his hard exterior he's a really good person caring and kind, just like you" i tell him

"I don't know if i should be weirded out or flattered that you just compared me to your brother" he jokes

Laughing i say "Since it was a compliment i recommend flattered"

"Flattered it is then" he says with a smile causing me to smile since his smile is so contagious

"See" i say pointing to his face

"Normally you'd look all stoic and scary but look at you now smiling away. People on the outside would say you're cold but if they got to know you they'd see how kind and gentle you actually are and that is why i love you" i tell him

"Well one if the many reasons anyway" i add

Smiling he says "There are so many reasons why i love you It would take an eternity to list them. But i first realized i love you the day you saw me at my worst and you didn't flinch at first sight. i could see your shock a bit of fear but you pushed pass it and helped me in a way no one else could"

"I'm glad i didn't run that day even though every cell in my body screamed to. I could see the hurt in your eyes more than the anger and that's why i stayed because i wanted to reach deep down and pull you from that place and show you that you're not just some monster because even if no one else could, i could see the man behind the monster" i tell him truthfully

"I love you" he says looking into my eyes

"I love you too" i tell him and i meant every word

"Alright you two sorry for the wait, what will you be having this morning" benny says breaking our moment

Looking up at him Dre says

"No worries about the wait. I'll have some pancakes, the biggest stack you sell i want you to double it. I also want bacon, three omelets and coffee"

Looking at him slightly wide eyed benny asks.

"Is that for both of you?"

"No just me" Dre answers

"And what will you have catty dear" he turns to me disbelief at Dre's order still on his face

Ha if he's shocked now he should see what Dre eats at home

"I'll have the breakfast special woth some bacon and coffee as well" i order

"Ok, your food will be ready in a few and I'll bring the coffee over" benny tells us before walking away

Laughing as soon he was out of ear shot i say

"Poor benny did you see the utter shock and disbelief in his face he must be so confused as to how one person can eat that much"

"I think he's overreacting honestly, what i ordered wasn't even that much i eat a whole lot more at home and i restrained myself form ordering two of everything he sells" Dre shrugs

Chuckling i say "Dre you're definition of a lot is different from his and remember humans have a slower metabolic rate than us"

"Fair point" he says as benny returns with a pot of coffee and two cups.

He place the cups before us and poured our coffee before leaving to check on the progress of our food. While i add cream and sugar to my coffee Dre drank his just like that.

"How do you even drink that?" I said looking at him incredulously

"What's wrong with my coffee?" He asked

"You didn't even add anything to it"

"So? you're the one who's gonna die of sugar consumption with all that sweetness in one cup" he tells me

"My coffee is perfect" i defend

"Mhhmm" he retorted

Some time after benny brought our food out and we ate with a little small talk here and there while refilling our cups. When our breakfast had finished we paid the bill and said our goodbyes to benny and a few other employees who had arrived for their shift while we ate then head back to the car continuing our journey home.

Since we were already in town we got home in no time parking the car and heading inside. As we opened the door there was a shout of congratulations. We stood in the door way shocked at the smiling faces of Sam Adonis, the sins, Freya, Aquarius, Merlin and Harley.

"Congrats you two" Adonis had yelled as he rushed to pull us in a bone crushing hug

"What- but how did you guys know?" I asked

He then went on to explain that apparently the entire pack as well as all of hell had felt it when we marked each other. According to Sam they felt a surge of power washed over them when Dre's and I bond with each other as well as those of everyone else was completed. Sometime after Dad and Lilith had called well more like appeared in my bedroom mirror to congratulate us. So did Levi, Abaddon and basically everyone else who was there when they called.

Dominic who had been on a mission for some time now with author had come back to congratulate us however being the ever dramatic that he is didn't congratulate us like a normal person instead he opted to spend an hour threatening Andreas and then he let his Tiger out just to prove his point. Yup you heard right, after he and Author mated Nic became a shifter so now he can transform into three creatures. His wolf, a tiger and a Phoenix. Dad explained to us that he'd gain the power of the Phoenix after cheating death when that bitch cassidy bit him. He should have died when the vampire venom entered his system nearing his heart but he fought through the suffering and was able to be saved with my blood. Then his Phoenix was set free when he mated with Author. Now my big bro is even more badass than he was before.

However as bad ass as he may be he's still a knuckle head. According to him Dre had 'stolen his baby sister and for that he must pay'. His words not mine. I swear he was destined to be apart of this family, him dad and Sam are all crazy alike but hey i wouldn't want anyone but them to be my family.

By night time Dre and i had been worn down by our family who had thrown together a little barbeque on our behalf. The celebration was great but after being prodded and probed by Adonis and the girls for details i was exhausted. Dre didn't have it any better since the guys teased him none stop. All in all it was a great day.

Now after a long relaxing bath together Dre and i laid in bed ready for some much needed rest.

"Sigh, what a day it has been" i chuckled

"I know right who would have thought us mating would cause such a ruckus"

"It really was a great party though"

"That it was and Sam really knows his way around a grill, he deserves an award or something"

Laughing i say "As long as it concerns food someone would get your stamp of approval"

"Of course after all food is life"

"I'll have to agree with you on that" i say

"Hmm" he nods

"I think we should head to bed now ita been a long day and I'm sure with everything on our plate it'll be even longer tomorrow" Dre says

"That's true but I'm not worried because i know that no matter what we'll get through this together right"

"Right, no matter what i promise to always love and protect you" he tells me

"I love you Cat always and forever" he says pulling me closer

"I love you too" i reply snuggling into his chest

"Always and forever."