Chapter 36: Chapter 36

EPILOGUE

“I want to eat something sweet but I also want something salty,” Willow said as she stretched her arms above her head.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow at her statement. “I’ll buy you a pregnancy test kit.” She said and wiped her hands with a cloth and walked away from the sink.

Willow rolled her eyes and opened the cabinets, in search of a snack. She grabbed a bag of chips and turned to face Charlotte. “I’m not pregnant.”

“Yeah right, you’ve been having mood swings and now you’re having cravings.” Charlotte countered.

“Does having a craving mean being pregnant?” She asked sarcastically. “Besides, I don’t understand how I can be pregnant when I’m on my cycle.” She added and opened the bag of chips.

Charlotte squinted her eyes in suspicion. “Okay. Alright, but I’m watching you.” She said.

Willow walked out of the kitchen, immediately sat down on the couch, and the doorbell rang. She groaned and kicked her legs in frustration before going to open it.

“Black?” She was shocked to see him. “It’s only Wednesday?”

“I know and I also know that you don’t have any classes tomorrow.” He said smugly and invited himself inside.

Charlotte peeked from the kitchen and waved. “Hey, Black! Didn’t know you were coming over.” She said.

“Hey.” He replied with a smile. “It’s a surprise visit.” He said and Charlotte went back to paying more attention to the food she was cooking.

Black opened his arms for Willow and she came closer and he wrapped her in a hug, silently breathing in her scent. He did not want to come off as selfish by constantly trying to convince her to move in with him but seeing her on weekends only took a toll on him. Staying away from his mate for most of the week was not what he wanted but because he wanted to be a good mate and support her, he talked himself into coping with the situation.

“Let me guess...you’re here to get me since I have a free day tomorrow.” Willow was amused by how Black found such loopholes to spend time with her. He had managed to memorise her schedule and would sneak in time to spend with her just like now.

“You must be psychic.” He replied before kissing the top of her head.

“I might have a free day but that’s just because I’m not going to class. I have to finish up an assignment and study for my tests.” She told him.

“I’ll help you study.”

Willow laughed and stepped away from him. “Every time you say you’ll help me study, we end up making love.” She whispered the last part so that Charlotte would not hear anything.

“That’s on you, you just can’t keep your hands off me.” He shrugged smugly.

“Not how I remember things, you’re the one that can’t keep your hands to yourself.” She countered. “I have to change though.” She looked down at her pyjama shorts and the sweatshirt she was wearing that had a stain on it.

Black smiled. “I thought it would take more to convince you.”

“Charlotte keeps talking about pregnancies, I don’t want to hear it anymore.” She replied. “Wait right here.” She ran to her room to change and grab her book bag.

She attached herself to Black’s side when she was prepared and called out to Charlotte. “I’m going with Black, don’t miss me too much.”

Charlotte flashed a knowing smile. “If you aren’t pregnant now, then you’ll probably be after tonight.”

Charlotte covered her red cheeks with her hands. “Shut up, Char!” She yelled and dragged Black out of the house, who was now laughing.

......

“I don’t understand why you don’t like him though,” Willow told Black.

“Because he sees you more than I do and he clearly likes you,” Black replied.

Willow was lying on top of him while he held her by wrapping his arm around her waist. Thus was probably the most carefree Thursday Willow had spent in a long time. Even though it was supposed to be everything but carefree, it still turned out like that. She managed to finish her assignment in the morning and she studied when Black went to train new pack warriors. When Black came back she chose to cuddle with him over studying the same thing that she could not grasp.

“Lincoln is my friend...a brother.”

“I thought Levi was your friend?” Black looked down at her with scrunched eyebrows.

“Levi is my best friend.”

“I still don’t like that Lincoln kid,” Black grumbled.

Willow rested her head on Black’s shoulder. “He knows that I’m dating you and anyways he doesn’t like me in that way. Lincoln is actually very scared of you.”

Lincoln and Black had only met twice and those were only short encounters so none of them had established a solid impression on each other. Black had glared at Lincoln and remained with his one-sided hate towards Willow’s friend. On the other hand, Lincoln thought Black to be intimidating and kept asking Willow how she ended up with such a man.

“Well, that’s good, if he’s scared he won’t try anything on you.”

“Do you see a threat every time I get close to another man?” Willow asked.

Black shook his head. “I don’t see any threat because I know that you belong to me only.” He replied. “I just don’t like it when others look at you in the way that only I should.”

Willow’s light chortle echoed through the room. “And what way is that? Undress me with your eyes?”

“I can do that, other men aren’t allowed to.”

Willow shifted around and finally settled down before speaking. “I think I want chocolate...mmm actually I want some hot noodles.”

“You just had a bar of chocolate, maybe I should just defrost some pizza.”

“Please!” Willow pleaded.

“You’re wish is my command, my love,” Black replied and shifted so that Willow was still on the couch while he stood up and went to the kitchen.

“I feel like the man in this relationship,” Willow said with closed eyes and a huge smile.

“What does that mean?” Black turned.

“It means you make a pretty great wife, duh!”

......

Willow still could not believe that it had been six months since she and Black started dating. It felt longer than that. With everything that had happened, it felt like they knew each other longer...almost a lifetime. Maybe it was because their bond felt natural and everything easily fell into place when they were together but it did feel like they were married.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Willow screamed excitedly and blew confetti on Black. He frowned and squinted his eyes, the once-dark room was now bright. He looked down at his watch and surely it was 12 pm.

“Thanks.” He walked over to her and kissed her.

“Come on, everyone is downstairs waiting for you.” She told him.

Over the last few weeks, Willow had been more excited about his birthday more than anyone. When she found out that it was close, she went into a state of panic about what to do for him.

“Right now? At midnight?” Black asked and looked down at the matching pyjama set he was wearing, one that Willow had bought for him.

“Yeah. Don’t worry, everyone is also in their pyjamas.”

“What? Are we having a sleepover?”

Willow did not let him ask any more questions and just dragged him out of their room and down the stairs.

“Happy birthday!” Chorused screaming rang through the entire house.

Aleisa, Isaac, Caleb and Levi rushed to Black and pulled him into a big hug. Black groaned and huffed until they let go. True to Willow’s words, everyone was in their comfortable pyjamas.

“What the hell is going on?”

“Party!” Caleb replied.

Just like that, they were all huddled up together around a burning fire in the backyard. Willow and Caleb handed out the snack and they all ate while talking.

“I can’t believe you guys decided to do this at midnight,” Black commented.

“The air is cool, owls are hooting and it’s your birthday...what better time,” Isaac said and wrapped an arm around Aleisa.

“I’m glad that Willow thought of this,” Caleb said while leaning into Levi. “This is so great, we’re spending time as a family.”

“Yeah...and if we do something like this again let’s invite Zee and Nina,” Aleisa added.

Black could have told everyone how happy he was with how his birthday began but he chose to just let himself dwell in the moment. The people he cherished the most were here with him and they were smiling. Once upon a time he had looked at other people and envied how they had mates but now he had Willow and she was more than perfect.

He looked down at her and smiled before kissing her lightly. “Thanks, my love.”

Willow blushed and covered her face with the fleece that covered both of them. When she realised that no one had noticed she uncovered herself and smiled up at Black sheepishly.

“I love you.” She mouthed to him and he smiled widely.

“I love you.” He told her.

......

A sigh passed Willow’s lips as she looked at Black carrying a conversation with Nina. She had been watching him from afar for most of the evening. It was disappointing on her part, she had wanted to spend every moment with him on his birthday but she now realised that it was not possible. There were other people in Black’s life that also wished to spend time with him on his birthday. She already spent more time with him than others so she supposed she could not be selfish.

She took a sip of her highball and rested her face on the palm of her hand. Black had insisted that he did not want any party on his birthday but Isaac and Caleb did not listen to a word he said. They went out of their way to prepare a whole party at the pack house. Willow, who had never been at the pack house was amazed by how huge it was and the people it accommodated.

It was amazing that so many people could live in the same house. Either way, the first floor was decorated for a party, music was playing and food and drinks were being served. Willow ended up in the kitchen after failing to stay by Black’s side. The people around kept glancing at her, the fact that she was a human not hidden from them. She tried to avoid those that looked at her like she was a threat and stayed close to someone she knew.

“Am I boring?” Caleb asked when Willow sighed once again.

Willow turned to face the boy beside her. “I’d rather be anywhere but here.”

“You’re gonna be the one to go back home with him, let him suffer through this.” He replied with a wicked smile. “He’s clearly not happy as well, he keeps looking over here.” Caleb laughed.

After a moment of silence, Willow looked at Caleb more seriously. “Does that hurt?” She pointed to his neck and he immediately knew what she meant.

In spite of the multiple times she and Black had sex, Willow never let him mark her. It looked and sounded painful, she was not sure if she wanted to endure such pain. Aleisa had also told her that it was not a great experience but in the end, it was great to have your mate’s mark on you.

She had thought about it and even though she did not like the idea of Black sinking his canines into her skin, she knew what it meant for him and she did not want to steal that away from him. After everything Black has done and is still doing for her, she figured she could handle that. Perhaps she would come to love the mark just like Caleb and Aleisa, who always took the chance to parade the marks of their mates’.

“Being marked?... Yeah, it hurts but it’s also one of the best things ever. With this, I know that Levi will always be mine and after marking the bond just feels deeper.” Caleb answered.

Willow nodded. “I want Black to mark me.”

Caleb smiled at her. “He wants the same as well. You should tell him when you get the chance.”

The chance came only after the end of the day. Black looked exhausted from all the social interactions and Willow was silent and kept thinking about how she could bring up the topic. She picked at her nails and when they finally arrived at Black’s house, she was more out of it than ever.

After entering the house, Black walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. When he turned around, Willow was standing by the door with a nervous posture, biting her bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?” He asked and took her hand in his.

She looked down at the floor and muttered incoherent words before Black told her to speak clearly. “I want you to mark me.”

Black looked at her like she had more than one head before finally speaking. “Did someone say something to you?...I’ll beat them to a pulp, whoever the—”

“No one said anything, relax.” Willow cut in.

“I told you that I won’t pressure you into anything. I don’t have to mark you if you don’t like it.” Black told her but she shook her head.

“I want it.” She repeated and Black’s eyebrows bunched up together, uncertainty clear on his face. “Don’t think too much, let’s just do it.”

“Are you certain?” He asked her in a concerned tone and when Willow nodded more firmly, he smiled at her.

For a long time, he had wanted her to bear his mark and now that she willingly wanted it he was joyful. He could finally mark her and fully claim her as his. He promised himself to not make it painful for Willow. He captured her lips and kissed her before pulling away.

“Let me get the first aid box.” He said before grabbing one from the cabinets.

He made her take a seat and stood in front of her and looked at her fair and plain skin that only had a few dark marks because of him. It felt like a prize for him. Willow was like a long-awaited prize given to him after all the hardships in his life. Black did not miss the way Willow’s hands clenched around the cloth of her dress when he stepped closer.

“Are you sure about this...maybe we ca—”

“I’m more than certain, just do it.” Willow cut him off.

Black took in a deep breath before bending down to her neck and started trailing kisses on it, having already memorised the parts that earned reactions from Willow. He already know where the mark had to be. His canines elongated and he slowly sank them on the arc of her neck and shoulder.

Willow stiffened because of the pain that pierced through her neck but she could also feel Black’s hand on her thigh gently moving as if consoling her and telling her to relax. She closed her eyes and counted to ten before she finally felt Black’s teeth leave her skin. Aleisa had not lied, it really did hurt.

She peered down at where his teeth had been and only saw crimson liquid flowing slowly. Black immediately cleaned it and bandaged it.

“It’s gonna take some time to heal since you aren’t a werewolf.” He told her after closing the first aid kit. He turned to face her and kissed the top of the bandage.

Willow tried to twist her neck but the pain was unbearable. Black carried her and started moving to their room.

“Don’t stress yourself, I’m here and you won’t do a damn thing until you feel better.”

Willow smiled and moved closer to him when they lay on the bed. Sure, the pain in her neck still felt unbearable but Black’s presence alone had some sort of healing effect.

“I’ve wanted this for so long.” He said while looking at her neck.

“Cuddle me,” Willow told him and he did as she said. “Happy birthday.” She told him once again after he switched off the bedside lamp.

“Is this my birthday present?” He asked referring to the mark.

“Part of it, the other is in your closet.” She told him.

“Closet?”

“Yeah, but you’ll have to check tomorrow, right now you should cuddle with me.” She replied.

“Mm, fine,” Black said before lying down and only pulling her closer and breathing in her scent.

Willow felt more than safe. Everything felt right and with everything that had happened, she was so grateful for what she had now. Both of them were happy with how things had turned out and even though they did not want the future held, they knew that they would be able to make it through together.

“I love this.”