Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Slowly but surely the weeks began to blend together like they had when Soren was still living in the woods. The routine of her life had made living with the pack feel comfortable and normal. Both her and James had started sleeping together in the bed and Soren found her nights almost completely nightmare free. On the off nights she did get plague by Grace in her dreams, or felt the onset of a panic attack, James helped her through until she could get to see Doctor Malek.

Talking to the doctor had become one of Soren’s best decisions, and she gave all the credit to James for getting her there. Having another human to speak with, and one that was as kind and considerate as Doctor Malek had made her feel more at ease with the person she had become during her time with the pack.

With all the mobility back in her hand and able to walk comfortable, Soren had begun to use her bow again, shooting targets that James had set up for her behind the cabin. With every passing day her life felt more and more fulfilled. Her and James went to Pop’s at least once a week, and she had now managed to try almost everything on the menu.

She loved spending time with Pops and getting mothered by Variety, who now came over often for tea. Not to mention that she had managed to meet lots of pack members in their outings into town, making new friends and interacting with members had brought her morale up tenfold.

Life was finally coming up Soren, and she sent her thanks up to the fates every night as she lay down to sleep next to her amazing mate. Sighing in content she laid back against the light grey comforter that now adorned the bed and looked at all the changes in the room. Not only was everything slightly less minimal, but it also held hints of Soren, in the small blue accents around the room, to her own clothes that hung in their half of the closet. When Soren looked around at the room, she had woken up in for the first time so long ago, she no longer felt like a stranger, but like she was home.

Going down the steps she spotted James asleep on the couch in the living room, a file placed in his lap and a cup of coffee sat on the table in front of him. The last week had been busy as the pack prepared to welcome twin boys, James had been doing paperwork and working with the family to ensure they were ready both financially and mentally for the children that were on their way. Soren hated to see how burnt out he had been but was in awe of the way he handled himself, and how dedicated he was to the pack.

Closing the file and setting it next to his mug, she went into the kitchen and began to make lunch. Variety had been showing her how to make her way around the kitchen, teaching her how to make simple meals so that James didn’t have to do it all the time. She had fast learned that she loved to cook, and even more so to bake, and James complained all the time at all the weight he was gaining with each of her creations.

Settling on a simple lunch of sandwiches, she made one for both her and James. She nudged him gently when they were ready, waking him up to provide some sustenance.

“James, I made lunch.” He groaned and sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes and smiling as he saw his beautiful mate standing before him.

Standing to full height he pulled her in close and laid a kiss on her mouth, chuckling as she squeaked in surprise. She melted into him and he pulled her even closer, loving the way they fit together.

“Thank you, I’m starving.”

She led the way to the kitchen island, sitting in the spot that had been hers since her first week in the house. They ate and then despite her protests, James had to return to work. Collecting the file that he had been looking over before falling asleep accidentally, he retreated into his office.

The house felt colder once the office door was closed, and Soren went upstairs to put on her favourite of James’ hoodies, it smelled just like him. Every week she made him where it at least once, so that it maintained the comforting scent of her home – his arms.

Then in preparation for later in the evening, Soren pulled out her light blue apron and slipped it over her head. James had invited Margot and Matt, as well as Variety and Pops over for dinner that evening. He had seemed excited to have them over, but wouldn’t disclose why, just that he thought they should all have some ‘family time’. She didn’t question it, he had been working so hard that it would be nice to have a night to relax, with all of her favourite people.

Pulling out the recipe book Variety had brought over one afternoon, Soren got started on her favourite vanilla cake. Mixing everything together, Soren hummed along to a song she had heard some pack members singing, it was a simple and beautiful tune, and it had stuck in her head the moment she had heard it.

Finally putting the cake in the oven, Soren made the icing. It was a chocolate buttercream that James had claimed as his favourite, and she loved to watch the way he ate it and his happy face as he asked for more. It made her feel like she provided for him, even if it was something silly like desserts for after dinner.

She placed the icing in the fridge to stiffen up and cool before deciding she should probably make more. Chocolate chip cookies were the first thing she had learned from Variety, and she had the recipe memorized after making it a ‘million times’ – according to James. She knew he loved to complain but was joking. He mentioned all the time how proud he was that she had started eating enough and ate sometimes even when she wasn’t hungry. He claimed that the more she ate, the more of her there was to love, and it brought a blush to her cheeks every time, and got him a guaranteed punch in the arm.

As she pulled the last batch of cookies out of the oven, Soren started at the sight of James watching her from the doorway.

“You almost made me drop the cookies!”

He grinned,

“But you didn’t,” he looked around at the pans that lay dirtied in the sink, “did you make cake too? I swear you’re trying to fatten all of us up! I mean, you’ve seen Margot, you know she’s been gaining weight like crazy!”

She put the cookies down and crossed the room, hitting him with the oven mitts that were held in her hand,

“You’re such a bully, James Hughes! You know she’s pregnant!”

James chuckled, a deep genuine laugh that stopped her in her tracks,

“I know, I know, sorry.” The smirk on his face gave it away, he wasn’t sorry at all, but she wasn’t going to call him on it.

“Can we go for a walk? I thought maybe we could watch the sun set before everyone gets here.”

Soren smiled up at the tall man that filled the kitchen,

“I would love to, but I have to ice the cake.”

“We can be back in time for that, Ren. You know it needs to cool anyways, you always get impatient and ice it to early.”

Glancing at the mess she sighed,

“Do you promise we’ll be back in time? I have to wash the dishes too, the kitchen’s a mess.”

“I promise, I’ll even wash the dished while you ice, okay?”

Pulling the apron over her head, she grinned, she loved spending time with James and their walks together were some of her favourites.

They set out towards James’ favourite place on pack grounds. Soren loved the familiarity of the route they were taking, as they went up the hill fairly frequently. The spot that had once been James’ was now theirs, and it held a special place in her heart.

The view from the top was as breathtaking as it always was, and Soren looked out over the pack that was now her home. She felt the love for all the people fill her heart, and as she looked beside her at the man that she loved, she knew she was right where she belonged.

James sat down and pulled her with him, setting her between his legs so she could lean back into his chest. Together they watched as the sun that was just an hour ago high up in the sky begin to make its decent downwards. Soren watched transfixed at the colours that splayed across the sky, the hues of orange and pink that mixed to make a beautiful ombré of rays.

“Ren?”

James grabbed her attention,

“So, I’ve been talking a lot with my doctor, and as you know, we talk about you sometimes,” she nodded, not knowing where he was going, “well he pointed out to me that to you, being my mate doesn’t mean that much.”

Soren opened her mouth to protest, but he kept going,

“Not that I’m saying you don’t love me, I know you do, just that to you, having a mate was never something you were taught or saw growing up.”

He paused and Soren considered his words, knowing he was right.

“Well, I was thinking, we vowed to be together forever, you as my mate, and me as yours, and to me, that’s all I need. But humans have a different sort of vow they make to their partners, and I want to be linked to you in every way possible, I want anyone and everyone who looks at us to know that we’re partners in everything we do, and that we’ll be together for the rest of our lives.”

Soren’s heart began hammering as she took in what he was saying, and saw his hand reach towards his pocket,

“What I’m trying to say, in way too many words, is, will you marry me? You’re my world and I love you, and I hope you’ll be my wife as well as my mate.”

Tears were flowing freely down her face as she nodded like crazy,

“Of course, I love you so much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss, her tears hitting his cheeks on their way down.

“Those are happy tears, right?”

“Yes, you idiot, the happiest.”

They stayed on the top of the hill until it was time to go back, the cake and the dishes all but forgotten, as Soren tucked herself into the side of her fiancé and vowed to never let go.