Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Chapter 37

"I'm sorry," he apologized after pulling his mouth from hers. "I'm not used to these types of things. I didn't know they were asking for a kiss."

"Umm... i.. it's fine," she stuttered, trying to force a smile to make the situation seem less awkward. She was still panting heavily, her cheeks were flushed and her palms sweaty, even though they were in the evening breeze. It took a moment for her to realize that the music had stopped.

The guests all joined the couple on the dance floor, and the dancing continued. All the while, Miranda felt a mixture of shyness and nervousness, so much that she couldn't look Damian in the eye anymore, not because she was terrified of him, but because she feared getting lost in those eyes again. She kept avoiding eye contact with him until the reception ended.

After the celebration, everyone left the Lotus garden one by one, handing their gifts over to the couple before departing to their various homes.

The couple were still receiving gifts and well wishes when Miranda suddenly turned to Damian who was seated beside her. "Umm... I'd like to retire for the night please."

Damian had a concerned look on his face. "So early? Is everything alright with you?"

"Yes, I'm just tired. That's all," she managed to say.

"Do you... Do you want me to go with you? Are you sure you'll be fine?"

Miranda was in no way used to this nice part of him. It all seemed so strange to her.

"No, it's okay," she replied, quickly standing up to leave.

***

That night, after taking off her wedding clothes and make-up and then putting on her night dress, she lay on her bed to get some rest. It had been a pretty hectic day with all the celebrations. She wondered if Damian would still be there receiving gifts on their behalf, or what exactly would he be doing by now? This was their wedding night; they were supposed to spend this night together, but she'd chickened out, running to her room like a scared little girl.

Ugh! What's wrong with you, Miranda? Can't you see he's just trying to be a gentleman?

But for all she knew, he might just be putting on that act simply because it was their wedding day. This was just a grace period. She knew he wouldn't be so friendly to her all the time. Come Monday morning, the cold, ruthless Alpha Damian would be back once more.

But today turned out to be great. Apart from the interruption from Walden, she'd loved every part of what happened today, especially the kiss.

Oh Miranda, please stop thinking about that delicious kiss; stop thinking about what might never happen!

Hours passed, and she lay there thinking, or rather, expecting that Damian would come to her. Every couple spent their wedding night making love, but it seemed as if she would be spending the night alone. Of course, she would. Damian had been staying in the guest suite, a separate room from hers since they both arrived.

Neither one of them had visited the other's bedroom in the short time they'd been here, but she was hoping tonight would be different. She was hoping that since it was their wedding night, he would feel the need to come to her.

Should she go to him? No, that would seem not just awkward, but even desperate, especially since she couldn't tell what was going on in that mind of his.

Fuck it! She let out a groan as she got down from her bed, putting on her night slippers along with her robe, before leaving her bedroom and making her way to the guest quarters. Alpha Damian's room was located in the most exquisite part of the Lotus pack-house, close to the Alpha's chambers. The area was built for the most important guests that would be spending nights here. Alpha Damian was one of such guests that had visited the pack in the years since the place was built.

She was now standing in front of his room, hesitant to knock. But she soon steeled herself and took the bold step. She couldn't have left her room in the middle of the night for nothing after all.

She knocked and waited, remembering his rule of only needing to knock once. But there was no response.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, she knocked again. Still, no response.

Of course, she shouldn't have come. It was a bad idea anyway, she thought as she made her way back to her room. It was either he had heard the knock and ignored it, deciding that he didn't want to be disturbed on his wedding night, or he wasn't in the room. He might have probably preferred to spend the night somewhere else other than with her.

Oh well, this was now a new life for her. She might as well just live it through.

What was she expecting anyway? He definitely wouldn't want her that way. She'd never been with a man before, so she didn't know how to pleasure a man the way his mistress did. Of course she'd be the last woman he'd want in bed. So silly of her to even think of coming here.

***

Damian sat on the garden bench, still dressed in his tux, enjoying the sounds of nature as he watched from afar as the wedding decorations were being taken down.

So it was finally concluded. Miranda was now his wife. This woman he'd only met a few days ago. She was the first woman to ever make a difference in his life somehow, and apart from the usual terms of their agreement, deep down in his heart, he didn't think he wanted to be with anyone other than her.

It was their wedding night. Even though he knew next to nothing about these things, he did at least know that couples were supposed to spend their first night together. He knew he should go to her, but he was reluctant. Not that he didn't want her, in fact he was more than desperate to have her, but if he were to go to her, what would she think of him?

This marriage wasn't the usual lovey-dovey type on TV. This was more of an agreement than a marriage. The two parties involved had hardly even known each other before this. He didn't want her to have bad thoughts of him. No, it was true that he thought much highly of her than just a bedroom item.

But, fuck it! He got up and made his way to her bedroom. He took a moment to calm himself down before knocking on the door. But there was no response.

"Miranda?"

He opened the door slightly to have a look inside. She wasn't in. Of course, she was probably still celebrating or having a sleepover with her friends or something way better than being with him on their wedding night. Now he knew he shouldn't have come. It was so silly of him to think that she'd want him in that way.

After leaving her chambers, he debated on where to go next. He definitely wasn't in the mood to go to bed yet, so he returned to the garden to watch the stars and listen to the sound of the night crickets and frogs.

About an hour later, he returned to his chambers, but before then, he made a stop at the Alpha's room.

Tomorrow, he and Miranda would be returning to the Silver Pack, but there was something Damian felt the need to do first.

He knocked on Alpha Luther's door, but he got no response. Of course the old man would be asleep by now, but he didn't need Luther to be awake for what he intended to do.

He entered the room and reached Luther's bed where the Alpha was lying sprawled with his eyes closed, breathing slowly. Damian hadn't seen him around much today. The old man had retired to his bedroom quite early, in the middle of the celebration since he lacked the strength to stay out for long.

Damian sat on the stool close to Luther's bed and took a deep breath before letting out the words.

"I'm sorry for coming at such an ungodly hour, but I'll be leaving with Miranda early tomorrow and I have to make this promise because I don't know if this is the last time I'll ever see you. The last time we spoke, I was about to make a promise when I got interrupted. My heart could not be at rest until I decided to come in person to give you what you asked for."

He took one of Luther's hands in his and then continued, "I promise to love and care for Miranda. I promise to give her a good life. I promise to make up for all the years of suffering she's been through, and apart from laying down my life to protect her, I promise that I'll always be with her and never abandon her."

Even though Luther was asleep, Damian could make out a small smile sketched on his face after he had made the promise.