Chapter 22
826words
"I-It's so.. big," she stuttered, thinking out loud.
There were no words to express how embarrassed she felt the moment she spoke those words. What was she thinking? She was so stupid. She shouldn't have said that. A smirk came up on his face and she instantly regretted it.
"I bet you like it."
"W-What. N-No!"
"I know you want it."
That's the least she had on her thoughts. Or so she thought.
"You wish," she snapped, trying to finish the already awkward conversation. She could see he was having fun embarrassing her.
"I would, but I already have a wish." He reached out his warm hand and touched the side of her face. "And it already came true."
"And what's that?
"You."
Anastasia felt heat coming up to her face. She didn't know what else to say. As she felt the cool breeze blowing against her, she removed her shawl and covered him with it.
"So.. you're a werewolf, huh?"
"I grew up here. My father taught me how to hunt in this woods. But then I had to grow up and replace my father's place as an Alpha at such a young age. They were killed."
Something about his voice made her heart ache. The wound in his heart had not healed yet. "I'm sorry to hear that," Anastasia replied with a sad voice. If he came out to be this strong after everything that happened, he truly had a brave soul.
"It was a long time ago." There was a moment of silence before I heard him speak. "I'm sorry."
Shocked, Anastasia looked at him. "For what?"
"For everything." Draco refused to look at her and kept his gaze at the dark skies, the moonlight reflecting through his eyes. "I want you to know.. I had to take you away. The man who tried to hurt you is a werewolf too. He's a dangerous werewolf and my long time enemy. Our history runs a long page. And now that he found my weakness, I had to protect you at all costs. I want you to understand where I'm coming from. I want you to know.. I've waited a long time to find you. And now that I have.. I don't wanna lose you."
Anastasia listened to his words. Draco was patient to hear her decision. To stay or not to stay, that was the question. He had never hurt her in any way. And everyone in the mansion had been nothing but friendly to her. Perhaps Edward was right, there was a reason Draco was their leader, and a great story behind Jenny's admiration for him.
"I'm willing to stay," Anastasia finally answered, "until.. I'm truly safe. Then, I can leave."
Draco sighed. "Of course. Your happiness over mine, baby doll."
Anastasia glanced up at the moon, pursing her lips. "You must've been really lonely, growing up without your parents. I guess I understand now why you're so bossy most of the time. But you can't get anything you want by force. You just gotta let go sometimes. If you want me to love you, let me love you for who you are. I want to see the real you. Not this Alpha mask that you wear all the time."
Draco glanced down at her and gave her a small smile. "That's what I love about you. You're different." He laid back on his arms and gazed at her pretty face. There was that look again. The look of admiration. She had only ever seen him look at her that way. "I wish I knew you when I was young," he continued. "Maybe things would've been different. Perhaps I didn't have to take you away and protect you from my enemies. Perhaps I could've made you fall in love with me."
But what if.. she was already falling in love with him?
They had been living together for a month now and yet it felt like she had known him for a long time. It was too soon and these feelings weren't supposed to be taken seriously.
"It seems only yesterday I was working my butt off as a waitress. And the next day I'm sitting here with a werewolf telling me I'm his mate." She couldn't help but laugh. Draco laughed too and she felt herself getting so weak and sleepy. She must've had a lot of wine.
Anastasia felt so tipsy that she wondered if he was real or not. It was like she had a new perception of everything. But somehow, she wished things would have been different. She looked over the horizon, feeling so full of hope for her future. Anastasia put her head on his shoulder with a deep breath.
This felt so heavenly, his warmth wrapping around her, making her feel safe. It felt like.. there was nowhere else for her to be. She was meant to be here.
In his arms.
