Mia’s POV
I stood before the mirror, gazing at my reflection in a figure-hugging blue dress. Loose waves cascaded over my shoulders, and a vibrant red lipstick adorned my lips.
“You look beautiful,” my wolf praised, and I shyly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before picking up my bag. Taking one last glance at myself, I left the room and entered the sitting room.
As soon as I walked in, I saw him standing there, dressed in a navy blue suit that perfectly complemented my dress. He turned around upon hearing me and greeted me with a warm smile.
“Good evening, my dear,” he said, his eyes sweeping over my appearance. “You look absolutely stunning in that dress.”
Blushing, I felt a twinge of embarrassment and looked away. “Thank you,” I murmured softly.
He approached me and offered his arm. “Shall we go?”
I nodded, taking his arm as he led me towards the door. We stepped outside, where a sleek black Mercedes awaited us, with a driver standing attentively beside it.
“Allow me,” Alpha Ricardo said, opening the door for me.
I smiled gratefully and got into the car, marveling at the opulent interior. Alpha Ricardo joined me, and the driver closed the door before taking his place behind the wheel. As we started to drive, Alpha Ricardo leaned closer and whispered in my ear.
“I must say, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to spend the evening with such a breathtaking woman.”
My cheeks grew warmer, and I couldn’t help but smile at his sweet words. As we drove into the night, anticipation for the surprises awaiting us swelled within me.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked curiously.
“It’s a surprise,” he replied, a playful twinkle in his eyes. I nodded, eagerly awaiting the unveiling.
The car eventually arrived at an empty beach beside the sea, and I raised an eyebrow at Alpha Ricardo. “Why are we here?” I inquired, intrigued yet puzzled.
“It’s a surprise,” he replied with a grin, leading me out of the car and onto the sandy shore. I inhaled deeply, taking in the vastness of the beach.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered, his warm breath tickling my ear. I obeyed without hesitation, feeling his gentle touch guiding me along the beach, the sound of waves lapping against the shore filling my ears. With a soft whisper, he finally instructed me to open my eyes.
Before me lay a breathtaking sight-a dinner table set up by the sea, adorned with twinkling lights that created a magical ambiance. Covered dishes of various delicacies graced the table, making my mouth water in anticipation. “This is stunning,” I whispered in awe.
Alpha Ricardo nodded in agreement and pulled out a chair for me to sit in. As I settled into my seat, I watched him pull out the chair across from me, flashing a warm smile.
“How did you know I wished to have a meal by an empty beach?” I asked, intrigued. He smiled and gestured for the server to approach us.
“Let’s eat; the night is young,” he said, and I nodded, curious about what awaited us next.
The server unveiled the covered dishes, serving us the culinary delights we desired. With a smile, I took a slow spoonful, relishing the incredible flavors. I lifted my head and met Alpha Ricardo’s gaze, his eyes filled with warmth.
We enjoyed the meal in a comfortable silence, stealing glances at each other. Our eyes met and quickly looked away, a silent connection weaving between us.
When we finished the meal, the server brought us a small bowl of water with a lemon slice in it to cleanse our palates. I dipped the handkerchief the server had provided into the water and used it to wipe my lips clean, trying to look nonchalant as I glanced over at Alpha Ricardo.
He too was using his handkerchief to clean his lips, and as he looked up, our eyes met once more. This time, instead of looking away, I held his gaze, and we sat there for a moment, lost in the moment, before the server cleared our plates, breaking the spell.
“Thank you,” I said, and he responded with a smile. “You don’t have to,” he said and sipped his drink.
I noticed he went silent for a while. His expression changed, and I realized something was bothering him. “Is something wrong?” I asked, and he smiled weakly at me before getting up on his feet.
He took his seat from across me and placed it beside me before sitting on it. “I want to talk to you,” he said and held my hands on the table.
“I’m so sorry for all I made you go through. I was young and naive, and the decision I took was stupid…” he paused and sighed in regret before he continued. “When I first saw you, I was happy and wanted to tell the whole world that this beautiful little innocent girl was my mate, but the words of my father stopped me. When he told me you were my sister, I felt bad and angry at the moon goddess, but I never hated you.”
“I was just angry at Dad for cheating on Mom, but when I paid a visit to the seer, she lied and deceived me.” He inhaled deeply with so much pain in his eyes.
That instant I hated you not because it’s your fault, but because I thought you are the product of my father’s betrayal to my mother,” he whispered and held my hands tightly.
“I’m sorry for all I made you go through. I’m sorry for forcefully placing my mark on you. I’m sorry for all the sleepless nights I made you go through. I’m sorry for all the tears I made you shed. I’m sorry for the pain I inflicted on you,” he held my gaze, and I saw tears gathering in his eyes. I wished to make him stop feeling bad; seeing him in such a state broke my heart.
“I know it’s hard, but I do hope that you will forgive me someday,” he pleaded, and I nodded my head, wiping away the tears that dropped on his cheek with the thumbs of my fingers.
“Stop crying, an Alpha is not supposed to be seen crying. Your people will kill me if they get to know I allowed their Alpha to cry,” I teased and saw a weak smile appear on his face.
“I forgive you, Alpha Ricardo,” I spoke and saw the excitement in his eyes. “I knew all you did, you did them because you were angry and in pain. Seeing your father bring in another woman with a child on your transformation night might have taken a big toll on you, and to imagine that this lady and your father killed your mother must have destroyed you and made you turn into something that you are not,” I spoke and cupped his cheek.
“I believe that whenever you see me, you get to remember what you thought my mother and father did, and I can’t imagine what you must have gone through, and I’m glad that everything has been revealed,” I saidand he nodded.
“I forgive you, Alpha Ricardo. After all, you are my husband and mate,” I said while showing off my ring to him, and a big smile appear on his face.
“Thank you,” he pulled me into a hug, and my wolf howled loudly in my head. He pulled away and cupped my cheek with both hands. “I promise to make you happy for the rest of your life,” he expressed those words as a promise, and I found myself nodding, imagining how my life would look with Alpha Ricardo by my side.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, and I didn’t give a response, rather I slammed my lips onto his.
I felt the world around us fade away as we kissed. His lips were soft and gentle against mine, yet full of passion and longing. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me as we deepened the kiss.
As we pulled away, we both looked at each other, breathing heavily. I couldn’t believe that this was real, that I was finally with him, and that he had apologized and asked for my forgiveness.
“I love you,” his words stunned me, and I didn’t know what to say.
“You don’t have to say it back,” he smiled and kissed my forehead before pulling me up from the seat.
“I have somewhere to take you before we go back to the cottage,” he said, and I nodded, feeling bad for not saying anything when he told me he loves me.
He led me back to the car, we got in, and the driver drove off. “Where are we going?” I asked, and he smiled but didn’t give a response.
I sat back in my seat, wondering where he was taking me, after a few minutes of driving, the car stopped.
As the car screeched to a halt in front of a club, Alpha Ricardo quickly stepped out and opened the door for me. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement as I stepped out of the car and took in the sights and sounds of the bustling club.
He took my hand and led me through the crowded dance floor, weaving through the throngs of people with ease. The thumping beat of the music pounded through my chest as I followed Alpha Ricardo towards a set of doors at the back of the club.
He opened the doors and led me into a private lounge, away from the chaos of the main dance floor. The room was dimly lit, with plush couches and low tables scattered across the hall. We ordered drinks, and I got myself drunk, laughing and chatting with Alpha Ricardo until he decided it was the end of the day and took me out of the club.
We got back to the car, and I placed my head on his shoulder and gently fell asleep with a relieved smile on my face.