Her Forever

King Orion’s POV

Once we arrived back at the Royal Cabin, I helped Willa dismount off of Asland and I led her back to our room. Her dresses were already packaged nicely, ready for us to head back to our home tomorrow. We both cleaned up before heading to dinner in the pack house with her adoptive parents along with Sadie and her mate.

“I’m just so happy for her,” Ivy cooed at her adoptive daughter. “I always wondered what would happen when she started to age and realize we weren’t aging with her. It would have broken my heart to have to let her know then.” Ivy kissed Willa on the cheek and she just hugged her back. I wanted to ask more about Willa’s biological parents, but I resisted. I’d love to hunt them down and destroy every bit of happiness in them for making my soul mate suffer most of her life.

I noticed Willa craves attention but hides it very well. She doesn’t want to be one of “those,” attention seeking girls. She’s sweet and lovely but I know she craves contact even though she built a strong fortress around her heart. She’s eager to love but resists. Her aura lightens when she is near me and the blackness surrounding her heart is slowly fading, but I know we have a long way to go. Years of neglect and love has only beaten her down as she strived to show everyone, she was strong and capable. She is capable and strong, but now that she has me, she can be the weak girl she never got to be.

“I can visit when ever I want right?” Violet quipped. Alexso gave a scowl, he was one of the warriors and didn’t receive much time off. “Only if I accompany you, Violet,” Alexo tried to sooth his mate. She glared at him right back.

“But you never get time off!” She whined. “Besides, I’m sure his highness has plenty of guards.”Alexo grabbed Violet and put her in his lap and gripped her waist tightly. “Don’t argue with me. You can’t leave me.” Violet pouted and nodded her head. Sadie started laughing and petting Seth’s arm.

“Oh, that is like us, isn’t it babe?” Seth nuzzled into Sadie’s hair as she sat I his lap. The stronger the warrior the more possessive they were with their mates and Seth was no exception.

Willa continued to eat silently, being quiet as a door mouse sneaking cheese in the kitchen. “Darling, wouldn’t you like for Violet to come visit sometime? Even Ivy and River?” She nodded enthusiastically and swallowed her food. “Of course, I would!”

“It’s settled then, our bonding ceremony will be a month from tomorrow, and I hope to see you all there.” Everyone talked excitedly about the announcement. Not many shifters come to the Light Kingdom, many faes in the government could be quite harsh in judgment so other supernatural’s tend to stay away.

As people talked at the table about our upcoming ceremony, Willa pulled on my sleeve a bit aggressively. “Excuse me!” She whispered harshly. “What do you think you are doing? You didn’t discuss this with me! A bonding ceremony? I didn’t even know what that is with faes!”

“It’s just a statement, saying we are destined soul mates. Its like a fancy party and you can dress up and wear a beautiful dress. It is like Violet and Alexo’s mating ceremony,” I said off-handedly. “It will be extravagant and beautiful, everything you have ever wanted in a party.” I picked up her hand to k**s it until she pulled away.

“Um, no. First you didn’t ask me and now you are putting a timer on me. You said we were going slow, this isn’t slow!” Her family started staring at us, so I took Willa’s hand and led her outside, as I looked back I saw River give me a scowl. I sighed and pushed open the door only to see Willa crossing her arms and stomping her foot.

“I can’t believe you! You can’t announce something like that with out talking to me!” She continued to speak in hushed tones.

“Darling, a month is a long time. Traditionally, I should have taken you the first night, I thought things were going so well.” Held out my arms to comfort her but she walked away. My heart ached to see her so angry.

“I’m human, Orion. Humans sometimes take years before they get ‘married’ or have some sort of ceremony. We just met!” The anger radiating off her was evident, but my own pride was getting the best of me. No one just tells me no; no woman has ever told me no to any advancements I have made.

“A month is slow around here, Willa. I’m sure some shifters are talking already about us not being marked yet, I suggest you calm your bratty attitude,” I growled.

“I’m HUMAN, and I was understanding about your concubines, now you need to be more understanding of my traditions.” A stab to my heart. My heart stopped for a few moments, only to feel the pain of that statement. She was right, humans did take time, she has been thrown into this large mess of a world she knows nothing about.

“Darling,” I softened my voice. “I do not want to do anything you do not wish.” Her eyes looked up at me, begging me to listen to her and my heart wanted to comply, this time I couldn’t listen. “Finding your destined one is a beautiful bond, a gift and many take that gift and make sure that no one else will take it away. If I lose you and someone tries to mark or make you theirs, I will die of heart ache. Literally. I must protect you. Many would kill at the opportunity to see you and me hurt.”

Willa’s eyes softened and she slowly dropped her arms. “I love you Willa, I know you don’t understand the bond yet and you don’t have to tell me you love me back. We have to do this, for the both of us. Let’s plan it and see where it goes hmm? If you are that opposed, then we can talk about it?”

Her eyes were down, the disappointment, sadness was written all over her aura. I walked up to her and held her close, she didn’t wrap her arms around me. I knew she was angry, but this was the best way to protect her. I’d always be able to find her if she was ever taken from me. Petting her hair softly, I gave it a quick k**s. “How about we go back to dinner. You won’t be able to see them in the morning, so we need to say our goodbyes tonight.” She kept her head lowered, I know she was upset, I’ll have to explain more later.

The rest of dinner was somber. Even Sadie looked sad for Willa. Sadie was born human and she understands what she was going through, however, Sadie embraced the bond more so than Willa. Sadie didn’t have trust or abandonment issues. River continued to glare at me as Ivy petted Willa’s hand. Often, she would whisper in her ear and she would smile a bit.

All the while, Seth sat silently as he finished his steak. The brooding alpha always has as scowl on his face unless he is addressing his mate. We all stood up and said our good-byes while a few tears were shed. Her family reassured her everything was going to be fine and to not fight the bond, I’m sure she was going to fight even more now.

“Willa,” Seth spoke up, which shocked everyone. He glared at everyone to leave but I stayed close to the door to watch. Sadie grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle pat.

“Being a strong supernatural is hard,” Seth mumbled. “I had a hard time with Sadie in the beginning. I had to go slow. I was fortunate that Sadie didn’t resist the bond. In times when you are troubled, I want you to think of Sadie or your friend Violet. They may have not had troubles like you did growing up, but they are both now happier than they were. Their souls are completed now, you will eventually feel whole. I’m not saying give in, but to give him a chance. He’s holding back a lot for you, he’s also king which comes with tremendous possessiveness for you, but he only wants to protect and love you. He isn’t lying, he isn’t going to play with your heart.” Seth gave a tight lipped smile as he patted her shoulder. “And he is an OK guy,” he mumbled.

I swelled in pride thinking that Alpha Seth would say that about me. We never got a long, he was doing this act of kindness more for his mate than me, but the words of encouragement made thankful. Willa smiled and gave Seth a hug, in which he was surprised for. He pats her head and she walked over to me and held my hand. Smiling, I mouthed a ‘thank you’ to Seth and we went back to our room.

Willa’ POV

Orion led me back to our room and while he was talking about our plans for tomorrow, I shut the bathroom door. We had such a wonderful afternoon and he had to go and ruin it by making decisions without talking to me. Sure, I know we are going slower than what his kind is used to but hell, I gave him my first k**s on the first date. That is something right?

While I’ve been stewing, I’ve been sitting in the bath. The steam continues to come off the tub, never loosing its warmth. Must be some fairy magic. I leaned back on the head rest of the tub, every once and awhile Orion will knock to check on me. Another reminder how he is way up my butt and wanting to know where I am, always.

Raising my hands, I know I’ve become puny but I don’t really care.

If he had just said, “hey, we really need a showing that we are a couple, can we do this in a month?” I would have been cautious at first, but I would have agreed. I’m not going to put out because of some bond though, no one tells me when I’m ready to further a relationship even if it is the Moon Goddess. Continuing to wash my hair, which now smelled like that honeysuckle drink, I step out of the tub and I hear shuffling on the other side of the door.

Seriously? Is he been listening to me breathe? I let out a huff and hear footsteps walk away. That’s a bit better. You know, I could be ready in a month, be ready to commit because I know this bond is holding us together. However! He didn’t ask. I squinted my eyes at the mirror, talking silently to myself. “You got this, you don’t give in. Even if he is extremely hot. You hold your ground.” I nodded my head to myself and pointed my finger to my reflection for extra effect.

I turn around and smirk at myself. If am to be queen, and always have someone at my side, whether it be Orion or a bodyguard, I should have one last hoorah, right? I was going to ask him to visit Violet tonight to be nice and considerate, but that is out the window. He didn’t ask me if I wanted a bonding ceremony, so I’m not going to ask him for me to go out alone. Insert evil laugh here. I giggled.

Once my hair is dry, my joggers are on, courtesy of Violet after I told her my embarrassing moment of wearing a skimpy thing to bed the night before, I throw on a sweat shirt for good measure. I walk out of the bathroom, steam blowing behind me as I saunter to the bed. Orion is sitting his back against the headboard, watching my every move.

“Have a good bath, Darling?” His voice was soft, like velvet and almost made me want to go weak in the knees. Almost. “Yes, thank you. I’m tired now, I’d like to sleep.” I roll over so my back is to his face. He slithers closer to me, I could feel his breath down my neck. Now that I know what his breath does to me when we k**s, it makes me shutter. Orion wraps his arms around me and whispers good night and it was all I could do not to turn around and snuggle in closer to him, but I am a strong independent woman. I can take care of myself.

Orion’s breathing started to even out, his rapid heartbeats were now not as fast. The small twitches in his fingers let me know he was out cold. Glancing at the clock I saw it was close to midnight, Violet would be at the front door any minute.

Gently picking up Orion’s arm I slid out, only to replace his arm with my pillow. It smelled like me from the night before, so I hope he doesn’t have any strange wolfy smells, so he won’t know the difference. Mentally high fiving myself I slid out the door, not even bothering with shoes.

Violet was waiting impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. “What took you so long! I thought you weren’t coming!” She whispered yelled playfully. “After that show of dominance at the dinner table, you really thought I would back down after that? Let’s go cause trouble.” Violet snickered and led me to the back of the courtyard, just beyond the row of trees.

Remembering my first night here, I knew where we were going. The lake was lit up magically with the evening sprites dancing across it. Some flew up to me and gave me a little bow and a k**s on the cheek. “Word has gotten around, they must know you are the new queen,” Violet muses. “Come on,” she pulled at my arm as we stood on the pier.

“Alright, strip!” Violet threw her shirt over her body and pants were discarded quickly as she jumped into the lake. That is going to be cold. “Violet!” I am not skinny dipping! I am not as comfortable with my nudity as you are!”

Violet resurfaced and laughed. “Then keep your panties and bra on you twit and get in!” I guess it is kind of like a bathing suit, everything is covered, and this is my last night to have some fun. Taking my sweatshirt off and my joggers quickly I jumped into the lake so I couldn’t back down.

The. Water. Is. Freezing.

I resurfaced and immediately my teeth started to chatter. Why is the lake so cold?! It is supposed to be summertime outside here! Violet swims up behind me and dunks me in the water. I stay underwater and quickly pull her leg and bring her down with me. As we both resurface, we start laughing a bit too loudly and heard some foot steps not too far away.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” We heard a playful voice.

Quickly, I swam to the edge of the pier to cover myself but Violet sits under the water in all her glory. She smacked her lips in annoyance and gave a glare. “Alanso and the goons, check it out Willa.” I peeked over the pier and gave a small wave.

“s**t, Willa, you can’t be out here, I just thought it was Violet. The King is gonna be pissed. Well, you too Violet because your mate is looking for your right now,” he let out a laugh. Violet scoffed, “let him come, I’m up for some angry s*x.” My face paled, oh my gosh what is Orion going to do to me?

That was something I didn’t think about. I’m half naked swimming in a lake in the middle of the night, future queen, and all. Whoopsie. The sudden guilt has me pale as I hear growling from the bushes, I couldn’t hear any footsteps but the rapid breathing and the white hair reflecting across the top of his head- could only tell me one thing.

Orion, and he was mad.