Betrothed

Chapter 6: In Less Than a Day

                                                                             

Willow

I shouldn't have told Brayden why I was crying, but I felt like he should know. After all, he is my true mate. I am stuck with him for the rest of my remaining days. I couldn't help my crying, but he knew that I wanted him to keep his arms around me still and so he did. I wanted so much now and most of which wouldn't happen until after yet another year. I want to spend every hour of the day by him, even on full moons. Our parents will have to support this because they wanted us to be close before our betrothal planned wedding takes place on our next birthday. That is what Brayden, and I are now that we met. We are inseparable because our wolves know we are each other's true mates. We will never be just friends because we are meant for more than just friends. We are meant to be each other's true mates for the rest of our lives together.

Brayden kept me held tight against his chest, and I kept my arms tight around his waist. I could feel all of his muscles tighten up. I could hear his heartbeat fast.

"I have had feelings for you since I was ten years old, and always will." He told me at that moment with his heart racing.

Did he really mean what he just said? How could he have known me when we were nine, we don't live in the same pack? Unless he watched me, which would explain a lot.

When I was younger, I thought I saw a boy in the woods hiding, now I realize he was hiding from me. Or was he trying to watch out for me?

"Were you the boy in the woods that watched me all the time?" I heard his heartbeat faster, answering my question before he had the chance to answer.

He put his chin on the top of my head, "Yes, that was me. I couldn't stay away, and I wanted to protect you from anyone looking to pick the prettiest flower."

I knew what he meant by that because he already told me that he only had eyes for me, and he claims that he always will. I have no trouble with believing him because he is telling the truth. I just wanted him to keep me as close as possible so I can feel safe again. I don't want anyone to pull us apart for it will cause too much damage to the both of us.

I didn't mind the silence because I was with the person I loved, and he wouldn't let anything happen to me. I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat and breathing, and soon it became a rhythm. I fell asleep standing up with my head laying against his chest.

Brayden

I was standing as still as possible trying not to wake Willow. I could tell she was sleeping because I sensed it through her breathing and her grip on my waist loosened. I couldn't help but notice that she must have been comfortable and didn't want to leave me. I slowly took my arms from around her and scooped her up in them. I carried her in my arms to a bench where I sat down and held her head against my chest.

I sat on the bench with Willow's head on my chest. Everyone was looking at us and were gossiping about how great we are together. I couldn't help but want to make them quiet.

They were annoying and loud. If they woke Willow, I was going to make them regret it.

She didn't want me to leave her, but I was tempted by the loud audience looking at us and talking around us.

I remembered that Willow said that she had feelings for me already and it made me smile.

While she slept, I picked up on some of the conversations. Our parents were talking about how well of a match Willow and I are. Some of the other teenagers our age we're talking about Willow and me as future goals.

I tried to stay calm, but everyone was either talking about us or looking at us. I kept still for so long and needed to re-adjust, so I slowly moved into a more comfortable position.

I was still holding Willow more or less like a baby in my arms, her weight resting on my lap as I sat there on the wooden bench. I rested my chin on the top of her head softly.

After the party was over, Willow was still asleep in my lap, and I was close to falling asleep myself.

My parents walked up to us and sort of looked at me awkwardly. Probably wondering why Willow was asleep in my lap being held in my arms.

They came closer to me while I sat there on the bench still with Willow still sound asleep and I stared at them.

My dad came closer and whispered. "Brayden, we are going to go back to the house. Please come home soon. I hope to see you back before the sun rises." My dad grins. "I see the connection is true. See you at home."

My parents walked away from us and headed back to our pack home.

I did not want to leave Willow. I wasn't going to leave her at least not while she was most vulnerable. I will go home but I will carry her home first to make sure she gets home safely.

She is my number one priority, and I was not going to give my job to anyone else. I nodded at my parents, and as they walked away from Willow and me. I slowly got off the bench and pulled Willow fully into my arms again.

She was still asleep, but she repositioned herself, so her face was laying against my chest. I walked over to her parents, and they smiled as they saw me carrying their sleeping daughter in my arms.

"Which way is your house, Mr. and Mrs. Glisten?" I whispered to them.

They looked at me and grinned.

"You can call me Gerard and my wife Aurelia, Brayden, and our house is that way not terribly far." Her father answered me as he pointed in a direction. "Thanks for taking good care of her."

He smiled at me. I nodded.

"She is my responsibility now for she is my true mate and future wife after all."

Her mom smiled and nodded. I made my way to Willow's pack home.

Once I reached the front door of her house, I slowly opened the door. I walked inside and down the hall where the pink and teal colored walls of a room were. The door to the room was wide open. I looked around the room and surely it was Willow's room. It had to be. The room held pictures on the wall and drawings, she was an artist. I walked over to her bed and slowly laid her down on top of the blankets. She hardly noticed the difference in the environment. She was asleep fully.

Willow's dress covered most of her but just to make sure that she didn't get too cold in the night I laid my tux jacket over her. Surprisingly, it was rather big over her, and she smiled after she felt the warmth of my jacket.

I made sure that she was still asleep when I kneeled down by her bed and whispered to her, "When the time is right, all of our questions will be answered. Goodnight, my beautiful queen."

I walked out of her room turning the light off as I left and shut the door behind. I walked out of her house and went in the direction of my pack home.

I ran home trying to get there so I could sleep and be closer to tomorrow. I wanted today to be over so that I could see her again.

When I reached my house, I ran inside and straight to my room. I jumped into my bed and pulled the sheets over top of me and immediately went to sleep. I dreamed of my future with Willow, and the great life we will have together.