Wilde

"25"

Two months later

The snow fell lightly all around me as the sun began to set. Everyone was gather around the fire pit outside waiting to begin tonight's festivities. The food was beginning to be finished inside by my mom and Damon's aunt. On either side of my was Bree and Lizzie with Henry, Damon, and Jake sitting across from us. Harry and Brett were overseeing the Christmas traditions of our new pack go smoothly back at the old pack house.

It had been about two months since Axel kidnapped me and everything had been going great. Axel was dead, the rest of the rogues were taken into custody, and the witches were our newest allies. Unfortunately, Cole got away and no one has seen or heard about him ever since that day, but that doesn't mean we aren't looking.

I look around and smile at the company I'm surrounded by: friends, family, and the love of my life. To think that just a few months ago we were all in such deep shit with the whole Axel situation, and here we are now. Bree and Henry getting ready for their wedding in two months, Lizzie and Jake newly marked with each other, and Damon and I....we are fully mated as of last night and are happily boyfriend and girlfriend. I couldn't have asked for a better group to spend Christmas Eve with.

"Okay so why are we all out here in the freezing cold?" Lizzie asked.

"Hey, its not completely cold! I mean we have the fire!" Jake answered.

We all chuckled before Damon was the one to respond. "We have a tradition in our family. On Christmas Eve, we all sit around the fire outside before dinner and just talk about how our lives have changed in this past year. And yes, I know that sounds like something we should do on New Years, but it sort of a way to acknowledge the birth of our new mindsets/lives, sort of like the birth of Jesus on Christmas. My parents were the ones who started it and we never stopped doing it even after their death."

"I'll go first!" Bree said enthusiastically as she stood up. "I think its safe to say all of us have found true love this year and that is great. But what I found is real friendship. Before you and Lizzie came along Marlee, the only reason girls were friends with me was to get to my brothers. But you guys are true friends, and though we've only known each other for a few months, I finally feel like I have the people I know have only my best interest in mind now." She finished.

Henry went next. followed by Lizzie, both saying very similar things to Bree. Henry talking about how he feels like he has more siblings than just his twin brother and how he always wanted sisters and now he has that. Lizzie focused on how she was seen as weird in her pack because of her visions and was ashamed of them before meeting us and realizing her visions make her special and awesome.

"Not only did I find true love like Bree said," Jake started, "but I found my family again. For the longest time I felt like the universe was punishing me by taking away what little family I had on this earth. But now, I have you Marlee, I have a sister that I never even knew existed and its great to have someone around who shares the same love of oreos as I do. Thanks to you, I have a family now. And yea Ik friends are family too but I meant real blood family. And you are honestly the best sister I could've asked for."

I started tearing up. I love Jake, truly I do. And it was in this moment and now realized it was my turn to speak. I stood up and took a deep breath before starting.

"A few months ago, I only cared about one thing: being Alpha. I didn't care about friends that much, I didn't care if I was a little rude, and I didn't care about being a good daughter. I thought that by being strong and tough, it meant I would be a good Alpha, but I was wrong. Being a good leader doesn't mean you are the strongest, or the toughest, or the smartest: it's about being the one to put the people around you first. Its about making the pack's best interest your priority. I also didn't care about finding my mate. I thought that if I found my mate, I'd become weaker. And I thought if my mate was an Alpha it would be someone I totally hated. I'm glad life proved me wrong in all these ways. Damon, you make me a stronger, better person. You make me laugh when the world wants me to frown, and you make me feel loved even when I feel like the world is out for me. And the same goes for all of you: you guys have taught me the importance of a pack. Its not just about the Alpha, its about us all. I wouldn't be Marlee, without you guys. I love you all."

"But she loves me the most!" Damon chimmed in.

I rolled my eyes, which were full of tears, and sat down to be met with comforting hugs and pats from Bree and Lizzie. I smiled at both of them, what I said was completely true. I was a changed werewolf. I truly felt like I was ready to be a real Luna. I look up and see Damon stand up.

"Alright now, I guess its my turn. Much like you Marlee, I thought being a leader was all about strength and power and being the best at everything. I prided myself on having the best pack in America, its all that mattered to me. I would've like to have found my mate, but back then, I really was indifferent to having a mate around. But the moment I saw you, everything change. All I knew was that it was what everyone said it would be: the feeling of uncontrollable desire to be near you and have you be mine. Only mine. And as I got to know you more, I began to change. My needs came second to yours and the packs. My desires were focused on making you happy and protecting you." he began to walk over to where I was sitting. My heart started beating faster...is this what I think it is? "Marlee, when I lost you to Axel, even for that tiniest time, I blamed it all on me. I was a mess, I could've done so much more to protect you, and I felt like I had let you down as a mate. These past two months, having you by my side, with no troubles, has made me realize that this is what the moon goddess planned for me. A happy, wonder-filled life with oreos and Dance Moms and stupid Vampire shows. It's all I want now. I couldn't care less about being the best Alpha anymore," he gets down on one knee, "but what I do care about is being the best husband you could have. I am completely in love with you Marlee. And now that we are fully mated, all I want is to be able to call you my wife, and start making a family with you. So Marlee, will you do me the huge honor, of not only being my wife, but my Luna? Will you marry me?"

At this point my tears are rivers. I can't seem to stop crying tears of joy. But through the tears, I see a black velvet box and in it, a diamond ring. Words failed to come out, so i just went with a simply head nod. In that moment Damon whisked me into his arms and kissed me gently. I felt tears of joy running down my cheeks. This was all I could've hoped for. It was all I wanted since realizing that Damon truly is meant for me. Because not only does he make me happy, but he makes me grateful for everything I have, he makes me humble about being an Alpha, he makes me a better person, and he makes me, me.

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Hi y'all

...I know....I'm saying y'all......

So life updates: IM ALMOST DONE WITH FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE WTF?! That's why I haven't updated in so long because I've been busy with all that. Also I joined a sorority so that's cool. Anyway the next chapter i post is going be the epilogue but y'all might have to wait about two weeks till finals is over. Also.....again with y'all, Texas has really changed me. Anyway again thank you for your patience and he understanding!

Always,

Bri