You're Mine

18: The Ring

Zander's POV

The weeks flew by and before I knew it I was standing in a jewelry store trying to decide on a ring worthy of Rose's finger. Graduation was tonight and I planned to ask her to spend forever with me as my wife as soon as possible after that.

My family had been pushing me to ask her sooner but it didn't feel right. I knew her mother wouldn't understand before she graduated, but I honestly believed she would be happy with it any time after that. It was clearly fate for us to be together. Her mother absolutely adored me and genuinely understood that we would be together forever. I had never met her father. Rose didn't seem to have very strong feelings for him. I recalled her saying that her father raised her and that was all. I felt bad for her in that respect because my family has always been so tight knit, but now she will be a part of it.

"Hi, can I help you, sir?" A woman asked me while she flashed a smile and studied my appearance.

"Yes, actually. I'm looking for an engagement ring," I responded without removing my eyes from the glass display.

"I see," she commented as she directed her attention to the solitaire diamonds that had caught my attention.

"What is your price range?" she asked.

"There is none. I just need a ring beautiful enough to see my girlfriend wearing it forever," I told her monotonously.

"Okay then," she said jumping to get behind the counter. "How about this one?" she pulled out a big diamond on a thick gold band with two smaller stones on either side of the center diamond. I couldn't imagine it on Rose's finger.

"How about that one?" I said pointing at a raised solitaire oval diamond on a rose gold diamond encrusted band.

"This one is gorgeous," she responded as she removed it from the enclosure.

"It's perfect for her."

"I would have to agree, would you like to take a closer look at it?" She asked as she handed me the ring.

I took it from her and examined it carefully. I could imagine it on her finger as I held her hand. I could imagine the way it would look as she held our child, or brushed her teeth in the morning, or led me into our bedroom each night. I could imagine myself proposing to her with that very ring; her eyes would glow with pure joy and excitement at the idea of wearing it for the remainder of our eternity. I thought of the way it signified our marriage, our promise to each other. The ring would symbolize our commitment to our love and adoration for the rest of our days. After I placed that very ring upon her beautiful little finger, I would never again have to worry about what may come in our future because one thing would be solidified: we would be together.

"I'll take it," I said simply.

"Alright! If you're sure that this is the one I will ring you up over here," she said cheerfully. "Now are we going to be setting up a payment plan today?" she asked. I looked at her with a questioning look. "Are we setting up a payment plan or paying the price in full today?" she asked again.

"Paying for it today," I responded as I reached for my wallet. I handed her the money and took the small bag with Rose's ring inside. I left without responding to the saleswoman's gleeful goodbyes. I was too deep in thought at the idea of Rose being mine forever.

I guess I had known from the moment I saw her that she would be mine forever, but knowing that we were actually taking our first few steps toward the future I promised her was exhilarating. I drove home as quickly as possible with excitement to show the ring to Sapphire, she would be so happy. Sapphire had become quite the support system for me when it came to Rose. She was deeply empathetic in a strange way considering she had never met met her mate. I shared the way that it was often difficult to be around Rose because of the way my wolf craved her and desired me to claim her and change her.