If I Were Allowed To Love You

Twelve

The outdoor patio had stone steps next to an electric fireplace. There was a large glass table that seated everyone, luscious green grass spanning from one extravagant lawn to the next. A tiny creek was set up next to the outdoor couches and chairs. Stone fountains perched in the yard next to the house with a birdfeeder that fed to both birds and traveling fairies. 

Ryan paced outside in front of the already set table. "You didn't see the look in her eye," he contradicted. "She was nervous to be here. She must think so low of herself right now. She already freaks out over her financial stance as is."

"Relax, Ryan," Tanner instructed as he kicked the chair out across from him. "Sit down and take a deep breath. If she sees you pacing, she'll think something is wrong."

Sitting down, he folded his hands in front of his him and rested his forehead against the fingers. "I hate that she thinks so low of herself. I'm supposed to be her mate, so I'm supposed to prevent these feelings from occurring."

"You can't always stop the worriment and downs in her head like you want to. As her mate, you're supposed to be there to help make her feel at ease when those moments come and to let her know that it's okay to be worried and afraid. As long as you're there, she knows she can relax and let her guard down. That's what a good mate does."

"It's how your mother and I stayed together all these years," Tanner teased as he held onto Louise's hand, and she smiled coyly at him.

"You two are together because you're mates."

"We may be mates, but we work because we took the time to get to know one another and never stay apart for too long to cause us to fall out of love with one another. Just because we're made for one another doesn't mean we will always work and that everything will always be okay. You have to put in the work and can't expect fate to make the resolutions for you."

Ever since he was a young pup, Ryan had been told that when he met his mate, everything would fall into place. There would be no battle or struggle. They were made for one another, so everything would work out. And maybe it would, but whether he had a human for a mate or not, he had to put in the work. He had to prove that he would be there for his mate, take care of her, and love her. That was his role as her mate.

He knew things could be challenging between his parents. His mother met his father while he was touring the country with Limited Edition, a folk rock band that never stayed relevant for too long, a year at most. He never wanted to stop touring, but she wanted to be an opera singer. It was what she had been training for since she was five. He toured with her once, but it never worked out with the lifestyle he wanted. Though they had different plans for their occupations and dreams, they still made it work. It wasn't the fact that they were soulmates, rather two people who loved each other, and put in the effort to stay together. That was exactly what Ryan needed to remember when it came to Melissa.

The patio door slid open, and Theo carried in the ham while Melissa carried two plated on each arm. Ryan jumped up from his seat and grabbed the plates resting on her elbows. He winced when he saw the red marks on her skin. "Are you okay? These are really hot," he claimed as he quickly put them on the table.

"Oh, it's a little tender. If we run out of meat, we can eat my arms then," she nervously giggled, stopping short when she looked up at his parents. Theo ran back inside to grab the last two dishes, but Ryan pulled out the chair next to him for Melissa and scooted her in. "Oh...thank you."

"Of course," he smiled as he sat down beside her. As she met his eye, he bashfully smiled, only keeping eye contact for a few seconds before looking away. He knew she was already nervous enough, and he didn't want her to be more anxious by staring at her in front of his parents.