Verum

eighteen.

The video linked is the one that ultimately inspired the final scene of this chapter. If you don't like country, just ignore it(though I think you're crazy). 

chapter eighteen

evelyn

One week later, and it was the morning before the ball where Alexander was going to announce that he was officially courting me. Each day I felt more and more comfortable with him, more and more healed from the disaster that was me trying to "save" my mom.

Luckily, we were kept busy so I didn't have to think about it for too long. The best was getting fitted for a personalized gown for the ball. For the first time in my life, I felt like a princess. I felt glamorous. But I didn't want the dress to be. I wanted it to be simple and elegant. More importantly, I wanted it to be flattering to my figure. Or lack there of. The seamstress was so easy to get along with too, which was comforting. She even laughed with me when I said I'd like something that hid my "flat pancake," otherwise known as my butt.

"Good morning, gorgeous," Alexander greeted, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

I inhaled sharply. "You snuck up on me," I accused, giggling as he licked up a droplet of water that fell down my shoulder. "I thought you'd be in the office all day."

"I can take a break long enough to shower with my girl."

His fingers caught my chin, turning my head so he could kiss me softly. "Feeling nervous at all?"

His fingers reached into my hair, continuing to lather up what was left of the shampoo there. "Really nervous," I confessed.

"There is no need to be. Everyone will fall for you and your charm," he assured me, guiding me so my hair was under the spray of water. "Just as I did."

I turned around in his arms so there wasn't water coming down my face. Looking up at him, I couldn't help but grow shy under his gaze. He always made me feel so beautiful and yet so sheepish. Like a school girl with a silly crush. "My pretty, shy girl. I adore you. I can't believe I will have to start sharing you with my people tonight."

"What do you mean?"

"You have been my beautiful secret. I didn't have to worry about someone else stealing your attention."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Oh. So you're upset you have to actually work for it?"

"Watch that mouth, missy. I am not beyond punishing you," he threatened, but he was grinning too.

Alexander brought me back to rest against his chest and kissed me deeply. "I want to know what your dress looks like," he hummed after a few moments. "So I can mentally prepare myself."

"It's a surprise! It's really pretty though. I like it a lot and I hope you will too."

The man guided my face into the crook of his neck, something he had been doing more and more often. I never really questioned it, but now that we were stuck in the confines of the shower, which I had turned up as high as my flesh could handle, it was too sticky and hot to comfortably sit in his embrace like that. When I started to pull away, Alexander growled.

I frowned up at him in confusion. This wasn't anything like the playful growls I was used to hearing. This was an angry growl. "It's too hot," I complained. "I'm sorry."

His eyes were shifting. The pupils were throbbing - going from normal-sized to almost hiding his irises completely. Alexander was battling with his wolf. All because I pulled away from him? He wasn't usually this sensitive.