Because You're Mine (COMPLETED)

Chapter 86: Serenity/Kirstie

I lay there next to Avi. We just got done watching a movie and hed fallen asleep. I just lay there listening to his heartbeat.

I love this, laying here with my mate. I feel Kirstie stir, but she doesn't say anything. I can feel her sadness.

I've done the best I can to console her and she's gotten a little better, she'll speak to me a little.

What happened was that she told Avi she was scared. That was about to send her into a full on breakdown and I took over before she blacked out. I've slowly gotten her more talkative, especially these last few days and honestly, I think shes ready to come back. It might be scary for her at first, but I know she can handle it.

I close my eyes and focus. I want to bring her forward and myself back. She resists at first, but when she realizes its no use, she stops fighting me.

A few seconds later and I'm in the back.

Kirstie P.O.V.

I gasp as I feel myself surface. No, no, no, no. I can't. I shake Avi as i feel slight panic rising. Tears rise into my eyes as by breathing increases.

He wakes with a start and immediately sits up gathering me in his arms.

"Baby, its okay. Its okay. Talk to me." He says in my ear. The sound of his voice helps ground me a little as I cling to his arm.

I shake my head and choke back a sob and look at him in the eyes.

"Kirstie?" He says, moving my hair out of my face.

I nod slowly as he pulls me into his arms.

"Oh, my God." He sniffles. "I missed you." He kisses my head. "Can you say something?"

I want to. I want to so bad. But I'm stuck.

He cupped my face. "First breathe. In and out. Deep breaths." He put my hand on his chest and showed me.

I followed his breathing until I was calm enough to actually take in what he's saying.

"You know your safe here. I promise you. I know for a fact that Jeremy won't be coming back nor will any of his stupid goons. This is your pack, and any of us would do anything for you. Even that baby, when shes old enough, of course." I give him a small chuckle. "You are safe, and from now, until the day I die, I'm going to protect you in everyway that I possible can. And after I die, I will still be with you, watching over you, and making sure that you are okay, because you're my mate, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. I made a mistake and you payed the price for it. That's my fault. None of what happened is your fault, and all three of you made it out alive. You, Mitch, and Addalin. Kevin told me about how you were protecting Mitch. Kirstie, you are so strong and so, just, amazing. I love you, regardless of what you think. I'm in love with you. And not for the reasons you think." Damn, read my mind, Avi. "I'm in love with you because you are kind, and helpful, and protective, and smart, and beautiful." I'm sobbing at this point. "I love the way you don't notice your hair falling in your face when your reading. Or when you purse your lips when you're thinking. Or how, even though you've had so much happen to you, you always make time for someone if they need help. I love the way you get excited about tiny things, or just simply going somewhere. The way your face lights up when you see something beautiful and you pull out your phone to take a picture of it." He takes a breath. "I love you, Kirstin, plain and simple. Everything about you is perfect in my eyes. I hope, one day, we can have what Scott and Mitch have." I raise my eyebrow. "I want to have a family with you, but I'm going to wait until your ready. I already know that you're the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with." He finally finishes with tears in his eyes.

I do my best to hold back the tears, but I fail and they cascade down my face. I can't not reply to that.

Dammit, Avi. Why do you have to be so perfect?

It takes me a second to compose myself and I finally can do it. I haven't said a word in over two months. But Avi deserves it. He deserves to have me say something to him. He's right. He is my mate and this is my pack. I'm safe, I know I am.

I take in a breath. Now or never. "I love you, too." I say softly. This time, I don't feel the irrational fear that I did last time I spoke. This time its like I feel...relief.

He laughs. "You spoke! Oh my god!" He pulls me in for a kiss, followed by a hug.

I cry into his shirt, because I haven't seen him this happy in a long time.

"H-h-how'd you k-know it was m-me?" I stutter. That's new.

It feels good to talk, honestly, but now that its been explained to me, I'm not afraid.

"It was your eyes. Something about them was different. I can't explain it, but I just knew when I saw them, that it was you." He cups my face so I'm looking at him. "I mean what I said. All of it. I love you, Kirstin Maldonado." He smiled.

"I-I love you, t-too, Avriel Kaplan."

Good? Bad? Yes? No? Maybe?

The PTX version of "Say something" just popped into my head. I officially dedicate that song to this chapter lol.

~🌈Jordan❤~