The Lord ✔️

Chapter 16

Chapter 16: A Much Needed Blessing

Words could not describe how happy Ruby had felt when Hunter had asked her to become his mate.
It had all started two days after Diamond had decided to become Hunter's "mother." Hunter had gone to do some thinking, which he seemed to do a lot now, and he had come up to her in private with a serious mask in place. Ruby had known him long  enough to realize that he was actually incredibly nervous.
Then he had smiled at her, a warm and loving smile she'd never seen before, and asked her to be his mate. He'd told her that he knew she was special, not like Diamond, his new "mother," or Emerald, his good friend, but she was blessed with goodness. He'd said he'd always knew it was her.
Ruby's chest had felt like exploding. Of course she would be his mate! Who wouldn't? She had consulted with Emerald, who had seemed quite sad, but she had just shrugged. Ruby had left, practically dancing, skipping, but then remembered—with a horrible jolt—that Hunter's sister, Andromeda, had warned her off him.
But Hunter was the one who asked if she could be his mate! That didn't count; did it? She thought about if for a while, and conceded that she couldn't just move into Hunter's den without telling his sister: she'd find out, and she'd blow up. She was the leader. And her sister-in-law.
With a pained sigh, Ruby realized that she would have to ask Andromeda for a blessing.
Hunter, who was next to her, seemed to sense what she was thinking, and smiled at her. "Don't worry," he said, looking calm. "Once Andromeda realizes that you're my mate, and I trust you completely, she'll give in. I know how to persuade her. I'm her brother, after all." He licked her forehead.
"I guess," Ruby mumbled. "But what if she says no?"
"She won't," Hunter replied. "She knows how stubborn I can get. I can leave with you, run away, and she won't be able to do anything. She knows she can't boss me around. We'll be fine." Ruby wanted to believe Hunter when he said that, but she didn't know if she could.
Andromeda chose to walk into the den at that moment, and gave a confused glance when she saw Ruby. She looked around the den for clues, spotting Ruby's moss pile, which confused her more. She stared at them both questioningly. Then, she seemed to understand, because she gave them both a sharp look.
"What's this?"
Ruby squirmed. This was actually the moment. If Andromeda said no, it was no, unless Hunter had some grand escape plan they could use. If she said yes, Ruby would be eternally grateful, but she didn't know Hunter's sister, and she didn't know what the chances were for her agreeing to this. Especially since she warned them off.
"Ruby's my mate now," Hunter announced. "We need your blessing."
Andromeda stared at Ruby, and then at Hunter, and quirked her eyebrow. "How do you know this is safe?"
Hunter puffed out his chest, making Ruby smile inwardly. He had never let go of some of that childishness. "I know—I've known her for a year!" He was looking at Andromeda meaningfully. Ruby prayed that she'd say yes, but—
"I don't know," Andromeda said, looking skeptical.
"I know that she's not taking advantage of me. I asked her to become my mate, not the other way round. Why can't you just trust me? I'm not as gullible as you all think," Ruby admitted that Hunter was starting to sound more persuading. She closed her eyes slowly, praying for the best.
"Alright," Andromeda said, and Ruby opened her eyes with a jolt, shocked. She saw Hunter looking triumphant beside her, and Andromeda wearing a smirk. "You have my blessing. But you better invite me to the ceremony."
Hunter laughed and nodded. When Andromeda left, he turned to Ruby, who was still shocked, and whispered in her ear, with a large grin, "I told you so."