I hug my arms across my chest, feeling the overwhelming past hanging on my shoulders. It’s too confusing, too mind-boggling to make sense of.
And now he’s gone on to announce our mate bond to the pack.
“Rissa…?” Brooks calls out from behind me, instantly lifting my defenses as I stand up ramrod straight and turn to face him.
“Why did you follow me?!” I yell out coldly. “I wanted to be left alone!”
“No,” Brooks declares firmly as he marches over with conviction. He doesn’t stop until he’s close enough to grip my shoulders and pin my back to the wall, staring into my eyes so fiercely that I have no choice but to stare back.
“Wh-what do you want?!” I bellow, my voice cracking over the lump forming in my throat.
“I want to apologize to you personally, Rissa. Will you just hear me out?”
“You expect me to just forget about how you treated me in the past, huh?!” I belt out, shocked that I’ve said the one thing that I’ve been holding back all this time. But I’m on a roll now, and it doesn’t matter if he knows how much he hurt me in the past, or that it affected me at all.
“You can’t erase the past, Brooks! I hated you for what you did back then! I hated you!”
Brooks’s eyes widen as his face pales with horror, appearing dejected and defeated as he releases my shoulders. He steps back, his shoulders slumped as he hangs his head.
“I know I can’t erase the past, Rissa,” he sighs apologetically. “But…” He lifts his sullen eyes to mine. “But I will do whatever it takes to make it up. I was wrong,” he admits as he tentatively reaches for my hands. “I was an asshole for the way Itreated you back then. I know it’s no excuse, but I only had my sights set on becoming the sub-alpha to please my parents. I—”
“Brooks—” I try stopping him, but he shakes his head.
“No, Rissa. You have to hear this.” He pauses with a deep breath. “I wanted to come clean after the festival, when I had a chance to speak to you about all of this. But seeing Laura come at you again tonight made me realize that there was no point in waiting any longer.” Brooks takes a bold step forward, still staring down at my face when he continues, “Back when I was mean to you, I only did it because I felt a pull in my heart whenever I saw you.” Holding my hand tightly, he presses it to his chest. “Perhaps you haven’t felt it yet, but you are my fated mate. I felt it back then, and I was in denial because I was stupid and immature and I—”
I press a finger to his lips to cut him off, focused on the sincerity in his eyes that speaks volumes beyond any of his words. He’s right—I haven’t fully felt our fated mate bond, but it’s only because I was blocking it all this time.
“You’re sorry for how you acted in the past?” I ask, my heart skipping a beat, the moment his eyes soften as he nods.
“Yes,” he whispers earnestly when I remove my finger from his lips. “I am truly sorry, Rissa. It will never happen again, and I want to make it up to you. Will you give me a chance?”
As my heart skips another beat, I nod slowly, realizing how sincere and genuine he is. It’s like this is all I wanted to hear from him, to forgive him and let go of the past, and also open myself up to the possibility that our mate bond was fated.
“I forgive you,” I sigh, instantly getting folded into his arms for a hug. Perhaps there were signs all along that we were destined to be mated, but as forgiveness opens my heart center, I feel his warmth more intensely than just his body heat.
It’s as if his protective instincts wrap around me, making me feel safe, while a little flicker of electric awareness courses through me as he holds me in his arms.
“Thank you, Rissa. I promise not to let you down,” he declares, and for the second time in my life, I believe him. I trust him.
Chapter 18 - Brooks
With the festival set up on the outskirts of the village square, I’m finally able to go through with my plans. While the festival grounds lie on the outer edges of the village that isn’t bound by Luna Aurora’s protection spells, we’ve decided to let the festivities run throughout the day, when it’s safer for the Snehvolk Pack against the demon.
The demonic creatures don’t attack during the day, and won’t attack crowded spaces. I’d already asked the patrol guard to sweep the perimeter to ensure it was safe for Rissa and me to spend some quiet time here, even if we’re not under the umbrella of Aurora’s spell. We aren’t going far from the village, and I have a good feeling about tonight.
My impromptu announcement at the bonfire gathering the other night isn’t exactly what I’d had in mind to officially declare Rissa as my mate, but now that it’s out of the way, there’s only one thing left to do.
I have to win her over in every other sense, like with this date I have planned for tonight.
She has no idea that it’s a date, and I told her that the Council was gathering for dinner, so she needed to dress up after a day spent training her magic powers.
It’s a lie, I know, but it’s a white one. I’m hoping that the surprise will make up for it.
Hearing her shuffling at the top of the stairs, I grin and make my way out of the kitchen. She’s bent over and fumbling with her shoes on the landing, and I clear my throat to get her attention.
But the moment she straightens up, I’m the one fumbling with my thoughts when her vibrant eyes meet mine. Stunned by the beauty of her eyes alone, it’s my undoing when I rake my gaze over her from head to toe.
Wow…
