I lead her toward a narrow clearing between the trees, close to the river that's since been iced over by the heavy Winter snowfall. The setting I prepared for tonight has a pit for a fire, but I lead Willow to the blanket spread over a wooden platform first.
“You can open your eyes now,” I whisper as I lean in and give her hand a gentle but firm squeeze.
Willow opens her eyes and immediately gasps when she sees the picnic spread I prepared for dinner.
“Thane…” she murmurs in awe. “You promised.”
“I know I did,” I throw her a wink as I signal for her to take a seat on the blanket. “I'm still keeping that promise, I swear. We're only here as friends.”
Willow clutches my jacket as she nods and heads to the blanket, and I tend to the fire, lighting the wood with a match.
Once I'm satisfied that it's burning properly, I join Willow on the blanket, lifting the lace dome cover off the trays containing different meats, a basket with a range of breads, and the side dishes in smaller containers. I pass her an empty plate, then open the wine and pour out two glasses.
“You've gone to great lengths to prepare all of this,” she observes softly as she takes the wine glass I offer. “Why?”
Sighing, I set the bottle down and stare at the rich ruby liquid in my glass, humbling myself by not meeting her eyes.
“Because I owe you every apology in the world, Willow. What happened in the past…there's really no reasonable excuse, except that I was a coward and thought my grandfather wouldn't approve of you as my mate.”
“That's changed?” she presses softly, and I nod, keeping my head bent.
“Back then, I thought I had to do everything by the book. Turns out, there is no book. You see,”—I take a deep breath—“my mother was an omega, and when my father died, my grandfather showed resentment toward her. For the longest time, I thought he blamed her because she was an omega. I overheard him berating her one night, as if it was her fault my father died. It wasn't long before she died, too. She wasn't strong enough to keep fighting without my father.”
“I'm sorry,” Willow murmurs, prompting me to look up with a frown.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Willow. I am sorry for the way I behaved, and for being so cruel to you when Goddess knows that all I wanted to do was tell you that I felt the same way that night,” I declare, reaching for her hand. With my thumb, I sweep her sleeve aside, revealing the bracelet I recognized when I saw it the other night.
“I shouldn't have rejected this gift. I shouldn't have rejected you.”
When I meet Willow’s cool, crystalline blue eyes, the air between us shifts, my hand still on her wrist.
“Thank you for sharing that, Thane,” she says gently, her eyes glossed over with tears. “I forgive you.” She lowers her eyes. “But things between us still can't change. I can't forget what I saw, and I know it's just a nightmare and not a vision, but I'm not sure I'm ready.”
“I know, and I'm not trying to pressure you into being with me. Just let me be here for you, do things for you because I'm trying to make up for the past,” I tell her. Though she won't tell me the full extent of what she saw, I trust her judgment and won't pressure her. “I can't continue living if I'm not certain that I've done everything in my power to be there by your side.”
“As friends,” she adds, and I nod briskly.
“As friends,” I concede, raising my glass to her.
She clinks her glass against mine, and we both take sips of our drinks. We proceed with our dinner then, stuffing our plates with breads and meats and the delectable side dishes. The comfortable silence that follows feels familiar, coupled with only the crackling of the fire in the pit. Luckily, the sky is clear tonight, and we can watch the stars as we enjoy dinner.
“So, when will you give me my present? I think I've earned it,” I proclaim boldly with my chin held up high once my plate is empty.
Willow's eyes immediately flicker to the hand where she's wearing the bracelet, pulling it out of her sleeve. “This old thing?” she snickers, embarrassed. “I thought you didn't want it.”
“I didn't think you'd have kept it all this time. I thought you got rid of it.”
Willow blushes profusely as she unhooks the bracelet from her wrist and holds it out for me.
“Well, maybe it needed to go to its rightful owner. I guess that's why I kept it all this time.”
“Thanks,” I say with a grin as I take the bracelet, my fingers brushing her palms and igniting that intense gravitational pull. I stop myself from meeting her eyes just yet and tie the bracelet on my wrist. The charged tension between us is palpable, and it's unnerving that I can't act on it just yet.
“There's something I want to ask you about, and I hope you don't mind. I'm not trying to pry or be too forward,” I say as I look up.
“Gosh, Thane, just ask the damn question,” she giggles, rolling her eyes playfully.
“Okay.” I sit up, moving closer as I hold her gaze. “How did you get this?” I ask, smoothly reaching for her cheek with a careful hand. She doesn't flinch, but turns her eyes away.
