Starla was anervous wreck.
With the semester finally at an end, the long-awaited winter break had arrived. For Starla, this meant packing her bags and heading to New Orleans to meet Remy’s family for the very first time. Throughout the past several months, they’d talked about making the trip on more than one occasion. However, each time they planned to go back, something inevitably came up, forcing them to delay their visit.
Now, the time had finally come.
Starla had already gotten to know Maggie and Henri Fortier over the phone and on video calls. She had quickly grown fond of Remy’s mother, father, and brothers, who had always been so welcoming and kind during their virtual conversations. She basked in the warmth of their acceptance, but the thought of finally meeting them face-to-face filled her with a mixture of excitement and anxiety.
Visiting Remy’s home and meeting his pack would be a whole new experience. One that made everything feel more real and meaningful.
It meant she would finally have a family.
During the past few months, Starla and Remy became utterly inseparable. Each day with him was a reminder that true happiness was genuine, and yet, a part of her was still waiting to wake up and discover it had all been a dream.
As a mate, there was no one better than Remy. She was in awe that someone could make her feel so deeply cherished and complete, and she did her best to spoil him as much as he did her. Although his scenting issue has gotten better, he still chose to be with her as often as he could. They truly enjoyed eachother’s company and never ran out of things to talk about or share with one another.
Their relationship had blossomed into something that was envied by everyone at school. He continued to walk her to class and pick her up every day, often bringing her flowers or other gifts just to make her smile. While she wasn’t comfortable with the attention the other students gave her, there was nothing she could do about it. Remy was a well-known star on the football team, and she had earned a reputation as a campus beauty.
After surviving the magical amulet experience, their lives were pretty tame in comparison. That was something they were eternally grateful for. They would leave the dangerous activities and investigations for others to deal with. All they wanted was to enjoy their time together without anyone trying to kill them and be normal supernatural college students.
Getting a part-time job at The Sweet Spot had been a blessing. Not only had the staff members welcomed her with open arms, they also became some of her closest friends. Especially Jordan, the fairy co-owner of the bakery with the Goddess of Revenge. Jordan was like the big sister Starla had always dreamed of having, and working at the bakery with her made her a little less homesick for the Fairy Realm.
The time she spent at the bakery also gave her a significant advantage in her courses at the culinary school. She honed her ability to follow recipes precisely and gained the confidence to experiment with her own creative ideas. The hands-on experience she gathered in the bakery’s kitchen complemented her academic studies, allowing her to blend theory and practice seamlessly.
Although Remy complained about the extra pounds he’d put on from sampling every treat and dish she made, that didn’t stop him from savoring everything she put in front of him. In fact,his appetite for her creations only seemed to grow along with his admiration for her talent in the kitchen.
In order to remain close to her, he even claimed a table in the corner of the kitchen at the bakery so he could sit with her while she worked. He often helped her complete her assignments by reading to her or using their bond, allowing her to maximize her study time.
Remy only faked his injury for a few weeks before getting back on the field. She enjoyed watching him play football, whether it was during practice or the actual games. Of course, the team was scheduled to play in the championship game in a few weeks. Once they won that, they would finish the season undefeated, and he would have a lot more free time to spend with her.
“Are you sure we have everything?”
Instead of being annoyed with her repeatedly asking him the same question over and over again, Remy’s strong arms wrapped around her from behind.
“Everything is ready to go, babe. Just say the word, and we will teleport home with all of the gifts you made our family.”
Our family.
Just hearing those words filled her heart with joy. Not just because of the meaning behind them, but because he really meant it. From the moment they had met, he had welcomed her into his heart. Being his mate meant sharing everything in his life without holding anything back, including his family, his pack, his friends, and even his life, if necessary.
“Where is everyone? I thought we were going to leave together?”
Turning her around, he leaned down to kiss her forehead before responding. “I told the others to go ahead so we could take our time.”
Love for him welled up, making her eyes sting. He always gave her exactly what she wanted or needed without her having to ask.
“Don’t do that, babe. You know I can’t stand it when you cry.”
“That’s what you get for being so sweet to me.”
“You have to get used to it at some point since I plan to lavish you with sweetness for the rest of our lives.”
Sighing, she rested her head on his chest. “Every day I love you more than the last.”
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tight. “Maybe we should just stay here tonight.”
Laughing, she pushed away from him. “No. You know they are expecting us.”
“They are probably still busy freaking out about Ava’s big news. She went home last night to break it to them in person.”
