It wasn't my fault. My father used me, and I've been hanging onto the guilt of the massacre as if I were the one who pulled the triggers.
Gathering myself up, I decide to let the guilt slip away so I can do what's right by the woman I love and care about. She deserves for me to step up and be the man she needs, not some prick who's too afraid to be the man in her life.
She's right. Futures can change, and visions aren't set in stone. Delilah would know better than anyone, since she's a witch herself.
I pull myself together and jog down the street toward her house, taking the corner and finding her on the porch, just about to enter.
“Delilah! Wait!” I call out to her, running the final stretch to the house. She turns around slowly, her eyes glossed over with the tears she's been holding back.
“W-What?” Her voice trembles, and I stop just in front of the first step.
“I'm sorry, Delilah,” I say sincerely with a heavy-hearted sigh. “I'm sorry that I kept the truth from you, and I'm sorry that I broke your heart when I rejected our mate bond. I was stupid.” I hang my head. “I was stupid to push you away, and I'm sorry about everything I've done.”
“Why did you marry me?” she asks, and it prompts me to raise my head and frown.
“Because the truth is, I do care about you, D. I care about you, and I didn't want you marrying some arrogant prick who doesn't deserve you.”
Delilah sighs, crossing her arms. “You care about me, and you think you can be the man I deserve?”
“I…I'm far from being anything you deserve, Delilah. But I'd like to try. You know everything now,” I say as I lift my arms in a show of surrender. I'm done running, and I'm ready to step up because, truthfully, I don't think I can bear losing Delilah again.
It's happened once, and if it happens again, I'll lose my mind. Tonight proved that the mere thought of losing her will drive me insane, the way I did when I heard she was at dinner with the prince.
“There's nothing left to hide, but everything to prove. If you'll give me the chance, I'd like to make up for the past. If you'll forgive me, that is.”
Delilah takes a deep, thoughtful breath, unfolding her arms.
“I forgive you, Hunter. I…” her voice tapers off with a sigh. “I will give you another chance, but you're not running away this time. If you can't do this, then you gotta tell me now, be straightforward with me, and cut the bullshit.”
My heart swells with hope as I nod, a sincere smile curling my lips. “No more bullshit, no more running,” I promise, pinching the skin on my throat between my thumb and forefinger. “From this moment on, I will not hide anything from you. You're one of the closest people I have in my life, I care about you, and I don't want to ruin that,” I add, wanting her to know that I don't want her just to fulfill my baser desires. She means more than that to me, and I can't risk losing her.
Delilah nods, a flicker of sadness flashing in her eyes as her lips lift in a wistful smile. “Well, we can't get divorced yet, ‘cause it's gonna be too obvious why we did it, then, and I can't afford to make my parents suspicious of me,” she sighs, blinking as if there's somethingsheisn't telling me, like that's not the only reason she doesn't want the divorce. “So, friends, then?” She sticks out her hand, and I hesitate to take it, and shake on the agreement to be friends.
But it is a good start, and I'm willing to take things slowly, hoping to win her over now that I've told her the truth. If this is what it takes to win her heart back, then I'll gladly do it to make up for hurting her before.
I finally take her hand and shake on this truce we've formed, the electric awareness still pulsing between us. Even if we're just friends for now, there's no denying that we're so much more than that, and it's evident in the way Delilah's eyes glow.
I'm going to take my sweet time with her and sweep her off her feet.
Chapter 17 - Delilah
“Oh, my Goddess! He's so cute!” I beam as I crouch near Cecelia, gazing fondly at her newborn son. Reaching out, I touch my fingertip to his cheek, and a pair of eyes that match mine like a reflection focus on me, and he coos. “So cute…”
A tiny hand settles on my shoulder, and four-year-old Noah peeks at the baby from beside me, wearing a curious frown.
“Is cute,” he agrees with a firm nod as if he means business. “Mama also having one. I hope he cute aso.”
Behind me, the other ladies burst out laughing.
“Of course he'll be cute, Noah,” Cecelia giggles, her face glowing as a new mother. “If he's anything like you, he'll be the cutest.”
Arianna comes over and places her hands on her son's shoulders. “Why don't you go see where Daddy is, Noah-kins? Aunty Cecelia will want to feed Darius and put him to sleep.”
Noah nods eagerly and runs out of the room.
“Will you guys be staying for dinner?” Cecelia asks as she nurses her baby. “Delphine was so excited when she heard our friends were coming over that she prepared a giant feast.”
“Yeah, Mom's been preparing since this morning,” Donna, Cecelia's best friend and sister-in-law, adds as she takes Darius from Cecelia once she's done feeding him. “I don't think she's left the kitchen since.”
