Chapter Forty-Four
Penelope
I woke to the quiet murmur of voices, my eyes flying open with fear and adrenaline pumping through my veins. I looked around, my head throbbing, but it was just my parents and Becca sitting on the side of our bed at the hotel. I sat up, grateful I’d covered myself with a robe after our shower, since Dristan had torn apart my clothes from the day before.
The soft, relieved smiles on their faces told me they’d been waiting for me to wake up.
“Hi,” I murmured, taking their hands in mine and looking over at the door of the suite’s bedroom, where Dristan stood, his huge form offering comfort and protection.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom whispered, hugging me close. “We were so scared. When they took you—” she broke off on a sob, and I shook my head, unable to stop the tears from escaping. Dad bundled us close, a hard breath shuddering out of him. Becca joined in, tears falling down her face.
“I’m so glad you’re safe, Pen. I don’t know what I’d have done if anything happened to you.”
Dad turned to look at Dristan, murmuring, “Thank you.”
My male looked embarrassed, ducking his gaze as he nodded. “There’s nothing to thank me for.”
My throat was too clogged to speak—to refute his words. My mother gestured for him to come closer and his brow dropped in consternation. I was sure he wasn’t used to the level of physical affection my family doled out, but my love for him grew as he shuffled closer and allowed us to force him into the hug.
I flinched as the cut on my face stung and they all pulled away at once, the fussing starting up right away. “I’m fine,” I croaked, swiping my fingers under my eyes. “And those men were taken away, so we’re safe now.”
Dristan’s scowl crossed his face. “I don’t know about that,” he said, his gruff voice carrying a hint of annoyance. “We shouldn’t take that chance.”
I blinked at him, before widening my eyes. With all the sex I’d demanded when we got to the hotel, we hadn’t had a chance to discuss anything else. I shook my head. “We don’t have anywhere else to go,” I told him.
“You can come stay with me,” Becca argued, even though we all knew her apartment barely had enough room for her and her collection of books.
I watched my sweet orc glance at my family, and I could see him holding back the need to boss everyone around the way he loved to do. I hid a smile, biting my lip instead.
“I have accommodations,” he told us, choosing his words with care. “That I got for your parents so they could be closer to us.”
“Accommodations?” I asked, my eyebrows swinging up. “What kind of accommodations? Do you mean the…”
“I bought you a house that’s closer to the city,” Dristan said while we all gaped at him. He cleared his throat, his hand going behind his neck again. “As a bride-price.”
My jaw had to be on the floor while my mom squealed from next to me. “A bride price?” She turned to me, a huge grin splitting her face. “Are you getting married?”
Becca’s gasp was loud in the room and she turned accusing eyes my way.
“Well,” I demurred, since I hadn’t had a chance to tell them that part yet, “the thing is—”
“Yes,” Dristan said, his voice firm. He looked like he was bracing himself for a terrible reaction, and his eyes went huge when they tackled him in a tight hug.
“Welcome to the family, Son,” Dad crowed, slapping him across the back.
“I–I haven’t discussed the rest of her bride-price yet,” Dristan argued and I shook my head with vehemence.
“No more bride price,” I told him, pointing an accusing finger his way.
“That’s no way to talk to my future son,” Mom harrumphed. “I raised you better.”
“Let the male spoil you,” Becca squealed, poking his chest and waggling her eyebrows at me.
I narrowed my eyes as he gave me a smug smirk.
Oh, he’s in for it when I get him alone.
Even as I thought it, I knew that I couldn’t take revenge against my male. Not when he was allowing my parents to smother him in hugs, my mother pinching his beard and commenting on the softness of his hair while my father took the time to ask him if he had any good ideas for stock investments. Becca had started scrolling on her phone—no doubt already putting together lists of what we needed to prepare for the wedding.
Adoration for my male filled me and as he met my gaze with a small, happy smile tugging at his lips, I mouthed the words I love you to him. His smile got wider, the corners of his yellow eyes crinkling as he mouthed them back.
I was surrounded by my family and mate, marveling at the fact that while I’d taken a few twists and turns to get there, I’d finally found my happily ever after.