Extra First Date Pt 5
“We’re going to have to set up a watch tonight, I’m afraid.”
I could see the frustration rolling off of Aegis in nearly palpable waves, but his expression was calm.
“Of course,” he said. “I recognized him as we pulled up from some reports. There’s been some rumors about a new type of nomad pack that’s been springing up all over the world.”
“I’ve heard the same.” Derrick- the Alpha of the White Point pack- nodded grimly. “They move in on existing territories, use up as much of the local resources as possible, and then leave before things get too dangerous.”
“I'll have Lawrence send out a few calls to some of the surrounding packs in warning."
“You both hear more than I do,” Max said tiredly. He was holding a beer in one hand, and he squeezed it tightly enough that it groaned a little. “Sometimes I wonder if-“
“You’re an integral part of Werewolf Hollow’s equilibrium,” I said quickly, and the three Alphas turned to look at me. “Werewolf Hollow wouldn’t be what it is if a pack dissolved."
Aegis grinned at me, before turning back to Max. “She’s right. We all have our places here, Max, and the last thing I’d want is to lose your territory to another Alpha.”
“Point taken,” Derrick said amidst deep, rolling laughter. He grinned at me. “How are things going for you, Sylvia? That was your first official experience as a werewolf, I’d bet.”
“Tense… and strange,” I confessed. “So many little things that just sort of… make sense.”
“The blood handles quite a lot,” Max agreed, smiling warmly. “Still, I’m glad you’re all right, everything considered. Seems like there’s always some sort of trouble around here,” he added, muttering.
“Speaking of which,” Derrick added, “how many patrols are we thinking?”
Aegis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I want the entirety of the borders secured. The last thing we need is anyone acting recklessly because of hurt feelings; it got a little tense there for a moment.”
“I am sorry for interrupting your night,” Max said, looking between us.
“This is life, now,” I said, taking Aegis’s hand. “Aegis is my mate. We have the rest of our lives together. We’ll be all right.”
I could feel the warmth radiating off of Aegis. Derrick rolled his eyes good naturedly and pretended to be disgusted.
“Newly bonded mates are the worst,” he groaned. “So much sappy loving to be around.”
We laughed, but broke apart shortly after to get started turning out the patrols.
I stuck close to Aegis. I wasn’t as cold as I would have been when human; the nights were still freezing despite the receding winter, but I stood in just the dress and jacket that Jade had lent me. Being a werewolf certainly had its perks.
“All right,” Aegis said, sighing as he turned away from Paul and Lawrence, both of whom were now forming patrols. “You and I have got the perimeter by the gathering place up in the woods, on the suburban side; Paul and Ivy are handling the actual tree line.”
“Let’s get moving then,” I said, yawning. “It’s going to be a long night.”
The car ride was silent for a while as we drove back home for a change of clothes. It was truly dark now, and it was obvious that the evening was definitely done. Our first date had come, gone, and ended as abruptly as possible.
We quietly explained the situation to Rudy, who was awake and waiting in the kitchen, still with his paper.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” he said wryly, giving me a crooked smile. “Your first date being a disaster seems like a good sign.”
“And why is that?” Aegis said. There was disappointment in his eyes.
“If you can handle the worst together, then you can handle everything else just fine,” Rudy said, chuckling. “Leanne and I can hold down the fort here with Jade. The kids are all asleep; you two get going.”
Dressed more warmly now, we started our drive of the perimeter. It began with some tension, but when there was no sign of anyone coming, we became less and less concerned.
“I wouldn’t really expect much out of the pack after the showdown we had,” Aegis finally confessed around two in the morning. “Still, our replacements should be meeting up with us soon. We could probably have some… cold, reheated food back at my place, assuming we... remembered to put it in the fridge.”
I laughed. “We can always pick something up, too.”
“Sylvia?”
I looked at him. “Yes?”
His amber eyes searched mine for a long moment. “Are you really all right with this as your life?”
“I don’t think I have much of a choice, Aegis,” I said, taking his hand. I looked at him and saw my entire future, a man who cared not only for me- his mate- but for my children, like they were his own. “No one could ask for any better. I love you; I always have.”
He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, savoring the words. When he opened them, there was peace, and he leaned forward, his hands cupping my face to kiss me.
Matteo and his pack of nomads could probably have walked straight past the windows of the car, and I’d never have known.
It was a long time before Aegis released me, and I looked up into his eyes.
“Sylvia,” he murmured, rubbing a thumb against my cheek. “Today… was a disaster.”
I laughed. “What else is new?”
“I took you to see a terrible B-horror movie.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“We didn’t even get to eat dinner.”
“We can always grab some take-out.”
“I only got to kiss you three times tonight.”
“Now, that is a tragedy.”
He chuckled, kissed me again, and then pulled back. I was surprised to find him holding up a small, plain black box, and I gasped so hard, I choked.
“Sylvia Lake,” Aegis said, while I tried to regain my composure. “I know it’s only been a few months… but there is literally no one else in this world for me.”
“A-Aegis-“
“If you can still love me after a date like today’s, fated mate and all… then the only option is forever.”
I grabbed the box out of his hands before he could even open it, ripped the ring out, and without ever so much as looking at it, I jammed it on my own finger.
Aegis burst into laughter. “Wrong finger, love.”
Tears of joy were running down my cheeks now; he was right, of course, and now we were both laughing as I ripped it back off the right finger and onto the left finger.
He kissed me hard, and I felt the entire world clicking into place.
Sometimes, it takes a while for us to get where we’re supposed to be, to become who we need to be to even accept things. I was not the person I was 10 years prior… and that was okay. Neither was Aegis. We were both exactly what we needed in this exact moment, and I was exactly who I was supposed to be. I had Aegis, and I had Lucy, Collin, and Dylan… and I had so, so much more.
Life could not have been more perfect.