3 years later
I felt the salty breeze on my face as I laid in my bed staring out of my room. I had a perfect view of the ocean, it was the bluest water I'd ever seen. The sun was rising and it as always beautiful. I slowly sat up and stretched out and got up from the bed. I went to the bathroom and started to undress from my nightclothes. I had gotten so tan from being here, I loved it. My usual bright blonde hair was now dark blonde and the curls were more like waves. My hair was almost to my waist in length, apparently no one ever really cut their hair here. It was a way of showing your power. I hopped in the shower quickly, I wanted to get to the beach as soon as possible. I got out and changed into my baby pink bikini. I quickly put on a pair of sandals and ran downstairs. I grabbed my cover-up and my car keys to my blue jeep wrangler. I got in the car and drove down to the beach.
There were few people there as usual since it was 8:00 in the morning but this is how I spent most of my days. And today was a special occasion. It was my 21st birthday today. Crazy how tie flies. Three years already. At first, it was hard, I cried every day and I never left the house. But then one day I don't know something clicked. I went to the beach and I sat outside in the sand but all I thought about was Vincent. He was constantly on my mind. His smile, his laugh, his voice, his scent. But then one day it all faded away and I couldn't remember what it looked like anymore. Every day I lost another detail of his face, and that was only in the first year. Year two I started to enjoy being here, learned how to surf, and made friends. I went out more and had laughed. Now, I'm in year three and I don't want to go back. This weekend is Amber and Vincent's wedding. This will be my first time seeing everyone. The only people I stayed in contact with were Jonathan, Taylor, and Rhen. They tried to talk to me as much as possible but they had mates and had their own lives. Also, the time difference got in the way.
Though we never spoke much I missed them, all the time. I turned my car off and grabbed my surfboard and headed down to the water. "Bell!" I heard someone yell my name and it was Akoni. He was around 6'5 and had a strong built. He had tribal tattoos covering his chest and biceps. He had beautiful brown skin and long dark brown curly hair. These hazel eyes were filled with kindness. He was the alpha of the pack here and they were welcoming to me. Even though I was a lycan. "You're never here this early." I teased him. "The tide is perfect today. I want all of it while I can." He slammed his surfboard into the sand and I did the same to mine. "And..." He put his hands on my hips and pulled me to him. "I want all the time I can get with you before you leave me." I giggled at him and he connected our lips together.
After a few moments, he pulled away stared down at me. "I'm going to miss you. But if everything works out I'll be back in two weeks' time." I rubbed my hands up and down his arms comforting him. He let out a deep sigh and bit his lower lip. "Okay, I know. Doesn't make it any better." He whined to me. "I know you miss your castle. And your fancy dinners, and your fancy ballgown." I rolled my eyes at him and we walked to the bar and sat our boards down. "No, I love it here. It's peaceful, quiet, and every day is a day I want to live." Akoni smiled at me and it was full of love. "What?" I asked him. "You are amazing. Everything about you is amazing." I could feel the blush rise on my cheeks and I looked away from him. "Akoni." I sighed. "I know, this is a fling, can't get too serious. But that doesn't make you any less amazing." We agreed to keep things casual between us. He still hasn't met his mate yet and I have been through enough mate drama, I don't need anymore.
"I know that you say you're fine, and that going home isn't going to bother you. But Bellamy, you are the strongest woman I know. Yeah, your family is screwed up and your mate situation is a little more complex. But don't you ever doubt that you don't deserve the world. Now, remember that when you go back home and they try and make you feel less than. Got it beautiful?" Akoni finished his rant and I went to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. He was always so sweet to me and it sucked that this couldn't blossom into anything more. "Well, we still have today. My flight doesn't leave until tomorrow afternoon." I leaned forward and kissed him. "Speaking of today." He gave me a soft kiss. "Happy birthday." Our lips connected again and it was filled with so many emotions. I pulled away before it got too heavy and leaned my forehead against his. "Thank you." He leaned back and looked around. "It's still pretty empty, let's go to my cabana so I can give you your birthday present." He winked at me. "I like the sound of that."
****
I had just got washed out by this huge wave and I had to go back on the sand. That's when I saw all of Akoni's pack run towards me. I couldn't help but feel the happiness wash over me. "Happy Birthday!" They all yelled and picked me up and swung me around the beach. They had become my family, the only family that ever loved me. "Awe you guys are so sweet." We walked back onto the sand and to a couple of chairs and table further up the beach. "So tonight, everyone is going to be here for your birthday slash going away party. But do you have to go?" Kai asked, she was 16 years old and he was like a little sister to me. "Yes, I do. But I will be back." I pulled her to me and gave her a kiss on her head. "We have more important things to worry about okay. Like, what is my first drink going to be? I'm thinking of a margarita. Or should I just go straight tequila?" I asked around the table. "Whoa now, relax. Do they not have any in Britain?" Akoni laughed at me. "They drink champagne and wine. You know the fancy stuff. Royalty can't go out and party like everyone. I won't be walking around in swimsuits all day."
"Is it cold there?" Kai asked me. "Yes! Since it's November I will be wearing sweaters and jeans. Clothes I haven't worn in a very long time." I chuckled. "But I don't want to talk about it anymore. Let's have a good last night yeah?" They all shouted in agreement and called the waiters over. I loved days like these, I felt important, I felt part of a family. I heard my phone go off and I got a few messages from family back home. There was some from Jonathan, Taylor, and Rhen. It was sweet, they wanted to wait until I was home to have their weddings. They wanted me as a bridesmaid and wanted me to be in their kid's life. Though we don't talk much, I don't doubt the love, at least from them.
The plane just landed and I was already missing Hawaii. It was 50 degrees and it was getting colder by the minute. Taylor said she would pick me up from the airport and take me to the castle since my own parents wouldn't. I was walking toward the lobby but I didn't see her anywhere. Or at least that's what I thought. "Bellamy!" I heard her voice and I turned around and saw her run toward me. Her hair was now to her stomach and in loose waves. Her usually brown hair was now a dark chocolate color and her ends were a honey color. She wrapped her arms around me and then I turned and saw a beautiful red-haired woman following her. "Taylor, I literally didn't recognize you." I hugged her back. "You look so good Bell." She pulled away and smiled. "You look happy." I smiled back at her. "Yeah, I am happy. It was hard at first but now it's even harder coming back. But anyways who is this?" I motioned to the redhead behind her. "This is my mate, Augusta. She is actually Jonathan's mates' older sister. A lot I know." Augusta walked forward and shook my hand.
"I know its a lot. But Taylor has told me all about you." Her smile was amazing, she was absolutely beautiful. "Okay, well let's go. Rhen and Jedidiah have a house for you to stay near the packhouse. It's in between all of ours so we will be close. And don't worry you are far away from Vincent. He lives in the packhouse with River and his mate." She explained to me as I followed out to the airport to her car. Augusta got in the back seat and let me sit in the front to talk to Taylor. "How long are you planning on staying?" She asked me. I just sighed and looked out the window. "I don't know. Right now I'm okay but at the same time. If I see Vincent and all the feelings come crashing back, I don't think I'll be able to stay." She looked at me with a pain in her eyes. "Hey, stop that. I don't need any pity, I am fine. This is just a week and a half trip, then I will move back home to Hawaii with my pack and live out my days with salt water in my hair."
Taylor looked over at me and there was a bit of hurt in her eyes. "This is your home, Bellamy." I turned my head and looked out the window and watched the trees roll by. "Right." It was pretty silent almost the whole ride. I guess me saying that really hurt her. "I'm sorry I didn't mean for your feelings to get hurt when I said Hawaii was my home. But I've been there for three years now and I haven't had a single phone call from my parents." I tried explaining to her. "I understand, and I shouldn't be upset." I grabbed her hand and gave it a soft squeeze and a reassuring smile. I heard a low growl come from behind me and immediately moved my hand. "I'm so sorry. It just comes out sometimes. I need to keep it under control." I laughed lightly and turned to her. "I understand. Mate bond."
After about an hour and a half, we were finally back on our territory. It was a weird feeling. Nothing has changed but at the same time, everything changed. I felt like a foreigner and yet I grew up here. Thirty minutes later I could see the castle but we turned a corner into the Royal neighborhood. It was full of mansions and beautiful gardens. She pulled into their beautiful white mansions and the driveway a dark cobblestone. "This place is yours. Rhen had it built especially for you. Everything in there is just like how you would want." She parked the car and I slowly got out. I was in awe this place was beautiful. It almost made me want to stay. Almost. I went and grabbed my suitcases and rolled them up to the door. I put my hand on the gold handle and pushed open the door. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside.
"So tonight there is a ball. It's for all the neighboring packs' alphas and all, and it's mandatory. It's a public invitation for all of them to go to the wedding." Taylor told me and my heart broke, just a little. "Well, it looks like I need to find a dress." I turned and smiled at Taylor. She walked me through the mansion and to all the rooms. We made it to the master bedroom and the closet and it was filled with clothes upon clothes. "Who put all of this in here?" I asked her. I ran my fingers over all of the clothes, they were amazing. This was even more than I had when I lived at home. "Your mom actually. She helped Rhen decorate this place." I rolled my eyes at that. "She probably felt guilty. Anyways what time does it start?" I went to the dresses and started looking through them. "At 6:30. So you have about 2 hours to get ready. Do you want us to come back and pick you up? Or how about you drive yourself?" She pulled out car keys and I screamed in excitement. My car. My first love. I missed her. "I'm diving myself. Now get out of here I need to get ready. And so do you." I grabbed the keys from her and pushed her out of the closet with Augusta following us. "Okay, I'll see you tonight." I gave Taylor a hug and she grabbed Augusta's hand and walked out of the room. Well, what am I going to wear?
*****
It was 6:15 and I just put my dangle earrings in to finish my look. I was wearing a cream ballgown, it had cream, baby pink, and dark pink flowers cascading down it. It had a plunging v-neck that had a sheer cover over the exposed skin and for the sleeves. I had my hair up into a sleek bun, I had put on these earrings that had a flower that looked like a flower from the dress. I felt, beautiful. And if Akoni was here he would tell me just that. I missed him already, all of them. I grabbed my clutch and sent Akoni a text telling him that I missed him. And I sent Kai a message of how much I missed her. I grabbed my car keys and found my way through this maze of the house and finally found the garage. I opened it up and there was a limo waiting outside with a man in a black suit waiting for me. "Who are you?" I asked as I walked towards him. "I was sent by Princess Rhen to pick you up in style. Please." He opened the door and motioned for me to get into the limo. "Um, okay." I closed the garage pack and got in the car. My heart was beating crazy, I felt so nervous. Even though the likelihood was rare that I would see me, the slim chance that it might be was breaking my heart.
It was exactly 6:30 and there were a bunch of random people walking into the castle. I am assuming that they are all from neighboring packs. The man walked over and opened the door again for me and helped me out. Some of the faces turned to me and they recognized me. I heard their whispers and their looks of disgust, pity, and confusion. Probably as to why I was here. I am wondering the same thing. I walked inside and it was absolutely stunning. It was decorated to perfection, just like Amber. I went into the ballroom and it was filled with people wearing their best dresses and suits. Towards the front, I saw Taylor she was talking to everyone and my heart skipped a beat. I sped walked over to them and yelled. "Hey!" They all turned and met me halfway wrapping their arms around me. "Your back! Don't ever leave again!" Jonathan yelled squeezing me tight, and Rhen was almost in a pool of tears. "I missed you guys too." They all looked so beautiful, and handsome. I wonder what Vincent was going to look like.
"You look so good, and tan. Your hair is amazing. I need to go to Hawaii." Rhen said wrapping her arm back around Vincent. "Yeah, it-" I was cut off when I saw my parents walk on the stage. I tried to hid behind them but still, have a good view. But I guess it wasn't working. My dad saw me and gave me a sinister smile, it sent the bad chills down my spine and I turned away. "Thank you all for coming. As you know my son Vincent is being married in a week, to his beautiful mate, Amber." There were claps all around the room and I just felt pain. Mate? That's what they are telling people. Jonathan walked over to me and grabbed my hand comforting me. He looked at me and gave me a questioning look. I nodded letting him know I was okay. "Please welcome the two love birds on the stage. Vincent and Amber." He gestured to the side and out walked Amber in a beautiful red gown that accentuated all of her curves and her red hair was straight, she looked beautiful. Just like always. Then there was Vincent, my heart stopped. He looked so, handsome. He was wearing all black, it was sleek. He had grown a couple more inches, his brown hair was styled to perfection, he even had a bit of stubble growing. He had on these round hipster-like glasses that just perfectly matched him. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, and will ever see.
He grabbed the microphone and had they stood their hand in hand. His apple cinnamon scent hit me like a brick and after not smelling for years it was euphoria. "Thank you all for coming, and traveling in such ways. Vincent and I are so grateful." Amber spoke, her voice was soft and she looked so happy. She handed Vincent the microphone and as he began to speak my heart stopped. It was rich, yet raspy, smooth and almost buttery. It had a deepness to it that he didn't have three years ago. "This weekend is a very important weekend. Amber and I have been planning this wedding since we met." She looked at him and there was love in her eyes. He looked around the room and I wanted to turn away but I just couldn't. His eyes covered the crowd than his met mine. His bright hazel eyes connected with mine. All of the emotions and feelings and memories came rushing back. Amber noticed and moved closer and grabbed his arm pulling him out of the daze he was in. "We want to formally invite you all to join us. It would be greatly appreciated." There were claps all over the room and shouts. "Enjoy the rest of the party. Dinner will be served shortly. Enjoy." Amber said, and they walked off the stage. Not without giving me a smug look. A look saying that she won. And, I guess she did.
*