Ash's POV
I can't remember from my dream/vision where the patio is so I allow my mate's essence and the sound of their voices to lead.
'This place is more beautiful than what I saw in my dream/vision.' I think to myself as I look around, appreciating the beautiful scenery around me.
As I approach the patio area, I see it look out on a lush garden that has the biggest swimming pool that I've ever seen in my life built in the center. Well, not that I've seen that many swimming pools to know that as a fact. The only one that I've ever seen was the gym class swimming unit when I was still allowed to go to school.
"Hey, guys!... Good morning!" I greet cheerfully as I walk to where Thor is sitting.
"What are you both arguing about? I could hear you the moment I stepped out of the mansion." I ask him but he doesn't reply. He appears to be too stunned by my new look to answer me. They all look stunned as a matter of fact
"I know, right... I was also surprised when I saw myself in the bathroom mirror this morning" I chuckle as I twirl in delight in front of him. I know he was surprised to see my new look but I want to hear him say it. I'm dying to hear him compliment me.
"God baby, you're beautiful..." He says when he finally finds his voice, standing immediately to take my hands in his.
"You look stunning..." He says again, encircling his arms around my waist to draw me closer to himself.
"And I love your dress. You look so gorgeous in it that I'm tempted to hide you right now from the rest of the world."
Even though he made his last statement with a serious face, I took it as a joke, giggling in reply. He might look like he meant every word but I know he won't really do that
I stand on tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the lips but the act kinda spiraled out of hand and before we know it, we're kissing passionately right in front of everyone.
"Hey! Go to your room! What's with the PDA? You can't be kissing like this in front of us. Pity those of us that don't have a mate yet!" Eric's shout breaks us apart and I laugh as we pull away from each other.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. We didn't mean for that to happen. We kinda got carried away." I laughingly apologize to all of them
"Maybe you got carried away. Not him though. He's deliberately being mean!" He says again and I look from him to Thor. Wondering what they were arguing about before I arrived.
"Come, babe. Sit. Just ignore him. He's an idiot." Thor says, pulling the chair beside him out for me to sit on.
I sit and look toward where Ella is sitting. Our eyes meet, she winks at me and I smile back.
"What would you like to have for breakfast?" Thor asks, diverting my attention from Ella.
"I'm not really hungry or should I say I'm too excited to eat..."
"Oh! Why? What's gotten you so excited?" He smilingly asks
"Today is Saturday. You don't work on Saturdays, do you?" I ask
He chuckles
"Babe, I'm self-employed. My work schedule is flexible. Sometimes I don't work on Mondays, sometimes I work on Sundays. Eric knows my schedule more than I do and let me add that appointments that have already been made can still be canceled, okay? So tell me, why do you ask?"
I smile, happy about the reply he gave. Now, I don't have to feel guilty about taking him away from his work.
"I was just wondering if you could take me out today, say to the beach?" I say questioningly.
His face fell a bit,
"Oh! Actually babe. Uhm... There's something I want to discuss with you..."
"Noooo... Pleaseeee, Thorrrr..." I drawled, interrupting the excuse he was about to give me.
"Don't give me that– 'I'm sorry, I won't be able to fulfill your wish' kinda look!... I've never been to the beach before in my life and I've been wanting to go there since like forever, please don't say no!" I sadly say.
"Babe, I just wanted to discuss..."
"No!... Judging by the look on your face, I seriously don't want to listen to what will dampen my spirit right now. You can tell me later today but not right now."
I know this might sound like a joke– but apart from one time when I needed some answers about my wolf and Martha took me to see someone at night after we closed from work, I have never been outside Night Howler's pack.
I was not held a prisoner or anything like that, just that I could never find the time to go outside the pack. Not when I resumed work at 6 am and closed at 1 am the following morning only to resume again at 6... I really, really want to see the beach. Please don't say no!"
~°°~
Thor's POV
I nod and try to force a smile on my face even though I'm seriously boiling with anger inside me. She's eighteen, yet she has only been outside of her pack just once. Even that once wouldn't have been possible if not for Martha.
As much as I agreed with what Eric said about Alpha Nate not being in charge of his domestic staff, I still can't help but be mad at him for the way my mate was literally treated as a slave right under his and Luna's noses.
According to what Eric told me, all the evidence is there for him to connect the dots but he still couldn't see them. It's as if he's happy not to bother himself with or make any contact with the hired help.
Even with everything he's done for my dad and me, I'm not sure if our relationship will ever be the same again because of how pained I am by the way my mate was treated.
I know my dad, the seer, and Eric might not like what I'm about to do but I don't care. Whatever responsibility they believe should come first for me, I know my first responsibility is to my mate before anyone else. She's been through a lot and deserves to be happy and I'm going to make sure the whole of today is dedicated to getting whatever she wants and making her happy.
I lean forward and kiss her on the lips.
"Let me go get my car keys and then we can leave," I say and watch in amusement as she jumps up from her chair to shout in excitement
"Yippee... I'll come with..."
"No, you don't need to go with him to get his car keys. I know you're too excited to be on your way now Luna, but I think you should stay and have breakfast first."
I'm surprised to hear my dad laughingly say when I thought he wouldn't support my decision.
"Besides, the doctor said no mating for six weeks, remember?" He says the last part humorously, making her blush
"Oh... I–I didn't know the doctor said that and I'm not following him because of that. I– I just wanted to..."
I chuckle
"It's okay," I say, and kiss the top of her head. "Pops is just being silly, don't mind him. I'll just change into something appropriate, get my keys, and then we can be on our way, okay?"
"Sure. I can't wait."
"Early to mid-morning, or late evening is the best time to visit the beach..." Eric says and I look towards him with surprise
"It will be less crowded by that time and the weather more tolerable."
He checks his wristwatch
"I think we should go to the beach in the evening by 5 pm to avoid the worst UV radiation of the day and..."
"Wait! We?" I ask, not believing what I just heard him say. Did he just include himself in our date or am I mistaken?
"Yes, we! What? Do you think I'm going to allow you to have fun without me? It's been long since I went out to have fun myself you know and it's all because of you, boss."
I laugh. I know he wants to tag along not because he missed having fun but because he wants to be our unofficial bodyguard. Even though I can take care of myself. I know he will never allow me to go out without a backup.
"Are you sure?... There's going to be a lot of public display of affection. You should know I'm not going to hold back because you're there with us." I say to dissuade him
"I don't expect you to. You won't even know I'm there since I'll be taking my own car... So as I was saying, I know some great places we can go to have fun, after which we can go to the beach in the evening."
"Perfect! The more the merrier, right? Why don't we make this kinda like a group date? Ella and Ivar should also come along too and..." My mate continues to talk cheerfully. She literally invited everyone sitting at the table to what I thought would be our first date before I could say no.