Chapter 138: When You Join The Royal Family
Koda;
"Ugh..." I groan as I try to move, but I freeze when I realise that there is something on my arm.
I remember falling asleep in my hut with... Rowan.
Rowan!?
Why would he sleep on my...!?
My eyes fly open, but I freeze the moment my gaze locks on Elian’s face.
He’s fast asleep with his face turned towards me, and his head resting on my forearm as a pillow.
I look down, and find that He’s shirtless. His hands are balled into little fists, and he’s placed them against my chest.
Sleep vanishes from my eyes as I stare at his delicate beauty.
His lips are slightly parted, and his snores are so soft they’re almost inaudible.
He came in here and chose to sleep on the floor beside me?
I smile and lie back down as I do not want to move and wake him up. The sun reflects gently against his milk-like skin, and I move my free hand to his head.
I brush back his hair, and... I just stare.
It’s not a question anymore. I love him.
And losing him has become one of my biggest fears.
When my brothers and I decided to buy an Omega, I never expected things to play out like this. Yes, I was going to treat my Omega right, but I never expected anything like Elian.
So... irrational, chaotic, unpredictable... but still so sweet. Genuine... innocent...
He lets out a breath, and I pause when he moves closer to me and wraps an arm around me.
"Hold me. You’re warm." He whines in his sleep, and I chuckle softly.
I pull him closer to myself and shut my eyes as I tap into my beast core. I shift into my bear form, and my now massive arms scoop him up. I lay him against my chest and hug him to myself as I lie on my back.
He snuggles into my fur and lets out a satisfied sigh, and I smile.
I rest my chin against his head and draw a deep breath as the peace his presence always brings begins to soothe me.
What’s the harm in going back to sleep? He’s still sleeping. I should lie here a little longer till he’s ready to get up.
I see no reason to disturb him.
"Koda?" He mumbles, and I freeze.
Did my movements wake him up? Did I breathe too loudly?
He looks up at me with groggy eyes, and I hold my breath. I’m in my beast form. What if I scare him??
I remember the first time he saw me shift, and as I recall the fear that was in his eyes, my heart starts pounding.
I only wanted him to be more comfortable. I didn’t want to terrify him.
He tilts his head and narrows his sleepy eyes as he stares at me.
"Is that you?" He questions, and I gulp.
I nod slowly, and an almost drunk smile splits his face.
"Hmm... you make a comfy bed." He says, and I just blink at him.
He leans up, and to my shock, he plants a kiss on my snout.
"Thank you." He whispers, and I just stare in shock as he settles back down and rests his head against my chest.
"For loving me..." He adds, and I stay completely still as I feel him fall back to sleep.
My heart starts drumming, and I feel shivers run through me.
He... he wasn’t scared of my beast form. Even in his sleep!! And he... he thanked me for loving him?
Oh, Elian... how is it possible not to love you??
My arms wrap tighter around him as gratitude floods my heart and veins.
You’re right. I love you. I love you so much, Elian. If you being here with me is all a dream... I never want to wake up.
I don’t know what will become of me if I wake up someday and you’re no longer with me... please... Please don’t ever leave me, Elian.
I wouldn’t be able to bear it.
I love you too much. More than I love myself.
***********
Elian;
"You look energetic today." Queen Cassia says as I pour out grains of rice to the hen before us.
I look up at Koda in the distance, who’s discussing with his aide.
I smile and look away.
"I had a good night’s rest. I haven’t slept so well in so long." I reply, and Queen Cassia smiles.
"Hmm." She replies, and I blush.
I don’t know how to explain it. In between my sleep, I found that he shifted to his bear form, and I wasn’t even scared.
It felt so comfortable sleeping on him like that. It felt like a massive pillow was hugging me.
I don’t mind sleeping like that every night. I look back up at him, and my heart skips a beat when he looks up, and our eyes meet.
I quickly look away, allowing my hair to shade my eyes.
"You stare at him like you want to ask him to marry you." Wueen Cassia says, and I pause.
"Can I do that?" I question, and she raises a brow.
"I mean... You can... but I wouldn’t advise you to." She replies as she puts her hand into the basket with me and throws out some more grains for the hens.
"Why?" I question defiantly as I wonder why she wouldn’t advance to propose to Koda.
It’s not like I... It’s not like I’m going to do it, or plan to do it. I’m just curious.
"He’s your Alpha. Let him propose to you. Don’t lose that power over your Alpha." She replies, and I smirk at how rebellious she just sounded.
"Walk with me." She says with a gentle nudge, and I turn to start following her.
I look back at Koda and find him staring at me. My cheeks heat up, and I look away again.
"Let’s say you were going to propose to Koda... how would you do it?" She questions l, and I pause for a moment.
"Well... I’ll get him a ring with a big ass rock. So even from miles away, any who sees it on his hand will know that he’s taken." I begin, and pause to think harder.
"I’ll find out thinks he really likes. Like his favourite colour, flowers, and invite you, and King Wilhlem over, then I’d go down on one knee and pop the question." I conclude with a massive grin as the idea starts seeming appealing to me.
"You really think I shouldn’t propose to him, yeah?" I question again, and she gives me a look.
"Why do you want to propose to him, honey Bun?" She asks in genuine curiosity, and I stop walking.
"Well... the thing is... he asked me to marry him a while ago... and I... Well, I turned him down because of the way he asked. But now I wish I hadn’t turned him down." I confess, and Queen Cassia turns to look at me.
She steps closer to me and cradles my cheek.
"Do you... knkw what you’re asking for, dear. A proposal, marriage... it’s a lifelong..." She begins, but I cut her off.
"I know." My eyes drift away from her as I speak the next words.
"I... want to start a family with Koda. I want to... build a home with him. I... I think I love him..." I confess, and there’s silence.
I slowly look back up at Queen Cassia, and I find a humongous smile on her face.
I gasp in shock when she suddenly pulls me into a hug.
"Oh, my darling..." She breathes, and I stand still as I blink in wonder.
"It’ll be a delight to have you as an official part of my family. I can already picture my grandbabies running about." She giggles as she pats my back, and I blush as she pulls away.
She gently pinches my cheek, and I look up at her with a smile I can’t hide.
"Ugh! You and Koda would make a wonderful couple." She says, and I look away again, too shy to hold her gaze.
"I promise he’ll treat you right. You won’t regret this. I give you my word. My son loves you very much, and if he heard you say this... he’d be the happiest man alive." She adds, and I stare into her pretty golden eyes that are shimmering with so much happiness and excitement.
She pulls me into a hug again, and I slowly hug her back.
"Welcome to the family, dear. I’m so happy, I can bearly contain it!" She replies and chuckles.
"I can tell," I reply, and she laughs.
"You can’t blame me. I’m finally getting the second baby I always wanted. Once you marry Elián, my adopting you will be official through and through. I won’t introduce you to anyone as my son-in-law. I’d go... "meet my son. Elián. Isn’t he a beauty?"" She replies, and I burst out laughing at how happy and carefree she’s being.
"I already see you as my mother, Queen Cassia. You’re the answer to prayers I long forgot I prayed." I whisper, and she smiles softly as she once again cradles my cheek.
"Same here, son. Same here."