4 Leaf Clover

Chapter 14 Following Behind

Ronan's POV

I watch Ember walk away from me, looking so heartbroken and I couldn't be more pissed. I take my phone out of my pocket and dialing my father's number again.

I hear him pick up as I just explode. "I can't believe ya would do that to my mate Da! Ya know how long I have searched for her!" I yell before he can even say anything.

"I was helpin' you out whether you like it or not Ro. I was just doing you a favor, getting rid of this issue." He says to me knowingly as if I'm stupid and it's just obvious what his intentions were so I decide to yell louder in response. "Yer not going to ruin my relationship with my mate! I'm not marrying Rose, so you can take that idea and shove it up your ass.. especially after all of this 'getting rid of my issue.' while starting a new one for yourself. "

"You have to marry her for the sake of our pack. What does an orphan human do, that could even benefit our pack? Nothing a human could do could help a pack of werewolves. Do what's best for us all and marry Rose." He demands from me as I spat back, "I have to eh? Not likely.. How about for once you think about what might be good for yer son and not just good for the pack.. I told you if you won't let me bring her to the pack to be my queen then I'm not coming back.. I'll just mark and marry her here.. and there is nothing you can do about it. You think you ruined our relationship but I'll make it up to her whether you like it or not."

He groans in reply as I hang up the call not wanting to hear anymore from him. There is nothing he could say to change my mind anyways.

"What did he say?" the guys ask sympathetically, because I'm sure they are not stupid and can tell how the conversation went but I'll still vent to them about this ridiculous conflict anyways.

"He said with her being human and an orphan that she couldn't bring anything useful to the pack so I should just marry Rose because she has more to offer for the pack.. But I don't care if she has anything to offer or not she is my mate and all I want."

My phone starts to ring so I quickly pick it up seeing it's my ma's number across the screen.

"Ma there is nothing you could say to make me change my mind I only want my mate and I don't care if she doesn't have much to offer to the pack being an orphan and human, because she is still amazing." I declare before she can say anything.

"I know Ro I know, I just wanted to say I love you. I know that you're probably not coming back since your father thinks you should still marry Rose.. So good luck and please don't give up on your father he means well he just doesn't understand because he never found his mate." She explains to me quickly as I start to hear her crying on the other end of the line.

"Mom I will come back and see you.. maybe.. but I'm so sorry Ma I wish you could meet her, maybe some day.. she is amazing, you would love her." I say to her as she cries a little more saying back. "I bet she is amazing and I know I would love her just because of how great she has made you feel. It's nice to see you have motivation for something other than yourself. I wish you the best of luck my son. I love you so much never forget that." She says as she hangs up the line.

I let out a huge breathe looking at my friends. They have a look of so much conflict in their eyes for me. "I'm not giving up at all I'm winning her back and telling her how I'm not going back home and broke off the engagement. So since she said she needs some time I will try to not bother her.. but I have to make sure she is ok walking on her own, so I want to stealthily watch her from afar making sure she gets home fine." They nod at me as we all shift back into our wolves to follow as close by her as possible without her noticing us.

The guys and I have been like shadows in the night, following Ember on her walk home completely undetected so far. I honestly couldn't in good conscious, leave her to walk by herself even knowing who she is and I knowing she can take care of herself.

So we creep from the sides, staying as hidden as possible until we see a shadow appear out of no where, right besides her in no time at all. The shadow forms into the nocturnal asshole, Archer. He is tryinf to be nice and flirting with her trying to convince her he wants her back.. he continuously keeps stopping her in her tracks but she keeps passing by not falling for his tricks.

That is until this conversation really starts to get heated, boiling my blood with the comments getting is making to her. Especially when he grabs her and kisses her with such a hunger. I want to rip his head off just for even being in my mates presence, let alone touching her like that.

She pushes him from her, obviously getting irritated with the fact that he just grabbed her and kissed her without her approval. I watch the confusion appear on Archer's face, "How could you not want that, I know every little spot on your body to make you scream my name and you're saying you don't want that? Is it because of that damn pup?" He spitefully asks her as I watch her roll her beautiful eyes and retort as if it's obvious, "Of course it's because of him Archer.. Ronan is my mate.. I didn't feel anything with you when you kissed me just now but with Ronan I feel every little spark between us.. I'm not going to lie to you Archer, I want him and only him and since I can't have that.. I would just rather be alone." Archer gets a look of offense on his face from her statement that just makes my heart soar.

She actually wants us even after the engagement situation. that is amazing news!

Cormac says with so much excitement laced through his words.

At least you know she wants you as much as you want her.

Brenden says to me in mind link as I nod at that amazing realization that just made my day. But I watch Archer's irritation build because of her declaration of feelings for me.

"This isn't over. You're mine I can do what I want. I was trying to give you the chance to make that decision for yourself so it wouldn't be forced but if I have to force it I will. You can't resist becoming Firecracker again I guarantee it. That fire still burns within you and it will never go away."

"This is over, I'm not yours and I won't tell you that again! That fire is dead!" She yells at him obviously losing her patience with him at this point.. So before I even know what I'm doing I step out of the shadows towards them growling at Archer in protectiveness for my little mate. I hear her groan and watch her eyes roll. "Were you guys following me? Even listening to our personal conversation?" She asks with so much irritation in every single word to me as her hands lay onto her hips glaring at Cormac.

Man I think I messed up sorry Ronan I thought she would be happy to have us here with her but I guess not.

Cormac says with so much sadness in his tone that I just quickly reply.

It's ok don't get upset we know she really wants us and we can make this up to her.. I would rather us be out here with her, even with her mad at us.. then for her to be alone with him.

So we just bite the bullet and nod in response at her, not trying to deny any of this with her. But of course that damned vampire has to make a scoffing sound at me and I don't like him one bit so I snarl at him as he snarls back. I watch Ember put her hands up to the both of us as she states.

"Ok We are not going to have another brawl here.. Archer I'm not yours and I won't be.. you and I both know there is no way you're forcing me into anything so don't even try and you can do everything I did for you on your own you need to take care of yourself for once.. and Ronan, Cormac you need to figure out what you're going to do plus what you really want and maybe I'll be around when you do that. but for now I just want to be left alone. Please respect that." She demands as she turns and walks away from us.

I just decide to respect hee feelings as much as I can, especially with Archer pissed and yelling making himself look worse next to me. Its to the point of completely irritating that she just keeps flipping him off in response, which makes me internally smile. He disappears into the darkness in a huff of defeat as I reluctantly watch her continue her trek, then Brenden comes up nudging me.

Come on man I have to go check in on Nikki and you're going to give her some space right?

Brenden asks me as I shake my head.

No I'm going to follow her and make sure she is ok I don't want to be away from her and I need to tell her that I canceled the engagement and that she is all I want.

I try to explain to him as he grunts then nods knowing he has no chance of changing my mind when it is set on something.. especially when it comes to her.

Head back to the hotel rooms guys, I have my phone still in my mouth and call me if you need me.. but if anything I'm going to try to stay the rest of the night with her.. if not with her then by her to make sure the vampire doesn't come back.

I instruct the guys as they all nod hesitantly but still doing what I request. I take off from them and back into the shadows to make sure I won't be seen unless I want to be seen.

I sneak through the trees and brush by myself trying to make sure I stay hidden the whole trekk. I can still hear her sniffling and crying to herself as she wipes away her tears and I can't help but hate myself knowing I'm the one that caused this for her. I swear I was planning on telling her about the engagement. but mostly after I got it taken care of.. but I never once thought of myself as being with Rose so I never thought of it like cheating but from Ember's point of view it does look pretty awful on my part.. There is no denying that.

She walks all the way to the bar grabbing her bike and taking off headed back to her place. I. an keep up with her motorcycle pretty well without being seen which seems to be perfect. She pulls into the farming property, parking her motorcycle and heading into her place. I walk up to the window, sitting right underneath the windowsill, hearing her storm around her place in a frustrating huff. I watch her lay down on her bed as she wipes away more tears from her cheeks and I honestly can't stand seeing her like this.

I have to talk to her.

I say to Cormack as he internally shakes his head.

No we just got in trouble for not listening to her requests you don't think this will make her madder?

Cormack asks as I internally shrug my shoulders.

I just need to talk to her and make this right so hopefully she won't be too mad at me.

I respond, setting my phone one the ground in front of me, as I shift back into my naked human counterpart. I take my phone into my hand and knocking on the door.

She doesn't answer it so I knock again and I can hear her walking to the front door.. pausing at the door before she slowly opens it. The first feature I see is her stunning face that is glistening in the light from the tears on her cheeks.

She gets a look of shock on her face not expecting to see me as the shock turns to annoyance so she groans outwardly to me as she spats, "Ro, I told you..." She gets that far as interrupt crashing my lips to hers, walking us back into her place, shutting the door behind me, since she is not resisting me.

I break the kiss looking down at her, I watch her mouth open to talk but I need her to hear my side before she says anything else, so I put my finger to her lips stopping her before I state. "I told my family I'm not coming back home because I won't marry her because I don't want to. I never have and they know it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner I just never thought of myself being with her because we have nothing between us.. no type of relationship what's so ever because this just an arranged marriage. I never thought I was cheating on her because we have nothing with us.. but from your point of view it does look bad.. but I have only seen her twice total in my life and both times were awful.. You're my mate and the only one I want, I swear on my life.. and if my Da can't accept you as my queen then we will be together just the two of us wherever you want to go. I don't care as long as I'm with you." I spill every last bit of feelings I have for her.

She shakes her head in shock at my explanation, "Ro I can't let you leave your family and pack for me." I take her cheeks into my hands, wiping away some of the tears from her tear stained cheeks, responding without hesitation. "You're all I want in this world. I never wanted this role as king or the proposal.. I have been fighting it the whole time and I was hoping they would accept you but my father has to be a stubborn ass.. so if he wants to have it that way then we both can play at that game. You don't understand the matebond for Cormac and I.. we would marry, mark and mate you in an instant if you gave us the approval."

She has a look of confusion on her face. "You would do all that for me? Are you sure? and I don't understand what mark means.. why did your dad ask you about marking earlier?" She inquires curiously.

"Of course I would do all of that for you, without hesitation because your my one and only.. you were made just for me, you're my other half. I know it might sound crazy but things are different for wolves, so different that I know without a doubt that I love you and want to be with you every day and how I would show that, is by marking you.." I try to explain as she still looks confused so I step closer to her then adding. "Marking in the werewolf world is like marrying that person because it is a physical commitment that can never be taken back and it's something special just between the two of us."

"So you want to mark me? Because you think you love me?" She asks me hesitantly not fully believing my words. "I don't THINK I love you, I KNOW I do without a doubt.. You're all I want my love and no one else. So yes I would mark you instantly." I say playfully to her showing her my iconic grin.

"So how do you mark? You're not going to pee on me to claim me right?" She asks me even more playfully as I scoff at that response. "Not all dogs do that to claim!" She laughs at my reply as I push her shirt to the side on her shoulder exposing her collarbone.

I gently trail my finger across the open collarbone, I watch goosebumps arise across her skin at my touch as I softly say to her. "Marking is a very intimate part of bonding with your mate.. It normally happens during s*x, more importantly the climax.. or so I have heard.. When we are hitting our peaks I'm suppose to bite you right here, igniting all the sensitive sparks that are between us. making them stronger than before and connecting us as one for all eternity."

"Wow that sounds.. intoxicating.. so if you want to mark me, then why haven't you tried marking me yet?" She asks me curiously as I smile back at her. "I wanted you to know who I was first and hopefully be able to accept me as I am and accept a full life with me before doing that. I'm not just going to force you into it no matter how bad I want it.. I want you to want to be with me forever." I say to her as she nods in understanding.

"I feel a very very strong connection with you and honestly you're the only one I want but just the idea of you having to commit to a monster like me just makes me sad I don't want you to have to be stuck with me." She says making me instantly scoff at her comment.

"I'm not stuck with ya, all my dreams would be coming true if ya allowed me to be with you.. Ya don't know how long I've wanted this.. Wolves are known for searchin for yer mates because that's what we've been raised to cherish and always longed for is the one person in this world made for us... My father let me search for ya for years and I could never find ya.. honestly I was just telling myself and Cormac that you didn't exist no matter what Cormac said to me to try to convince me otherwise.. and after so long of searching, I'm not proud to say that I honestly gave up.. but my brother hadn't and left a month ago so he wouldn't have to marry her since she is not his mate.. and then they told me I had to marry Rose and I was pissed I did everything I could to piss my Da off and offend her father without starting a feud between packs. But I know my father would adore ya if he would just give yer a chance but he is more concerned with what could be offered to the pack from my marriage, instead of caring about the one thing I want and that is my happiness. He means well but he is just a dick." I try to explain to her as best as I can about the situation.

"Are you sure you would be ok without them?" She asks me softly as I smile down at her and nod. "I have never been happier than when I'm with you and come to find out I guess that's all I want in life." She steps on her tippy toes gently pressing her lips to mine. I think this means she accepts us.. hopefully.