TTMA [Complete ✔️]

30. Birthday celebration

Dalia's P.O.V

We spent the morning together, both of us just enjoying being in each other's company. Mornings had become my favorite part of the day, although he and I hadn't been together for long. Even in the short amount of time, mornings became our alone time, the time in which we just snuggled, felt our bond grow, and talk.

After I had finally managed to finish the cupcake, with a huge amount of help from Knox, he passed me a pair of plain black leggings he had gotten from me from a pack member, while I was still in the hospital, and an oversized pink T-shirt he once again stole from his sister. I had to apologize to her, I was completely raiding her closet.

The leggings were a bit big, but Knox told me they fit better than they used to, which managed to put a smile on my face. I could see my body change, slowly, but it was. Now that I had my wolf, most of my scars were healed, except for the ones done with the help of wolfsbane and silver, my face wasn't as pale as it used to be, I almost never felt nauseous anymore, and my hair was starting to become just a bit thicker. I still didn't like myself, I had no idea how and why Knox did, but I was trying and so was my body.

We were currently standing in front of the pack house doors. Knox wanted to show me around the territory and I agreed, missing the old places we used to hang out in as pups. Standing in front of the doors, however, so close to being able to explore those places and old memories, I was no longer sure I could do it. I felt afraid and my mate knew it.

"We can try another time if you don't feel ready?" He asked, his hand gripping mine a little tighter to show his support. I shook my head and took deep breaths to calm my anxiety before turning to him.

"I want to do this. It's just a little hard since I haven't been outside in a while and this place holds a lot of memories." I explained as I flashed him a small smile. He nodded and stood hand in hand with me until I felt ready.

I nodded at him, my hand grasping his just a little bit tighter as the doors got pushed open and revealed the place I grew up in. The sun was shining brightly, a light breeze cooling the warm May weather. Trees had started to blossom, their beauty captivating me for a while as I simply stared.

Suddenly, all fear I was feeling was gone and I was ready to explore. So long, I had been taken away from the beauty of nature for so long, that I had no intentions of losing more time. Still hand in hand, Knox led me through a small path, shaded by huge trees. All I could do was look around, drinking in the beauty of it all, smell all the scents of the different flowers and trees, bask in the rays of the sun.

We walked in silence as I was too busy staring at all I hadn't been able to. My lungs filled with the forest's fresh air, making it feel like I had been suffocating all these years. My mate's eyes never left me, finding my excitement amusing.

We stopped in front of a small grassy area and a lake with a waterfall. My mouth hung open as I stared at the scene in front of me - a huge tree, blossoming under the sun, the perfectly green, fresh grass, the light breeze nipping at my skin, the sound of the waterfall as it crashed into the lake, and the small shore, full of rocks ready to be thrown.

"I haven't been here in a while. There were too many memories I wanted to forget." My mate said from behind me as I turned to look at him, peeling my gaze away from the scenery. "But now we get to make new ones!" He added with a smile. I smiled back, getting lost in his eyes. His hand gently moved towards my face as he grabbed a strand of my hair, twirling it between his fingers. He then tucks it neatly behind my ears, his warm thumb caressing my finger.

My breath hitched in my throat, my lips parting as I sucked in a breath. Butterflies exploded in my stomach, dancing the happy dance I wish I could. My heart flipped inside my chest, pounding as it desperately tried to escape so it could connect with our mate's. Sparks ignited from under his touch, even if light, small zaps of energy pulsating through my veins.

"Kiss!" Delilah screams excitedly, but my mind couldn't seem to register her words, or anything happening around us that wasn't our mate's touch.

"May I?" He asked, his voice coming out a little bit raspier than usual. Still in a trance, I could only nod before his face got closer and closer. He leaned in, his hot breath tickling my face.

My heart began beating even faster, if it was possible. The anticipation was slowly killing me, making my lips kiss his first. He seemed to be taken aback at first, but then his hands snaked around my waist as he pulled me closer. His lips devoured mine, tasting each and every inch I had given him access to. A small whimper escaped my lips as his teeth grazed across my bottom lip.

When I finally pulled away, our lungs were screaming, causing us to pant for air. I watched as a little smirk began dancing on his lips as he walked behind a tree and came back with a blanket and basket.

"You didn't think I'd leave my mate without lunch on her birthday, did you?" He asked playfully.

I watched as he rolled the large, brown picnic blanket under the shade of the blossoming tree before he began taking out the basket's contents. He set an apple cider in a bowl of ice in the middle, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and other fruit in small containers, and sandwiches, which he set to the side, leaving us enough room to sit comfortably.

As soon as he was done, he sat, admiring his doing, before he patted the spot next to him. I sat down, my head leaned itself on his shoulder as we both admired his work.

"Thank you so much!" I finally managed to say, the effects of the surprise slowly wearing off. "I couldn't have imagined a better mate!" I kissed his cheek lovingly.

We talked about the memories the lake brought as we ate our lunch. I had to admit, I wasn't the only one who made delicious food, Knox's sandwiches were the best I had ever had.

"This is amazing!" I gushed over the few bites I had left, making him chuckle. "Don't laugh! Those are the best sandwiches I've ever eaten!" I declared proudly, staring at my mate.

"Do you think he tastes better than the sandwiches?" Delilah asked, almost making me choke.

"I've been making them for Rose since we were little." Knox shrugged. "My mom couldn't always help us and him-" He snapped bitterly. "Well, he was the reason. I had to learn to feed my sister somehow and these were her favorite." My head leaned on his shoulder again, my hand clasping his free one.

Even if it wasn't a lot, he still gave a tiny piece of the puzzle he was. They would slowly connect, I had to remind myself. I had to learn to be patient with him, like he was with me, although it was hard not knowing what he had been through or how to help when he felt down.

After we had lunch, he packed the containers and napkins inside the box again, leaving more space on the blanket. We continued talking, getting to know each other again until I ran off into the cold lake, inviting him to join me.

He was reluctant at first, but got in with a bit of convincing. My toes felt frozen before even a minute had passed, but I had fun splashing around with Knox, just like we used to when we were young. He then pulled the blanket out in the sun and helped me to it, insisting on drying me off. Currently, we were sitting on one half of the blanket as the other was wrapped around my body, being held by my mate's strong arms as they kept me close.

The sun began to set, the nice breeze turning into a cold wind. Knox kissed the top of my head and sighed in content.

"I could stay here forever as long as I'm with you!" He admitted, his hands holding me a little tighter than they had been. "Not only did you accept me for everything I was, but you also don't pressure me into knowing everything I dread to say out loud. Bond or not, I'm in love with you, Dali!"

My eyes met his, my heart swelling with happiness and a little sadness at his words.

"I don't need to know everything to fall in love with you. You were there for me when I was afraid of my own shadow, you didn't give up on me when I pushed you away again and again! You deserve your own time to come to terms with some things, but so do I. I was afraid to find out there were emotions other than pain and fear, afraid for things to change, then, I became afraid of you. Slowly, that fear turned into me being afraid to give my heart out to anybody, then, I became afraid of losing you and I realized that you've already taken my heart, Knox! It's yours, all of it!"

He gently brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

"I promise to take care of it!"

***

When we returned to the pack house, I once again felt different. I had openly admitted that my heart was now his, his to do whatever he pleased with - take care of it, or destroy it. For some reason though, I wasn't afraid. I had fallen for him, hard. The words I said, they were all true. He didn't give up on me when I had long since given up on myself, he was mate, his heart was mine, just as much as mine was his. I saw it in his eyes, felt it through our bond, he loved me. And I loved him.

He gave me a place to call home, gave me his heart. He had become everything I know, he had become the home I had dreamed of. Once, I thought it was a place, but only today did I realize how horribly wrong I had been.

Knox took me up to our living room, telling me we were going to watch a movie, what he failed to tell me was it was actually a party planned by Rose and Zane. I stared in awe at all the hung banners and balloons that covered the room. Buckets of popcorn were sat on the table, waiting for a movie to be plaid, sweets and sodas were also scattered around, soft blankets covered the couch, and wood was cracking comfortingly in the fireplace.

"We figured you wouldn't want a huge party with pack members and loud music so we thought we could have a movie night to celebrate your birthday." Rose shrugged, a sheepish smile plastered on both her and her mate's lips.

"Thank you so much, guys! I love it!" I squealed, running off to hug them both.

Knox and Zane took both sides of the couch, while Rose and I lay in their arms. Soft blankets covered our bodies, wrapping them in a warm hug as we ate popcorn. I got to try a few of the sweets and grape-flavored Fanta, which I really enjoyed before it gave me a stomachache.

Rose had fallen asleep a little bit ago and I felt my own eyes droop closed.

"Sleep, I'll be here!" My mate whispered in my ear, my body instantly relaxing. His hand began rubbing up and down my arms, lulling me to sleep. The crackling of wood was the last thing I remembered before I welcomed the darkness.

A/N:

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! Dali finally went outside and got to explore the territory, even if it was only a small part. Let me know what you think :)