CHAPTER 19: The Proposal*_∼
820 Words
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*CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA*
*CHAPTER 19: The Proposal*
_∼
*Day 55*
He was acting weird.
All day.
Dropped his coffee.
Twice.
Kept looking at me.
Then looking away.
“Damon? Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Fine.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
Liar.
At 8pm he said:
“Get dressed. Nice. Not fancy.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m taking you somewhere.”
---
*9pm. The Roof.*
Our roof.
The one I wasn’t allowed on for the first 30 days.
Candles.
Blankets.
Food.
No PR team.
No guards.
Just him.
And a box.
In his hand.
My heart stopped.
“Abi,” he said.
“What is this?”
“Sit.”
I did.
Next to him.
On the blanket.
He didn’t open the box.
Not yet.
“I’ve done a lot of stupid things,” he said.
“I know.”
“I made contracts. I made deals. I made you mine because I was scared.”
“I know.”
“And then I made you mine because I loved you.”
He looked at me.
Golden eyes.
Nervous.
Damon Blackwood. Nervous.
“Abi, I don’t want a contract. I don’t want a claim. I don’t want pack law.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I want you. Legally. In front of God. In front of everyone. I want to marry you.”
He opened the box.
Ring.
Simple.
Silver.
With a small black stone.
Like his eyes.
“Abigail Carter,” he said. Voice shaking.
“Will you marry me? Not because you have to. Not because of the bond. Because you want to. Because you choose me.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“Damon—”
“I love you,” he said. “I didn’t plan to. I didn’t want to. But I do. So much it hurts. Marry me. Please.”
Tears.
Down my face.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
I looked at the ring.
Then at him.
At the man who saved me.
Who fought for me.
Who chose me. Every time.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“What?”
“Yes. Yes, Damon. I’ll marry you.”
He exhaled.
Like he’d been holding it for 55 days.
He took my hand.
Slid the ring on.
Perfect fit.
Then he kissed me.
Not desperate.
Not claiming.
Loving.
“My fiancée,” he whispered against my lips.
“My Alpha,” I whispered back.
---
*10pm. The Call.*
He called the pack.
On speaker.
Me in his lap.
“I’m getting married,” he said.
Cheers.
So loud I could hear them through the phone.
He hung up.
Looked at me.
“Happy?”
“So happy.”
“Good. Because I’m keeping you forever now.”
---
*11pm. In bed.*
We didn’t sleep.
Just talked.
About the wedding.
About kids.
About teaching.
About everything we never thought we’d have.
“Damon?”
“What?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Do you think she’d be happy for us? Your first mate?”
He was quiet.
Then:
“I think she’d tell me to take care of you. And I will. For the rest of my life.”
He kissed my hand.
Right over the ring.
---
*Morning. Day 56.*
News broke in 20 minutes:
_‘BLACKWOOD ENGAGED TO MATE’_
_‘RING PHOTO LEAKED’_
Comments:
_‘HE’S CRYING IN THE PHOTO’_
_‘SHE SAID YES’_
_‘I’M SOBBING’_
Elena texted:
*Elena: Congratulations. I mean it.*
*Me: Thank you.*
Damon saw it.
Didn’t delete it.
“Progress,” he said.
---
*Afternoon.*
We went ring shopping.
For him.
He picked a black band.
Simple.
“To match yours,” he said.
The jeweler cried.
Damon paid.
And held my hand the whole time.
---
*Night. Day 56.*
We were on the floor.
Again.
Our spot.
Me showing him wedding ideas on my phone.
Him not listening.
Just watching me.
“Abi.”
“What?”
“I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of the wedding being perfect and then messing it up after.”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re Damon. And you don’t give up on people.”
He pulled me down.
Laid on top of me.
Careful.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For saying yes.”
---
*11:59pm. Text.*
*Unknown: Fiancée. I like the way that sounds.*
*Me: I like the way 'husband' sounds.*
*Unknown: Don’t say that or I’ll propose again.*
*Me: Do it.*
*Unknown: Be patient. 32 chapters to go.*
*Me: I can wait. As long as it’s you.*
*Unknown: It’s always me. Sleep, my love.*
Bound by his name.
For 50+ chapters.
And now bound by a ring.
---
_END OF CHAPTER 19_
- Writer
