The Scarlet Witch

Chapter Nine - The Confession

Amaranth looked around the living room area again, taking in the sight at her own pace while the dogs did the same. She made note of the balcony that she hadn't noticed the first time she entered the room. She watched as the dogs jumped onto the couches to lay down. There was a glass coffee table in the center of the room, with coasters and an empty vase on it. Light brown curtains framed the doors to the balcony. For such a lavish looking room, it felt homey, an impression that she never got from any room at the Midnight Moon Pack house. She went into the bedroom, taking in the dresser with a mirror, the chest and another couch and coffee table. Taking a peek into the bathroom, she was met with a jacuzzi bathtub, a glass shower stall and two sinks in front of the mirror. A vanity was stationed across from the sinks, which looked relatively new compared to everything else in the bathroom.

Amaranth walked out of the bathroom and looked at the stacks of boxes and suitcases, deciding to tackle the suitcases full of clothes before the different things in the boxes. She dragged each suitcase into the walk-in closet and opened the first one up, finding sweaters and hoodies. She got up and looked through the boxes for her hangers and got to work, hanging up her sweaters and hoodies. Once she was done with that, she moved on to her next suitcase, finding her jeans, sweatpants, shorts and skirts. She started refolding the bottoms and stacking them up on the shelves, organizing them by color and type.

A knock came from the door connecting the bedroom to the hallway. Opening the door, Amaranth was met by an omega, who wanted to know if she'd be down for dinner. Amaranth asked if her meal could be brought up, and if the omega minded taking the dogs downstairs for their meals, since she wasn't done unpacking yet. The omega agreed, leading the dogs downstairs and Amaranth left the door cracked open for them to let themselves in once they were done. Amaranth went back into the closet, opening up another suitcase, which was filled with shirts and casual dresses. After hanging up those articles of clothing, she got her last suitcase, filled with her underwear and pajamas. She refolded everything, organizing it into different drawers. She left space in one section for her gowns, which she hopes her godmother sends over soon. Thinking about her godmother drew her attention towards the trunk that she sent her. Amaranth went into the bedroom and dragged the trunk into the closet, placing it in the back.

Looking at the trunk, Amaranth reached into her shirt, pulling out a key attached to a chain around her neck. Holding it in her hand made her remember how important the key was. There were only two copies, one belonging to her, the other to her mother. Amaranth now realizes that her godmother has her mother's key. Those were the only keys that could open and lock this trunk, matte black with glossy black accents. Her mind was racing. Although she owned a copy of the key, she never had a reason to open the trunk. She never really knew what was inside of it. And now it had been delivered specifically to her, she wondered if it was from Margaret or from her mother. Could there be materials or family heirlooms? Gowns or things from her childhood? Are her mother's belongings in the trunk? Things that her mother had left behind for her that she was never able to get while living in her father's pack?

Amaranth was so lost in thought that she almost didn't hear the dogs and the same omega from before coming in. Walking out of the closet, she greeted the omega and accepted the tray with her dinner. Closing the door with her foot, she walked into the living room, setting the tray down on the coffee table. She watched as the dogs got comfortable on the couch opposite her, and took a seat. She grabbed the silverware, digging into the dinner; lasagna with garlic bread and a side Caesar salad. It wasn't until she began eating that she realized how little she ate today. Her last meal was breakfast with Matthew and Derek before they went to their training. It was almost lunchtime when Dimitri and Cody came to pick her up. She washed down her meal with a bottle of water, leaning back on the couch. She made a mental note to open up the trunk another day, as this day had more than enough excitement.

After a few moments, Amaranth decided to see what was on the balcony. Opening the door, she was met with a garden table with matching chairs to her left, and a rocking bench to her right. Amaranth went back inside to grab a blanket before returning to the balcony, taking a seat on the bench. She got comfortable, wrapping herself in the blanket, sitting with her legs crossed and leaning back to make the bench sway back and forth. She looked out towards the woods, up at the sky to look at the moon. That's how Dimitri found her, staring up at the sky lost in thought. He had just gotten done eating dinner with Cody in his office as they worked on some of the paperwork they needed to catch up on. When Dimitri stepped onto the balcony, Amaranth turned her head towards him and offered a small smile. He smiled back and took a seat next to her, prompting the bench to rock a bit more. Amaranth was reminded once again of how comfortable she felt around him. How she never gets any of the alarms or need to get as far away from him as possible. The feeling that she had on their wedding night does not count, as it wasn't his presence that made her anxious, but her father's words.

Amaranth also couldn't help noticing a look that he always seems to have when he looks at one. A look that she couldn't quite figure out the meaning of. The same look he had as she walked down the aisle, when they said their I Dos, when he grabbed her hand to guide her to their seats for dinner, as he calmed her down from her panic attack, when they saw each other again after a year of being apart. She couldn't figure out why he looked at her like that, why he agreed to marry her for a pact he didn't seem to benefit from. Amaranth uncrossed her legs and turned to face Dimitri, who turned his head towards her as she moved.

"Can I ask you something?", Amaranth whispered.

"Yes, of course. You can ask me anything", Dimitri said, offering a small smile.

"Why did you agree to the pact? I know what the Midnight Moon Pack gets out of it. But I don't see what the Scarlet Moon Pack gets from it. Why would you agree to something like this? What do you gain?"

Dimitri watched her for a moment, a bit taken aback by her question, as it wasn't something he was expecting. He debated whether or not to tell her the true answer, and decided that it was best to get it out now rather than later.

Letting out a deep breath, Dimitri said, "You. What I get out of this agreement is you. It took me a while to realize that you don't seem to remember the first time we met. But we met about three years ago, at a party held by your father. It was my first time there. My grandfather had just begun bringing me along to events so that I could get used to the networking side of being an alpha. About a month before that, though, I was told by an oracle that I had little to no chance of finding my fated mate. Before that, I never really gave the women around me much thought, and after hearing that, my interest went down even more. But for some reason, at that event, you caught my attention. You grabbed not only my attention, but my wolf's as well, and it was the first time he ever reacted to anyone. I can't really explain it but I feel a pull towards you, a level of calm that I have never experienced with anyone else. And so, every event I attend at Midnight Moon Pack, I would look for you. And I would see how you would look more and more lost and I'd wonder 'How can I get her out of here? Would she even come with me?' The only answer I could give your father when he proposed that agreement was a yes, because I would get you out of that pack, and I would get a chance to be closer to you."

Dimitri looked at Amaranth, trying to see if she was ready to run away from him after everything that he had just said. But he was met with the one woman who he adored, looking back at him with a soft expression on her face.

"I feel it too. That calm feeling that you mentioned. I don't understand why I feel it and I don't remember meeting you before. But I think that I understand everything you've said." Amaranth smiled at him.

Their faces were much closer to each other now than they were when the conversation started. Dimitri raised his hand and cupped the side of her face, brushing his thumb over her cheek. They looked into each other's eyes, taking in deep breaths.

After a few moments, Dimitri finally caved. He leaned in and kissed her.