Jacob

~Almost 3 Years Later

Today is the day. The day the love of my life turns twenty-one.

I do have to admit, it's been the toughest almost-three years of my life. And it's also been a learning-curve for me.

Tough because I've been away from Anastasia all this time. The last time I actually saw her was at her brother's Gala when he took the mantle of Alpha. Oh, how we danced that night, all eyes on the two of us. And for us, there was no one in the room besides Anastasia Hemming and Jacob Knoon.

The learning-curve for me comes in the form of her letters, which hasn't stopped being a thing between us. I swear I become a kid in a candy store every time I find her letter pushed under my door, and I realize how sweet and romantic it is without the use of technology.

Who would have thought, huh, that I'd appreciate something so simple? Definitely not me. But I do, and every time I read her words, hearing the sweetness that is her voice inside my head, I fall in love all over again.

Two years ago on her birthday, I asked her to be my bride. I knew she wasn't exactly ready at the time, so I asked her to make me a promise. A promise that when two years later, on the very same day on her twenty-first birthday, she would come back home with me.

And today is the day I bring her home.

I'm a mess, to be honest. I was never like this before, ploughing my brains out about something as simple as a tie. Yeah, I haven't mastered that skill yet, no matter how much I've tried. And trust me, I've been trying all morning.

In fact, I don't even know why I'm wearing a shirt to go meet her. It's not like this was some formal event. Not technically, but for me it is. This is the day I get her back.

Huffing in frustration, I decide to go without the tie and open up the top button on the blue shirt. Blue, like her favorite color, and because I am trying to be her favorite today, so she'd accept me.

Not that I have any doubts. But still, I'm trying to make an impression, okay?

"Knock knock!" comes the sound of Derek's voice along with the sound of him banging my door.

"Come in," I say, and when he does, I turn back to the mirror and mutter "wanna break my fucking door?"

Derek chuckles as he plunges between my pillows, folding his arms behind his head. "Yeah, I would have kicked your door in, Dingus. We're gonna be late."

"Late?" I spin around and look down at my wristwatch, then cuss under my breath. We're cutting it way too fine.

"Let's go! I grab the tie and bolt out the door, eager to meet the woman I love.

~

It seems that we've all gotten over the things that were holding us back in the past. Now, without the shackles of our grief we were holding onto for so long, Anastasia and I are finally free to move on together. Even Derek, who steers us onto the dirt road which leads to the Moon Valley mansion, has moved on with an Omega wolf named Cynthia. She's everything Medeia wasn't; kind, easy-going, and in my opinion, just the perfect match to Derek's rather imposing character.

I asked Derek to bring her along today. She's excited to see Anastasia again, and I know the rest of my pack feels the same. Things have really changed around there, and finally Anastasia can come back as their Luna.

"Stop here," I tell Derek when we've reached the border. As soon as the engine cuts, I climb out and go ahead to speak to the border guard, who leaves us to find out if we're granted entry.

My foot taps the ground off its own accord, as Derek and Cynthia step out from the Jeep and join me at the border. I expect the guard to come back, but I see four figures emerging from the mansion.

But my eyes only set on one. The Alpha, her brother, nods his head to grant our entry, and I rush forward with the giftbox I've been holding behind my back. Anastasia runs towards me, and we meet halfway. I grab her into my arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her while my lips seek her kiss. She dips her head and allows me to capture her lips, and everything around us fades away.

It's just the two of us, clinging to each other as if we'd spent a lifetime apart. It sure feels like it's been a lifetime. And I don't ever want this moment to end. Her scent is so sweet, and I realize just how much I've missed it. Her lips so soft and supple, I lose my breath to her kiss.

I lead her back to her feet, and she giggles as she buries her face into my chest.

"Hi," she whispers, and I feel my heart do a three-sixty.

"Hi," I say back, and hold the velvet box up to her, "happy birthday, baby."

She takes the box, her piqued interest almost having her open it here, in front of everyone. I put a hand on hers, and shake my head. "You can open it later."

She's about to pout her disappointment, when the others catch up to us, Alpha Kierren stretching his arm out as he offers his hand in greeting. I shake his hand and bow respectfully, when he clicks his tongue.

"There's no need for that, Jacob. We've passed the formalities."

It's true - Kierren and I have been keeping in close contact all these years. But still I need to be respectful - after all, he's the father of the woman I love.

"Come on guys," Amelia tells us politely when Derek and Cynthia have caught up, "dinner is about to be served, and you won't believe who cooked tonight!"

Ralph groans, and winces as he looks to his wife, "honey, I told you not to make it a big deal."

Amelia slips her hand between his arm and grins, "oh, it's definitely a big deal! It's not every day I find my husband in the kitchen."

Walking hand in hand, I glance over to Anastasia, who looks so much different than the last time I'd seen her. Her skin is no longer as pale as it was, and the golden glow she has only attests to her true identity. The Luna. Who would soon become the Luna of Blood Moon. My chest fills with pride, and I look down to notice that the mares that once crossed her wrist are gone now.

Gone for good, just like the traumas she had overcome.

"What's wrong?" Anastasia asked when she notices me gawking.

"Nothing," I shrug, looking back down the path, "you're just more beautiful than I remembered."

I steal a glance at her again, to witness the way her cheeks flush deep red. I can't remember a time when Anastasia was so full of color, so bright and so healthy. It's the years that have passed - the training and healing - that's transformed her into what's undebatably the most beautiful woman in the world.

And I plan on making the most beautiful woman in the world my wife tonight.