Chapter 31

~Rosaline's POV~

I scream out in pain as my father branded me with that stupid symbol. He kept me in position where I couldn't move a muscle. I just lied on the ground screaming in pain until he finally took the branding metal away. He started to say something, but the sizzling of my skin overpowered any words he said to me. I soon passed out from the undeniable pain that I am having.

What felt like a few minutes later, I was woken up by my dear mother and father punching, kicking, scratching and anything else you could think of for hurting me. They put a lot more pressure on my branded arm making it that much worse. I don't know how long this lasted, but I did notice when it stopped. It was like a sudden force dragged my horrible parents away from me. I was afraid that there was someone worse than my parents to take me away from any chance of seeing Ryder again, as if he would take the time.

For the first few weeks I have been torturing myself thinking that Ryder could find me. After I spoke to him and passed out I regretted myself for having such little faith. Then after a month I finally gave up, but the red light that is still blinking is to say otherwise. For the next 2 months I kept on speaking to the blinking light saying to Ryder to just turn it off and move on. At night, I would have the thought of him just keeping the camera on for laughs, so I guess I thought to keep the show up. Day in and day out I have been talking to the camera and being used as a punching bag by everyone in the family, mostly my father though.

Someone touched my branded arm and I felt the pain slowly slip away. I look up and see Ryder there. This can't be happening, he was suppose to be moving on. I can't believe he actually came. Does that mean . . .? I smiled on the inside at the thought that occurred in my head. I ask "Ryder? Is that you?"

Ryder looked into my eyes, smiled, and pecked me on the head. He picked me up with my legs around his waist and my arms wrapped around his neck. He spoke, "Yes, I am here and I am so sorry for not finding you sooner. The brand helped me finally discover where you were located. I missed you so much and I love you more than I could imagine. I am never letting you go again." It broke my heart at how sweet hearted he sounded. I just can't believe that he is here and that he found me. After all this time he still believed that he could find me, and he did.

He climbed into the car and I didn't even try to move from him, I doubt that he would want me to move by the way he held me tighter than he even had before. I don't know how he drove with me in his lap, but we got to his hou-, no, we got home in little time and he ran us up to our room. He closed and locked the door. We sat on hi-, no our bed, and he dragged me down so I was lying on top of him. I'm so overwhelmed by the events that just took place. The biggest one though was that Ryder actually came for me. He really loves me.

I smiled and spoke with the most confidence that I had in a long time, "I love you Ryder." I felt Ryder grow still underneath me and I just worried that he just changed his mind.

Before I could freak out more he rolled over while saying, "You have no idea how long I waited for you to say those words to me. I love you Rosa, so much." He then bite harshly onto my neck and I started to thrash around as the pain started to take over, but Ryder held me down with a force like no other. It seemed to last a life time, but in reality it lasted for only a few minutes. I felt tears run down my face as he pulled his teeth out of my neck. He looked at my face, but I couldn't look at his. It's not because I didn't want to it is because if I moved my neck towards the direction he bit me then I would face horrible pain. He looked frightened by my tear stricken face and began to kiss all over my face where the tears had fallen. He then says, "I didn't mean for it to hurt, but please forgive me for not wanting to go a day longer without having the mating mark on you. That would mean in a couple of days we will mate and you will give me the same mark back as you will become a werewolf as well."

My eyes widen in surprise. When I was a little girl I made a promise of when to make love to the one I love, but a few days it will almost be impossible to do it. He was about to say something, but I beat him to it by speaking, "I can't mate with you, at least not in this situation." Ryder looked heartbroken, but I quickly explained with saying, "I made a promise to never make love to someone before I get married. I would feel like a slut and I would never forgive myself. I am sorry Ryder but I can't mate with you to only lose my self-respect in the process." I look down scared that he would be mad or ditch me for a better girl.

He cupped my face in his hands and tilted my head up to meat in adorable brown eyes. He said, "I guess we got a wedding to plan. We will quickly get married at a church so that we can mate without losing your self-respect. After we mate we will have a grand wedding so that you can feel more at home. For now we need to order a wedding to happen tomorrow and no one will know about this. I will tell my pack that I am taking you out for the day when instead we are going to get married. We will travel through the night to the honeymoon suite I will pick for us tomorrow. Right now I want to enjoy the time I have with my beautiful mate."

He kisses me deeply on the lips as I smile at the plans we have. Of course I want a wedding with the pack, but I am afraid that the mating will not leave us enough time to get the dress, flowers, decorations and everything else. I don't focus on anything right now except for Ryder's tongue dancing with mine. He lightly grinds on me making a slight moan come from my mouth. I felt him smile against my lips as his tongue searched every inch of my mouth. He slowly slides his hands down my waist until it rested on my waist. I felt him get hard and even though I wanted to go a little farther I wanted to go and see Nicole again.

I lightly push his face away while saying, "Down boy we will mate soon enough, but for now I would like to go visit Nicole. Don't give me that look I have been gone for 3 months and I won't be able to see her for the next week or two, depending on how long you want to hide me from the outside world. So, please, let me visit my best friend before we have to leave again." He sighs, but nods his head non-the-less.

He picks me up and we walk out of our room to the one right next to ours. I look at him and he says, "Dalton is Nicole's mate and since he is my beta he must stay close to me at all times incase of an emergency. Nicole moved into his room because mates can't be without each other long before going insane. Example A, me." I look at him and gave me sheepish smile.

Ryder knocks and says "Make yourself decent. Nicole, you have a special visitor." I heard them running around and hearing things like your pants are over there and you can't go out there without a bra on. I smiled a little and then saw the door open to see Nicole a little flustered. When she saw me she hugged me while squealing. Dalton stumbled out of his room right away to see me being crushed by his mate.

He slowly takes me away from Nicole to pick me up and spin me around while saying, "I missed you chipmunk. Welcome back." Don't ask me where the nickname came from, but it sounded cute and it grew on me. I heard a growl behind me before Ryder ripped me from Dalton's arms and engulfed me in his. Dalton laughed and said, "Dude, don't worry. I have my own mate to love." I laughed and look at Ryder to see that his cheeks were flaming red from embarrassment. We all laughed as he just dipped his head into my neck where the mark lays.

"Wait  a minute," says Nicole. She moved Ryder's head from my neck making another growl raise from his throat, but she ignored it as she looked closer at my neck. Nicole gasped and squealed, "Oh my gosh! Did you guys mate!?"

I choked on my spit a little bit as Ryder muttered, "I wish." I elbowed him in his ribs making him hunch over a bit.

I explained, "Not yet, but soon maybe. It depends if I'm ready or not. I lost count on how many times he has wanted me to go the mile." Dalton and Nicole laughed as Ryder put his head back on my neck.

Nicole spoke, "Well I am going to steal you for the rest of the day and tomorrow and forever." I nudged Ryder and he looked at me with an innocent look. I guess I have to break the news to Nicole.

"We can't actually because Ryder and I made plans for 2 weeks. Isn't that right Ryder?" I look at him only for Nicole to slam him into the wall behind us.

She says ominously, "If you think you can stand in the way between me and my best friend you are wrong. I don't care what you think you will do with her, but you will let me be with my best friend since she has been missing for 3 months. An-"

Before she could continue I whisper in her ear, "We were planing to mate."

Nicole instantly stopped, laughed lightly, pat down where she scrunched up Ryder's shirt, walked backwards to Dalton, and said, "Well I hope you two are safe."

I laughed as I hug Ryder to me as he looked a little shaken up at the whole thing. My big bad wolf seems to be a pup sometimes. I smile against his side as he seemed to be hugging me harder to him instead of him to me.

The moment didn't last long as Nicole tore me away from Ryder and shouted, "Make your plans while I steal your mate. Later!" We ran off for the rest of the day before I could even realize what is happening.

It seemed that the day went by faster than necessary which I was happy and saddened about, along with a little frightened. I was happy because I am that much closer to marrying Ryder. I am saddened that I have to leave Nicole so soon after being gone for 3 months. I am scared because I am worried about losing my virginity. I never done it before and with Ryder I am going to be that much more nervous. I know he is a virgin too, but guys usually know what they are doing which worries me more. I am going to make a complete fool of myself in front of him. I lightly shake my head as I know that Ryder would be patient with me, hopefully.

Ryder and I finished up our shower before going to bed. I was able to catch sight of the mark. It was so unique and special that a few tears came to my eyes. The beautiful design of the wolf howling on my collar bowl was so intricate that no one could ever do the same design. Ryder dragged me from the mirror saying something about how it will be there tomorrow and took me to bed. Before I knew it I was dead asleep.

I woke up to Ryder lightly snoring into my ear. I grimaced at waking up to morning breath and shoved his face away. I heard him murmur, "You are very violent in the morning. You know that?"

I laughed a little and said, "I wouldn't be violent if you didn't snore in my ear."

"No, I don't."

I turn towards him and started an argument that we would never finish. "Yes, you do."

"No, I don't ."

"Yes, you do."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Ready to get married future Mrs. Lockhart?"