Chapter 14 - THE CHOICE BENEATH THE MOON
Nathaniel proposed at the edge of a lake.
No ballroom.
No audience.
No ceremonial clock.
Just moonlight.
Trees.
And the sound of water against the shore.
Emma wore jeans and a sweater.
Nathaniel wore a dark jacket.
He took her hands.
“Emma.”
She smiled.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
She laughed.
“Good.”
Nathaniel smiled.
“The first night we met, I asked you to act like you belonged to me.”
Emma nodded.
“I remember.”
He looked into her eyes.
“I was wrong.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“You never belonged to me.”
His voice softened.
“You belonged to yourself.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“And if you'll let me, I'd like to spend the rest of my life beside you.”
He knelt.
Emma covered her mouth.
He opened a small box.
Inside was a silver ring set with a pale blue stone.
“Emma Whitmore, will you choose me?”
She began crying.
“Yes.”
Nathaniel smiled.
“Yes?”
She laughed.
“Yes, you enormous idiot.”
He stood.
She threw her arms around him.
Their wolves answered one another beneath the moon.
Not because a council demanded it.
Not because a family arranged it.
May you like
Because they had chosen.
And that made the bond stronger than any ceremony.
