Chapter 17

Smiling blissfully at my Mate as we walked hand in hand in the beautiful warm sunshine, I finally felt free and at ease. Life was starting to look great again and I was beginning to feel comfortable in my new family and pack. Taking in my surroundings, I was only semi-aware that we were following a worn dirt path up a steep hill. Many pairs of feet had walked up this hill, carving a path into the hillside for others to follow, like ourselves.

We were surrounded by long, prickly grasses and dry gorse bushes with big, yellow flowers that were attracting many insects, hungry for the nectar that they offered. Birds chirped happily above us in the sky, while they soared through the air, the sun beating down its rays on their feathered backs, while wild rabbits ran across our path and out of view into the thick vegetation, their little white tails bobbing behind them. Panting heavily, I grasped onto Blake’s hand and allowed him to pull me up the remaining short distance to the summit.

“Where are we going anyway?” I huffed noisily, trying to catch my breath as my heart beat painfully in my chest. “What are we doing up here?”
“I’ve got something special to show you,” winked Blake teasingly, his eyes glinting eagerly. “I wanted to show you something before your official Luna duties begin.”
“Oh, really?” I replied as I began to grin like a Cheshire cat. “What is it that you want to show me? Will I like it?”
“You’ll see in a minute!” Blake grinned excitedly like he was a kid on Christmas morning. “Come on, we are nearly there. It's really special!”

Smiling once more, I quickly followed Blake in silence as we reached the summit to find a flat, grassy area surrounded by cool, leafy trees, allowing us to rest in much-needed shade. Underneath one of the trees, I spied a large, chequered picnic blanket complete with a wicker basket filled with mouth-watering food a large bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“A picnic? Did you do this?” I whispered in awe, blushing furiously as I tried to cover my face with my hands. “For me? Blake, you didn’t need to do this!”
“But I wanted to,” Blake soothed, pulling me closer towards him and hugging me tightly. “Ever since your parents died, you’ve never known love or kindness and you deserve the world and more! Which I am going to give you! Also, there is another reason why I bought you up here too!”
“There is?” I replied slowly. “What's that?”
“Come here and I'll show you,” Blake whispered, gently grabbing my hand, and leading me to the edge of the hilltop and pointing out into the vast distance that was spread out in front of us like a patchwork quilt. “What can you see? Have a good look!”

Slowly, I turned my head away from Blake in wonder to see what he was trying to show me. I let out a small gasp before I could stop myself. There were rows and rows of neat little houses, lush green parks and cobalt-blue lakes surrounding a sprawling city filled with towering skyscrapers, office blocks and little boutiques as far as the eye could see. Right in the distance was a faint line of brilliant blue, which I knew was our coastal lands, and towards the east, I could see the outline of the mountains surrounding my new home.

Up here, the skyscrapers looked small and the houses and cars seemed like little matchboxes. From here, you could see for miles. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Turning around slowly, I stared curiously at Blake.

"This city is ours, right?" I started slowly. "And the areas around it. But, I've never seen it like this. It's so beautiful. I never knew how stunning our world could be!"
“You're right, this city and its lands have a new enchanting beauty that's captivating. Just like you," Blake whispered, coming up behind me and softly kissing my neck. "And now, all of this is yours. I wish I could give you more. While we can no longer vie for territories, what I can offer you is this newfound beauty that stretches out before us and the unwavering devotion of my heart.”
"I don’t need more land," I murmured softly. "You, Blake Carson, you're everything I need. After losing my parents, I felt trapped, like I was meant to serve others forever. But with you, I've found freedom. I can never thank you enough. I only wish I could have given you what you wanted."
"I desired?" Blake inquired softly, his hand tenderly cradling my face, his eyes searching mine with genuine curiosity. "What is that? There’s nothing you could have given me that would bring me more joy."
"I can’t offer you my virginity," I admitted with a heavy heart. "I had kept it for my Mate if fate ever led me to him, but that cruel fate that I had suffered, had different intentions."
"I don’t want your virginity, Libby. Your virginity doesn’t matter to me. I still love you, no matter what has happened," Blake vowed, his words filled with reassurance. "And that monster shall pay! No doubt about it."
"Do you have to go and fight?" I whimpered sadly, my heart heavy with worry as I looked at Blake. "What if my old Pack harms you? I can’t bear the thought of losing you. You can’t leave me. You’re a part of me now! I’ve only just found you!"
"Hey, hey, hey," soothed Blake, his touch gentle as he held my face, his eyes unwavering. "I’m not going anywhere. I promise. You have me for all eternity. We'll face everything together. I don’t plan on fighting anyway. We'll just retrieve James and his girlfriend for judgment."
"But what if it does come to a fight?" I insisted, fear lacing my voice. "They might hurt you!"
"No, they won’t," Blake chuckled softly. "I'm too strong for that. Our warriors and hunters will be by my side. We'll have the strength and numbers. The Eclipse Pack won’t stand a chance."
"I hope so," I murmured quietly. "Losing you would devastate me. I've lost everyone I loved. Maybe I'm destined to be alone and unhappy."
"Don’t think like that! Everything will be fine, I promise!" Blake declared firmly. "Let’s have some of this gorgeous lunch and find something else to talk to ease your mind, okay?"

Nodding, I followed Blake back towards the tree and carefully sat down on the blanket. I watched as Blake grabbed the champagne bottle and popped it open with a loud pop. Fizzy champagne began spilling out of the bottle like a mini volcano. Giggling, I held up a glass and expertly caught the foaming liquid. I watched in silence, as Blake filled up his glass before setting down the bottle and holding up his glass in the air.

"A toast!" he declared with excitement. "To us! The finest Alpha and Luna our kind has ever known and will ever witness! May joy and good health accompany us for years to come!"
"To us!" you chimed in, a soft giggle escaping you, as you delicately clinked your glass against Blake's, savouring the cold, bubbly liquid. "Let the fun begin!"

Basking in the golden rays of the sun all afternoon, we feasted like royalty and shared stories, getting to know each other better. With a contented sigh, I leaned back against my Mate's firm yet comforting embrace, his strong arms enveloping me with love. Alone together on the summit, it felt as though we were perched atop the world, sharing a moment of pure bliss. Sitting atop the summit, we made short work of the jam sandwiches, pork pies, cocktail sausages, chocolate cupcakes, and strawberries packed in the picnic basket. Full and content, I leisurely sipped my champagne, taking in the stunning view. And then, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

"Isn't this place supposed to be a beauty spot? Where is everyone?" I inquired with curiosity. "I expected a crowd here, but it's just us. It's so serene and lovely. But has everyone vanished too?"