Chapter 34

**Marilyn**

I couldn't believe it. Daniel was asking me to marry him. I was so stunned I couldn't speak. I never expected him to propose. The bond between mates was so much stronger than any human marriage so most couples didn't bother getting married. For him to propose meant that his love ran deeper than I would ever know, that what we had went beyond a mate bond. My whole life I wanted someone who would love me unconditionally. No bond to force us together, nothing to make our relationship seem like an obligation. It was the reason why I hated the idea of the mate bond before meeting him. I was determined to have a say, make my own choices and to let the man I ended up with do the same. Never did I imagine I would find everything I wanted and more when I met my mate.
He looked into my eyes waiting patiently for my answer. There was no way I could deny him anything when he looked at me that way.
"Of course I'll marry you."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you," I couldn't help but laugh knowing full well he heard me.
"I said yes I'll marry you," I squealed and started to giggle as he swept me off my feet and held me bridal style as he ran to our room. It felt incredible being in his arms and having him hold me again. He laid me on the bed and hovered over me. I moved a little underneath him causing our cores to touch. I let of a soft moan from the friction. I was getting turned on again despite all my efforts to keep my hormones in check. I felt his body tense and his eyes filled with lust making the throbbing of my core worsen until it became almost unbearable.
"I promised you I would take care of you," he said in a husky voice. "Your body has been calling to me none stop since the moment I woke up." He placed open mouth kisses along my neck and jaw before sucking on my mark. I was squirming beneath him and moaning by this point. My body was literally begging for release.
I wanted to sing praises when he began to undress me. It had been so long since we were together this way. He took his time exploring my body. He groaned at the sight of my breast as he took them in his hands, squeezing and suckling them until he was content. He made his way further down and his fingertips caressed my hips before he kissed my inner thigh and his lips connected with my soaked core.
I don't know how many orgasms I had before he was done with his assault. I had completely lost count. He finally positioned himself to enter me and I lost breathe when he glided himself inside groaning in appreciation.
I screamed his name over and again as he thrust into me. Never had I felt so complete. I was whole again and the feeling was indescribable.
I wasn't sure how much time went by before we both passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up he was already awake still holding me.
"You're so beautiful when you're sleeping, so at peace," he said softly moving a stray hair behind my ear. "I always want you to feel that way, safe and secure. You deserve it after all you've been through. I never really got the chance to tell you how proud I am of you. I was scared to death when you showed up. I couldn't bare the thought of you getting hurt. Hearing your voice was the only thing that kept me going. It gave me a reason to fight and want to live." I didn't know what to say. I was bursting with pride at the thought of him being proud of me and wanting to cry because of the things he was saying.
"Daniel I -"
"You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know how I felt. I want you to know how much you mean to me. I think you are an amazing woman. I love you and I wish I would have told you that every day. Being in that coma, not being able to see your face every morning made me realize that I need to cherish each moment. I don't know what this new title will mean for us but I do know things are going to change. Just know that I will protect you with my life and that you mean the world to me"
I was about to respond when someone knocked on the door.
"Alpha wanted me to inform you that the ceremony starts in an hour," a female voice said from the other side of the door.
We thanked her and she left leaving me with my thoughts as Daniel headed to the shower. I went downstairs to shower, Daniel was just too tempting and we would never make it otherwise.
We made it to the clearing in time for the ceremony. I pushed aside my nerves as Daniel and I made our way to the platform. Once I was in front of everyone I took a deep breath and tried my best to recite all the ancient words after Rick and Daniel. Some blood was taken and the after a final few words the transition was complete. The crowd bowed out of respect and I felt a change in myself.

I was no longer the Marilyn that had first arrived with bitterness about the life she was forced to leave behind and fears of the past. I was a new woman now whose past no longer defined and controlled her. I no longer felt trapped but free as I made my way through the crowd. For the first time I thought about what we would be facing.

There would be people after me and probably war and death in the future. We would have to face many more obstacles and more hardship along the way. Despite all of that I wasn't afraid. I would work hard and become stronger and defend my pack with everything I had. I now knew that I was capable of doing anything, even being a Warrior Queen as long as Daniel was by my side.

I found my warrior, my mate and he changed all my life.