Chapter Ten ~ Our Future

Marik's point of view

Celebrations for Liviana's birthday were in full swing. The drink was flowing and the music was infectious. Everyone was dancing and singing, it was one of the best celebrations I'd seen. I was over at the wooden table fetching drinks for Livi and I, when I turned to watch her dance. She was laughing and spinning her brother Max around. At that moment I knew what I was about to do, was the right decision. She would make a perfect wife and mother, and I couldn't wait to spend my life with her.

I placed the drinks I'd poured back onto the table and headed over to Livi. I placed my hand around her waist and whispered into her ear,
"Are you ready for your surprise?"

She looked up at me with her beautiful brown eyes and nodded with a soft smile. I took her hand in mine and began running through the crowd. She was giggling behind me, and I quickened the pace, pulling her into the woods. We ran full speed for a while, and when I heard her getting breathless, I turned around and hoisted her up onto my shoulder. She squealed and then began giggling as she bounced around in my shoulder. I ran for a little while longer before slowing down when we reached the river.

I walked out of the trees and into the brilliant moonlight. It bounced off of the water and lit the small clearing beautifully. I placed her down onto her feet and spun her around so she could see her surprise. Laid out on the ground was a bear fur and on top of it was a jug of mead, beside it a feast fit for a queen. Her brother max had even picked some wildflowers and placed them into a small wooden cup. She brought her hands up to her chest, and when she turned to face me, she had tears in her eyes.

"Oh Livi, what's wrong? Don't you like it?" I asked with concern while taking her hands into mine.

"I love it Marik, these are tears of happiness. I can't believe you did all of this for me."

I dripped her hands and embraced her. I then held her hand and guided her over to the rug. Once we were both sat down we began to talk and enjoy the food and mead. We must have spoken for hours, and the sound of the celebrations in the distance began to die down. I knew it wasn't long before the sun rose in the sky, so I built up the courage to ask her. I took her hands into mine and stared into her eyes. I reached under the rug with one hand, and pulled out a wooden carved ring. I held it up for her and asked,
"Livi, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

She sat there with her mouth hanging open for a while, and I wasn't sure how to react to her expression. I didn't know if she was happy or sad, and to be honest, it made me feel very nervous. I pulled the ring back a little and cleared my throat. When she still didn't respond, I lowered my head in defeat. Her soft, delicate hands slid up my face and pulled it up to meet her gaze. She had tears in her eyes again, and the smile on her face made me relax a little.

"I'm in utter shock, I wasn't expecting this. Of course, I'll marry you, I love you, Marik."

I placed the ring onto her hand, and once it was placed she threw herself into my arms. I held her for what felt like an age, I never wanted to let her go. When she pulled away from me, my heart hurt for a second, but was then filled with joy when she placed her velvety soft lips onto mine. Our soft and sensual kiss soon better up and before I knew it, she was ripping at my shirt. I knew if I didn't stop her, then I would have taken her right then and there. It was one of my rules. I didn't want my first time to be out of wedlock, and I'd told her father that I would wait until we were wed.

Trying to stop myself had become torture over the last couple of years, but I wasn't a kit to throw away my principles or her father's respect, for the sake of a few weeks. I tried to pull away from her but she put her and behind my head and wouldn't let me. I had no choice, I was turned on behold belief and it wasn't long before I lost control completely. I growled a little and ripped myself away from her. I then shifted into the woods with the sound of her giggles filling the air. She knew what she was doing, and she enjoyed teasing me. The woman was going to be the death of me.

Liviana's point of view

It had been a few weeks since Marik had asked me to marry him, and my parents got right onto organising our wedding. The tribe were happy with my choice, and that meant a lot to me. As the firstborn, my husband would take over as chief, so villagers acceptance was crucial. Today was our wedding day, and I was all ready to go. My hair was pinned up beautifully, and my mother had made me a gorgeous white gown to wear. I looked just like a Greek Goddess. I never thought this day would come, I never expected to find a man who completed me.

Mario was all I'd ever dreamed or wished for. He was kind and sweet, strong and handsome, and the fact that he was magic and could turn into a wolf, was an added bonus. Add in the fact that he was our saviour from the Lycan's just made him absolutely perfect. I was more than ready to settle down with him, and although I never saw myself barefoot and pregnant, I actually couldn't wait to have his children and settle into married bliss. My father walked into the but and I could see his eyes glistening with fresh tears.

"Oh, father."

I ran into his arms and embraced him. He squeezed me tight and told me how proud he was of me, and how beautiful I looked. He then held his arm out, and I slipped my hand through it. As I walked out of the but, a beautiful scene, there was everyone from the village there, and they had placed flowers all around. At the end of a long walkway was Marik, and he looked glorious. The beaming smile on his face melted my heart.

"Are you ready, Livi?"

"More than ever."

We walked between the crown of villagers, and some people began playing musical instruments, it was soft and added just that little bit more to the magic of the scene. The closer I got to Marik, the more my heart pounded, and when I was only a few feet away from him, I felt like I'd pass out from all the nerves. As soon as I stood in front of him and he took my hands into his, a wave of calm washed over me. His smile was contagious and I couldn't keep control of my own being grin.

My grandmother, the Oracle was performing our ceremony as she did with everyone else in the village, and as she said her words for us to repeat, I nearly remembered what I was saying. It was all a blur and it felt like Marik and I was in our own little bubble. The world around us melted away, and it was just me and him. I couldn't wait to start my life with him, starting with the wedding night. I'd waited for over two years to get my hands on him, and tonight was going to be incredible.

We finished our vows and when he was told that he could kiss me, he placed his hands under my armpits and lifted me into the air above him. The crowd cheered and I giggled as he lowered me down towards him. I rested my hands on his cheeks and pressed my lips onto his. As much as I wanted to literally eat his face off, I had to be respectful with my parents and the villagers watching. The crowd erupted when we kissed, and I felt his lips grow into a smile against mine. He lowered me to the ground and stared into my eyes as he entered his fingers with mine.

The butterflies in my stomach were going wild and I couldn't believe that I was finally a married woman. Our future looked bright, and I knew that the village would be in the best hands. He would keep me and my people safe from the Lycans, and that was important right now. Many villages were being wiped out by groups of Lycans, they had begun hunting together. With Marik by my side, we would be safe. We strolled off into the crowd and were greeted with congratulations and love from all. The celebrations started shortly after and everyone was enjoying the day. Soon enough the night crept in, but the party carried on. As much as I loved celebrating with my people, all I wanted was to be alone with my husband.

"Livi, come over here would you?" My mother called out.

Marik took my hand and smiled down at me, and I guessed he knew what was happening. We followed my mother and met up with my father. After a short walk, we stopped outside of a brand new hut. I didn't know how I hadn't seen it being built, maybe they hid it with trees or something. My father held his hand up and told me that it was our new home. Happy tears streamed down my face as I ran into my father's arms. I was such a lucky daughter, and I couldn't wait to make the place my own.

"Thank you so much, father. It's incredible."

"You're welcome, now you can settle down and live a wonderful life."

We hugged, before my mother pulled me away so she could hug me. She had happy tears in her eyes.

"I hope you'll be very happy here, Livi. I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, mother. I know we will be happy here, if I'm half the wife and mother you are, I'd be happy."

After an emotional farewell, Marik picked me up and carried me into the hut. There was a huge bed up against the back wall, a cooking area to the left, and a living area to the right. It wasn't all that big, but it was perfect for the two of us. He carried me over to the bed and gently placed me into it, before climbing onto it himself. He moved up my body, and when his face was inches away from my own, nerves began to set in. Although I had dreamed about this for over two years, now it was to become a reality, and I was terrified.