14. Is he hot?

Ally leaned closer into the familiar touch, a wave of shivers traveling down her spine. She closed her eyes, enjoying the closeness of their bodies. The last time when they met must be more than a year ago, but she would never forget his touch, his voice, and the scent he carried. The Princess was sure that some part of her was still in love with the man.

"Michael," she breathed in, inhaling his masculine scent. "What are you doing here?" The male tightened his hold around her body as she still acted as his presence affected her. He missed Ally more than he had ever missed any woman.

"I have been trying to call you up because I miss you so much. And it bothers me that you didn't pick up the phone. I didn't know what I was going to do until Mary told me that you were visiting them. I said that I don't care, but that's not the truth. Ally, I'm still in love with you. I know all your friends hate me, but I don't care about that because I'm still not over you. It's been a year since I last saw you, but I lived each day wishing that I would run into you. And maybe you never wanted to see me again, and I understand if you don't want to. But I can't forget you and I never will. I'm sorry, I just needed to see you again despite how stupid it seems." Michael whispered in her ear, moving his body as if they were dancing in the lake.

It was one of the things Ally got so attached to when they first met. Michael had always been an ultimate romantic- making her feel special and wanted. The few dates they went to always blew her mind. It all started with a path of rose petals, and their surroundings lit in candles. That was the first time Ally got to see the ocean. When she agreed on the second date- he promised that it would be better than the first one, and he didn't let her down. That time he took her to the carnival, brought her a ton of balloons, and made her feel like the most beautiful woman alive. Michael knew what Ally loved and missed the most- always bending and twisting to make sure she would smile. He was a giver, rarely taking anything in return. As time went by, their relationship changed- he became distant despite her efforts to keep everything as it was. Ally blamed herself, believing that she did something wrong. It wasn't her fault; back then, Michael met another girl who took his breath away. She wasn't as seemingly innocent as Ally was then. The woman was dangerous and did everything for a rush of adrenaline. She was a true daredevil- a complete opposite of what he had.

"We're over, Michael. I came here to take time off from everything that was happening in the Kingdom. I didn't intend to meet you. We were just kids back then; none of us knew what we wanted. Hell, we didn't know what a relationship was, aside from going out on innocent dates and holding hands. What we had wasn't real, and there is no second chance." Ally sighed, hating herself for the words she had said. She did miss Michael; she missed the moments they spent together. But for the most part, she missed how easy life felt whenever he was around. It was just them, and nothing else mattered back then.

"Didn't you hear what I just said? I'm still in love with you, Ally. I can't forget you; I can't forget us. And the worst part is that I understood how much you meant to me only when there weren't you in my life anymore. I miss everything we had- each date and each evening we spent together. I don't care that we didn't know anything then, because I know a lot now, I understand way more than I did when I was sixteen. You're the one I want next to me, and I will do whatever it takes if you'll give me one last chance. Please let me prove that I'm a changed man now. Please, just once." Michael inhaled her scent. It had changed over time, but now it was more addicting than it was a year ago. She had grown, both physically and mentally- becoming stronger and her tongue sharper. She wasn't as shy as the last time they had seen each other; now, Ally didn't seem to be the crying type anymore. Deep down, Michael blamed himself for the sudden change in her- perhaps he broke her heart, and from there, Ally decided that being the way she was wasn't good anymore. But he missed the gentle, happy, and peaceful her- he missed everything she wasn't today.

"There were times when I missed you- when I missed US. Sometimes I saw your name popping on the screen of my phone, and I wanted to pick it up. But only sometimes. Not anymore, Michael, not today or tomorrow. And it's not about hurt or our previous experience. I wish it was, but it isn't. I'm engaged, Michael. I couldn't do that to you- building hope, letting you believe in a false future when I know it will never come true. I'm getting married after my eighteenth birthday." Ally decided to come clean with the reasons why she couldn't accept him back. Maybe under any other circumstances, she would, but that's a weak possibility. Her mother always told her that once a cheater would still be a cheater. She didn't want to end up with someone whose loyalty she would question as the days keep going. One day he might disappear with another woman, leaving Ally alone and broken. Again.

"You're joking? If that so- why didn't Mary tell me that you're getting married soon?" The male wouldn't let go of her waist. Ally didn't try to break free either. Sometimes she needed closeness with others, simply to calm down and think.

"I wish I was joking, but I'm not. I'm surprised you haven't heard that yet. My father announced the engagement at my sixteenth birthday party in front of all Alphas. It's an arranged marriage to make peace between two powerful leaders. Sometimes life hands you lemons, and I'm planning to squeeze those in my fiancee's eyes," As the words left her lips, both of them laughed. Their laughter died down pretty soon, followed by a comfortable silence. They stood with bare feet in the lake, closer to the shore. Michael was still holding her, fearing that she might disappear within minutes. This might be the last time he has a chance to hold her- so he will be as close as possible.

"I wish I was better at whatever I do, especially back then. I wish I never left your side; it was the worst mistake I ever made. Maybe today, we would lay next to each other, not a single doubt in our minds about how right it was. Not a hint of fear about losing you for good. I'm so fucking sorry for leaving your side," Michael whispered in her ear, sending another wave of shivers down her spine. Ally clung on his arms, feeling like she was the one, afraid to let go.

"Maybe things would be different, but we don't know, would they be better. Perhaps everything happened how it was supposed to happen. Don't regret the things you did- remember that it's an experience. It doesn't matter if the experience hurt or made you happy. Follow your heart, Mich, do what it wants for you to do." Ally tried to convince him that everything went exactly the way it should despite knowing that it didn't. She did her best to forget him, dedicating her life to training and changing to a more influential person. Deep down, she knew that those words were meant for her as much as they were for Michael.

"I don't believe that what I did was something that had to happen. I missed the way you use the shortened version of my name. If only I could find the right words, if only I would know how to act and what to do to prove how serious I am. Your father wouldn't change his mind, if I went there to face him, huh?" An idea popped in his mind, one he thought was brilliant until Ally shook her head in disappointment.

"For that, you should have appeared earlier. It's too late now. We can be friends; we can hang out and enjoy the little time we have left together. But that's about it. I agreed on the marriage because I know what it'll bring for the Kingdom. And the Kingdom comes first- no matter what. My mother was ready to leave my father because of the arrangement. And as much as I would love to choose the man I will marry- I can't cheat on one I was promised to. He could be out there, enjoying the last years of freedom to its fullest, but I'm not like that. I will stay loyal to the man who will call me his wife in the near future. Even if I don't fall in love- I will stand by his side with my head held high. He has to understand that no matter how much we could hate each other now, he will have a nice wife. I'm pretty sure he isn't quite stoaked for being forced to marry me. We're both in the same boat, and the outcome depends on our attitude alone. I accept the things as they are, that's it. You should too, Mich. Somewhere out, there might be your destined mate- waiting for your arrival. She might cry herself to sleep now, begging the Moon Goddess that you're looking for her. Instead, you are standing in a lake with your arms wrapped around another woman. If she's out there- don't hurt her, don't let her feel less worthy because she isn't me or any other woman you're dreaming about. Be with one which is made for you. She must be perfect, trust me on this one." Ally smiled to herself, imagining that there might be a mate for her too. It was unlikely for her to meet him if he was real, but she could dream.

Michael didn't have anything to say; he loosened his grip around her and let out a deep breath of frustration. The young man traveled for days after finding out where Ally was. He had so many ideas as to what he would do as soon as they met. Michael had so many outcomes playing in the back of his mind- stating from a simple hug, ending to a slap in his face. But none of those stood close to reality. He couldn't guess or think of her being engaged. The realization washed over him- he had lost her for good. Once, he lost Ally because he was stupid enough to chase an illusion. He had his own perfection by his side, yet she wasn't enough then. And now, after all that time- he lost his perfection with no chance to redeem himself. Michael was partly happy, knowing that if they ever had a future- she would stay loyal till the end of their road. Just as she is for a stranger now.

"I guess you're right. Maybe we can be friends then? I would love to spend some more time together before your life changes, and you forget your past. I'm the part of your past; I wish you could never forget." The young male let go of Ally and stepped aside, taking off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as her eyes traveled down his torso.

"What does it look like? I'm joining your midnight swim. Or are you expecting any company here? You did seem rather hesitant before getting into the water," He winked, teasing Ally. The same bright smile, which Ally used to love so much, appeared on his lips. She did miss moments as such.

"I wasn't expecting anyone here. A man who drove me home today was kind enough to show me this place. He said that I could come here whenever I need to think, or I miss swimming. The lake is on his land," Ally explained. She didn't want to tell Michael how she thought that Deimos might kiss her if his cousin wouldn't appear. The worst thing was that Ally didn't know how she would react if Deimos would have pressed his lips against hers. Would she accept him and kiss him back, or would she try to push him away? When she was near him- she forgot about the engagement and getting married. Same as whenever she was with Arex. Those two messed up her mind- spending time with them made her forget too much.

"Is he hot?" Michael wiggled his eyebrows, teasing Ally the same way as he did when they first met. She didn't expect it, but her cheeks turned deep purple in an instant, giving out whatever her thoughts were.

"Yes, am I?"