The Mates Bond

Twenty-Seven

Chapter: Twenty-Seven
The Party

The night of Alpha Trace's presenting and official first night as Pack Alpha had finally arrived.

"Gorgeous could you help me?"

"Be right there handsome." I said as I got up from my vanity table and walked into our shared closet and found Braxton having a difficult time with his cuff links. I stepped in and smiled as even my handsome Alpha had difficultly with the smallest of things.

"Don't you look sharp." I said as I finished with the cufflinks. I couldn't help but hug him.

He smiled down at me "No one will see me tonight."

I felt a little worried, I didn't want to have a repeat of my own presenting. "Are you planning on being on duty tonight?"

He shook his head, "No...no duty for me tonight other than representing the pack as Alpha, but mainly being your escort." His handsome smiled on full display. "I only mean no one will be able to see me because I am going to be standing next to such radiant beauty, everyone will be looking at you."

I couldn't help but blush at his compliment. "I wouldn't care if anyone looked at me tonight, so long as I have your attention."

He carefully took my face into his hands "Harper you always have my attention." And then he kissed me once before I pulled away.

I smiled, "Red lipstick."

He growled playfully before he decided to kiss my cheek instead, "Damn your beautifully painted lips."

Before we knew it, we were off.

"Your sister didn't need a ride?" Braxton asked as he drove on to the next town over.

I shook my head, "Her invitation mentioned a car picking her up, as well as a prolonged stay."

"How much more prolonged?" Braxton asked with amusement.

"Just the weekend." I said, "I think it's romantic."

He shrugged, "So long as they're happy that's all anyone can ask for."

"Are you happy with our life?" I asked him.

"Of course I am." He replied without hesitation, "Are you?"

I reached over and took his ah d in my own, "I don't think it's possible to be even happier than I am right now my handsome."

He smiled and my heart beat picker up at how utterly attractive this man really is, and how wholly I do absolutely love him.

"Can I ask you something love?" He asked almost carefully now.

"You know we can talk about anything."

"How would you feel if Val did get marked and married really fast?"

It definitely wasn't something I had expected him to ask.

"I-I don't know...I want to say I'll be happy for her but honestly I'd be concerned...-"

He shook his head, "that isn't exactly what I meant Gorgeous, I meant do you think the pressure would be on you again."

At this I looked at him, "honestly...I don't think I'd feel selfish, but weirdly I may get a tinge jealous...I mean I know we talked about this the other day, so I know marriage is something we both want and while we haven't quite discussed when we'd like to get married...I know there's no real rush or extended wait on my end...so if she got married before me I think I would be jealous for a minute before the excitement took over."

It was more honest than I expected it to be.

"But please don't feel like you have to..." I blushed, now I was worried he'd take it as a hint that I wanted him to purpose.

Again it'd be nice, but I'm not exactly expecting it.

"Harper I do plan on asking for your hand in marriage one day, and when I do it will be because I feel like we are in a place where we're ready to move forward, not because others around us are getting married, not because people think we should, but because we want to and it feels like the right time."

"Thank you?" I said. Even I could hear excitement and relief in my words.

He chuckled before he lifted my hand to his mouth, he placed a loving kiss upon it, "Of course Gorgeous."

"Now can I ask you something?"

He nodded, "Mhmmm."

"We talked about kids the other night too."

He nodded once again, "we did."

"How would you feel if they got pregnant before us?"

He looked over at me briefly (as he was driving)

"Honestly, just like you with your sister getting married I know I'd get jealous but at the end of the day I'd be thrilled for them..."

He sighed, "I am but a man, of course I want to be a husband father someday, and I will happily take what you are willing to give me...so if we have one kid, beautiful, two...even better." He smiled. "Three or four...I might have to take up a second job...but I'm not trying to win the race on who can have a baby first here."

At this I laughed. "Glad to hear it."

"Mariah's got us beat anyways." He our in teasingly. Then he caresses the back of my hand with his thumb. "All in all, my future is with you Gorgeous, we get to choose how our life goes and all I ask is for your happiness."

The conversations continued in an easy fashion and soon we were pulling up to the pack house (a rather luxurious mansion)

"Is this where Ryder and Trace grew up?" I asked.

"Trace yes, Ryder visited in the weekends...fancy huh?" He smiled.

"To say the least." I instantly thought of my sister

"Val's going to fit right in." He said as if hearing my thoughts.

But I shook my head, "Valerie talks a big game, but really she's just as shy as I am...she just has a bigger personality to mask her insecurities...or she can play the bitch role if she feels intimidated."

He simply nodded before two valet men came over and opened our doors. Braxton handed them the keys before rushing over to my side, the valet man who opened my door handed us both a mask. Braxton tied my mask off carefully and then he moved to put on his own mask.

I smiled up at him as a flood of memories and emotions overcame me.

He must have been remembering the same things as soon he grabbed my waist and kissed me before we finally set off to enter the pack house.

"This is insane." I said as I looked on in awe of the vast room.

I couldn't even begin to tell what the pack house looked like as rich fabrics draped the walls, any and all furniture was removed and in there place stood hundreds of very well dressed and masked individuals. That also poured out into the back yard area.

"Let's go and find Trace." Braxton suggested, "He's more than likely in the office." We moved through the room alight only with candles so it emitted a warm glow.

Braxton never let go of my hand and I was genuinely thankful, last thing I wanted to do was get separated from him right now. He lead me through the room and found the area he wanted to go, he moved one of the loose hanging pieces of fabric that covered a door. I smiled as it felt like we weren't suppose to be doing that.

He knocked on the door before a masculine "Enter" sounded.