"She is here."
Beta Scott said to Natalia who had been waiting for Axton originally. She thought he wanted to change, but he was taking too long and it was beginning to worry her.
"Who?" She asked absent mindedly.
"The woman who will deck you up. But, she is asking for Alpha's permission first."
Natalia looked over his shoulder to the short woman. She had big eyes that complimented her small nose and lips that looked like she's been pursing them at passers by her whole life.
"Is she the one?"
Before Beta Scott could reply, the woman took a step towards her. "You are extremely beautiful. It would not be too hard to give you the touch of sophistication you need. But, I will have to know if the alpha agrees to this first. I still cherish my life, you see."
Natalia's brows furrowed, before she burst into laughter. "Axton would not kill you for something so small."
Beta Scott swallowed as the woman turned to him. "Is she just naive or trying to play dumb?"
He could see the confused look on Natalia's face, and he immediately stepped in.
"Stop assuming everyone wants to kill you, Melissa. Our alpha is not like that."
Natalia broke into a smile and nodded, and Melissa scrutinized her with her eyes.
Without saying a word, she nodded and pursed her lips.
"So, ask the alpha."
Beta Scott went to the door and knocked, and Axton opened almost immediately.
"What is it?"
"Well, we need your permission. Today is the full moon festival and as usual..."
Alpha Axton raised a brow. "Full moon festival?"
"Yes."
"Has it been a month already?" He looked at Natalia, who looked oblivious.
"What are you referring to?"
"Nothing, cancel it. I have other plans."
"But, Alpha...We have to have it."
"I do not feel like it. And what is she doing here?" He said, turning to Melissa.
"I am sorry, I was called to deck miss up for the festival. If you are canceling it, then there is no need."
"Wait," he stepped out. "What is that?"
"We do not have to do it if you do not want to, but we need to do the festival for the moon goddess. It is to thank her for the blessings of a new moon." Beta Scott explained, even though he knew Alpha Axton was aware.
"I agree. But, I want to be there too." He said to the woman.
"But why would a man..."
"Then forget about it. Natalia looks fine as she is already."
"We will do it," Beta Scott said quickly, then looked at Natalia who nodded.
"Thank you," Natalia said to him.
"Beta, can I have a word with you?"
Beta Scott agreed and let the two women walk back to Natalia's room, while he and Axton went into the room.
"You wanted to see me?"
Axton nodded and turned to the window. "Strangely, you are the only one I can talk to about this."
"What is it? Is something wrong with Natalia?"
He shook his head. "I am scared." He stopped and swallowed, his fists clenching voluntarily. "I am scared of the day she will realize that it was me back then. How am I supposed to endure it? Or look at her?"
"Is it...getting too hard keeping it a secret because you got closer to her?"
"Maybe I should not have, right?" He turned to him, a small wistful smile playing on his lips.
"Something keeps bugging me, though." Beta Scott said. "Do you think her mother knew what was going to happen? Do you think the actual punishment is for you to let the guilt eat you up?"
Axton thought of it for a while. "What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, you mentioned her mother was a sorcerer. She would have evaded her death if she could. Do you think she knew it was inevitable and that was why she willingly died? Because she knew the punishment was to fall in love with Miss?"
Axton left the window side. "Are you suggesting I tell her and free myself from the punishment?"
"No matter what, you will find peace later. Even of you lose her. And for the first time, you will have a chance to apologize to someone you have wronged."
Axton brushed his fingers through his hair. "Losing her is the hard part."
Beta Scott nodded. "Sure. But it is still better than not being able to enjoy the present because the past still hovers above you."
Axton nodded and took a deep breath. "What of after the ceremony?"
Beta Scott shrugged. "Will you not prefer to have a bit more time with her? It might take some time for her to forgive you after she learns the truth. Through that time, you will be alone, most likely."
"I understand," He answered simply.
Beta Scott nodded his approval, then looked around to the bedside. "Did you read her father's letter?"
"No, but she almost did. I woke up just in time. I will read it after the ceremony."
Beta Scott nodded. "I will finish overseeing the prayer set up and then the festival after. I will also take care of your clothing, so you can just wait with Natalia. Melissa will take care of Natalia's appearance."
Axton gave a small nod and Beta Scott turned to leave.
"Beta?"
"Yes?"
Axton sighed. "Thank you."
Beta Scott smiled and nodded, "Always."
He then walked out of the room, leaving Axton to watch the festival preparations, and the sun that was ready to set above them.
Natalia took a bath and came out to Melissa's waiting stare.
She sat on the seat as Melissa indicated, and Melissa proceeded to start drying her hair.
"What do you use on your hair?" She asked her, rubbing the hair dry.
"Nothing," Came the response.
Melissa nodded and started to comb it, letting her hair fall down the back of the chair.
She took her time till the hair became only damp, then let it dry off by itself.
"What sort of dress would you like to wear?"
Natalia shrugged. She did not know much about dresses. "Maybe you should pick one that you think would suit me."
Melissa nodded. "You sure surprisingly meek. Alpha did not look like the kind of man that would keep a meek woman by his side. He used to seem repulsed by weakness."
"I am his mate," Natalia said, looking at Melissa's reaction through the mirror.
"Neither did he seem like the kind of man who cared for the sacred mate bond."
Natalia swallowed, the flow of the conversation unnerving her.
"Things changed," Natalia said
"Do you think Alpha is the kind of man who would change for a woman?"
"Why not?" Alpha Axton said, watching Melissa. "Do you not think so?"
Melissa looked away from him as he walked in, tucking his hands in hid pockets and opening up his frame.
"Oh, you are here."
He nodded. "Just in time too."
Melissa cleared her throat uncomfortably, and immediately went back to work.
"I wonted to ask...what is the purpose of the festival?"
Axton looked up at her. "It is to thank the moon Goddess for...a full moon."
He watched as she assimilated the information, then went back to touching Melissa's equipment.
"Does...any thing about a full moon ring a bell?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. Just asking. Do not mind it."
She nodded, and her quick compliance somewhat annoyed him. How could she forget that voyage on a full moon?
"Is she almost done?" Axton asked Melissa, who shook her head.
"Is there something you want?"
"I need to speak to her alone."
Melissa took the hint and walked out, leaving her things behind.
"What is wrong?" Natalia said, as he stood up and walked to her, putting his palms together.
"Not much..." he said, then held her shoulders, his fingers lightly moving over the light robe.
"What...what are you doing?"
He leaned toward her, watching their reflections in the mirror. "Is something wrong?" He asked her, then turned to meet her eyes.
His breath was hot on her skin, and her breaths picked up considerably.
"I need to get ready..."
"I believe they can wait." His voice lost an octave, and he felt closer, so close she could feel the tip of his nose grazing her cheek lightly.
She stiffened and watched the mirror, knowing it would be disastrous if she turned.
But very pleasantly disastrous.
"Axton?"
"How can you not remember?" He let his voice trail off, and he brought his hand to the other side of her cheek. Slowly, he turned her to him, the raw intensity in his eyes causing her to almost falter.
"What? What should I...remember?"
He moved closer, till it was less than an inch between them. "How can...a full moon not ring a bell at all?"
He let his finger lightly stroke her cheek, coming round to her chin as he raised her head to meet his eyes.
"A full moon..."
He looked almost disappointed, but he said nothing, and then moved to her side, letting his cheek graze over hers.
He didn't anticipate how it would knock the breath out of him, just the way she sucked in her own breath.
"How can you forget what a full moon means for us?"
She closed her eyes as he moved a little, his hand holding her shoulders in place.
"How can you forget when it has been just one month? Just one?"
He moved his face slowly to trace the lines of her jaw, then slowly down her neck.
"Do you mean..."
His other hand cupped the side of her neck, letting his fingers trace the skin there. He turned his face to slowly kiss the skin of the neck, and she closed her eyes again, lifting her face involuntarily. He kissed it again, then moved a little to kiss someplace else.
"It is the day you brought me back." She said simply, her chest threatening to explode.
"I thought you would not realize..." He left a last tempting kiss on her neck, then moved away.
She opened her eyes to him, and watched as he smiled at her, then leaned again, taking her lip swiftly.
'I think I must have learned a lot.' He thought to himself and broke the kiss, then went to the door to bring Melissa back in. Through the remaining time, he enjoyed watching her lose both her focus and her breath as she anxiously sat through the decking.
She had been so excited about it, but it seemed he showed her more exciting prospects.