“Baby, are you okay?” Ian worriedly asked a shaken Kimberly who was on the ground with her knees to her chest, hugging her body tightly.
Kimberly slowly lifted her head from between her knees at the sound of Ian’s voice. Her face was stained with tears, eyes red and puffy. Ian noticed that Kimberly had no shirt on, so he immediately took off his shirt, putting it on Kimberly who instantly hugged him, crying into his chest.
After minutes of sobbing, Kimberly sniffled back her tears, indicating that she was done crying. She slowly pulled away from the hug and noticed that everyone was present. They all had worried looks on their faces.
“Baby, look at me… what happened?” Ian asked, cupping her face with his hands
“T-there w-was some-something out here and it t-took my s-shirt” she managed to say, stuttering with her words
“Did you see what it was?” Simon asked concerned.
Kimberly shook her head, feeling embarrassed that she had gotten them worried over something that could be nothing in the end.
“Your shirt was right here before we left, I don’t understand. How did it get missing?” Amber asked with furrowed eyebrows
Kimberly suddenly felt weak, realizing that this wasn’t a joke.
“Let’s go” Ian said, carrying Kimberly bridal style as they all made their way back to the cabin.
#
“Are you saying I made it all up?!” Kimberly asked in a raised voice
Kimberly and Ian are currently in their bedroom back at the cabin, having an argument. She couldn’t believe Ian was accusing her of overreacting to something he felt wasn’t important.
“I’m only saying you were paranoid, that’s all”
“I can’t believe you. Losing my shirt to some unknown creature that could kill me in a minute is me being paranoid? Really Ian? Is that how low you think of me?” she angrily retorted
“What do you expect me to think? When you've always been against this trip!” Ian yelled this time as he was tired of holding his anger in.
He instantly regretted his action when he saw the look of disbelief in Kimberly’s eyes.
“Leave me the fuck alone, you jerk!” she yelled in tears when Ian tried to take her hand
“I’m sorry” he quietly said before leaving the room.
Amber and Britney immediately rushed into the room to soothe Kimberly.
#
Hugh was in his study when there was a knock on his door
“Who is it?” he asked, wondering who was disturbing his quiet time.
“It’s me, Donald” his beta replied
“Come in”
Donald opened the door and quietly walked in, making sure to shut the door behind him.
“What is it?” Hugh drily asked, leaning back in his chair
His eyes instantly caught the material in Donald’s hand.
“Alpha, the guards were on patrol when they found a human at the lakeside. This belongs to the human” his beta explained, handing him what he was holding
It was a shirt belonging to a female.
Hugh’s nose was suddenly filled with the scent of cherries and strawberries, causing his wolf to wake up from his slumber in excitement. This has never happened before, except…
For so many years, Hugh’s wolf has been silent, only showing up when the safety of his pack was threatened. He closed his eyes and inhaled the shirt deeply, letting himself get intoxicated by her scent. She was finally back. His runaway mate was finally back.
Hugh’s beta stared in utter shock as his alpha fought with his wolf for dominance. This has never happened before. How could a simple shirt awake his wolf, except-
“Mate” Hugh growled as his eyes turned yellow
#
Ian sat quietly beside Kimberly who was staring at photos of them on her phone, ignoring his presence.
“I’m sorry” he breathed, but Kimberly said nothing and went on with what she was doing.
“I know I went too far, I'm sorry… I just didn’t know what to think” he continued, eventually getting her attention.
“I can’t believe you actually came up with such a conclusion… what do you really think of me?” she quietly asked
“I know that was stupid of me. Forgive me, I promise it’ll never happen again”
“Just… promise me you’ll never let me be by myself again”
“I promise” he replied
Kimberly then embraced him
“Let’s go outside. We’re having a bon fire” Ian said with a smile
“Okay”
#
“Where the hell did you get this?!” Hugh yelled at his beta, his wolf taking over
“Alpha, they found it at the lakeside while on patrol. They also reported that they spotted some human presence at the cabin close to the border” Donald nervously explained
“I don’t bloody care about the other humans. Bring Hailey to me, even if it means getting the others out of the way” he said in a deathly tone, his canines protruding out of his mouth in a half shift.
#
Kimberly couldn’t take the scary stories anymore, she curled herself into Ian who covered her ears to at least prevent her from hearing any more of it. The other girls were also scared but pretended not to be. Kimberly couldn’t pretend like them and risk herself having a nightmare. Unfortunately, she could still faintly hear them. ‘She should never have agreed to this' she thought to herself.
“The end”
Kimberly heard Simon say, so she slowly straightened up.
“You guys are crazy” she muttered, earning a roar of laughter from the others
“Okay guys, I have something to say” Leo announced, staring lovingly at Amber
“Amber. Ever since I met you, my life has been filled with immense joy… I know we’ve been together for only a year but I can’t help but feel complete with you by my side. We may have our ups and downs but I’m willing to go through that journey with you and no one else…”
Amber was already in tears as she watched Leo take something out of his pants pocket and went on one knee. It was a small red velvet box. Amber gasped in surprise, as well as Kimberly and Britney
“Will you share your good and bad times with me? Will you do me the honor of becoming the mother of my children?... You'll make me the happiest man on Earth when you bear my last name. Amber, will you marry me?” Leo finally asked and Amber didn’t hesitate to nod
“Yes” she whispered, finding it hard to control her tears.
He gently placed the ring on her finger, connecting their lips afterwards.
Kimberly and the others cheered them as they kissed. This brought memories to Kimberly of the time when Ian proposed to her. He proposed at the hospital with the help of some of her colleagues, making her feel so embarrassed. She couldn’t stop crying that day because Ian would be going back to sea the next day.
“I love you” Ian whispered in her ear, bringing her out of her thoughts
“I love you too” she replied and they shared a passionate kiss.