Chapter 13 Courtship: Day 1

Io

I was now accepted by the family, however with certain conditions. I was even given their approval to stay at the guesthouse for the time being. Tomorrow, I will contact a realtor and purchase a house in the neighborhood if not, land. I can always buy a tiny house and move in. At least I wouldn't be encroaching on the Wright's hospitality and I could at least have some freedom to move around since I was staying on my property.

Kiaria wanted me to court her so, court I will. I had Marcus pick up some of my things at the hotel to bring here while I spend some time talking to Kiaria at their cozy backyard patio.

She was allowed to drink some sangria while I had a glass of scotch. We sat down looking at the full moon and talking about anything we could think of.

"So, what do you do for a living, Io Hemming, aside from hogging the front page of the tabloids?" Kiaria's eyes were sparkling with her laughter. She did know me although not the way I wanted her to know me.

"I'm a businessman. I inherited the business from my father who was Alpha before me. We own vineyards and produce our own wine and I handle a number of other businesses. My family owns a number of hotels and inns, we also have an apartment building and a resort as well."

"So you're a millionaire then?"

"You can say that. You're one too, judging from your trust fund. How does it feel to have money?"

"It's nice. Not the same as earning it on your own, but since the money that started all of this," she pointed at there very nice home, "was from my biological parents, then maybe I can say I deserve it."

"Of course you do. Your mother was a celebrated priestess and I'm guessing you will be one too. So, no boyfriends aside from me?" She laughed, amused.

"None. My mother never allowed me to have a boyfriend. I'm actually surprised she gave in to you. The, uhm, rich womanizer." She laughed so hard at her own joke.

"Well, I'm not a womanizer any longer. I only want one she-wolf in my life and no one else."

"I bet you say that to all the women."

"Honestly, no. The women I've dated know where they stand. I have never lied to them. Have you ever read any of them say anything bad after we had broken up? Nothing. I'm actually friends with most of them."

"You are? Even that one celebrity with the blonde hair?" She stares into my eyes to see if I would lie.

"Her? Yes, we're friends. Actually, we never had a romantic relationship. We were just friends. I helped her through a particularly rough point in her life. She's actually very grateful."

"No wonder you guys still go out from time to time. The tabloids think it's an 'on again, off again' kind of relationship. Well, as they say, you shouldn't believe what you read in the tabloids." She nodded her head.

"Well, some of the headlines are true though. Remember the pregnancy news about that one singer who kept hiding it? Now she has a baby boy."

"So, how is life being a wolf? I guess you must have a hard time hiding that side of yourself." Ah, here we go. Curiosity about wolves.

"Not really. We live like humans, eat and drink like humans, make love like humans. We just shift when we need to." I saw her blush when I mentioned make love. She was truly innocent.

A virgin. My virgin. I will be the only man she will ever know. There was a certain satisfaction knowing that. All these other women were experienced lovers. With Kiaria, I will teach her the pleasures of making love.

"So, how is it being a freshman? Your parents are very proud of you. I see the twinkle in the eyes of your father everytime he mentions you. You are truly blessed to have been given to such loving parents."

"College is okay. I don't have a lot of friends because I don't stay on campus and my mom doesn't like me going to the college parties. She's scared someone might drug me. And you're right, I am truly blessed to have them as my parents. My mom and dad were trying for years before I ended up on their doorstep. My mother said she might not have given birth to me, but she was there since day one."

"Well, Kiaria, I will be with you so, if you want to attend a party, I will accompany you. You need to experience a college party to be truly called a college student. It's part of the experience." I rub her back and I see her tremble. "Are you cold? I can get you a blanket if you want?" I offer.

"No, I'm not cold. It's just when you touch me, I feel this jolt like electricity. Not in a "you're harassing me" sort of way, but in a "I want you to do more" kind of way. I sound like a slut." Kiaria laughs.

"No, you aren't. You are feeling the bond between us. I feel the same way too. But your parents, your mother especially, won't agree to it unless we marry. Just wait, Kiaria. I will propose when the time is right and when I am not empty-handed." I chuckle. I needed to buy a ring. That will be on the top of my list tomorrow morning.

"When I was young, I didn't mind if the ring offered to me came from those candy vending machines, just as long it was given to me by the one I loved." She sighed and looked to the stars with a wistful look. It was when it hit me. I have fallen in love with this young woman seated beside me who I just met a couple of hours ago. Staring at her face, I saw my future with her and I knew I would never be able to live my life without her by my side.

I was always skeptical about the fated mate. My parents were not fated mates and I have not come across anyone else who had found their fated mate. When I caught her scent, I instinctively knew what it meant. I had found my fated mate. Me, of all people. One who went from one beautiful woman to the next, searching for the right one. I didn't mind if she were human, just as long as I loved her, I would be content.

I took out my phone and sent a message to Marcus to get me a plastic ring from a candy vending machine at the supermarket. I knew he was wondering why I wanted it, but just looking at Kiaria's face, her childhood dream was something I wanted to give her. Honestly, I wanted to be that one she loved. I wanted to be her everything.

"I love you," I uttered. I couldn't keep it bottled inside any longer. I saw the surprise in her face and then, she smiled.

"Saying I love you won't get you out of courting me. I told you, I want a courtship." She looked sternly at me.

"I will give you whatever you want, Kiaria. I'll even give you my life. That is my promise to you, my Luna. Anything you want, my love. I will give."

I spoke the truth.