After knocking on the door for a while and waiting for Layla's reply I finally heard her say come in
I had tried my best to debate how to go about the talk without getting aroused or distracted by her throughout but I couldn't find the perfect way. I just decided to keep my distance and make sure I finish my speech before I do anything else and that's if I'm allowed to
Unlocking the door and walking in I noticed that coupled with her almost faded arousal scent is the scent of body wash and shampoo which indicates that she had taken her bath and probably preparing to sleep and coming out of the closet is the closest thing to perfection clad in a nightie and I couldn't help but stare at her.
"Why are you here?" she questioned as her eyes shot daggers to my soul
"I said I'll be back," I said as I stayed rooted in my position trying to erase some dirty images from my head
"I thought that'll be tomorrow," she said with an anger-filled face and I couldn't help the hurt that spread through my veins
"I'm sorry, I just thought it'll be better if we talk this night since I might be occupied tomorrow," I said trying my best not to let my hurt seep into my voice
"Well, what are we talking about?" she asked as she took her seat on the bedside but I couldn't move closer, it would be a step into me betraying my promise about not doing anything until I finish my speech
"I'm sorry for hurting you and leaving you hanging," I said starting from the last thing that happened between us
"Can we please not talk about that, it's embarrassing" she said with a scrunched face
"I'm sorry, I have my reasons for stopping and I know if you hear it, it would be very reasonable even to you," I said trying to convince her to listen to me, and seeing that she's not replying I took it as my cue to continue my speech
"If I had followed through and had sex with you it would be a bad thing from my side since I didn't tell you what having sex with you requires," I said feeling like I'm saying gibberish, I don't know if I said that right or not but seeing the way her attention draws to me I guess it came out well
"And what does it requires?" she asked and I could hear the little hurt in her voice and that made my heart squeeze in pain knowing I'm the cause of her pain
"I would have to mark you," I said and she gave me a confused expression "I mean to bite you," I said simplifying the statement
"You're going to bite me!" she exclaimed with her eyes bulging out of her sockets
"It's not like it's compulsory, it's just that it's what signifies that you accept me as your mate and would be mine forever," I said trying to keep her calm and make her understand my point
"But wouldn't that mean you're killing me?" she said and I had to smile
"Nope, it's not a lethal bite, it's more of a loving bite that would just leave a huge scar on your neck," I said with a huge smile as I studied her face which went from confused to understanding and to confused again and again
"A scar on my neck," she said as if testing the reality in her mind
"Yes," I said as a confirmation
"Wow," she said fanning herself with her hand
"But then, you can always reject me and decide to leave the pack perimeters to continue with your life the way it was," I said dropping the first hint
"And why should I?" she said and I could help but feel happy at the little question, somehow it indicates she doesn't want to leave but I decided not to jump to conclusions
"Well, as the only child of your parent, you're entitled to more than I can mention and you staying with me would only mean you're giving all those up and it won't be fair if you're giving up that much just to stay with me," I said trying to tell myself it's best for her to leave me
"But Emily said rejecting you as my mate wouldn't do much to your feelings for me and she said the next option is to break the mate bond but that would also mean hurting you and that I might die since I'm not strong and I don't want to die so..." she said looking straight into my eyes as if telling me I don't make sense
I couldn't help but blame Emily for spilling so much
"If you know this much then do you know you staying here with me would be dangerous to you and it would mean you abandoning your responsibility as your father's daughter?" I asked and she nodded
"Yes I don't want to hurt my dad by leaving him without an heir but I can't hurt myself by requesting a break of bond and I'm still very much torn between choosing to reject you and walk away and staying here and being your mate," she said
"Which is exactly why I didn't proceed with my lust the other time since it would mean me sealing the bond," I said trying to make her see my point
"Well if you had sealed the goddamned band I wouldn't be torn between choosing! It would have been permanent by now!" she exclaimed and I was shocked
"Wait, what?" I questioned confused
"If you had marked me as you said, I wouldn't have any choice but to stay!" she said and I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my mouth, what the heck is going on through this girl's head
"I thought giving you a chance to choose what you want is the best for us," I said shaking my head in disbelief
"Well, it's not like I have a freaking choice here do I, rejecting is not useful and I'm not ready to die," she said
"Then what about your parents?" I questioned
"Would you just stop making things complicated?" she said standing up to me making me shift backward
"I... I..." I stammered
"Would you just stop running away and start acting, instead of leaving other people to explain things to me, why don't you start doing it yourself and instead of allowing me to make some decisions myself, why don't you take the first step?" she said moving closer to me with every word
"But..." I said
"I Layla Thompson accept you, Damien Bane, as my soul mate forever," she said and I felt a rush in my vein and I'm sure she felt it too, she just performed the first ritual of mating, the outward declaration of acceptance
"How'd you..." I started before she cut me off
"Emily taught me," she said, Emily again
"But you know you're supposed to think this through right, your life before now, your life after this, and so on," I said trying to make her see she's not making the right decision.
I don't know why I'm trying to convince her though, I should be happy she chose me over her life but then somehow it feels like she's making a mistake by jumping into things without thinking
"And how do you know I've not thought about all that," she said crossing her hands over her chest
"But...." I started again
"I knew it, you're just making excuses, you don't want me, that's why you want me gone, that's why you're trying to make me see what's not there, that's why..." she started saying before I cut her off
"I love you," I said on impulse
"You do?" she asked looking into my eyes for clarification and seeing that she isn't sure about what I said, I hugged her tightly, wishing she could feel just the exact things I'm feeling and wanting her to know I care so much about her and want her more than she can imagine
"More than you can imagine, it's just that I'm trying to make sure you won't regret your decision," I said and she sunk into me further stirring my insides and making my wolf purr in satisfaction
"I won't regret it," she said and I smiled brightly against her head
"I love you too," she said after some seconds and I felt so satisfied, I couldn't wish for more happiness at this moment as she stared into my eyes, as I saw the joy that swirled in her blue eyes and as I kiss her.