"Thanks for taking a walk with me," Metas said with a smile and then looked over towards Myranda.
"No, thank you - I needed a break. I'm a recluse who is newly out of her little dark hole, and I was craving some comfort. Plus, I just wanted to be with you. I didn't think we'd be so crammed with others so quickly. We've gotten to be close - just...." Myranda trailed off in hopes she wasn't going to insult him about the other night.
"Not alone," Metas finished for her and and squeezed her hand.
"Yeah," she answered easily.
"I don't know when or how we'll ever get to be back inside the mountain, either. I do wish I had an answer..." Metas mused out in half-despair.
"That's okay. We'll get it back no matter how long it takes," Myranda replied with a strong expression towards him filled with warmth and calm.
"Ahg," he let out bashfully. Why was he so nervous? He was over 200 years old, had been intimate with Myranda already, and had been through things that most couples would never even dream of, and yet he was sitting here with bright red cheeks and avoiding her gaze.
Sometimes it really alarmed him with how differently he behaved when it was just the two of them. All the armor and decor came off, and he could be tender and loving with her without worrying about seeming weak.
That's what being a real mate was, in his eyes - the one you didn't have to be anything else other than who you were with. The fact she never judged him, or laughed at him, nor did he even get that inkling of a feeling from her- made everything so easy.
This was why he needed her to be his wife. It was more than mere platitudes, it was important that she knew how much he wanted her at his side for the rest of his days. If she got away somehow, he'd regret it forever.
He didn't have a ring, and he didn't have a moonstone. Somehow, he was certain she wouldn't care. Even if she did, he was positive it would be tiniest bit of care. Myranda was so grateful about everything that he'd be hard-pressed to see her be disappointed about the lack of a ring.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Myranda asked with a gentle smile and eyes of worrry.
"Ah, just fine - you make my armor shatter is all. Or really, you take it all off when it's too heavy," he answered with warmth and slyly pulled her to his side with his arm as he steered her towards the little collection of trees Ajax had picked out earlier in the day.
"I have to confess, though. I wasn't entirely honest with you. This was more than a mere walk. This is something so much more - as long as it's okay with you, of course," he said with cheeks that were rising in heat and burgundy.
"Oh no...what did Jyriah do?" Myranda asked and parted from him so she could look up to his face with some disappointment.
"Wh-what? No-no, it's nothing like that," the Alpha replied with a small laugh in his words.
"Oh, good. I was about to say, give him a break he was recently traumatized..." she replied with a sweet grin that make his heart race.
"Mandy, I asked you out here because it's a full moon...and I want to marry you. I've been having terrible nightmares about you being taken from me, and I can't bare them anymore. If it's too soon, I understand. I know it's been a few months, but..." Metas trailed off as he lost the place in his words.
Phew, this was really awkward when he had no idea what she was thinking.
"Oh.." she gasped with a bit of surprise. It was indeed really fast - and now the idea of being married was a little startling to her.
"I'm sorry, this was a terrible plan..." Metas replied and sank his head into his hand.
"Nonononono. It wasn't terrible at all, you're so damn sweet for such a powerful, scary guy. I understand where you are coming from, but... I mean wow, talk about a surprise," she replied with a nervous laugh.
"Please, just forget I said anything, it's fine-" Metas was going to say more, but he was taken aback when he felt her grasp his body and pull herself tight into his embrace as she cried.
"Mandy, I'm so sorry..." he followed up, and now felt absolutely terrible.
"No, it's not you - it's me" she cried into him to muffle her voice, but luckily he understood her just fine. "I'm terrified I'd be a bad wife, or hurting you, or worst outcome; disappointing you. I love you, Metas. The last thing I ever want is for you to look back at this night and regret your choice in picking me as your Luna. Are you sure you don't want Lara..or-"
Metas audibly gagged at her words. "I love Lara -- but like a sister. Marrying her would be like you marrying Jyriah. We may not be blood, but she, Ajax, and Gerald are my three chosen siblings. I couldn't even begin to think about being intimate or anything like that with her. I want you, Mandy. You and only you."
"Are you sure? I feel like you don't know me.." she refuted him with embarrassment. It was hard for the unloved pup she had been born as to feel like the adored woman she was today. Especially from someone as perfect as Metas.
"I know you. You know me. We've been together before, and before that. I am confident we've been together for many life cycles, my love. You're just afraid to be who you are, who you have always been - a fierce, loyal, upstanding leader. You have been hidden away for too long. It's time for you to shine like the fiery ruby you are," Metas ensured her, and pulled her from his chest so he could look down to her eyes.
When she slowly looked away, he wasn't hurt - he knew she hated to look anyone in the eyes because of her past - but his goal was to get her to feel powerful and strong enough to never feel the need to look away from someone again.
"I'm so scared...I'm sorry," she confessed and gave a nervous laugh. "I never imagined myself being so jittery like this...."
"Don't be sorry, it's alright. Just give me your answer when you're ready. The offer will never expire," he returned lovingly and turned her chin back towards him so that he could lean down to kiss her lips.
"I love you today, I'll love you tomorrow - and I will love you forever," he followed up after their kiss ended, and he planted another one on her forehead before he leaned his into hers.
"I'm yours, Metas. I believe you and all you've said. I trust you, and I love you. I would follow you into fire and hell itself. So of course, I'll marry you. If I am so willing to die for you, then that means I should be brave enough to let go of my own personal demons." Myranda took a deep breath in to calm herself, and then went on with wavering lips.
"I don't want those demons. I want you. I choose you over my constant fear of insecurity and inability. I choose you over the comfort of the known.... I choose you over everything. I want to be your wife, I would be honored and want to be your Luna. If it were my last night alive, and I were to die tomorrow, I'd regret not saying yes for all eternity. So yes, yes - absolutely. Please marry me," she spilled out in tornado of emotion as she cried silently and spoke through her tears.
"I don't have a ring, but my words are solid without it, I swear. I am yours and I pledge myself to you, and you alone," Metas replied with a wobbling smile as he was overjoyed, but also relieved she hadn't run away.
"If you should have it, I am your wife. I am yours, and yours alone." Myranda pledged and looked up to his eyes with honesty and adoration.
"I shall have nothing more. If you should have it, I am your husband," Metas returned and grasped her hands with his tightly.
"--and my King," she added with a playful grin, but he knew she meant every word regardless of her tone.
"Of course, my Luna; my wife," Metas agreed and leaned down so that they could kiss underneath the bright moonlight to make their promises and bond known to the world.