Laying up on one arm, I watch Chetan sleep. He is so handsome even in sleep. I trace the outline of his chin. He opens one eye and scoops me up into his arms. I laugh as he kisses me all over my face.
"I love you, baby," he says, nibbling on my ear.
I turn to face him, and he kisses my nose.
"I have to kill Dixon."
He moves the hair from my face. "I don't want to talk about it now, babe."
"You all dressed," Dev says with humor in his voice.
"Yes," laughs Chetan sitting up.
He enters. "I only heard Zare cry once last night," he says sitting down.
"Yeah luckily it was a good night's sleep," Chetan runs his fingers through his hair.
"Bad dreams about Elfie."
"I know sweetie, we all had them last night I am sure," Dev says, rubbing my face with one hand.
"Is Riya upset?" Chetan asks.
"Yeah, she cried for a while last night, damn it broke my heart," he says, shaking his head like he was shaking off the memory.
I hear Kirsten and Atsila reading a story. I smile, getting up. Chetan grabs my arm, pulling me down for a kiss. "You be good, no leaving this camp without me Zare," he tells me once our lips pull apart.
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," I smirk.
"I think you will," Chetan flinches at me.
I laugh. Wrinkling up my nose.
I walk towards Kiara, who is by the girls now she is cutting apples into slices for Kristen.
"Hello," she smiles when she sees me.
"How are you doing?"
"So so," she smiles.
"Elfie, my heart hurts."
"Mine too," Kiara says, putting her hand over her heart.
I see Ajay walking with a smile from ear to ear, definitely a different beat than last night.
"Hey girls, I have a huge surprise."
"I can't wait to hear this."
Kiara's eyes grew huge.
"That's the spirit, Zare," Ajay says.
"Spill the news then." I put my hand on my hip.
"Kiara, the surprise is mainly for you, we are going to the river for a swimming party," Ajay says with a twinkle in his eye.
"Who will watch the kids?" Kiara asks. Her eyebrow raised.
"I feel like someone will get decked in the face for touching someone else's girlfriend," Chetan says walking up.
Dev points at Chetan. "His girlfriend."
"I'll consider that a warning," Ajay says, still smiling.
"The kids?" Kiara repeats.
"Abooksigun and Ash said they would, and they are taking them on a nature walk," Ajay says.
"I don't know, I never left Atsila before." Kiara shakes her head.
"When was the last time you had alone time with Cricket?" Ajay asks.
Kiara half-smiles."Okay fine."
Ajay looks at me.
"I think we will sit this one out," Chetan speaks up.
"Why? I want to go." I flash him my pouty lip.
Chetan studies me for a moment. "Zare, think about having the whole camp ourselves. Chetan raises his eyebrows up and down and back up again.
"He can screw you all over the camp, in the trailer, outside the trailer," Dev says.
Well, the boys laugh. Not me.
I narrow my eyes. "I want to go."
Chetan puts his head back. "Fine."
I move towards Chetan and wrap my arms around his neck, and he grabs my butt with his hand.
I bring my lips to his and kiss him heartfeltly. His tongue slips between my teeth. And we make out. He picks me up in his arms, still kissing me.
"I think we have time." He says.
I lay wrapped in a blanket, I dozed on and off. While Chetan gets up.
Dev walks into the den. "You can open your eyes, she covered." Chetan laughs.
"Riya wants Zare to match her swimwear. He holds up a black bra and thong underwear."
I sit up. "Cute, I have a blue one like that, remember Chetan?"
Chetan glares at me.
"That's a thong dude, are you really letting Riya wear that?" Chetan eyes him.
"Yeah why not, they can look, but they aren't touching." Dev moves his finger back and forth.
Chetan rolls his eyes. "Zare is wearing this, he holds up a pair of boxers and a white shirt.
I let out a laugh. "I am not wearing that."
Dev laughs, putting his hand over his mouth.
"See if Riya wants to match it," Chetan smirks, tossing Dev his picked-out swimwear.
"No way, you aren't taking away my hard-on," Dev eyes Chetan throwing it back.
Chetan rolls his eyes.
"This dude is crazy, '' Dev says, walking away.
"You're not really going to make me wear that?"
"You are not wearing a thong." Chetan folds his arms.
"Fine no thong."
Getting up, I walk over to a wooden box where we keep our clothes. "How about this one?" I held up a red and Lacy bra and boy shorts underwear."
"How about these?" Chean holds up my period underwear. Every girl has Granny panties for that time of the month.
"You know what those are for?"
Chetan laughs. "So."
"You're trying to make me the most unattractive girl there."
"That's impossible, that's Ajay."
I press my lips together, giving him a Sarcastic look. "Really funny."
"Fine, wear the red."
I quickly get dressed. Chetan wears red shorts to match me.
"We look adorable."
"Yeah, just the cuteness." Chetan runs his hand through his hair.
I see the other couples showing up. I still feel a little weird around Nora, still sometimes catching her funny stares.
Kiara and I wear pretty much the same thing, except hers was lime green. Riya wore a back bra and black thong. Forest wears a pink bra and Hipster underwear. And Nora wears a yellow crop top and cheekie underwear.
Looks like Nora borrowed her stuff from Riya. Chetan and I walk hand in hand next to Riya and Dev.
Dev spits his chew onto the ground and puts some fresh into his.
"I really wish you'd stop doing that," Riya says.
"Yeah, it's a nasty habit, maybe in the next ten years when my teeth are falling out, I will stop doing it. "
"But I could use a beer right now," Chetan says.
"After the whisky, I want no more alcohol, I don't know how Alcoholic Ajay does it," Dev laughs.
"I heard that," Ajay shouts back to us.
Dev uses his hand to mock him.
I yawn, stretching my arms to the sky. "Right now I can use some more sleep. I feel so exhausted from the nights of no sleep."
"I feel ya," Chetan agrees.
Finally making it to the river, we went down to the opposite end of Zero's cave. It was surrounded by rocks and a peaceful stream. Trees block the river, and its pine serves as an umbrella blocking out the Sun.
I am shocked to see Ajay already sent up snacks and drinks. I am really astonished that Ajay's brought beer, because of everything that's going on with Dixon.
"Please no one gets fucked up tonight, let's limit ourselves to two drinks," Ajay says.
"Or maybe only sissy Dev should have two drinks," Chetan smirks.
I laugh as the boys start playing and fighting. Dev tackles Chetan to the ground. The vampire's cave is kitty-corner to the river. I look across, shaking off all the memories.
I can completely envision AB walking toward me. I always thought of him as evil, but after meeting Dixon, I have a whole new meaning of evil. I don't think AB would have put me through the nightmares.
I look away, seeing Nora and Ajay make out. He touches her so gently, as if she was fragile. Nora seems to have the same personality as Smoke. She is very opinionated and comes across as smog.
Chetan takes the seat next to me, cracking open a beer. "That tastes so good." He says taking a sip.
Watching the water dip off Chetan's body makes me appreciate him more. He really is gorgeous. I lay my head on his shoulder. He kisses me on the head, putting his arm around me.
"Have I told you how much I love you?" Chetan asks, lifting my chin with one finger.
I smile. "You can remind me."
He brings his lips to mine, kissing me and pulling me into his lap. I put my arms around his neck. He brings his nose to mine.
"I have something for you?"
"Me." I raise my eyebrow.
He kisses me again, putting his forehead to mine. I rub his cheek with my hand.
We both stand up, and Chetan grabs my hand. "Come with me." We walk away from the river. Hand in hand. Once we were away from the others, Chetan turns to face me.
"I know we had our problems, and I have been difficult and you have been unsure at times, but I don't need to be your mark mate to know how much I love you and how bad I want you, I want you to be mine forever."
I feel water streaming down my face.
"Awww Chetan."
He gets down on one knee. He held up a beautiful ring. A red ruby stone with a golden wolf on the side.
"Will you marry me, be mine forever?"
It was easy for me. I know in my heart that I love Chetan beyond him being my 'mark mate'.
I nod. "Yes Chetan, I love you so much."
He slides the ring on my finger, replacing the one he made for me. I put that ring on the opposite hand.
He picks me up and twirls me around in a circle. He places a kiss on my lips.
I hug him, laying my head on his Chetan. He rubs my back.
Getting back to the river, I notice everyone was doing their own thing. I doubt they even noticed we were gone. Kiara and Cricket lay on the opposite side in the grass, she lay on his chest.
Ajay and Nora were still making out, hopefully, they stopped to get some air. Dev and Riya were splashing each other in the water and horsing around. I laugh at them. They are by far the playful couple. You know Dev with his bubbly personality. I'm glad he found somebody just as witty to match him.
And Smoke was rubbing Forest's back. Those two can fight, worse than Chetan and I, but you know Smoke loves her. I have never seen Smoke so sweet to someone.
Chetan grabs another beer. Riya walks up to me.
"Oh, my is that a ring on your finger?" Her whole face lights up like a Christmas tree.
I nod. "Chetan just asked."
"Oh congrats, I am so jealous," she says with her sassy voice.
"You didn't tell me you're going to propose," Dev says, arms crossed.
"I mean, I knew I was going to, I just didn't know it was going to be today, but I thought it was a pretty area and it made it kind of special." He pats my leg, sitting back down.
"Yeah, if I would have known I couldn't make it ten times more special," Dev says.
"Who knows what rodeo you would have turned my proposal into," Chetan says, taking a sip of his beer.
"Dev, why haven't you got me a ring?" Riya barks, walking back in his direction.
"That's simple, I might not want to keep you forever, you might just be a fling," Dev says with a cocky smirk.
We all laugh as Riya punches him in the arm playfully.
He wraps his arm around her. "You want a ring, all get you a ring". He kisses her on the forehead.
"Now everyone's going to be proposing," chuckles Smoke.
"You know that trendsetter I am," Chetan laughs.
Night falls on us quickly. Chetan was getting a little goofy.
"How many beers did you have?" Ajay asks.
"I think this is my eleventh."
"Chetan," Ajay barks.
"I am fine, barely even buzzed."
"How many fingers am I holding up?" asks Dev, holding up both hands.
"Twenty-three."
"You don't even have twenty-three fingers," Dev says.
"I'm just messing around, ten, see completely sober."
Once back at the camp, I lay on Chetan's chest. Listening to the heartbeat, I will hear forever.
"How long have you had the ring for?"
"My grandmother gave it to me when I started dating Kiara."
"Wow."
"Yeah, I am surprised, I never lost it." He laughs.
"Why didn't you ask her to marry you?"
He grips me tighter. "I never felt compelled enough too, I loved her, don't get me wrong, but I started realizing that I was just staying with her because I didn't want to hurt her."
"Was that when you found out your mark mates with me?"
He nods. "I think you always caught my eye. I remember in high school when you dated Brody Owens, I used to think about sticking my foot out and tripping him."
I laugh.
Brody was a sweet guy. We dated for a few years before his drug addiction really changed them. I frown remembering the thoughts.
"It's kind of crazy, I bet your and my family still think I'm with Kiara," Chetan tells me.
"Yeah, I know mom probably doesn't even know about Atsila."
Since we gravitated toward Sandy Shores because of the presence of zombies our families aren't from there; they live outside the Enchanted Forest. I haven't seen them since my wolf made her presence known. We are not missing people like our family knows our whereabouts. With everything happening in the Forest, we just haven't had a chance to leave.