Chapter 67: Everything I Wanted

Astrid’s POV

Raven was about to head back to wherever he’d come from, and I felt like I needed to clear the air with him before he did.

That was also when Ethan decided it was his moment to make peace with me. Whatever anger he’d been carrying had clearly died down overnight.

"Astrid, I figured out that I was wrong. I shouldn’t have acted so childish," he said.

I laughed.

These male wolves could be a whole lot of work at the best of times.

Now I had to figure out how to start forgiving him.

It was early morning and we were still getting ready when he dropped that on me. I wasn’t about to have a whole conversation standing in the hallway.

"Ethan, it’s fine. We’ll talk properly when we’re back," I told him.

And just like that, I escaped. I got to work before him.

The first person I ran into when I arrived was my betrothed mate, Raven, standing right there in the hallway.

"So you’re leaving today, aren’t you?" I asked. I didn’t even bother greeting him. It was awkward but I only wanted him to answer that one question.

"Why are you so bothered about whether I leave or stay?" he asked.

"I don’t care about your presence. I’m just asking about what you told me you were going to do," I replied flatly.

We couldn’t get into it right there because people started flooding into the office. He leaned in slightly.

"We’ll talk later. The restaurant ... 3 p.m.?"

He gave a small nod and walked off. I went to my duty post.

I saw Ethan ... the man who had gotten me access to this building in the first place ... and his whole face lit up the moment he spotted me. We hugged right there in the hallway.

"People are passing all over this place, Ethan," I warned him when his hands started wandering.

It didn’t faze him one bit.

"You’re my girlfriend. That’s nobody’s business," he said, and went ahead and groped my ass anyway.

I pulled away and walked fast to my office.

We had documents and paperwork stacked up and I tore through them almost all day. I’d gotten a lot more flexible at this job. The volume of work I could push through now compared to when I first walked into this building ... it wasn’t even close.

My assistant stopped by just to say, "Ms. Astrid, you look so nice today."

It felt good to hear, but inside I was thinking ... I always look good. That’s why I’m Astrid.

By the time 3 p.m. crept up, I asked my secretary to cover the rest of the afternoon for me. I’d been sprinting since morning and I still had things to handle.

"You didn’t even ask if I’ve eaten, ma’am," she said.

"I know you’ve eaten. Your energy has been top notch since this morning."

She laughed. "Actually I have eaten ... thank you."

Confirmed. She was such a foodie.

I left her with the remaining work and rushed over to the restaurant. It was 3:02 when I walked in.

The place was dry. Nobody there ... not even Raven. I sat down anyway, annoyed, and ordered my food. Today was his last day and I at least wanted to send him off in my own sarcastic way.

The food arrived fast and I dug in. I was starving and I hadn’t even realized how much until that plate hit the table.

Then a shadow fell across me ... someone had come through the door behind where I was sitting.

It was Ethan.

Hmm. Interesting.

He walked straight over to my table. I already knew why he was there.

"Don’t tell me you haven’t eaten. You made pancakes this morning," I said before he could open his mouth.

"I came to see you," he said. "I wanted to make it right with you. I shouldn’t have said what I said. I love you, Astrid ... it was irrational of me."

I’d been waiting for this day. Patiently.

"I forgive you, Ethan. If that’s what you’re asking," I said.

"No ... that’s not what I’m asking. What I’m asking for, you’ll have more than enough opportunities to forgive me over."

He’d lost me. I had no idea what he was talking about.

"What are you implying, Ethan?"

He stood up from his seat, reached into his pocket, and got down on one knee right in front of me.

Oh my God.

I screamed.

This couldn’t be real. He was using a restaurant lunch to propose to me.

"Will you marry me, Astrid? I’ve looked at my life and I know I can’t do this without you. You complete me."

I cried ... not just because someone was proposing to me, but because I was being chosen. Accepted. Again.

I loved Ethan. He’d done things for me that most men wouldn’t do for their own blood. Even if I’d had my doubts about him from the very start.

"Yes. I’ll marry you, Ethan."

He slid the ring onto my finger and we stood up at the same time. We kissed right there to seal it.

The restaurant staff were the only witnesses ... and they were losing their minds, clapping, cheering, snapping pictures on their phones.

I was engaged. About to be married for the first time in my life.

I was finally going to know what it felt like to walk down an aisle.

By the time we stepped outside there were already people gathered, cameras out. And when we walked back into the company building ... some of the staff had already seen the pictures online. They had gathered in the lobby and burst into applause the moment we came through the door.

What was I going to do? I flaunted that ring like my life depended on it.

The clapping got louder.

My assistant came flying downstairs and pulled me aside to let me know the ring was one of the most expensive diamond pieces in the entire territory.

Ethan had done that for me?

Diamonds had always been a woman’s best friend ... but Ethan was my lover.

I ran back to him and kissed him right in front of everybody. He looked surprised until I explained.

"Thank you for the ring. I know it cost you a lot," I said.

He smiled.

"Anything for you, my Astrid."

The clapping picked back up.

"You should throw a party," Liam said, pushing through the small crowd with a grin. "When’s the wedding? Has a date been set?"

"I don’t plan to waste time," Ethan said. "Next weekend."

"Beautiful! I’ll host the bachelor party ... this weekend. Consider it done," Liam announced.

We all laughed and agreed. The energy in that lobby was electric.

I started thinking about how I was going to convince my parents to come ... specifically, how I was going to get my dad to walk me down that aisle. I’d go see them after this. They’d be happy for me. I was sure of it.

"Alright, everyone get back to work. Wedding is in a few days," Liam called out.

I headed upstairs, stepped into my office, closed the door behind me, and let myself fall apart with happiness where nobody could see it. If luck had a middle name, it would’ve been mine.

"Astrid. Looks like we never got our meeting."

I spun around. My heart jumped into my throat.

I thought I was alone.

It was Raven.

"How did you..." I stopped myself. It was obvious. He’d been behind that door since before I walked in.

"We have nothing to talk about anymore," I said.

"Are you sure about that?" He tilted his head slightly. "That’s no way to speak to your betrothed mate."

He locked the door.

Then he started walking toward me ... slow, deliberate ... and I started backing up, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my ears.