Chapter 24

TWENTY-FOUR

E llie smoothed down her green dress for what must have been the hundredth time. The soft fabric clung to her curves, accentuating her figure without being overly provocative. Perfect for a family dinner, she thought, even if that family dinner included introducing her shifter mate to her very human relatives.

"You can do this," she muttered to her reflection, tucking a stray strand of her dark red hair behind her ear. "It's just dinner. With your family. And your fiancé."

Her phone buzzed on the dresser, and she snatched it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Zy's name on the screen.

"Hey," she answered, unable to keep the smile from her voice. "You on your way?"

"Just pulled up outside," Zy replied, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. "You ready for this?"

Ellie took a deep breath, glancing once more at her reflection. "As I'll ever be. Come on up, I'll buzz you in."

Moments later, a knock at her apartment door had her heart racing again. She opened it to find Zy standing there, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored dark green suit. His light brown eyes flecked with gold sparkled as they took her in.

"You look beautiful," he said, leaning in to place a soft kiss on her cheek.

Ellie felt her cheeks warm at the compliment. "You look good enough to eat, tiger," she teased, smoothing down his lapel. "Ready to face the Madden clan?"

Zy's confident smile faltered slightly. "I've faced down corporate rivals and shifter challenges, but I'll admit, meeting your family has me a bit nervous."

Ellie laughed, linking her arm through his as they headed for the elevator. "Don't worry, they don't bite. Well, except maybe my little nephew, but he's teething, so we'll give him a pass."

The drive to her parents' Hamptons beach house was filled with comfortable chatter, Ellie filling Zy in on various family members and their quirks. As they pulled up to the sprawling coastal home, Ellie felt a mix of excitement and anxiety bubbling in her stomach.

"Last chance to back out," she joked as they approached the front door.

Zy squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Not a chance. I'm all in, remember?"

Before Ellie could respond, the door swung open, revealing her mother, Letty, beaming at them. "There you are! Come in, come in!"

Ellie barely had time to step inside before she was enveloped in her mother's warm embrace. Over Letty's shoulder, she saw her father, Jack, approaching with a welcoming smile.

"And you must be Zyan," Letty said, releasing Ellie and turning her megawatt smile on Zy. "We've heard so much about you."

"All good things, I hope," Zy replied smoothly, extending his hand to shake Jack's. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Thank you for having me."

"The pleasure's ours. Good to see you again," Jack said, his grip firm as he shook Zy's hand. "We're always happy to meet the man who's captured our Ellie's heart."

Her cheeks flushed at her father's words. "Dad," she groaned, "can we at least get through the door before you start embarrassing me?"

Jack chuckled, ushering them farther into the house. "Where's the fun in that, sweetheart?"

As they made their way to the living room, Ellie's sister Lucy appeared, her young son balanced on her hip. "Oh, he's cute, Ellie. Good job."

Frankie followed behind her. "There's the lovebirds," she teased, giving Ellie a one-armed hug before turning to Zy. "So you're the famous Zyan Ashford. I have to say, your coding skills are almost as impressive as your jawline."

"Frankie!" Ellie hissed, mortified.

Zy, to his credit, took it in stride, laughing good-naturedly. "I'll take that as a compliment. And please, call me Zy."

As introductions continued, Ellie found herself relaxing. Her family's warmth and Zy's easy charm seemed to blend seamlessly, creating an atmosphere of genuine comfort and camaraderie. Even her usually reserved brother, Michael, was drawn into an animated discussion about the latest gaming trends with Zy.

But it wasn't until they moved to the dining room that Ellie truly felt the weight of the evening. There, seated at the head of the table, was her grandmother, Elena. At eighty-five, Elena Madden was still a force to be reckoned with, her silver hair elegantly coiffed and her sharp eyes missing nothing.

"Abuelita," Ellie said, leaning down to kiss her grandmother's cheek. "I want you to meet Zy."

Elena's gaze swept over Zy, assessing him with the wisdom of years. Then, to Ellie's relief, she smiled. "Sit down, young man," she said, patting the chair next to her. "Let's get to know each other."

As the family settled around the table, dishes being passed and conversation flowing, Ellie found herself marveling at how natural it all felt. Zy fit in as if he'd always been there, laughing at her father's terrible jokes and earnestly discussing recipe techniques with her mother.

Midway through the meal, Elena set down her fork and fixed Ellie with a knowing look. "You know, mi amor ," she began, her voice carrying easily over the table chatter, "it's a rare and precious thing to find someone who truly sees you."

The table quieted, all eyes turning to Elena. Ellie felt Zy's hand find hers under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"When I met your grandfather," Elena continued, a wistful smile playing on her lips, "our families were rivals in business. But we saw past that to the person beneath. And what we found was a love that sustained us for over fifty years."

Ellie swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her grandmother's words. She glanced at Zy, finding him watching her with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"It's okay to love deeply, Elliot," Elena said softly. "When someone proves their love for you, not just in words but in actions, that's a gift you shouldn't take lightly."

"Abuelita," Ellie murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Elena's serious expression melted into a mischievous grin. "Besides," she added, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Zy, "this one's quite the catch. Those cheekbones! Your babies are going to be gorgeous."

"Abuela!" Ellie gasped, her face flaming as the table erupted in laughter.

Zy, to his credit, took the teasing in stride. "I'm flattered," he said, raising his glass in a small salute to Elena. "Though I think any children would be lucky to take after Ellie."

As the laughter subsided and conversation resumed, Ellie caught Zy's eye. The look they shared was filled with warmth, understanding, and a depth of feeling that made her heart race.

As the dinner was winding down and the family was lingering over coffee and dessert, Zy suddenly cleared his throat, a look of determination crossing his face.

"Mr. and Mrs. Madden," he began, his voice steady despite the slight tremor in his hands, "there's something I'd like to ask you."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Zy. Ellie looked at him curiously, not sure what he was about to say.

Zy stood up, smoothing down his suit jacket. "I know this might seem old-fashioned, but it's important to me. I'd like to ask for your blessing to marry Ellie."

Ellie's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in surprise. They were already mated in the shifter world. She'd said yes when he proposed, but this... this was unexpected.

Jack and Letty exchanged a quick glance, smiles spreading across their faces. Jack stood up, extending his hand to Zy.

"Son," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "nothing would make us happier. You have our blessing, and more than that, you have our gratitude for making our daughter so happy."

Letty burst into tears, jumping up to hug both Zy and Ellie. "Oh, this is wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I can't wait to start planning the wedding."

Ellie, still in shock, found her voice. "Mom, Dad, I... we..."

"Oh hush, mija ," Elena interjected, her eyes twinkling. "Let an old woman enjoy this moment. Besides," she added with a mischievous grin, "I'm not getting any younger. I want to see some great-grandbabies before I go."

The room erupted in laughter with Frankie playfully elbowing Ellie. "Better get started on that, sis. Abuela's not known for her patience."

Letty, wiping tears from her eyes, nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes! I can't wait to have more grandbabies to spoil. And with your genes," she said, looking between Ellie and Zy, "they're bound to be brilliant and beautiful."

Ellie buried her face in her hands, torn between embarrassment and laughter. "Mom, please. We haven't even set a date yet."

Zy, looking both amused and touched, wrapped an arm around Ellie's waist. "One step at a time," he said diplomatically. "But I promise, when the time comes, you'll all be the first to know."

As the family continued to celebrate, throwing out increasingly outrageous wedding suggestions and baby names, Ellie leaned into Zy's embrace. "You never cease to amaze me," she murmured.

Zy pressed a kiss to her temple. "Get used to it, love. We've got a lifetime of surprises ahead of us."

"Ellie and I," Zy continued while holding Ellie, "we've been talking about our future. Not just personally, but professionally as well."

The table fell silent, all eyes on Zy as he spoke. "I'd like to propose a joint venture between our companies. A project that combines our strengths and creates something truly revolutionary in the gaming world."

Ellie's eyes widened in surprise. They'd discussed collaboration in passing, but this was the first time Zy had suggested anything concrete. She found herself nodding enthusiastically before he'd even finished speaking.

"That sounds amazing," she said, her mind already racing with possibilities. "A blend of your tech expertise and my creative design..."

"It could change the industry," Zy finished, his eyes alight with excitement.

Jack leaned forward, his business acumen piqued. "Interesting proposition. How would you structure such a venture?"

As Zy outlined his ideas, with Ellie chiming in, the entire family became engaged in the discussion. Frankie offered marketing suggestions while Michael brought up potential legal considerations. Even Elena contributed, reminding them of the importance of creating games that brought people together.

Watching her family and Zy interact, bouncing ideas off each other and building on each suggestion, Ellie felt a warmth spread through her. This was more than she could have ever hoped for – a blending of her personal and professional lives in a way that felt natural and exciting.

As the evening wound down and good-byes were said, Ellie found herself pulled aside by her grandmother one last time.

"He's a good one, mi amor ," Elena said softly, cupping Ellie's cheek in her weathered hand. "Don't let fear hold you back from happiness."

Ellie nodded, blinking back tears. "I won't, Abuelita. I promise."

The drive back to Ellie's apartment was filled with excited chatter about their new project idea. As they pulled up outside her building, Ellie turned to Zy, her eyes shining.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For tonight, for everything. I never thought I'd find someone who fit so perfectly into my life."

Zy leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "Thank you for letting me in," he murmured. "I love you, Ellie Madden. More than I ever thought possible."

As they made their way up to her apartment, hand in hand, Ellie felt a sense of peace settle over her. With the support of their families and their shared passion for innovation, the future looked brighter than ever.

Stepping into her apartment, Ellie kicked off her heels with a contented sigh. "Well, that went better than I could have hoped," she said, turning to Zy with a smile. "I think my family might love you more than they love me at this point."

Zy chuckled, loosening his tie as he made himself comfortable on her couch. "They're wonderful people. I can see where you get your warmth and creativity from."

Ellie joined him on the couch, curling into his side. "And that business proposal? Smooth move, Mr. Ashford. You've got my whole family buzzing with ideas now."

"I meant every word," Zy said, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "I think we could create something truly amazing together. In business and in life."

Ellie tilted her head up to look at him, her heart swelling with affection. "I think you might be right," she murmured, leaning in for a kiss.

As their lips met, Ellie felt a sense of rightness wash over her. This was where she belonged – in the arms of a man who challenged her, supported her, and loved her unconditionally. A man who saw her not just as a brilliant game developer or a potential mate, but as a partner in every sense of the word.

Breaking the kiss, Ellie rested her forehead against Zy's. "So," she said, a playful glint in her eye, "when do we start working on those beautiful, smart babies my abuela was talking about?"

Zy's laugh echoed through the apartment, deep and full of joy. "Let's get home, love," he said, pulling her closer. "Don't you know? We already started trying. I'm looking forward to every moment of our future together."

As they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms and discussing their dreams for the future, Ellie knew that she had found something rare and precious. A love that transcended business rivalries and personal fears, a partnership built on mutual respect and shared passion.

And as the night deepened around them, filled with whispered plans and tender moments, Ellie silently thanked whatever twist of fate had brought Zy into her life. The road ahead might not always be easy, but with him by her side, she was ready to face anything.

The future, with all its challenges and opportunities, beckoned. And Ellie Madden, game developer extraordinaire and soon-to-be Mrs. Ashford, couldn't wait to see what adventures it would bring.