Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Ruka

"I can't believe that Jessie is your fated mate." Mom is gushing at the dinner table as Jessie sits next to me, not speaking much if I'm being completely honest, "I can say it's not really surprising given the fact that this whole meeting is destiny."

Her words make me roll my eyes because there is no way in hell that this is destiny. After everything that has happened so far, I can assure her that everything that has gone on as been a perfect example of what we're not going to deal with next. When I look at Jessie, I see someone that I will spend my future with.

The perfect queen to stand by my side because she is.

There's no doubt about it in my eyes that she is going to be everything that I absolutely need.

Nothing else will ever be able to compare.

"Well, I'm glad that we got this figured out that way Jessie would stop running after her guard." Queen Stella murmurs, making Jessie stiffen as I look at her with confusion, "Don't let her lie to you, she has been in love with her best friend for as long as I can remember, and she wanted to be with him, but we said no. There was nothing to gain from it."

I didn't expect this at all, just staring at Jessie now because I'm assuming it has everything to do with that man that she met earlier. I saw the way he looked at her and how he looked at me. It was quite obvious that he was jealous, and he wanted to make sure that I knew it, too. I don't have time for those games though, so I didn't think much about it at all. Now I realize that maybe I should have definitely thought about it.

I can't push her away though. I won't give her to someone that doesn't deserve her.

She's my mate, that much I can assure him and I'm not going to dare think about anything else. I wish that I could have claimed her right in front of him, but I feel like that would have been an experience that would have made her hate me and I don't think that I could have lived with myself if that were the case. I just wanted to make sure that no matter what, she is content with being by my side. That she won't care what might end up happening next.

"Is everything okay?" King William asks me, probably already knowing my standpoint on the entire thing, "You don't have to worry about him, he knows his place. If anything, he just might be a little bit of a grouch for a while."

I don't care so much about that. I'm just looking at Jessie now. I can see by the look on her face that she is not one hundred percent comfortable with what is going on now and I can't be completely certain if it is ever going to be okay. I was surprised to hear about her relationship with Hayden, but I doubt it ever went very far. I would honestly be a bit surprised if something did happen because if he did anything like that, they could very well have his head and that would not be very good for him.

"Well, it doesn't matter now." I finally tell them, seeing how she looks at me with confusion because she has no clue what I'm doing right here and now, "Honestly after everything that has happened so far, I'm just trying to make sure that my mate is going to be content. I don't care about anyone else, and I don't care who it is going to upset because this is the right thing for me to do that way I'm going to make her happy."

Mom is looking at me with a pleased smile on her face but I'm trying to not look at her so much. I know that she is a little irritated with me after everything that has happened so far but I'm not going to let it get to me either way. After everything that has happened, I just want to make sure that my mate is content and I'm not going to let anything ruin that. When I look at her, I know that I'm going to be happy and I'm not going to dare let anything come from it.

I'm surely not going to share her with anyone else either. It's not my kind of thing and I would rather die than let that happen. I understand that she is in love with her friend but honestly, I don't see that in her eyes when she looks at him. I think the bond has made it, so she only looks at me and she's not going to dare look at anyone else. I wish that I could have done a lot more for her, but I know that either way, we have been doing the right thing.

"Well, I'd like to start planning the wedding here soon." Mom murmurs, seeing how King William and Queen Stella look up at her with surprise, "and truthfully, I don't want to hear anything about it. Jessie is a good girl and I know she is going to be a great fit for our family, and I don't want to dare think about anything else. If it was up to me, I would have married them off already, but I know my son would prefer to do this the right way."

I can't believe what is happening right now because I think that mom is trying to drive me nuts if I'm being completely honest. I get that she likes Jessie, I want my mate as well, but I need to make sure that she is going to be happy and safe and that nothing is going to end up hurting her in the process.

That is what I need to make sure of.

"I don't mind having a long engagement if that is what my mate needs." I correct mom, seeing how she gives me a stern look, "I want to get to know her the right way and court her the way that she deserves. I don't know what is going to happen between us, but I do know that I'm not going to dare let anything change that. You might not agree with it but it's what I need to do, mom."

I'm staring her down at this point because I would love to see her complain about a damn thing. I see the hesitation on her face, like she is trying to decide what is going to end up happening afterwards, but I don't even know. When I look at Jessie, I just know that she is it for me and I'm not going to dare let anything change that. If I did that, I'm sure that I would end up going down a slippery slope and I don't want that to happen either.

"Well, I think that I kind of just want to see where everything goes." Jessie finally speaks up, making me look at her proud because I'm happy to see that she is speaking up for herself, "I don't know what is going to come from it, but I do know that our relationship is going to be what everyone is going to look up to. I think we just need to take it one step at a time and go from there."

I completely understand what she is saying right now, and I one hundred percent agree. After everything that has happened so far, I do worry that I might go a little bit overboard and upset her but another part of me just doesn't care. I know how I feel about her, and I know there's no way that I'm going to let her go. When I look at her, it's like I'm one hundred percent certain that she is going to be mine and screw anyone who says otherwise.

It's just the truth if you ask me.

"Is everything okay?" She asks me gently, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes that have the power to make me bend to her will, "I'm sorry if I overstepped but I feel like it had to be said. It's truthfully not anything else that I could say about it."

I should have been upset just because of the fact that she is perfect in every way, but I decided to bite my tongue and not think about anything else. When I look at her, I just know that I'm not going anywhere and I'm not going to dare let anything else stand in my way. I think she is truthfully feeling the same way and she doesn't want to lose me either. I can tell just by the look on her face that it is the way that she feels and she's trying to not do anything else about it.

"I'm okay with what you want." I assure her, trying to not let anything get between us, "I promise."

I just hold her hand beneath the table, not giving a damn if anyone notices. I want them to notice. I want them to see that she is mine and I'm not going to let anything tear us apart. I'd rather die than let anything like that happen. I can promise that right here and now. They better hope that after everything that has happened, I'm not going to lose my mate because I would surely destroy them in the process.

I can promise them that.