Chapter 11

Morgan

Alec is headedinto work and I watch him get dressed. Yesterday was amazing, but I know that it's time for me to face the world again. I know that I need to go deal with my parents. I don't want them in my life anymore, but it feels like I should see them once more and lay everything out. Get some kind of closure on the last twenty-one years.

"What are you going to do today?" Alec asks me, and I look over at him.

"I'm going to go see my parents," I tell him, and he pauses.

"I'll come with you."

"You don't have to do that," I protest feebly, and he shakes his head.

"I don't want you around them by yourself. Who knows what they might try to do," he says.

He pulls his phone out and texts someone then nods at me.

"I got Ash to cover for me today," he says.

"Thanks," I whisper. "I was really dreading it, even though I know I should go."

"You don't have to," he argues, but I nod.

"I need to."

He nods, taking my hand and just holding it. I love how supportive he always is. It's like he truly does just want me to be happy. As long as I'm alright, then so is he.

"Let's get this over with," I sigh, and he gives me a grim nod.

We head out to his truck and he tries to distract me on the drive over to the resort.

"We should plan a honeymoon! Where would you like to go?"

"I'm not sure."

"We'll need to go back to your parents' house to get your things," he tries, and I nod.

I doubt that my parents will be willing to ship my things to me, not after all of this.

"Or maybe we can just hire movers if you don't want to go back there," Alec offers.

"Maybe."

We pull up to the resort and Alec parks in a spot near the front doors. I reach up running my fingers over the bite mark at the base of my neck, trying to get some strength from it.

"I'll be with you the whole time. It will all be okay," Alec promises me.

I nod and take one more deep breath before we get out of his truck and head for the front doors.

My parents are scheduled to leave tomorrow, but I wonder if their plans changed after I married Alec yesterday. Maybe they're already gone.

We step into the elevator and ride up to my parents' floor. Alec stays close to my side as we head down the hallway to their room. I can hear movement and raised voices on the other side of the door and I hesitate before I knock.

"You say the word and we'll leave," Alec says as we wait for them to open the door.

I nod, my sweaty hand squeezing his.

The door swings open, and I'm greeted with my parents' angry faces.

"You," they sneer when they see me with Alec.

"I wanted to talk to you before you left," I start, trying to gain control of the conversation.

"About how you ruined everything?" my mom asks dramatically.

"I just wanted to clear the air. I don't regret marrying Alec instead of Randolph, and I never will," I tell them.

"You will when you're both broke and living on the streets," my dad snarls.

"I won't let that happen," Alec says firmly.

"We have nothing to say to you," my mother says icily, and I nod.

"I thought we could be adults and have a calm conversation about all of this, but the truth is that it doesn't matter. I don't want you in my life anymore," I tell them.

"Good, because we're disowning you. We never want to see you again," my mom spits at me.

"I need to get some things from the house."

"Hell no!" My dad shouts.

"You can let me or the movers in, or I can contact law enforcement," I threaten, and they seem taken aback.

I've never really stood up to my parents before and I know that all of this is unchartered territory. They don't know how to handle me now.

"Get out and get lost," my dad says through gritted teeth.

A moment later, they're slamming the door in my face and I exhale hard. Part of me is still panicked. I didn't get to talk to them about half of the stuff that I wanted to, but I know that trying again right now won't get me anywhere.

"Are you okay?" Alec asks as he guides me back towards the elevator.

"I guess. It went more or less how I thought it would. I guess I just thought it would go a little better and we would be able to discuss a few more things."

"Like what?" He asks as we get on the elevator and head down.

"Like Susan and my things. Everything just feels really up in the air right now."

"It will be okay," he promises, doing his best to comfort me.

We head out to his truck and he opens my door for me. He seems to realize that I'm in a weird mood and he lets me be as we make the drive home.

When we get back home, he follows me quietly from room to room until we get to our bedroom.

"What's going to happen now? What do I do?" I ask him.

"We figure it all out. Together."

His words make me feel a little better, but I'm still so worried for Susan and the future.

"I mean it, Morgan. I would do anything for you. I love you."

Those three little words rock me back on my heels and I stare up at him.

In my heart, I already knew that. I mean, of course I knew that. He's told me and shown me in so many different ways. He's just never said those three words out loud to me.

"I love you more than anything," he says softly, and I nod.

"I know. I love you, too. So much. I never expected for this to happen. I mean, I never saw anything on this trip coming. The forced marriage, running into you, my fake proposal to you. Just… you. You weren't expected, but God, I'm so happy that I did. You saved me from that terrible marriage, from having to spend the rest of my life worried about my parents and fighting all alone for what I want."

"We're going to be okay," he tells me, resting his forehead against mine, and I nod.

I know then that he's right. As long as I'm with Alec, I'll be just fine.

I smile for the first time today and relax into my mate's hold. I'm right where I'm meant to be.