Chapter 26

Rosie

The dinner went painstakingly slowly and I wasn’t comfortable at all. I didn’t even know how the dinner finished, couldn’t remember what food I ate or what anyone said. I was so conscious under Marcus’s scrutinizing gaze that I nearly cowered several times, only staying upright because of Jude’s touch under the table and the small smiles he kept throwing my way, and Elena smiling so warmly at me from across the table.

Jude held my hand as we prepared to leave, his thumb brushing against my knuckles in soothing circles.

I wouldn’t call the dinner a complete disaster because Jude had grabbed my hand and told his mom we were leaving when Marcus looked like he wanted to start another uncomfortable conversation.

Both father and son looked at each other so intensely that the air felt like it was choking me and I leaned toward Jude discreetly, pulling at his sleeve. He turned his gaze from his father to look down at me and his expression immediately softened.

“Thanks for the dinner,” he muttered to his parents while I trudged behind him toward the door.

Elena walked behind us to see us out. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, bowing her head a little. “I’ll have a great talk with that stubborn man,” she added, pointing back toward Marcus who was still staring at me from the dining room and I squeaked nervously.

“It’s okay,” I smiled uncomfortably because even though Elena had put me at ease, Marcus had put me completely on edge the entire night.

We stepped outside and started walking down the street. The town streets were all interconnected and the Winters’ house was about a thirty-minute walk from my cottage.

The air was cold and I pulled my cardigan tighter around myself while we walked in silence for a few minutes.

“Your father didn’t seem to like me,” I finally said quietly, the words I’d been holding back all evening spilling out.

Jude paused mid-step and turned to face me. “He doesn’t even like me most of the time,” he responded with a bitter edge to his voice and I looked down at my feet.

“I’m not special, not pretty, I’m nothing... maybe I’m not good enough for yo—”

“Stop it,” Jude interrupted me firmly and I startled at the intensity in his voice. “You are more than enough for me,” he said while raising my chin up gently so I had to look at him.

***

Jude

I hated the sadness that clung to Rosie’s scent, hated seeing that defeated look in her eyes. If I could redo tonight I would have told my mother no and would have never subjected Rosie to Marcus’s cold judgment. I’d specifically swallowed my alpha dominance and begged my father to be civil, to be kind, to just try for once.

But what was I expecting? Once an asshole, always an asshole. No doubt about it.

I wanted to go back there and challenge Marcus right now, and wanted to make him apologize for making my mate feel this way.

I didn’t like how Rosie was putting herself down, diminishing herself like she was nothing when she was everything. She was more than enough for me, she was the most beautiful thing I knew, and yet my father had made her feel small and self-conscious at one dinner.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance, angry at Marcus but angrier at myself. I was failing as a mate. I swallowed hard, hating the look in those beautiful blue eyes of hers that were usually so bright with me but now looked dim, sad, and unsure.

I grabbed her hands and placed them on my chest where my heart was racing, pounding so hard I knew she could feel it through my shirt.

“I don’t know what else to say to make you believe me, but feel my heart,” I said while pressing her palms firmly against my chest. “See how it’s beating for you. If you weren’t enough for me, if you weren’t beautiful, it wouldn’t be beating like this.”

I wetted my lips nervously. I was never good with words but with my mate, I’d do everything right to make her believe. She was enough for me.

“I don’t care about my father’s opinion,” I continued while keeping her hands pressed to my chest. “I don’t care what he thinks or says. He doesn’t get to decide who I want or who’s worthy of me. That’s my choice and I choose you, Rosie. I’ll always choose you.”

Her breath hitched and her eyes went wide. “Jude...”

“You’re kind and smart and beautiful and you make me happier than I’ve ever been,” I said, the words tumbling out now that I’d started. “You’re studying to help kids learn, to make a difference. You’re kind, nice and you laugh at my terrible jokes and you look at me like I’m something special when I’m just—”

“You are special,” she interrupted me with tears in her eyes. “You’re the most special person I know.”

My wolf howled with satisfaction and my chest tightened painfully with how much I wanted her - fall over and love her.

We were standing under a streetlamp now, the warm yellow light falling over us while the cold night air swirled around, but I felt warm everywhere she was touching me.

“Can I kiss you?” I asked softly even though we’d kissed before, because she looked fragile right now and I wanted her permission.

Rosie nodded, her hands still pressed to my chest feeling my racing heartbeat.

I leaned down and kissed her gently, sweetly, hoping to pass my feelings into the kiss. I wanted her, she was perfect for me. I kissed her because she was precious, she was cherished, and she was everything I needed. My hands came up to cup her face tenderly while hers slid from my chest to grip my jacket tightly.

When I pulled back we were both breathing heavily, our breath visible in the cold air between us.

“You’re enough,” I whispered against her forehead. “You’re more than enough. You’re everything.”

Rosie made a small sound and buried her face in my chest while my arms came around her, holding her tight under the streetlamp. I could feel her shaking slightly—from cold or... I wasn’t sure—so I pulled her closer, wrapping her in my warmth.

“I’m sorry about tonight,” I murmured into her hair. “I’m sorry my father was a douche. But I promise you, Rosie, I will never let anyone make you feel less than you are. Not my father, not anyone.”

“Okay,” she whispered against my chest and I felt some of the tension leave her body as she relaxed into my embrace.

We stood like that for a long moment, wrapped around each other under the golden glow of the streetlamp while the world moved around us. Just the two of us in our own bubble where nothing else mattered.

Finally, Rosie pulled back slightly and looked up at me with a small smile. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For choosing me,” she said and my heart squeezed painfully in my chest.

“Always,” I promised and kissed her forehead. “Now come on, let me walk you home before you freeze.”

She laughed quietly and nodded, slipping her hand into mine as we started walking again. And I noticed that her scent had changed—the sadness was fading, replaced by something warmer, happier, more like the Rosie I knew.

I’d put that smile back on her face.

And I’d spend the rest of my life making sure it stayed there.

***. So two new novellas are coming to your library soon. One is alien romance and the second is monster romance .if these are your favorite or good to go.You can join my discord group for more characters profile and all