OZMYERE

"What did you want to bring me here for, Azusa?" I ask as he leads me through the garden.

"You'll see," Azusa smiles somewhat sheepishly as he glances back at me.

A few hours ago, I told Azusa about what happened with Ryker, and he grew concerned and angered upon hearing what Ryker told me. Azusa promised that he wouldn't let Ryker hurt me and he hugged me tightly before he smiled sadly and grabbed my hand. I let him drag me out of his room and to the garden, wondering what his intentions were and what he was so eager about. He's been positively jumpy, too. In fact, just a few minutes ago, he thought someone else was lurking around in here. To be honest, I didn't notice because I was too distracted with my thoughts of him.

Azusa leads me through the rose garden until we come to a certain area in the pathway and he smiles as he gently moves his hand in the direction of a row of shrubs, which magically bend and move out of his way to form a wall of rose bushes and a pathway of grass. I raise my eyebrows at the sight and he simply nods for me to go through. I head through the archway of roses and through the formed pathway, Azusa trailing behind me after he puts the rose bushes back to their original places. Once I reach the end of the pathway, I turn right and gasp upon seeing a giant pair of stone doors with roses carved on them, runes trailing up the sides of the doors and a set of chains keeping them locked.

Azusa walks up to the pair of doors and I watch him, wondering just what this is, how on earth it got here, and how I didn't know about it, considering this is my house. Then again, I suppose even houses have their secrets, I just wonder how Azusa found it. I always knew Azusa loved the garden and felt inclined to care for the roses, but perhaps this is yet another reason why he felt so drawn to it.

Azusa places his right hand on the doorway and it hums as it glows a faint pinkish-red color, and the doors begin to open slowly with a creak and a heavy heave when the chains disappear. Upon opening, the doors reveal a row of white marble columns out in the moonlight that lead to large stone stairs and a pool of water that glistens, which is embedded into a large stone platform at the top of the stairs. Rose petals are strewn throughout the pool of water and multiple rose bushes rest on the outskirts of the pillars, vines with roses winding around the pillars themselves.

Azusa glances back and motions for me to come forward. I oblige in a state of wonder, admiring the ethereal beauty of the place. Once I reach him, Azusa takes my hand and leads me down the pathway and up the stairs before he stops just before the pool and turns to face me, smiling nervously. Azusa waves his hand once more and orbs of light begin to appear in the air, glowing and floating around leisurely almost like fireflies. I gasp as I look around at the romantic view, wondering what's going on, but I'm certainly not complaining.

"Azusa? What is all this?" I ask, turning back to look at him.

When my eyes land on him again, he's smiling up at me and my eyes widen, a squeak going passed my lips as I realize that he's kneeling on one knee before me, his hands holding something in front of him.

"A—Azusa?" I stammer.

"Oz, I know I've already explained to you about how I marked you being improper. I felt bad for not doing it in more of a romantic setting, in more of an appropriate time. You deserve more than that, so...I've been wondering if you'd like to...fulfill it here with me," Azusa smiles. "Ozmyere, I want you to forever be mine. So, what do you say? Will you be mine, Love?"

Azusa opens the small black velvety box in his hands to reveal a pair of rings with blood red diamonds attached to necklace chains and I cover my mouth, my eyes starting to water as I stare at the sight before me while my heart begins to beat wildly in my chest. Never would I have expected Azusa to present me with a mating gift sacred to Vampires, rings that are made one of a kind for said Vampire and their loved one, binding their souls together forever and claiming them as partners. I sob as I nod my head and Azusa smiles, rising to his feet to take one necklace and put it around my neck, the diamond in the ring glowing brightly before the energy fades away, and Azusa puts his own necklace around his neck.

"I wasn't sure if you'd like to wear a ring or if you wanted it on a chain, so I figured I'd let you deci—" Azusa starts before I pounce on him while I laugh with joy, tackling him to the ground.

My inner wolf cries with happiness as I snuggle up to his chest and Azusa smiles softly, running a hand through my hair as I beam. Azusa then pushes me off of him and sweeps me up in his arms bridal style, my eyes widening when he throws me in the pool of roses. I look up at Azusa, bewildered, to see him stripping off his shirt and jeans before he jumps in after me, grinning.

"Hello, Love," Azusa smiles as he places his right hand on the side of my face, cupping it lovingly.

"Hi there," I giggle and Azusa laughs before he kisses me and tackles me gently down into the pool, water lapping around me as he puts his arms around me.

After we resurface, it's then that I notice a box of chocolates and a picnic basket sitting on the edge of the pool. I raise my eyebrows and watch as Azusa grins and opens the box of chocolates.

"Ooh, caramel!" I shout with joy as my eyes land on the assortment of candies, particularly a chocolate square with caramel inside.

"I got caramel ones and cherry ones, since I know you love both," Azusa smiles warmly, and I can't help but feel my heart throb.

"Thank—mmph," my eyes widen when Azusa picks up a caramel chocolate and stuffs it in my mouth, following suit shortly after by kissing me while the chocolate is still in my mouth.

I shiver at the sensation and I blush when he takes the chocolate into his mouth from mine.

"Let me show you how much I yearned to spoil you," Azusa hums quietly as he leans down to my ear.

***

HARLOW

"So, are you going to tell me what you were doing out there so late?" Alec asks, raising a brow as he plucks thorns out of my arm with tweezers while we stand in his bathroom near the sink.

"I know I'm not supposed to be out there, but damn it, I need to know why. Something isn't right, Alec," I say as my eyes search his, "and you know it too."

Alec sighs as he removes the last of the thorns, tossing them into a nearby trashcan, and grabs a roll of gauze and tape, placing them aside before washing my arm off and grabbing antiseptic. He applies the antiseptic before he wraps the wounds and I frown at his lack of response.

"I'm sorry," he simply says and I continue to frown.

"Sorry? What're you sorry for? Hiding things from me?" I ask.

"I'm sorry," Alec repeats, his eyes meeting mine sadly. "I wish I could tell you, I really do. It's just...it's for the best if you don't go out there again, alright?"

"Alec," I start, about to tell him about the woman before I decide to change my mind with a sigh, "thank you. You know, for taking care of the thorns."

"Of course," Alec smiles sadly and puts his supplies away back in his medicine cabinet.

"So, what exactly were you doing?" I ask.

"My...duty," Alec sighs and rubs the back of his neck, his amber eyes flickering to my brown ones.

"Oh," I breathe out, my eyes widening in realization, "I'm sorry. That can't be easy."

"It's not," Alec shrugs and smiles sadly, shoving his hands in his pockets, "but it's my responsibility and I refuse to fail. I couldn't. I don't want to let anyone down. Everyone's counting on me and I don't want to cause them any more pain by messing up."

"I admire that," I smile and Alec seems to brighten somewhat at that.

"Thanks," Alec says. "I mean it, that means a lot to me."

"You never did tell me what this tattoo was, by the way," I breathe out as I reach out to gently trace my fingers across his arm, his breath hitching in reply.

"Oh yeah," Alec sighs and rubs the back of his neck, swallowing thickly, "come on, let's go sit down first."

I nod and follow him back into his bedroom, sitting down on his fluffy bed and taking a pillow, placing it in my lap as I lean my arms on it while I eagerly watch him as he sits down in front of me. Alec reaches over and traces his fingers over his own tattoo while he smiles sadly, lost in thought.

"You see, I lived here with Azusa and Oz for pretty much my whole life, but it wasn't always that way. When I was little, I lived in a city pretty far away with Azusa and I's mom while Azusa lived with his father in a town far from us. Our mother is a human, as you might've guessed, and Azusa's father is a vampire while my father is a dark angel. My father lived with us, but he was typically gone on work. Out of the two of us, I'm younger than Azusa, and our mom ended up with my father after splitting up with Azusa's father. When I was little, the city I lived in was like a haven for us. Supernatural were fairly common there and the humans didn't mind us," Alec explains softly. "But...then people began to notice there was something even more different about me. I guess people don't really like things that are different, do they?"

"What happened?" I ask softly.

"Not everyone there started treating me terribly once they learned the whole truth about me, in fact, a lot of people were supportive, but there were a few who wanted me gone. I never understood why I was persecuted. Unfortunately, it only takes a few terrible people to cause something equally as terrible, despite everyone else being so kind to me," Alec sighs. "One of the few who feared me happened to be on the council for the city. He's most of the reason why some people even feared me in the first place, due to his influence. I felt so unwanted and unsafe. I just wanted to live, you know? I just wanted to be a kid. I wasn't very old, I didn't even fully understand myself the whole truth of what I was at the time, what my duty was. One time, someone even tried to hit me with a car. It really freaked my mother out, no surprise, and it terrified me as well."

"That's horrible," I frown.

"I never understood why people judge others so harshly on things that shouldn't be judged. I never understood it at all. Why can't people just let others be happy as long as they aren't hurting anyone? I don't think I'll ever understand," Alec shakes his head. "To be judged based solely on things that do not define who you are, I don't understand it. People like to see the pieces, but they don't like to see the whole picture, I don't think. Each person is their own artist with their own canvas, painting it as their life goes by. I just wish more were able to interpret the painting for what it really is. I think, deep down, everyone's special in their own way. That's why I got this tattoo. It symbolizes unity and love, equality and peace. That's...all I really want. Life is precious and it must be valued."

"That's beautiful, Alec," I smile softly and he smiles as well.

"Thank you for listening, Harlow," Alec says and I nod. "And...thank you for being you."

"That's who I always intend to be," I smile warmly as I climb off of his bed.

"Good," Alec smiles, "that's the way it should be."

I wave goodnight to him and he waves back as I leave his room and thank him once more for helping me out. As I close his bedroom door for the night, I sigh to myself.

"I'm sorry, Alec," I whisper.

I fully intend to always be myself, and that means never losing my sense of determination to find out the truth, no matter what it takes. Deep down, I think Alec knows that as well, and somehow I feel like I've just been given his silent blessing.