Nathan's POV
The moment we got back to my pack, the gates barely had time to close before little footsteps came running toward us.
"Oscar!"
He came flying out of the house like a small storm, his face lighting up the second he saw Hailee.
"Mommy!" he shouted.
Hailee dropped her bag without a second thought and opened her arms. Oscar ran straight into them, hugging her tight around the waist.
"Welcome home, Mommy," he said proudly.
My chest tightened at the sight.
She knelt down and hugged him back just as tightly, kissing his hair again and again. "I missed you so much," she said softly.
"I missed you too," he replied, pulling back just enough to look at her face. "Are you okay now?"
She smiled, even though I knew she was still hurting deep inside. "I am now."
They talked for a bit, Oscar telling her about school, about what he ate, about everything he had clearly been saving up to tell her. I watched them quietly, my heart full.
When they were done, I gently took Hailee's hand.
"Come," I said. "You should rest."
I led her to my room. The moment she stepped inside, she sighed softly, like her body already knew this was a safe place.
"You look tired," I told her. "Lie down. I'll be back."
She turned to me with that familiar teasing look in her eyes. "Where are you rushing to, Alpha?" she asked playfully. "Doing Alpha duties already?"
I smiled. If only she knew.
"You'll see," I said lightly. "Just rest."
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "You're hiding something."
"Me?" I said innocently. "Never."
She laughed softly but didn't push. She kicked off her shoes and sat on the bed. As I turned to leave, she added, "Don't take too long."
"I won't," I promised.
I went straight to Oscar's room.
He was sitting on his bed, reading a Spider-Man novel. When he saw me, he looked up.
"Daddy?"
I closed the door behind me and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Oscar," I said quietly, "I want to ask you something important."
His eyes widened. "Am I in trouble?"
I chuckled. "No. Not at all."
I took a breath.
"Tonight," I said, "I want to ask your mommy to marry me."
For a second, he just stared at me.
Then his face exploded into the biggest smile I had ever seen.
"Really?!" he shouted.
I quickly put a finger to my lips. "Shh. It's a surprise."
He nodded hard, bouncing on the bed. "She'll say yes! I know she will!"
I smiled. "I hope so."
I told him my plan—about the rooftop, the flowers, the candles, and his part in it. His eyes grew wider with every word.
"I get to help?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes," I said. "You're the most important part."
He jumped up. "It's going to be so fun!"
By the time I left his room, my wolf was restless but happy.
She is the one.
She always has been.
At exactly seven in the evening, Hailee came out of the room.
And for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
She was dressed in a simple but stunning red gown that hugged her perfectly. Her hair fell softly over her shoulders. She looked… unreal.
"You look beautiful," I said honestly.
She smiled shyly. "You clean up well yourself."
I offered her my arm. "Dinner on the rooftop."
She raised a brow. "Since when do you do rooftop dinners?"
"Since today," I said smoothly.
She laughed but took my arm. As we stepped into the mansion elevator, I felt my nerves kick in full force.
My wolf pressed close, steady and calm.
She's yours. You've got this.
Halfway up, Hailee glanced at me. "You're nervous."
"What?" I said quickly. "No."
She tilted her head. "You're lying."
I smiled. "Maybe just a little."
She studied me but then squeezed my arm. "Whatever it is… I trust you."
The doors opened.
We stepped onto the rooftop.
And she froze.
The entire ground was covered in red roses. Candles lined the space, glowing softly in the night air. At the center, written in flowers and light, were the words:
Will you marry me?
Her breath caught.
Before she could speak, Oscar stepped forward, dressed neatly, holding a bouquet of roses.
He walked up to her and held them out.
"Mommy," he said sweetly, "Daddy loves you very much. He will make you so happy. I know that."
Her hands flew to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes instantly.
I walked forward and dropped to both knees in front of her.
"Hailee," I said, my voice steady even though my heart was racing, "I have loved you through everything. I have loved you when you were strong, and when you were broken. You are my home. My heart. My future."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring.
"I don't want a life without you in it. I don't want a tomorrow you're not part of. Please… marry me."
She was already crying.
"Yes," she sobbed. "Yes, Nathan. I'll marry you."
Relief, joy, love—all of it crashed over me at once.
I slid the ring onto her finger and stood, pulling her into my arms. We kissed, slow and deep, like sealing a promise.
Oscar ran forward and hugged us both. "My family!" he said proudly.
Hailee pulled back just enough to look down at her hand.
The diamond ring caught the candlelight, sparkling softly. She stared at it like she couldn't quite believe it was real.
"It's… perfect," she whispered.
Then she looked up at me, eyes still wet with tears, lips trembling into a smile.
"How did you even know my size?" she asked softly.
I smiled, brushing my thumb over her knuckles.
"I pay attention," I said gently. "Every time you took your rings off before sleeping. Every time you complained, one was too loose or too tight."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You noticed that?"
"I notice everything about you," I said honestly. "I asked the jeweler to make it exactly right. I didn't want it slipping off… or hurting you."
She let out a small, shaky laugh and shook her head.
"You're impossible," she murmured.
"And you love it," I teased lightly.
She laughed again, then suddenly her laughter broke into quiet tears. She pressed her forehead against my chest, holding onto my shirt like she needed something solid.
"I didn't think I'd ever feel this happy again," she whispered. "After everything… after all the pain."
I wrapped my arms around her fully, holding her close.
"I will always make you happy," I said softly. "I've got you. Always."