Tristan
Another month had gone by and now it was the end of August. Arabella had convinced her mother to let her try the local public school. There were several kids from the pack going, and finally Violet had agreed.
Arabella had a backpack and a matching lunchbox. She had five new outfits ready to go and a brand new pair of tennis shoes.
Tristan was ready to propose to Violet. He knew it wasn’t strictly necessary. Neither he nor Violet had been raised in the human world. So it didn’t hold as much significance to them as it did to others. However, most of the mated couples in their pack got married. Everyone seemed to enjoy a good wedding ceremony.
Now he just had to decide what to do for the proposal. They had been working up to this moment for seven years. They shared a child. He couldn't even whine to Roman because Roman had been through the same thing.
His brother was long finished with the University in Nova Scotia. And maybe that area would hold too many bad memories. So proposing where they met might not be the best idea.
Then he had the idea to go on her boat. She seemed to be amused when others proposed there. Her pack was fully running the boat now. There wouldn't be any strangers involved. He knew Onyx best, so he went to her first.
He told her his plans. “So that’s my idea. What do you think?”
“I think she’ll love it. A year ago, I would've said absolutely not, do not have any witnesses, don't take any photos, don't even plan this, don't even ask the question. But now since you guys are mated and you just haven't had the ceremony, I think she’ll love it. Just because she's always been scared of romance doesn't mean she doesn't want any.”
He hugged Onyx. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”
He got it all planned out. He booked a sunset tour and made sure that she was going to be the one working it. He also made sure that Onyx was going to get Arabella there.
He didn't want to put Violet on the spot, but he figured she could always say yes now and then just delay the wedding. And plus, if she did say yes, then he wanted their daughter to be there for that moment. Arabella was old enough to remember it now and be a part of it.
Rings were hard for shifters because they couldn't shift with them on. He thought maybe the two of them could get a tattoo. So he had a design drawn up of their initials linked together with Arabella's in the middle.
He went out and picked a bouquet of wildflowers and put on his best jeans. He was ready.
He tucked himself away on the boat, out of sight.
She would feel him soon enough.
She looked around. “Where are our guests?”
“They asked to be picked up on one of the islands,” Onyx said.
Violet shrugged. “Okay. The customer is always right.”
As soon as they were out on the open water, he plucked the paper from his pocket that had the tattoo design.
He shook his shoulders out and cleared his throat. Just as the sun was setting at the perfect angle, casting an orange-gold hue over the water, he walked out. Onyx was supposed to snap a few behind-the-scenes photos of them afterward, assuming that everything went well.
“Tristan! What are you doing here?”
She’d finally caught sight of him.
“Hello,” he said. He kissed her cheek. “Just wanted to surprise you so I rented the boat out.” He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake proposing to her while she was at work, but it was too late to turn back.
She smiled, and then he went down on one knee.
“Violet, you are my mate, and the mother of my child. You have agreed to be my mate for the rest of our lives, but I’d like for you to be my wife as well.” He held the paper out. “We don’t wear rings, for obvious reasons, but I went ahead and had matching tattoos designed for us.”
She took the paper with shaking hands. “Tristan…”
“Violet, will you marry me?”
“Oh my God. Tristan! Yes. I will marry you.” She grabbed his hands and yanked him to his feet. She flung her arms around him. “I love you. And I love the tattoo idea.” She sniffed. “I can’t believe you.”
“I love you too. And I guess you were surprised?”
“Yes!” She pulled back a little. “I guess Onyx was in on this?”
“Of course.”
Behind them, Onyx snapped a photo.
“Okay, guys. Very romantic,” Onyx yelled. “But I need you to move to the railing. I can get a photo with the sunset in the background.”
“We’re engaged,” she whispered to him, as the camera flashed.
“Yep,” he said. “You’re my fiancé now. You can’t get rid of me.”