'My connection to him before we got married.'
'Vincencio Saison-Monsour, what exactly are you trying to tell me? Hm?'
"I shouldn't have mentioned it…" Vincencio muttered weakly under his breath, recalling the cause of their sudden argument. "…what is done is done. I can't undo them. I have to do something…but what? If she doesn't want to talk?"
Vincencio has been grumbling, walking uneasily in the living space, replaying what just happened between him and his wife.
'He orchestrated our second meeting after learning my truth that you're my second chance, mate…God, Sky, don't think that it's his entire fault. I agreed to his terms to be with you.'
'What terms are they?'
He could still remember their first reconnection after years of being apart from each other. Their connection from school years was still there, but the difference from then to the moment they reconnected was the burning bond that hadn't faded after years apart. Vincencio was skeptical about meeting her for the second time, but fate had another plan.
'Oi Vince, the boss is asking if you still want to work here till you find a decent job, you're still welcome to come back.'
'Tell the boss thanks, but I'm good. I don't want the pub to have a bad reputation due to my temper against those wannabe gangsters.'
'Well, you're a good bouncer despite not having that buffed body.'
'Hey, I might be thin as I look, but well fit, and I'm maintaining it.'
'If you say so. Gotta work, it's getting packed.'
As Vincencio's old pal at the SR Night Pub began serving people at the bar area, he took his time looking around, resting for a while to forget something – rather, someone. However, fate suddenly played its part, and there she was. His senior, Skylar, sat gracefully at her usual corner at the bar area, trying to make herself invisible, but to Vincencio, she was failing.
'Still beautiful on her own way.'
He thought, making him smile secretly, but quickly looked away before Skylar had noticed. Vincencio glanced back, and his temper suddenly rose. Some flock of men began lurking around Skylar's shadow, making him feel like wanting to rip them apart, but it didn't happen. Instead, he was fascinated by how Skylar managed to shoo those men without raising her voice or hands against them. She just sat there, holding her ground, but filled with danger, making those men never attempt to get close or flirt with her.
'Damn, that's hot.'
Vincencio watched Skylar carefully and even stalked her, making sure she was safe, which had been his routine. But whenever he couldn't see her, he was bothered like something was twisting around his gut. He was restless, making him stay in the woods, watching Skylar return home safely, but one particular night, something just shifted. Skylar's scent suddenly had a taint of blood, making Vincencio frown, but he thought it was a woman's monthly period. However, when it had been happening weekly around nine, he began to be bothered.
'What are you doing at night?'
He was about to stalk her nightly routine, but eeriness suddenly wrapped around his senses, making his werewolf side kick in. Vincencio began to stand defensively, and pretty much on high alert, until a clap echoed into the darkness of the woods.
'Impressive. I didn't realize that it would be you, young pup.'
'And you are? What are you doing here, vampire?'
'Protecting the woman you're stalking.'
'She's mine to protect.'
'I know. I've been watching, and I know when a werewolf has found their mates. If they were not being obviously possessive, they're going to stalk, and you're doing it perfectly.'
'And you're saying this because?'
'I'm her blood. Her brother, but she doesn't know it yet because it's sealed.'
'I don't believe you.'
'Oh, you do, Vincencio, since school years, but that doesn't stop you from being close to her.'
'You…'
'Like I said, I've been watching and protecting her before you came. And I have a proposition for you, to get into her life permanently again.'
'And what is that?'
'Just report to me everything about her daily routine, activities inside and outside of her business.'
'What is it for me?'
'You could be with her. Let your mate bond grow deeper, and who knows, you two might get married.'
'And if I don't agree?'
'Well, you will because of how you distance yourself despite having Alpha genes. I could tell she was your second chance mate.'
'You know anything that includes your sister but can't get near her.'
'Soon you will understand why I have to be in her darkness, and you will agree on this term. All you have to do is report to me what she's doing, and that's all, and the rest will be up to both of you.'
'I don't want to hurt her.'
'This deal is the least thing you'll ever think about. Be with my sister. Protect her when I can't.'
Vincencio sighed, recalling his conversation and what made him agree to Fredric's term. It was simple but difficult since he had to report secretly, ensuring Skylar had no slightest idea about his connection to her brother, Fredric. However, it doesn't affect their mate bond at all; it just grew deeper and stronger than he could ever imagine it would turn into.
"Sky, please…you're still mine. You're still my mate that I keep falling in love with; my wife that I keep choosing to be with, and my home that I always look forward to returning to." Vincencio weakly muttered, eyes starting to cry on their own, feeling the pain of hiding things from his wife before praying, begging to be forgiven. "Please, God, help me to be forgiven by my wife."
Vincencio has been crying on the couch, looking dead but hoping that he'll be forgiven. As he was sulking over what just happened, his heart tickles, jolting him up. He touched his chest, feeling strange feelings that he knew didn't come from him.
"Skylar…" He mumbled, hope kicking stronger inside him, making him run upstairs.
He almost stumbled on his own footing but managed to stand still, facing their master bedroom. He even attempted to knock, but he didn't. His hand was just in the air, hanging before he closed his eyes, touching the closed door. He heard soft muffling and crying behind the closed door, hurting him more because he knew it was his fault. He rested his head against the door, savoring the pain he caused and the longing to ease it with his wife. However, he just slid down, crying quietly against the closed door as if he was begging.
"Oh God, please…" He prayed, pleading for help, and somehow, magically, his heart calmed down as if it was being touched, making him relax, but still, he didn't enter the room. He just rested to the side, letting the heat calm down.
Vincencio was staring emptily at the opposite wall as if his life had left him. His mind wandered on every moment they had before during their reconnection; how their feelings started growing into something more than words could ever comprehend, until he chuckled. He recalled the moment when he saw his wife kill someone like a maniac.
'She's different…but somehow, still dazzling to my eyes.'
Ever since then, Vincencio hasn't been checking Skylar's night routine, but he did inform Fredric about them, although he has no idea who was on her blacklist. And yet, it was enough for Vincencio to be reassured that Skylar won't be touched easily by nasty men. However, he must pretend not to know anything and play along until their marriage comes.
'Are you ready to marry her?'
'I am even though I'm still scared if my past haunted me…Aunty, what should I do?'
'If the bond grew stronger than anything, making it hard to describe, then let it flow.'
'I don't get it.'
'Let the love flow in between. Don't run away if things get difficult, but it doesn't mean you can't breathe anymore. Just take time and then return to her. She'll be there, and I can say that because I can see how much she loves you by the way she looks at you. She could burn anything for you."
'And I'll do the same.'
'So, don't chicken out and be the man she's in love with and marry her now.'
Vincencio stood tall with his charming smile that could melt anyone's heart, but on his wedding day, he was trembling. His hands were shaking nervously, and his heartbeat was deafening, making him restless while waiting for his bride.
'You can do this. She's different. She's…'
Vincencio mumbling halted their two chosen wedding songs, which began playing in the background, cuing that the wedding was about to start. But when one of their chosen wedding songs, Thank God I Found You by Mariah Carey featuring 98 Degrees & Joe, played, the door opened, making his heart hammer hard. His mind recalled the memories he had with Skylar during their school years and their reconnection. He was left breathless when Skylar looked like an angel descended from above, walking down the aisle, making everything fade except the music played alive.
I would give up everything
Before I'd separate myself from you
After so much suffering
I finally found the unvarnished truth
I was all by myself for the longest time
So cold inside
And the hurt from the heartache would not subside
I felt like dying
Until you saved my life
Everything seemed to fade, except Skylar stood clearly before Vincencio's eyes, and he didn't even notice how his tears had fallen on his face. It's been a while since the last time he cried, and it was about his heartbreak, but at this moment, Vincencio's tears meant something different, overjoyed and grateful.
Thank God I found you
I was lost without you
My every wish and every dream
Somehow became reality
When you brought the sunlight
Completed my whole life
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude
'Cause baby, I'm so thankful I found you
He was stunned, watching Skylar walk down the aisle while the song reflected what they've been feeling for each other – his feelings for her. To him, Skylar was worth everything; he might be undeserving, but watching her walk toward him overwhelmed his heart. He cried silently, yet his smile hadn't faded, and like a promise, he sang the second stanza as soon as Skylar stood in front of him.
'I will give you everything
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do
To ensure your happiness
I'll cherish every part of you
'Cause without you beside me, I can't survive
Don't wanna try
If you keeping me warm each and every night
I'll be alright
'Cause I need you in my life…'
'Silly, but I am too.'
'And this song is enough to remind us about this moment.'
'How thankful we are?'
'Not just thankful but overjoyed with where we are now.'
Vincencio kissed her hands gently, pouring his feelings that he had been keeping. And their chosen song might not be a perfect wedding song, but it was perfect in reflecting how grateful they are for what they've received.
See, I was so desolate before you came to me
Looking back
I guess it shows that we were destined
To shine over the rain, to appreciate
The gift of what we have
And I'd go through it all over again
To be able to feel
This way
Now that he was holding her hands, exchanging for a lifetime commitment, Vincencio won't let her go. He won't let anyone or anything break them apart, no matter what. He is for her, and she is for him, and that's what matters.
"Glad, I'd still remember…she's my everything that I'm still thanking for." Vincencio chuckled softly after recalling their wedding day, the song that reflects their vows – his vow before whispering sleepily, "It's still her, my Skylar…"
Vincencio was sleeping when the door swung open.