Chapter 11

Later that night they sat by the fire drinking hot wine. Wolf found that he really enjoyed this new beverage and was already on his fourth cup while Scarlet was only half way through her second.

"You better slow down," Scarlet warned him.

Wolf drained his cup before letting out a laugh, "Scar, look at me. I'm massive. It will take more than this to really effect me."

Scarlet laughed, "How could you know that? You've never drank before!" Still, Scarlet had to admit that she admired his confidence.

"Trust me," Wolf said, "I feel fine. I could even fly the hover right now." He smirked at her.

"You couldn't even fly it sober!" Scarlet retorted, but she couldn't help laughing at him a little. He laughed with her, knowing that she was right. Scarlet finished her cup when she noticed Wolf was eyeing the large pot on the stove.

"Do you want some more?" She asked.

"Yes, please," He was grinning, "And maybe a tomato too?" Scarlet rolled her eyes.

"Of course," She said while she stood up, "But if you feel hungover tomorrow you have no one to blame but yourself." She brought both of their mugs to the kitchen and refilled them. "And I will not be taking care you all day either."

He took his mug as she sat down next to him. "I'm a big strong man, I think I can take car of myself," he teased.

Scarlet raised an eyebrow at him, "Is that so, Ze'ev? I'll remember that next time you need me to cook you breakfast."

"Scarlet!" Wolf cried, "I was kidding! I need you to take care of me! I need you more than anything!" He fell into her, his head landing in her lap. She rolled her eyes at his dramatics and absentmindedly started playing with his hair.

"You goon," she said and he smiled up at her.

Eventually Scarlet pulled out her portscreen. "How about some music?" She asked. Wolf nodded and sat up, mostly so that he could drink more wine. Scarlet started up a mix and then leaned on Wolf's shoulder.

"I'm glad you like the wine," Scarlet said.

"I understand why it's your favorite." Wolf looked towards the kitchen and then back down to her. "Scar?"

"Hmm?" Scarlet responded.

"What else did you get today?" He asked, "We never went through the rest of the bags."

"Oh!" Scarlet exclaimed, "I completely forgot about everything else. I had to pick up some ingredients for all kinds of new treats and dishes."

"Really?" Wolf said smiling. Scarlet knew he would be excited about the prospect of new food.

"Mmhmm," Scarlet continued, "And I had to pick up some mail. I had put in an order for something from Luna."

Wolf frowned, he couldn't think of a single thing he'd want from Luna. Unless Scarlet had some how managed to put in an order for Cinder, but that wasn't possible. But besides Cinder, he didn't like the idea of having something from Luna in the house. Well. Winter was from Luna too. Cinder and Winter were actually people he'd love to have at the house. But nothing else from Luna. Wolf still wasn't entirely sure he liked Jacin.

"Ze'ev?" Scarlet said after he had been quiet for awhile.

Wolf quickly pulled himself from his thoughts, "I didn't know we could order things from Luna."

"Well it helps that Cress and Thorne have to make regular stops there, and I do have some pull with the queen," Scarlet winked and Wolf managed a small smile. She stood up and went to the kitchen. Wolf's smile turned to a frown as soon as she was out of the room. He really didn't like thinking about Luna, there was still too much pain there.

Scarlet was returning with a few small packets. Wolf stood up when she came in and she handed the packets to him. He looked down at them and noticed that they were flower seeds. Blue daisies to be exact.

"Scar, you shouldn't have," tears welled up in Wolf's eyes. The daisies he had tried to bring back the first time hadn't survived the trip. Those that weren't crushed in his hands, died before they returned to the farm.

"Do you like them?" Scarlet asked, and Wolf gave her a small nod. "I thought we could plant them in the garden. They could have their own section even. And when they're ready we could press some of them, just like we had planned before. Maybe we could frame them and hang them up in the room?"

Wolf's eyes were glued to the packets of seeds. He kept turning them in his hands.

"Ze'ev?" Scarlet said gently, putting a hand on his arm.

Wolf quickly wiped his eyes, "Thank you so much, Scarlet. This means so much." He was trying his best to hide any sign that he had been crying.

"Are you okay, love?" Scarlet asked.

Wolf sighed, "Yeah…I just— I'm sorry, I'm being an idiot." He set the packets down gently, afraid he'd hurt them if he wasn't careful.

"Hey," Scarlet said, "You're not being an idiot. I'm sorry if they upset you."

"No, Scar they're great," Wolf said, "Nothing you do upsets me. I just feel silly, getting so emotional over seeds." Scarlet gently rested a hand on his cheek. "They just reminded me of all the pain I caused to the people I love. I don't think I can forgive myself for letting them hurt you…for letting her die…"

"Now you listen to me right now, Ze'ev Kesley," Scarlet started but Wolf quickly stopped her before she could continue.

"Please, Scar, let me finish." Scarlet nodded and Wolf continued, "I can't forgive myself for those things, but… I can learn to live with them. Somehow, everything in my life led me here, to you. And now, that's the only thing that matters. I will always be sad about what happened, but that doesn't mean I'm sad now. I'm happy. I'm so damn happy to have found you and this life we have together."

And this time it was Scarlet who had tears sliding down her cheeks. Wolf wrapped his arms around her, he hugged her like she would disappear if he didn't hold on.

Scarlet eventually pulled away and wiped her cheeks. They smiled at each other.

"Ze'ev," Scarlet sighed, "That was the kindest thing anyone has ever said. And not just to me. I think that might be the kindest thing that has ever been said." Wolf smiled sheepishly.

"But I still can't let you blame yourself for what happened to me, I refuse to. You were shot, you practically died." Wolf's eyes widened, he hadn't told her he about that. Scarlet must have noticed his surprise, "Oh yeah, Cinder told me." Wolf smirked again, of course she did he thought. "All I'm saying is that it wasn't you fault, and I will never stop being here to reassure you of that" Scarlet concluded. Wolf let out a small laugh, Scarlet always had to have the final word.

Scarlet paused for a moment, then her tone softened, "And you can't take the blame for what happened to Maha, it's not fair." She was staring at the floor now, "just like I can't blame myself for what happened to grand-mère." Scarlet felt like crying again. It's the wine she thought. And before she knew it, Wolf was hugging her again.

"I'm sorry," they both said at the same time. And then they both laughed. "Now I'm the one being silly," Scarlet said and Wolf just shook his head. Scarlet leaned her head on his chest and sighed, "Stars, this will get easier some day right?" She felt Wolf nod. "Apparently wine turns us both in to blubbering fools." They both laughed at this, and they couldn't stop laughing.

Finally, Scarlet looked up into Wolf's bright green eyes. "Grand-mère would have loved you so much," She said, serious this time. Wolf ran a hand though his hair, another adorable thing he did that Scarlet loved.

"You think so?" Wolf asked tentatively. "Even after— I mean, even though I'm a—"

"A big bad wolf?" Scarlet finished for him.

Wolf smiled weakly, "Something like that."

Scarlet nodded, "Trust me, she would have seen right through that tough exterior of yours. She would have immediately recognized you for the marshmallow you really are."

Wolf raised an eyebrow, "Did you just call me a marshmallow?"

Scarlet bit her lip and nodded, "What? It's true."

Wolf released a low growl in his throat and Scarlet could tell he was trying to prove his toughness. She couldn't help but smile, "Those teeth and scars don't fool me, Ze'ev. You might have all these villagers scared but you can't scare me."

Wolf just smiled, knowing she was right. He decided to take her in his arms and bury his face in her curls. "There's my alpha," she whispered.

The music playing was slow and sweet. Wolf and Scarlet started to sway together, dancing. They danced through the song, and when it stopped, they kept on dancing in the silence.

Slowly, Wolf let Scarlet go and took a step back. "Scarlet?" He said.

She looked taken aback, "Yes?"

Slowly, Wolf got down on one knee and took Scarlet's hand in his. Scarlet couldn't breathe, she couldn't move. Was he about to…

"Scarlet," Wolf said again, "Will you marry me?"

Scarlet couldn't believe what was happening. Well, she could. She knew they would be together forever, but still, there was something about him actually asking that literally took her breath away. She was trying to form words but nothing was happening. Yes. Oh my stars, YES! But the words wouldn't come out.

Wolf's hands were shaking. This was stupid, he thought, I don't even have a ring. You can't propose without a ring. Wolf was already nervous, and Scarlet's silence wasn't helping. He was starting to get worried, maybe he'd misjudged, maybe this wasn't the right moment. He should have gotten a ring. He couldn't just go into town without Scarlet though, even if the villagers had taken to him, it's not like he could pilot the hover. It wouldn't have been a surprise. Maybe she would have preferred a ring over a surprise? Wolf shook his head at his own thoughts, if he knew anything about Scarlet, it's that she didn't care about flashy things like that. But why wouldn't she say anything?

"YES!" Scarlet said very suddenly, causing Wolf to jump slightly. She tried her best to still his shaking hands. "Yes," Scarlet repeated, "Of course, of course I will marry you."

Wolf quickly picked her up into a hug, kissing her, and spinning her around and around.

He finally set her down, their foreheads resting against each others.

"I'm sorry there's no ring," Wolf said sheepishly.

Scarlet was about to roll her eyes but she stopped herself. "I don't need a ring, Ze'ev. The only thing I need is you."

A grin spread across Wolf's face. Stars, I love this woman, he thought.

"Besides," Scarlet continued, "It will be better to pick them up together, that way we can match them." She didn't think it was possible, but Wolf's grin widened. And before she could stop him, he had her up in his arms, spinning around again. They both were laughing.