(Reese POV)

We had all worked so hard to make her day special for her. It was all immediately worth it when we stepped outside on the patio this morning and I saw the look on her face. She looked gorgeous standing there surrounded by the flowers we'd had delivered this morning. The sunlight was hitting her hair making it glint with streaks of golden brown, god our mate is beautiful. I couldn't believe she forgot it was her birthday, well actually I could. She had been so wrapped up in school and whatever was going on with Noah that she barely paid attention to the day of the week, much less the date. When it was time for Nick to unveil her big present I wasn't surprised that she tried to refuse it. That's just who she is, she's so grateful for everything she has and she doesn't like the thought of someone spending loads of money on her. Another thing on the long list of reasons why I love her. Most girls would have hopped in and muttered a thank you, but she was literally moved to tears. I wanted to go with her when she left to take it for a spin, but I had some other very important plans to nail down. I smiled and waved as she sped out of the garage and headed into the house.

"You nervous?" Noah asked as he came to sit beside me in my room. I'd been twirling the tiny blue box around in my hands all morning. I'm not usually the one for nerves, but man was I nervous. I wanted tonight to be perfect. Emily is the best thing that ever happened to me. Now that she was in my life nothing else mattered but her. The love I thought I felt for Danielle paled in comparison. The two were polar opposites and I found myself silently thanking the universe for mating me to Emily every day. "Actually, yeah." I breathed shakily as I ran my hand through my hair. "What if she says no?" I'd been playing that scenario over and over in my head since I bought the ring last week. "You're kidding right?" Noah asked sarcastically "Reese she's crazy in love with you. She's your mate, not just your wolfs mate but your soul mate. You two are the perfect pair, you complete each other in ways neither of you can even see." My brother reassured me as he patted me on the back. "Come on then, we all know the plan. You've gone over it a hundred times. Let's go play a video game to get your mind distracted." I placed the box back inside the pocket of my jacket and followed Noah to the game room.

My anxiety level rose with every hour that ticked by. It was around 10pm when I finally heard Nicks footsteps stampede down the stairs. He sent a questioning look my way asking if they'd given us enough time to get the guest house on the edge of the property ready for tonight. I nodded and he told us to grab our things. We were leaving in 5 minutes. Here we go. Elena came down the stairs first, dressed in a flattering blue dress that made her look ethereal as she descended the stairs. She and Clay would be joining us tonight while Antonio and Jeremy kept the twins back at Stonehaven. Clay growled lowly from beside me and walked forward to help her down the stairs. Nick came next, dressed to the nines looking more like he was going out to a red carpet event and less like he was going clubbing. He gave me a thumbs up as he walked down the stairs. Elena came to stand beside me and lowly whispered "She's about to knock your socks off sweetie." With a sweet smile. I heard the faint click click of her heels as she made her way to the stairs. Holy fucking shit. She started down the stairs looking like she was cut out of a magazine. Her usual casual and sweet look had been replaced tonight. She looked sexy as hell in her tight fitting dark grey sequin dress. Her skin was tanned and glowing. Her legs looked much longer than usual with her sky high strappy black heels. Her hair was in its usual curl, but it had been perfectly styled into a braid on one side of her head while it hung loose to the other, cascading down to the middle of her back in perfection. Her makeup was still light but the Smokey grey shadow on her eyes and the maroon color on her pouty lips made her ooze sex appeal. I was speechless.

(Emily POV)

The trip to Nicks club went by in a flash and before I knew it we were being ushered into a vip entrance on the side of the building. The club was already packed with people by the time we got there. Nick led us to a roped off area in the balcony where a table was already set up and waiting for us. Reese walked beside me with his arm around my hip, glaring at every man who stopped to ogle at us as we made our way over to our seats. Just as I sat down a shot appeared in front of my face. I looked up to see Clay standing there holding it out to me with a smile that I'd only ever seen him give Nick and Elena. "Happy Birthday" he said as I took the shot. I glanced around to see everyone watching me, waiting for me to down the drink. I smiled and slung it back before slamming the glass back onto the table. Cheers erupted around the table. And so our night began.

Two hours later found us all fairly drunk off our asses. I noticed about 30 minutes after we'd arrived that the DJ was playing all of my favorite songs. Nick took my hand and pulled me out to the dance floor, earning a growl from Reese. Men I sighed as we made our way to the middle of the floor. I must admit, Nick was a great dancer. Anyone else who saw us on the dance floor would probably assume we were a couple. I laughed at the thought. I was feeling fantastic and I didn't care what anyone thought. Hands reached out to grab my waist and pull me away from Nick. As I spun around Reese pulled me into him and started running his hands up and down my body. "You don't have to dance if you don't want to baby" I slurred into his ear. He wasn't a dancer like me or Nick. "Are you kidding? Not a chance in hell I'm missing out on dancing with the sexiest girl in the room" he whispered back, nipping on my ear. He smiled as I shivered at the feeling and pulled me closer, if that was even possible. "You know for you not to dance very much, you sure are good at it" I giggled as he spun me around. "Oh I'm very talented." He quipped back making me shiver with delight.

Finally at around 1 in the morning we were all danced out. Nick had arranged a car to take us all back to the house. I was sitting in the back of the large SUV enjoying the feeling of Reese nibbling on my neck when I had a random burst of excitement. "Oh my god! I know what I need right now" I squealed a bit too loud. I looked up to see Noah had passed out with his head on the window, Clay scanning the area around the car keeping diligent watch over all of us, and Elena tangled up with Nick making out. Clay didn't seem to mind when they did things like this, they'd all been together much longer than the younger generation had and it was just their pack bond, I still thought it was a little weird. Everyone jumped with my outburst. "What's that gorgeous?" Nick questioned. "Pizza." I said a bit quieter. The whole car ignited with excitement about my idea and before I knew it we were on our way back home with 10 pizzas floating around the car. Drunk pizza, I've got to do this again I made a mental note as we pulled into the driveway.

We all piled out of the car and I started to make my way to the front door when Reese caught my hand. He put his finger up to his lips and motioned for me to follow him as everyone walked ahead of us in the door. He led me to the edge of the woods and stopped looking down at my feet. "I don't think you're going to make it very far in those" he teased. I bent down and unstrapped the shoes, relishing the feeling of the grass on my feet. I was back to being much shorter than Reese, but I don't think either of us minded that too much. He growled as he looked me up and down, undressing me with his eyes. I felt my heart flutter at the way he studied my body. He bent down and scooped me up in one swift movement like I was a feather. Planting small kisses on my neck and face as we made our way through the woods. The effects of the alcohol were almost completely worn off, another perk of being a werewolf I guessed. We stopped in front of the guest house and he gently sat me back on my feet before leading me inside. My breath hitches in my throat as I walked around the room. Candles were placed in random places around the room, flower petals covered the entire floor. In the center of the room there was a small table with a letter. I looked over at Reese as he motioned me to go read it. I picked up the letter with shaking hands and began to read:

My beautiful Emily,

I've spent my entire life not believing in fate. My life before I came to the states was filled with loss and heartache that I thought had shaped me forever. Then one night I was persuaded to go out to a club with the guys. I grudgingly agreed, not having any idea it would be the night my life changed forever. I was having a miserable time until I noticed this tiny brunette walk in the door. I was captivated by your beauty, but my heart was still guarded and I wasn't looking to jump into another relationship that would leave me broken. The whole night my eyes kept finding you, I was enchanted by you. The moment I saw that you might be in trouble I couldn't stop my feet from moving me forward to you. I was nervous when you asked me to come into your apartment, afraid you were just another tipsy girl looking for a good time. You surprised me that night, you showed me nothing but kindness and friendship. Something I didn't realize I was missing. I've never spent the whole night talking and laughing with anyone, much less someone I just met. But you make it easy to open up. When you kissed me as I left I was in shock. The moment your lips touched mine I knew that I was hooked on you. As the days went on and I got to know you I fell in love with everything about you. Your smile, your laugh, your compassion. I loved the way you were so genuine in the way you spoke, and your passion about the things you valued. You never pushed me past where I was comfortable, you never asked me to be more than I was capable.

When you went missing my world fell apart. I stopped sleeping and eating and I refused to believe that you were gone. I searched for you for months, until one day fate brought us back together. It was that moment that I knew my life could never go on without you in it. I promised myself to keep you safe for the rest of my days, and to do everything in my power to give you the life you deserve. Your tenacity and love of life brought joy back to not just me, but everyone here. You're the very best part of me, you're the reason why I now believe in fate and love. My only wish is that you allow me the honor of spending every day of the rest of my life showing you how amazing you are to me. I want to grow old with you, have a family with you, build a beautiful forever with you. So with that, I ask you to turn around.

I was crying so hard I could barely finish the letter. With shaking hands and sweating palms I slowly turned around to see the love of my life kneeling in front of me. I could smell his nervousness washing off him in waves. He reached out to take my hand and cleared his throat. "Emily, I love you more than I've ever loved anything or anyone in my existence. You make me the best version of myself and I never want to spend a day without you in it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny blue box. His hands were shaking as he popped open the lid to reveal a beautiful rose gold ring. There was a large rose gold stone in the middle, lined on both sides with smaller rose gold diamonds. It was my dream engagement ring. Nick I quickly thought when I saw it. I'd shown him a picture of it the night I told him about the car. My heart was beating out of my chest as my mate asked me one of the single most important questions I've ever been asked in my life. "Emily, would you make me the luckiest man in the world and be my wife?"