**Vicky’s POV
"Talon, you’re sticking your elbow in my back!" I said in annoyance as he let out a grunt.
"I’m sorry, but the space here is limited."
"These stupid bushes are going to leave bald," Georgia whispered next to , as she untangled her hair for the fifth ti from the thorns of the bushes. "Whose bright idea was it to spy on them through the bushes?"
"Yours," the rest of us said imdiately.
"Yeah, well, next ti you guys can co up with a better plan."
The four of us had forced our way into the bushes surrounding the secret garden Ethan had prepared for Rosalie. When Ethan had it built, Georgia asked one of the gardeners to please leave a space between a row of the bushes, in a hidden area between the trees, so that we could spy on them at the ti of the proposal.
It wasn’t, perhaps, the best idea, since we were now all dirty, cramped and scratched from thorns and twigs, but at least we could get a good look at Ethan and Rosalie.
"Ethan left us no choice," said Paul over and over again. "Since he didn’t want an audience for the proposal...."
"How did he expect us not to co?" claid Georgia between indignant whispers. "We were the ones who practically did all the work."
"D*mn it. I think my pants got stuck in one of the branches," complained Paul next to .
"Ouch!" Georgia exclaid when he moved and pushed her unintentionally.
"Okay, that’s enough, everybody. If we keep making a fuss, Ethan is sure to find out we’re hiding here," Talon muttered.
"You guys do know he can sll us, right?" Paul muttered and looked at us with a frown. Soren’s scent-hiding trick might hide us from Rosalie, but Ethan was our Alpha, it wouldn’t work on him.
"So what? He’s not dumb enough to interrupt his proposal to chase us," Georgia snorted.
"But that doesn’t an he won’t co up with sothing to punish us later," I said.
Georgia made an attempt to shrug. "We’ll worry about that when it happens," she muttered.
"Shhh!! Do you not want to hear her answer?!" Talon hushed us.
We all went quiet just in ti to hear her reply—
"Yes...." she said. "Yes!"
Then, she got off the swing to throw herself into Ethan’s arms. Rowan burst out laughing as Rosalie and Ethan hugged each other tightly.
It was quiet. For a mont, neither the pair in the center of the garden nor the group here made a sound.
My throat was tight, and my eyes felt warm. I noticed Georgia had tears in her eyes too.
"We’ll have to help them organize the wedding," I murmured, trying to hold back the tears with a smile.
"I have to admit that he did great! What an exceptional proposal," Paul said proudly. "Alpha was a little lost at the beginning, but he certainly knew how to pull it off!"
Talon nodded.
"He’s my brother," Georgia comnted, matter-of-factly. "Greatness runs through our veins. Great job, brother!" She gave Ethan’s back a thumbs-up, but we all knew he wouldn’t know that ever happened.
Of course, we didn’t mind at all.
We stayed until it got dark, and the couple exited the garden to return to the castle. We finally were able to crawl out and go back to get changed. Alpha had a big celebration dinner planned, and we’d better not be late.
Of course, we all knew Alpha would give us hell later for eavesdropping, but he would be in a good mood for a while.
As soon as we returned to the castle, we saw Rosalie waiting to share the news with us.
"Vicky, Georgia! Ethan asked to marry him!" She jumped up to hug us, then she asked curiously. "What happened to you guys?"
We were disheveled, and our clothes were covered in dirt. No one wanted to look at her when she answered.
"Oh, this. You know. We’ve been training," said Georgia.
"Yeah... hand-to-hand training and stuff," Paul lied.
"In mud," added Talon, faking a cough. "That’s why we’re so dirty."
Rosalie looked at us blankly for a mont, then she let out a giggle and said understandably, "Well, why don’t you all get changed and we’ll catch up at dinner?"
***
As soon as night fell, we found ourselves ready. Ethan had orchestrated everything so that an elegant party was set up in the gardens, illuminated by moonlight, stars, and lanterns. Fireflies were flying from one side to the other, and laughter floated in the air.
After congratulating Rosalie again on her engagent to Ethan, I walked away for a bit.
It was a long day but extrely beautiful. I strolled along until I reached the cliff that sat at the edge of the royal gardens.
Above , the sky opened up. The moon was full and shining on the water, which seed to be made of silver. The breeze blew and brought back mories of laughter and happiness that filled the night.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Paul as he approached.
I smiled as I noticed he had followed here and made room for him. He sat down next to , among the rocks.
"I used to think this was the ugliest, most broken place in the entire capital. During the darkest ti, when we all believed that Rosalie’s fell off the cliff, this place did nothing but bring us pain."
"But now?"
"Now I realized that this cliff is actually strikingly beautiful."
"It is," Paul agreed with .
"After all, what people see depends on what they feel."
"So true." Paul looked at . "For example, you’re here, so this place is beautiful to ."
His sweetness ward my heart and made smile.
"So, you think this is a romantic place?"
"Very much so!" I looked up at the sky, which seed to be infinite. The moon looked so big from here that I felt like I would just have to reach out my fingers to touch it. "Because you’re here," I smiled at him.
He took a deep breath in. His eyes sparkled as he reached out and took sothing out of his pocket.
"My whole life made sense the mont I t you," he said. "Until then, it had been empty. I didn’t always know it, but it was evident the mont I saw you."
I looked at him, noticing that what he was holding in his hands was a small box.
"Paul... what is that?" I asked him. My heart started beating rapidly.
"Ethan’s conviction to ask for Rosalie’s hand reminded of sothing I’ve always had in mind. I can’t, or rather, I don’t want to live without you," he said, looking into my eyes.
"You don’t have to," I said determinedly and took his hand. "You will never have to. I’m with you, Paul. I love you."
"And I love you," he said and opened the box.
Inside was, not a ring, but a necklace. It was the sa necklace I saw when I went out with Rosalie. The one I loved.
"Oh! It’s beautiful..." I told him.
He smiled and reached behind to put the necklace around my neck. I pushed my hair out of the way as he placed the necklace on and hooked it. The touch of his hands sent shivers down my spine.
"It’s just a token of how much I love you," he assured .
"I love it, Paul. Thank you, really," I said, feeling a tiny little bit disappointed. I swore, just a tiny little bit....
My fingers were lost, playing with the beautiful jewel, when suddenly, Paul stood next to and kneeled down.
He held a ring in his hands that matched the necklace perfectly.
My heart started racing, and I lost my ability to speak.
Paul smiled mischievously. Then, he looked in the eyes sincerely, "Vicky, Will you marry ?"
"Of course, I will!"
I jumped into his embrace. He burst out laughing and spun us around.
Fireworks blood above the castle and brightened the capital. "Look, the entire city is celebrating the engagent of the Alpha King and the White Queen! I’m..." I said with tears in my eyes. "I’m just so happy!"
"I’m happy for them, but I’m happier for us." Paul held tighter as he kissed .
I buried my head in his warm chest.
Yes, it was the best day of my life.
And this cliff, once a dark and sad place, would only remind us of the promises and love that were kept going forward.
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