<h4>Chapter 296: A Good Mate.</h4>


    The next morning, Ang woke up a bit early. She was still in Hiro’s arms while he slept peacefully. They both spent the night on the couch after everything that happenedst night. A soft smile appeared on her face as she watched him. She was thankful to the moon goddess for cing him in her path.


    "Are you watching me?" he asked all of a sudden, making her flinch. His eyes were still closed, but he wasn’t sleeping.


    "No... yes, I am," Ang said with a smile as shey back on his chest. "I got scared. I thought you were sleeping."


    "I was awake. I didn’t want to disturb you," Hiro said as he tightened his arm around her waist, then nted a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Good morning, my love."


    "Morning," she replied, tracing her fingers slowly across his chest.


    "Did you dream about me?"


    "I don’t know," Angughed softly, not sure of what to say. She had a dream, but he wasn’t in it, neither were any of her mates. It was just her being locked up in a castle—the one that looked identical to the Patriarch’s. "I don’t remember much of it."


    "Ouch, I feel my chest aching," Hiro said, taking her hand and cing it over his chest.


    "Can you feel it? It’s hurting because you didn’t dream about me."


    She chuckled and shook her head. "Let me kiss it so that you feel better."


    "Thank you," he said, letting go of her hand. She kissed his chest twice, then tried to stand up, but he stopped her. They shared a kiss before she finally pulled away.


    Standing up from the sofa, she told him, "We have to return to Marcus’s house this morning. Don’t forget."


    "What if we don’t?" he asked, his eyes roaming over her body with desire. He was never going to get enough of her, no matter how many times they made love.


    "You will face Marcus’s wrath," Ang reminded him, in case he had forgotten. "Which way is the bathroom?"


    "Go through that door." He pointed at the first door that led to the bedroom. But as she turned to leave, he suddenly got up and rushed to her, lifting her into his arms.


    "W-what are you doing?" Ang gasped, surprised. She wasn’t expecting him to follow her, let alone carry her.


    "Let’s bathe together."


    "Oh, Hiro," Ang chuckled softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.


    *****


    After they were done bathing, Kael brought in clothes for them. They both dressed up and headed to Marcus’s house. Ang finally took off her mask and leaned back in her seat. She ran her fingers through her long ck hair while he drove.


    "So you live alone in that big mansion?" she asked, looking at him curiously.


    "Now? Yes, I do," Hiro replied, his eyes fixed on the road. "I used to let my uncles live there with their families because the mansion had twelve rooms, but they don’t deserve my mercy or my care."


    Ang nodded as she remembered the terrible stories she had heard about them. "I am sorry for what they made you feel."


    "Thank you, my love." He nced at her briefly and smiled. "They were able to hurt me back then because I was still a child and didn’t understand life. Things are very different now that I’m an adult."


    "So you are going to be their Alpha?"


    "Yes, but Kael’s father acts on my behalf for now. Once the coronation takes ce after my graduation, I will be the pack’s Alpha—not just by birth, but byw as well."


    "How does this coronation take ce? I mean, I’m curious," she asked softly.


    "They will invite the other pack Alphas to the Southside, along with the council, and they will crown me as Alpha. After that, I will have to introduce my Luna... that’s you."


    Ang felt a quick blush rise to her cheeks as she smiled. "Really? So what happens after that?"


    "Your coronation takes ce that same day. It’s like a wedding between my brothers, me, and you."


    "But I will still be in the academy," she reminded him softly.


    Hiro nodded, thinking about it before he spoke. "I know. You can be married and still attend the academy, but it’s your choice. If you want to wait until after graduation, we will wait. What do you think?"


    She sighed quietly, not sure what to say.


    "Think about it carefully. No one will force anything on you," he told her gently. "We all want what you want."


    "Okay... I will give it a thought," Ang said. She knew she should have thought about it by now, but her troubles never seemed to stop piling up.


    They drove for a few minutes, then he pointed at a building ahead of them. "That is the orphanage where I grew up."


    "That small building?" Ang was surprised as she stared at the small bungalow with a tiny gate and fence.


    "Yes, but the ce has been developed. There are other buildings inside, but the bungalow close to the gate is the one I grew up in," Hiro told her. "Funny how time flies. I used to wish I could get out of there someday."


    "And you did, my love." She smiled at him. "Can we go there and look? I want to see where you grew up."


    "Are you sure?" he asked, sounding surprised. Hiro slowed the car as he waited for her answer.


    "Sure," she said with a shrug, then added, "Can we buy a few drinks for the children? I’m sure they will love it."


    "Y-yes," he said, reversing the car to go back to the store they had just passed. Hiro didn’t expect her to care about where he grew up. When Ang said she wanted to see it, he couldn’t help but wonder if it was a dream. The goddess had given him a mate who wasn’t just beautiful or strong but also kind, caring, and considerate. He was truly d to have her in his life.