Page 71 of Fallout
He shrugs. “Maybe. But history is written by the winners. There are two sides to every story. Dragon shifters were hunted down the same way phoenixes were. Only dragon shifters managed to win the war. We know that dragon shifters aren’t power hungry—they never were. Other supernaturals hunted them out of fear. But if they didn’t win the war, I’m certain history would’ve painted dragon shifters as monsters. And we’d believe it.”
I think about his words.
He’s right. History is one-sided. And if I’ve learned anything from humans, it’s that they change history to fit whatever narrative they’re trying to push. Maybe the same thing was done regarding phoenixes.
But then I think about the phoenix who is after me and I shiver.
What if history books were right?
“You know one other phoenix. That’s hardly enough to know what phoenixes are like. For example, you’re a good person,” Parker says.
I look at him. “How do you know? Maybe I’m evil and my evil side just hasn’t come out yet.”
“I know because I know your soul. You’re my soulmate, Henley. You’re good.” Parker looks at me with such trust in his eyes.
He’s right. If I am to believe Parker when he says that a soulmate is just the other half of one’s soul, then I have to believe that I’m good. Because there is nobody better than Parker. He does everything he can for his pack. He’s doing his homework at ten o’clock at night because he doesn’t have any more time. He gives his all to protect me and he works so hard for the good of the pack.
“Thank you.” I look into his blue eyes, feeling such love. “That other phoenix may not be done with me, but I know that I’ll be okay. You will protect me.”
He nods. “I will protect you, Henley. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that you are safe, happy, and loved. I promise you this.”
My heart swells at his promise.
I know that Parker adores me, that much is clear. I get the feeling that he and I would be married already if it weren’t for my dad.
I lick my lips. “Parker, I will do the same for you. I will make sure that you’re always safe, happy, and loved.”
His smile grows bigger. “I know. And never doubt this—I feel so loved by you.”
My heart races faster and I know he can hear it, but he doesn’t comment on it.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear as I scoot closer to him. “I know that you and I don’t talk a lot about the future out of respect for my dad, but I want you to know that I think about the future a lot. I imagine our future together. At first, the future always seemed so far off, but now I imagine a future in the not so distant future. And I know my dad might not be okay with it, but I would marry you now. I’m ready to start my life with you.”
Parker freezes, his eyes wide as he looks at me. He cocks his head to the side as he waits.
Is he expecting me to say something else?
“You’re serious?” he asks.
I nod. “Yes.”
He wraps his arms around me and tugs me into his lap, squeezing me against his chest. “I want to marry you, Henley. I wanted to marry you the day I knew you were my soulmate. I just didn’t tell you how I felt because I didn’t want to freak you out. You’re a supernatural, but in a lot of ways you think like a human does. If you knew that I’ve wanted to make you my wife, I thought you’d run from me.”
His wife.
The thought gives me butterflies.
Parker clears his throat and shifts so he can pull something out of his pocket. “I’ve been carrying this around.” He holds out a box. “Wolf shifters don’t wear wedding rings because rings don’t shift with us. But I know you don’t shift. You could wear one if you wanted.”
My jaw goes lax. “You bought me a ring?”
He nods. “I bought it about a week after I found out you were my mate.”
Parker opens the box, showing me the ring. My breath gets caught in my throat as the light reflects off the diamond. I turn from the ring to him.
“You know, in these types of situations, there is usually a question involved.”
He grins, lifting me from his lap. He sits me down on the couch beside him and then he stands up, getting down onto one knee.