Age 23, The Ring
Fatin (Age 23)
“I got Leah lots of snacks, and I got you some spare hoodies as I assume that she is stealing all your favourites,” Rana said as she entered their apartment.
“She is. Every time I try and track them down, she’s either wearing the one I want or nesting with eight.”
“Yes, I used to steal all your father’s sweaters. He got quite annoyed by month four which you two are nearing.”
A heavy sigh left her. It felt like time was slipping away from her; Leah was already showing, and Fatin felt like there was a million things to do with no end of completing them in sight.
“I figured we should talk about something important.”
Wincing, she looked at the floor. The last time her mother had this tone Fatin had been given the ghastly no pregnancies talk; that still haunted her almost as much as her father’s safe sex talk.
“You are nearing almost two decades with your mate.”
“I’m obvi aware of such things.”
Rana raised a brow. “If you are aware of such things why is your mate pregnant and without a mating band.”
Oh. Oh shit. “I-”
“Your father was just as complacent; waited for me to pop you out before he got me one. I know it’s not needed with mates -we have bonded scents- but it’s an official statement that means an awful lot to omegas. Even if alphas seem wholly unbothered by the gesture, some omegas like to state they have a wedded mate. I’m sure Leah would love to call you her wife as well as her mate.”
“I didn’t mean to-”
“May I suggest you take her shopping soon?” Rana passed her an envelope. “There’s a gift in there, some money to congratulate you on your joining. Most parents don’t give this money until their children find their mates, but we are quite late. Seeing as though you met as seven it seemed improper to give the gift then. Anything the two of you bought would have been Hannah Montana or Lord of the Rings related.”
“Thank you.”
Rana smiled. “Make sure your mate doesn’t pick the cheapest thing in the store.”
“I’ll ask them to hide the prices.”
Leah had asked forty times by the time they arrived where they were going.
“A jewellery store?”
“You’re my mate, the girl I’ve loved for most of my life, I hoped that we could get something as a marker of our joining. Something that would come with an extra title.”
She felt Leah’s happiness through their bond, even if she tried to hide it. There was relief there too that left Fatin feeling a little guilty for not having done this sooner.
“We’re…”
“Yes.”
“You would be…”
“Your wife, if you’d like that.”
Sometimes Leah slipped up and used the term anyway as did Fatin. Regardless of a band or necklace, they were as close as wolves could be.
Leah hid her smile in Fatin’s shoulder, dragging her into the store.
“Hello, ladies.”
“Miss Jadmani, I have a viewing booked.”
“Ahh yes, right this way.” He gestured for them to head through to the other room and then began unlocking the boxes. “Were you still uncertain of if you wanted a ring or a necklace?”
“If we do a necklace now, can I get a ring to match in a year’s time? Leah is carrying.” Fatin knew Leah was complaining about her hands swelling and knew that getting her a ring now might cause irritation in months to come.
“Yes, if you chose one, we can reserve a matching stone to be set when needed.”
Perfect. “Great, could we see the necklaces?”
He went about arranging them all for Leah to see across the desk. Fatin asked for all kinds of jewels and a variety of settings so that Leah could have a choice.
“You can pick a metal, a setting and design you like, and a gemstone; then we can have one made.”
Leah chewed her lip. “Can we afford this right now?”
“Yes. Our parents put in too. Mating money that they apparently put in an account when we were seven.”
Leah shook her head with a laugh. “And they only remembered it now?”
“I think my mother was annoyed it had taken me so long.”
“Me and your mother both,” Leah mumbled.
Fatin knew that she would have to make up for not considering this far sooner. She hoped the other thing that she was having… made… would redeem her.
“Right, shall we get started?” He asked.
After an hour Leah ended up going for something in gold with a brown jasper gemstone that perfectly matched Fatin’s eyes. It was a simple gold chain with a jasper pendant that would be inlaid and held between two gold fangs. It was simple, elegant, and entirely Leah.
“How much will that be?”
“Your wife has asked me not to say anything.”
“My wife,” Leah repeated. The word felt right on her tongue, usually mate was the preferred term as a mate was considered the strongest bond of all. However, Leah couldn’t say that she didn’t also love the way that 'wife' sounded as she blushed profusely.
“My wife,” Fatin echoed lowly into her ear.