Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
409. Olivia - Picnic V

*Oh.*

My heart starts beating fast.

*Oh.*

I didn't expect this.

Mommy, this is for you," Spencer says, making me turn my attention to him. He holds a small black velvet box in his hands. I take it from him.

Even without opening it, I know what's inside.

An engagement ring.

My hands tremble so much I'm afraid I'll drop the ring. Ansel comes to my rescue and helps me with the box, opening it for me. Inside is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. The sunlight reflects on the golden band before bouncing along the two stones set in the ring. One stone is a gorgeous teardrop salt and pepper diamond, and next to it is the blue semi-precious stone from the ring Tyson proposed with.

I press my left hand to my trembling lips. I love the ring so much. It's perfect in all ways. As is the proposal.

Tyson takes my right hand into his. "Little Queen, my sweet Little Bunny," him saying my old nickname doesn't anger me anymore, but I prefer the new one, "I'm so grateful for a new chance at life with you. I love you so much, Olly." A knot forms in my throat, preventing me from expressing how much I love him.

Jasper speaks next. "Little Love," his tone is so soft and full of love. "Despite how I came to know you, my heart belongs to you. You own me. You did from the first moment I saw you. I never knew true happiness until you."

If Jasper only knew how much he did for me. How his love and care for me made me realize I am worth something. I am so lucky to be loved by him.

"I've never truly been in love until you. Knowing you have changed my life for the better. Saranghae, Beautiful."

It's the first time Mose said something in Korean to me, and while it's been a while since I last saw a kdrama, I know what he said to me.

I love you.

If I were to speak Korean I would say to him, "I feel the same."

Ansel is the last to speak. His blond hair shines golden in the sun, making him more handsome than he already is. His brown eyes are full of love. "I've loved you for a long time, Erelah." Each time Ansel says that name to me, he evokes such strong feelings inside me. More than that, it's like I've known Ansel for... lifetimes. "I loved you even when I didn't know what love was. No matter how many lives we are meant to live, I'll find you in all of them. Be our wife. In this life and all that are to come." My gaze becomes blurry.

I might not remember my former life, but I want to remember this moment for all eternity.

Strong emotions prevent me from talking, so I nod, letting them know that I want to spend forever with them. Ansel takes out the ring from the box. I reach out my left hand, and he slips the ring onto my finger.

I finally find my voice. "I love you all so very much."

The guys get to their feet, and after long kisses and hugs, I turn to face my grandparents. Showing them the ring on my finger, the promise of eternally being together between my men and me, I say, "I'm going to get married!" Grandma Khloe holds up her phone, "I recorded everything!"

***

Sometime during the night, after letting family and friends know about the engagement, I make my way to the barn. It's been a while since I last spent some time with the horses, especially with the filly. Ever since Jasper, Ansel, and Mose gave her to me, I have been looking for the perfect name for her. It might have taken me months, but I finally found it.

When I reach the barn, I slip inside and go directly to the filly. Her stall is next to Speckles'. Ever since the guys brought the filly home, Speckles started trusting us more. She is still weary of us, but she doesn't get that nervous when she sees

us.

The filly is still awake, so I enter her stall. From the pocket of my pajamas, I take several sugar cubes. I brought enough for the horses, the pony-who Spencer called Lincoln-and Juniper.

While the filly enjoys the treat I brought, I say to her, "For so long, I lived without hope. I even lost the will to die. But all that changed during a cold winter night. This is why I want to call you Vida. It means life in Spanish." It's one of the few words I remember from the Spanish classes. It fits the filly so well.

While I didn't realize it back then, starting with the past Christmas Eve, I slowly started living again.

Vida sniffs my hand. When she realizes I don't have more sugar for her, she huffs, upset. After patting her, I go and give the other animals their treat before leaving the barn.

On the way back to the cabin, I run into Grandpa Jon. He has a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other.

"Olivia, what are you doing out here?"

"I went to check on the animals. What about you?"

"Don't go out alone during the night. It's dangerous."

I rub my left arm with my palm. "I know. As long as Jason, Azael, Carlos, the Nephilims, and the Bringers of Doom are out there, I'm in danger. I do hope I didn't forget to mention someone." He gives me a disapproving look. "I am learning how to fight, so I am not as defenseless as you think."

"Don't forget you are pregnant. In your state, you are very vulnerable."

"My darkness will keep me safe. I've survived horrible things before I accepted who and what I am. I am stronger now."

Grandpa Jon sighs. "Olivia, walk with me. I have something very important to tell you."

It is almost dawn when Grandpa Jon and I finish talking.

He tells me things I never knew about. About Grandma Khloe's infertility and how much they wanted children. About Azael helping them. About Hannah. About me.

By the time he finishes explaining everything to me, my head buzzes.

"I need time to process everything."

Grandpa Jon, or better yet said, my father, says, "I understand."

I give him a hug. "I love both you and Grandma Khloe."

I might need a bit until I get used to calling the people I thought were my maternal grandparents, mother and father.

"I know, honey. When you have time and feel like you can talk to us about finances, Khloe and I would like to tell you about the trust fund we started for Spencer. We want to open one for the baby. And, of course, you still have yours." After a moment of hesitation, he adds, "Your mother would like to talk to you?"

"Do you mean Hannah?" I ask. Grandpa Jon nods. "She's not my mother." I rub my temples. "This is all so complicated. Regardless of how I came to be, tell her that I don't want to see her. Nor talk to her."