Demi was curled around Onyx's cold body. His warmth had left him a while ago, the magic sucking almost all of the life out of him.

It'd been weeks. She thought back to when she'd returned to her mate.

Demi held Onyx's fist in her own hand, pressing it to her cheek. She was sat beside her bed that he laid in.

Her mother took a deep breath as she continued talking. "Onyx... he's not looking good but he's not dead yet. Knox said you used your magic when you got there- it probably kept him alive long enough for you to get here. I kept his heart beating, I got the bad magic out but the way this type works is it attacks upon contact. What I did after wasn't much."

She wiped her hands on a dirty rag, "What I don't understand though is why he didn't die immediately. Your magic kept him alive until he got here but why wasn't he killed there? It's not because he's an Alpha."

Demi didn't respond. She hasn't spoken to anyone other than the unconscious Onyx.

"Griffin," she whispered against his shoulder. "I need you back now please," she asked with a wobbly lip. She held her breath as she tried not to cry again. Demi dressed Onyx in sweats while bundling up next to him. She wore sweatpants and his sweatshirt.

"Ezra and his mate are doing good, her name is Imani. Shes scared but adjusting. She's really pretty, and she's good for him. She's a witch that works with earth, manipulating nature and stuff," she trailed his fingers over his collarbone.

They'd used magic medicine to keep him hydrated and healthy-ish.

Demi had begun noticing how his cursed markings were shrinking over the passing days. It was alarming, she didn't know what it meant and called her mother in.

Elora began doing some research.

A knock caught her attention, her father held a tray of food as he entered.

Demi glanced at him with a tired smile. She looked rough, dark circles and paleness showing just how much she was going through. The music of Onyx's curse was growing quieter, the lack of noise was driving her insane.

Demetrius sat down on the end of the bed, placing the tray over her lap and urging her to sit up.

She maneuvered the unconscious man's arm over her thighs, reluctantly grabbing the food.

"Thank you," Demi sniffled. Her father nodded with a gentle grin, he looked at Onyx.

He was back to his normal paleness, he looked a lot better. Like he wasn't practically in a coma and as if he could wake up any moment.

Demi pushed at her eggs as the two sat in silence.

"He'd be upset with you not taking care of yourself."

"I'm upset with him for almost dying."

Her dad sucked in a breath but nodded because he couldn't blame her.

"You're mother has a theory on what's going on. At least maybe his markings from the curse."

Demi nodded for her father to continue.

"That witches magic sucked the life out of whatever it sunk into. That's the whole point right?" Her father glanced over.

Demi nodded slowly as she followed.

"Well, she tested how the magic reacted to Witches blood. And compared to my Lycan blood the witches blood lasted ten times longer. Long enough to heal where my cells died off almost immediately." Demetrius rubbed his hands down his pants as he clenched his jaw. He really hoped his mates theory was true.

"The magic residing inside of witches and warlocks could fend off the attacking magic like it was a virus. Essentially, the virus magic absorbed the witches natural magic before it could suck up the life from the person."

Demi glanced up with wide eyes, "Because magic is alive, itself."

She whipped her head over to her mate, "So the magic from Onyx's curse saved him?" she breathed out.

"We think so, honey."

Demi let out an abrupt laugh of disbelief. This thing that had plagued Onyx for over majority of his life, saved him.

"Does that mean he might wake up?"

"His body is accustomed to this curse, it's still there... but less so. We think he's been adjusting."

Demi rest her head onto her mates shoulder, her father took that as his que to leave. He pat her leg comfortingly before exiting.

"Did you hear that? That was almost good news," she mumbled into his neck. She kissed his pale skin gently, lovingly.

"Please wake up," she asked quietly between pecks. "I-I'll listen to everything you say from now on. We get our own cabin and Doctor Finley can move out of my room." The cat meowed as they stared at their owner from the cat post now moved in.

"We'll have our own pack, I can't run a pack without my Alpha," Demi begged as her eyes stung. Her face pressed under his jaw, her tears sliding down her cheeks and over his adam's apple.

"What about our pups," she whimpered. "We have to get started on our pups- I'm not getting any younger," she sniffled at her poor joke. A pitiful laugh fell from her lips only for it to turn into gut wrenching sobs.

Demi cried herself to sleep, stress keeping her tense and sealed onto Onyx's side. Doctor Finley jumped onto to the bed to curl into the back of her knees, attempting to comfort her.

Later that night, Onyx sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes darted open, he felt stuck wherever he was as his black eyes scanned the room alarmed.

It took a moment for him to recognize Demi's room on her fathers land. His chest heaved quietly, his throat hurt and no sound came from the dry muscle.

He looked down and felt himself sag in relief. Demi was curled into him with a vice grip. His eyes rolled back as he took a deep breath... memories rolling back to him.

That fucking hurt.

His shoulder still ached, but he was busy wondering how he was even alive.

His hand fisted the back of Demi's sweatshirt, tugging her closer. He was desperate for her comfort.

Just as he was about to try and wake her, the door was opened quietly.

Elora walked in while mumbling to herself and fixing food she was bringing. Elora glanced up distractedly, doing a double take before the plate crashed to the ground with a screech.

Demi screamed and flew up, Onyx gripped her hips. His mate turned towards him and screamed again. Both women screamed.

Onyx's shoulders fell, deflated and now with a headache. A wail cut off Demi's surprised screaming before leaping into her Wolfs arms. Onyx rumbled happily and caught her while she cried hard. Elora still screamed excitedly as he heard the entire house clambering towards their room now.

Elora jumped to join their hug and Onyx could barely croak out anything to say. He hugged both Witches, mildly confused but happy nonetheless.

Demi held him so tight it was almost hard to breathe. Elora let him go eventually and reached for a glass of water on the bedside table.

Onyx held Demi with one arm before grasping the cup desperately, gulping it down as everyone else entered.

Cheers rung out and Onyx was visibly surprised. All of Demi's siblings were grinning at him with Demetrius. His packmates close to tears as they rushed in as well.

Onyx wrapped both arms around Demi and tucked his face into her shoulder, tugging her into his lap.

"You're okay," she wept.

"I'm okay," he inhaled deeply. "You're okay," he reminded her while rubbing her back soothingly. He tried to get her to take deep breaths but she couldn't speak as she cried too hard.

Everyone came to tell him that they were grateful he was okay, glad to see him still kicking.

How long had he been out?

3 weeks, Demi's voice popped into his head weakly.

He glanced down in surprise.

Seeing that the two needed a moment, or two, Elora began ushering everyone out. Not before grabbing his hand and placing something gently in his palm.

He closed his fist around it securely and met her encouraging gaze.

"Demi, look at me," he pet her hair as she only tightened her grip. Demi didn't respond.

"Demi," he growled lowly.

She hiccuped before obeying, looking up with bloodshot eyes and a swollen face. He kissed away her tears, before enveloping her lips with his own.

The two poured everything into the kiss, anger, longing, and love meshing in one long lip lock.

He pulled away so she could breathe.

"Y-You were going to leave me," Demi's eyes filled with tears again with a broken whisper. Onyx quickly shushed her gently, his thumb brushing at pouty lips.

"I would never." Onyx swore while keeping her eyes on his, threading his fingers into her hair while cupping her cheek.

Her tears were never ending as she struggled to catch her breath. Onyx cupped her face while pressing a hand to her chest, "My poor baby, you have to stop crying princess. You're going to hyperventilate, Demi. It's okay, it's okay, everything's okay now."

She inhaled sharply while trying to hold back her tears. It didn't work and another sob fell from her lips. Onyx couldn't find it in himself to scold her again, he cradled her head back into his chest. Onyx rocked them until she truly calmed down, her own anxiety and sadness weighing on him.

Within the next fifteen minutes she was breathing steadily and gripping his shirt between her fingers tightly.

"I missed you," she mumbled into his strong chest.

"I missed you too, I should've let you come with me on this one," He admitted quietly.

She nodded in agreement slowly.

"I love you," he kissed her head gently. She tensed against him, alerting him something else was wrong.

"I did something horrible, and- and you saved Knox. You were so selfless and I was inhumane and nobody should love me," Demi whimpered dramatically as she held her cheeks.

The Witch could feel her mates anger at her words. Onyx inhaled deeply, trying to get ahold of himself.

"Don't say that, ever. I won't allow it. You're the most perfect person I've ever had the privilege of meeting and loving. I'm so madly in love with you Demi and that will never change."

"Y-You don't want to know what I did?" Demi whispered with furrowed brows.

"It wouldn't change how I feel either way."

Demi was still frowning, drowning in guilt and worry about her worthiness of love.

Especially Onyx's love.

"Do you want to show me?" Onyx asked gently as he could sense she didn't want to speak. She slowly nodded and opened the link entirely for him, hesitantly.

Onyx saw her brutality to the witch that almost killed him, how Demi used her magic in a way she'd never explored.

The brain washed Witches mind was fractured, broken. And Demi did that.

His powerful witch.

He kissed her cheek, "You're so beautiful."

She released a breathy laugh, a relieved one.

"I have something I need to talk to you about," Onyx mumbled between the kisses he laid over her neck.

She nodded with her eyes falling shut in bliss. Demi could finally feel her mate, physically and spiritually.

"I'd do anything to make you happy. Anything. If you wanted me to leave the pack behind to live on our own, it'd already be done." Demi's eyes widened and she gasped at the declaration.

"You want pups, and I will give you pups like I've promised," Onyx brushed his hands over her thighs as she sat on him.

He gripped her small hand in his own, placing it on the left side of his chest. "This is more yours than my own. My heart beats for you." Demi's lips fell into a pitiful pout as she tried to fight back her tears. To hear Onyx tell her how much he loved her meant so much after so much miscommunication.

He dug into his pocket and fiddled with something inside.

"I want you to be mine in every way. And for everyone to be able to know it, even if it may seems stupid to other people. It doesn't matter what they think, all that matters is you. All I need is you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," Onyx choked out as he felt his throat close up with emotion.

He brought her hands up to his lips, kissing her knuckles while staring into her light eyes. Her breath was stuck in her throat as Onyx spoke determinedly.

"You make me want to be a better man, everyday I strive to prove to you that I am enough. Matebond or not, Demi Bordoa I'd be in love with you either way. And I want to have something to represent that," he tugged out the small thing in his pocket. Demi sucked in a sharp breath, her hand slapping over her mouth.

"I wanted to ask if you'd marry me?" Onyx could barely choke out the words as even through everything his hands were sweaty with nervousness. What if she'd grown out of this dream of hers? And this had all been for nothing?

"We can have a ceremony just like you wanted when you were younger..." he trailed off as insecurity seized him.

Demi couldn't breathe, her eyes were wide and she was entirely in shock.

How did he know?

She blinked multiple times, both hands covering her mouth. Slowly she began nodding, quickly bobbing her head furiously.

"Of course Griffin," she whispered in disbelief.

A beat of silence hung as both were surprised by the proposal. Even though Onyx had been the one to ask.

Demi began ranting, it was comforting to Onyx.

"Oh my goodness, oh my gosh. What the heck? How did you-? When did you have the time? Who told you-? It's so pretty!" He slipped it onto her left ring finger. Onyx kissed the ring decoration her hand now.

The band was gold, black diamonds were eye catching as they sat in intricate patterns.

Onyx wasn't sure if she'd like black diamonds, worried she'd think he made it about himself. But when he tried to get her another ring Elora damn near cut him. Insisting her daughter would love this one.

**the engagement ring is on midwinterco.com, i couldn't find another pic lol**

"If you don't like the ring we can get a new one... Don't be afraid to tell me if you hate it."

Demi was gaping at it. Suddenly smashing their lips together with a weepy laugh falling from her, Onyx slowly grinned as well.

"Really?" she gasped between kisses.

"Really," he assured as he rolled them over. He groaned lowly and held her close.

"I love the ring, so much. It's perfect, it reminds me of you." Onyx's face turned a little pink as she continued.

"We're getting married! I'm going to be in a dress and you'll be in a tux!" She gasped loudly while holding his face. "We can go on a honey moon!"

"Whatever you want," he mumbled quietly. A smile tugged at her lips, he mirrored it as they rest their foreheads against one another's. Their eyes stayed on each other.

"I'm so happy, I'm so happy you're okay and you're with me. That's all that matters, even if we didn't get married all I'd need is you."

Onyx nodded as he closed his eyes tiredly, inhaling her scent quietly. Demi pushed herself closer, if that was even possible as she whispered.

"Never do something like that again."

Onyx only hummed as he kept his eyes closed, his response would not be one that satisfied Demi.

"My one job besides keeping you safe, is keeping your family safe. Knox and Ezra were in a bad spot."

Demi pouted but couldn't argue him on this, only holding him tighter.

"But this isn't over quite yet, we've got a little bit more to finish up baby. Then we're in the clear," he traced his lips over her mark.

"And then we can get married!" Demi suddenly squealed again. Onyx huffed a quiet chuckle happily, basking in their momentary peace before they'd have to get back to work.

~~
surprise chapter!!!
things are picking up with the plot and the big conclusion will come for this human group!!

what do we think about the proposal? i may tweak it as we go but i loved writing it!!