Chapter 66

Raphael had called Bradley a week before October, because he knew that Brooke's birthday was in October. Her brother had told him that it was on the fifth.

Which meant twelve days.

He began planning then. It was his mate's first birthday that she was sharing with him and he wanted it to be special. He asked Charm to teach him how to make cinnamon rolls, which he thought was perfect because of Brooke's delicious taste.

Charm was happy to help, so when Brooke woke up before him, he told her to wait and he would be back any second. He quickly went downstairs and pulled out the dough he'd made with Charm and the cinnamon paste. He spread it like she'd told him to and put it in the oven. Nathan had come down asking for some, and Raph had told him to make his own.

While it was baking the entire kitchen filled up with a cinnamony scent, it didn't hold those spicy notes that Brooke's did though.

He set up the tray that he'd bought, he knew that she didn't drink anything with her breakfast and she didn't like fruit, so it was a lonely looking meal. He sure hoped she liked it.

She did. Her face was beaming the entire time she was eating. She'd given him a little kiss and the cinnamon flavour was overpowering.

After she'd finished she got up saying that she would shower and get dressed.

That gave him time to get ready for the next gift.

He loved it when she showered, she would always sing the same two songs. She'd said that they were from Lord of the Rings. He didn't really care about that part though. He sat down, his back to the door, and listened to her beautiful voice.

"White shores are calling, you and I will meet again-n-n-and you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping." He knew that that was her favourite line. She always smiled when she sang it.

Once he heard the water shut off he got up and finished preparing the gift.

He was sitting on the couch when she came out, her long, damp hair resting all around her shoulders. Her hair looked black when it was wet, but it still shimmered gold a bit.

She was holding her special brush for wet hair, "Could you brush my hair, please?" She asked. She'd been asking him to brush her hair for awhile now, he was careful not to touch her skin, because if she shivered he wasn't sure he could hold back.

She sat down in front of him and he began brushing out her long tresses.

Once he was done it looked like a singular sheet of liquid, golden brown.

She moved her fingers quickly and mesmerizingly as she braided it back into a long, thick braid over her left shoulder.

He always watched in fascination when she braided her hair so seamlessly.

"So what's the plan for today?" She asked facing him. She was wearing a blue shirt that flared out at her waist and dark blue skinny jeans. The round neckline of her shirt was low enough to show her collarbone but not low enough to show to much cleavage. She started pulling her white ankle socks on.

He swallowed, "Well, wouldn't you like to know?" He asked a devilish smile on his face.

She pouted, "So it's gonna be like that is it?"

"Yep." He got up and walked out the door.

"What shoes should I wear?!" She yelled after him.

He smiled, "Whatever feels comfortable!" He yelled back.

~~~~~~~~

They drove to Prince George listening to Twenty-one Pilots, and her singing to her heart's content, she'd started singing around him more in the past few weeks and he loved it.

He parked around the corner of where the second present was. He pulled out the blindfold.

"No."

"Oh, come on, don't you want it to be a surprise?" He asked.

"Can't I just close my eyes? Please, I hate blindfolds."

"Alright fine. But no peeking." He said firmly. He glanced over to make sure her eyes were shut and she stuck her tongue out at him. He held in a laugh.

He parked in front of the shop and got out and walked around to her door and opened it for her. He led her, gently, into the shop. When he stood her in front of the area he wanted her to see, he whispered in her ear, "Open them."

Her brown eyes slowly opened and after blinking a few times her face brightened in surprise, "Oh my goodness Raph! I can't believe this!" She squealed happily.

They were standing in a pet store facing the pets that were up for adoption.

Brooke began petting and stroking all of the dogs and cats. She avoided the birds and hamsters. But she talked to all of them with words like: "Oh, hello there!" "Yes, I know." "Look at your eyes!"

She was a true pet person.

"Oh, there all so cute!" She said while holding the face of a Labrador puppy.

"Which one are you gonna get?" He asked.

"I get one?" She turned and looked at him, her black sweater was hanging loosely to her frame, she only ever zipped her hoodies up a third of the way, "Yes, you get to pick any one of them." He said with a happy smile. He was so glad she liked the present.

She started focusing on the cats, "A cat? You seemed to like the dogs more?" He asked, his hands behind his back.

"I do love dogs, but I already have three. And I only have one cat." She said with a sly grin.

He was confused at first and opened his mouth to question, then it clicked, "Are you calling me a dog?" He asked.

"I do believe that wolves are canines, and if they are, that means I've got three of them. You, Nathan and Mark." She said then let out a little peal of giggles.

He pulled her next to him and kissed her forehead, "And Duma's the cat?" He asked, already expecting the answer.

"Cheetah's are felines, in case you didn't know." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a little kiss on the cheek.