chapter 10

The Sons of Satan's Territory, September 2nd 13:28

LOVE THAT IS EVERLASTING

"I don't have much to offer and I wish I did..."

The wind danced nonchalantly around the pair as they laughed. Lani sat in between Scar's legs facing her scarred rider whilst he had his arms wrapped around her small waist. His large legs were big enough to intertwine around her tiny self, that only made Lani giggle all the more. The array of flowers surrounding them, as they sat on the grass of a field close to the Satan's territory, swayed to the sound of the breeze, it was peaceful - Scar assumed that was why he deemed the area his safe place.

He'd brought Lani there earlier that morning, stating that he wanted to show her his place of sanctuary. Scar had further explained, subsequent to her confusion, that he has been coming to the small area for the last 4 years whenever he felt anxious or angry. Lani was touched that he wanted to show her another piece of his complex mind and accepted the invitation maybe too quickly. Lani was enchanted by the beauty and soul that her rider possessed. Every day, she felt that they were drawing closer and in no way was she complaining.

She couldn't lie, Lani missed home. She missed Jax dearly and had called him almost every day since her departure. Of course, she'd also spoken to Charlie - to check how her shop was doing - and to the rest of the Wolves. Lani also missed her father. She'd no idea when she'd next see him and that hurt more than it ever had before. Now that she knew the troubles her dad went through to keep her safe, she yearned to spend more time with him. To get to know him. Lani had expressed her sadness to Scar many times over the days that they'd spent regaining their everlasting bond. It hurt Scar to see her down and thought, maybe, he'd be able to take her mind off of things for a few hours if he brought her to his safe place.

Scar stared at Lani, his thoughts clouded and his heart racing. It was no secret that Lani had changed him and for the better, it would seem. He, finally, felt free. With Gabriel back in his life and Lani attached to his hip, Scar felt content and... excited for the future. Catching his eyes on her, Lani stared at him with just as much intensity, confusion etched on her pure features.

"What?" Lani asked with a subtle laugh.

Scar pushed a stray piece of hair out of her face before leaning in and pressing a simple kiss to her lips. It was soft and if Lani hadn't seen him advance on her she would have never believed he had, but it was that that made it even more perfect, "You're beautiful." he stated with boldness lacing his tongue.

"T-Thank you..." Lani retaliated with a slight redness to her cheeks.

"Hey, I actually wanted to talk to you... about something..." Scar said, his eyes looking everywhere but at Lani. Though, she caught onto his nervousness quite quickly and encouraged him to talk more with a simple peck on the cheek. It wasn't much but it was enough to calm him. Unable to contain himself, Scar gently placed his hands on her tiny face and connected their lips once more.

The feeling of kissing Lani was like no other, Scar couldn't describe it but every time he felt her soft, full lips against his he melted. She had so much power over him and she had no recollection what so ever, that was slightly amusing to the scarred rider. As they moved, their heads twisting slightly, their hands wondering innocently and their hearts intertwining eternally, Scar couldn't help but think of his life before her. How dull, dark and lifeless it had been. It was like, for years, he'd lived but... not really. He'd been a mere shell of a man that was once a soldier, a wilting flower at the end of summer.

Lani was his light. His everlasting life source that he knew he couldn't live, breath, function without. It scared him to the core just thinking about her leaving him, after all, he'd deserve it - for leaving her in the first place. Though Scar's thoughts, unintentionally, created a starting point for his terrifying realisation, he didn't realise that he'd moved away from his woman and had started speaking until Lani's eyes began to search his with worry.

"Kahlani, you..." Scar started, "Before I met you, I was a mess. I didn't think I'd make it 'till the end of this year, to be honest. But then, I saw you and I heard your voice... and it haunted me, Lani. You clouded my mind like you wouldn't believe. I'm not going to say that I never believed in love because a very small part of me did but an even bigger part knew that, for some reason, I wasn't made to fall in love..."

Smiling softly, Scar cupped Lani's cheek and assessed her face silently. The sun beaming above them made Lani's bewitching blue eyes twinkle, in them, heavens light glistened and beckoned at Scar. They were beautiful... she was beautiful, "...but I've realised now that, I was made to fall in love, but God wasn't allowing me to do so with anyone but a free-spirited, angel that he wanted to gift to me. And, I pray that I will always get to keep you, cherish you, Lord! Just look at your face, soul, every day for the rest of my life."

Lani's eyes sparkled as tears began to bunch in the corner of them, her heart felt heavy as the indescribable feeling of love clawed away at the delicate muscle. Picking a stray flower, Scar tucked it into Lani's hair and smiled widely at the beauty she possessed. He would never find anything or anyone like her ever in his life and he was determined to keep her.

"Kahlani, I don't have much to offer and I wish I did, I wish I had the power to give you everything in this world but I-I can't. I'm not rich, I'm not polite or polished, I don't own a big house or drive a nice car... I'm just a man from the fields that loves to ride his Harley and drink. I'm the man that definitely smokes more than he should and the man that loses himself much to quickly. I'm overwhelmed with anxiety and I'm a soldier that failed to bring his team home. I really don't have much to offer you at all and I will probably bring you more bad than good but, Kahlani, I can promise you that..." Scar faltered, afraid of the rejection that was going to hit his face like an alcoholic in a bar.

"...no one is ever going to love you more than I love you, Lani."

"W-What?" Lani stuttered.

"You heard me, I love you, Lani," Scar smiled, fear still coursing through his veins, "A-And, I know it's... I'm not much and you deserve so much more but... Lani, will you marry me?" Lani gasped audibly as she moved her hands to cover her ajar lips, "Can I keep you?"

With a deep breath, Scar pried the most valuable thing he had off of his finger. The 'G' sparkled under the rays of the hot sun, reminding Scar what he was giving up. But he didn't care. He would give everything up to make his woman happy. Scar eyed the ring his brother had given him 5 years ago, he could feel his heart deflate at the thought of it not sitting on his left hand but, nevertheless, he took one of Lani's hands and placed the silver in the center of her palm, "Will you be my old lady?" Scar asked, shyly.

"Scar... I-I don't know what to say?" Lani stammered as she felt a stray tear slip down her cheek.

"Hey, hey... I'm sorry, don't cry, baby..." the rider spat quickly, trying to calm the shaken artist, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm so sorry..."

The disappointment written on Scar's face was as clear as day and there was no way that he could hide it. He tried, really he did, but he couldn't help it. It felt like his heart had been ripped from the inside of his chest, unmercifully and without warning. It hurt more than he'd like to admit to see Lani cry because he'd asked her to take the next step in their relationship. Did she not want to marry him? To stay with him? Did she not want a future with him?...children? The anxiety that Scar tried to conceal was eating him up limb by limb so rapidly he thought he was going to lose it.

"No! No, Scar! Christian! No, I-I didn't mean it like that!" Lani exclaimed as she gripped Scar's face quickly. She could see the panic on his face and kicked herself for not answering effectively, "Scar, look at me..."

"I didn't mean it the way you took it, I promise, Scar... I would love to marry you! I was just surprised, I'm sorry..." Lani whispered before she pushed the ring onto her finger, the fit being a little too big for her. Though, despite that, Lani loved it. The thought that had gone into giving her the ring he cherished so much was beautiful. It made Lani's heart flutter, she felt special.

"That didn't go as planned, I'll be honest, baby..."

Lani giggled before kissing Scar tenderly. She would never get used to the feeling of his lips against hers, "No, it was perfect! It was... you... it was, it always has been you, Scar," Lani breathed out between kisses, "I love you, I love you so much..."

Scar smiled brightly as he started at his future wife, he'd come so far - they'd come so far! He felt happiness that he thought he'd never be able to feel without Gabriel. It was peaceful. It calmed the raging feelings that swirled around his chest and mind every sunrise, she had that effect on him. As the trees swayed nonchalantly to the simple sound of the September breeze and the array of flowers, that were littered around the desolate field South from the Satan's territory, waved at the sun, the pair sat, hand in hand, smiling at the beauty that had become their lives. They were from two different worlds but, God, was it beautiful to see the destruction their collision caused - it was destruction that would forever be remembered as the moment The Wolves and The Sons of Satan interlaced for the rest of their short infinity. 

Lani soothed her dress before smiling at her bridesmaids as they waltzed out of the room beaming with joy. Her dress was simple, elegant and just right for her curved physique. The crisp white gleamed as the sun shone through the pains of the window to the side of her, it was beautiful and Eve had really outdone herself. Her silk sleeves hung perfectly off of her arms whilst the plunging back made her skin look soft. The fabric flowed down her legs and hit the floor effortlessly and the soft flowers that were littered on almost the entirety of the dress made Lani look lighter, brighter... full of life. Her hair ran down the nape of her neck in light curls, two strands were pinned to the back of her head and an assortment of white flowers decorated the simple updo that Malia had done for her. Lani smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. It had been 2 months since her Scar proposed and now it was finally the day - the day she would promise forever to the man she loved, her scarred rider.

Taking a deep breath, Lani took a seat on the chair in front of all the makeup Charlie had placed on her skin just 30 minutes ago. Lani didn't want to trouble anyone and so kept the fact that she was tired to herself. She took a deep breath after the realisation that she would be standing for a long time flooded her thoughts, though, she didn't mind the sleepy flushes she got throughout the day, they were a sign of something magical, "Kahlani..." Lani heard from behind her making her swivel around. She was shocked by a familiar stoic face in the doorway.

"Dad?" Lani questioned before standing slowly and closing the distance between them. They stood a few feet apart looking at each other with blank faces. Lani hadn't seen her father since he left the day he dropped her off at the Satan's territory. It hurt her deeply but she was used to his absences. Though, she was grateful for his attempts to reach out to her, his calls and subtle messages always did light up her day. Their ice-breaking conversation months ago had somehow brought the unlikely pair just that bit closer, much to Lani's relief, "Y-You're here?"

He nodded calmly making Lani release a breath she wasn't aware she was holding, he didn't know it but him being here had calmed her overbearing nerves more than he'd ever be able to imagine. Denzell Pierce standing in front of her initiated a calming feeling to spread throughout her veins, it was a feeling only a father could give to his daughter on her wedding day, "You look beautiful," Denzell whispered, cupping Lani's face softly.

"Thank you..." she breathed out before placing her tiny hand on top of his own and leaned into the warmth of his palm. Her eyes fluttered shut at the feeling making Denzell's harsh demeanour crack slightly, his little girl wasn't so little anymore and seeing her in a wedding dress made that clear. Though, he could see straight through her. He could see the fear accumulating in the depths of her mind, the slight shaking of her little hands, the uneven breaths that left her body unaccounted for. He noticed, much to Lani's dismay.

"What's wrong?" he asked, moving closer to her.

Lani sighed before making her way over to the large, standing mirror beside her. She assessed herself whilst she moved the soft silk of her dress back and forth creating a soft blow of heavenly air. Denzell looked upon his daughter with furrowed brows, he hated the expression that was etched on her bewitching features.

"I'm scared..." she spoke softly.

"Of what?"

"Many things..." Lani whispered before subtly placing her hand on her stomach with a sigh. Though, as secretive and as careful as she tried to be, Denzell was still able to catch every sign she was throwing his way. He didn't say a word though, he knew that none needed to be spoken at that time, "...Dad?" she whispered, before turning to face him.

"Mhm?"

"W-Would you give me away?"

"You want me to walk you down the aisle?" Lani's father asked in shock.

"I guess a little girl can dream, right?" Lani finished as she began rubbing her arm, awkwardly. She hadn't known what she was thinking. Of course, he wouldn't want to give her away! They hadn't seen each other in months yet Lani still felt herself deflate at the notion that her father wouldn't want to be by her side.

"Hey, look at me, Kahlani..." Denzell said as he lifted her chin so the eyes that were almost a carbon copy of his own stared into his, "D'you really think I'm going to let Jaxon King take away my last opportunity to be a real father?" he asked, "I'll kill the son of a bitch before I let him take my place again!" Lani laughed joyfully before wrapping her arms around her father's waist, reminiscing at the moment that had been gifted to them so sweetly.