Keifer's POV
The morning sun was slicing aggressively through the heavy velvet curtains of the Fernandez estate, but my eyes were already wide open.
I sat in the dark armchair directly across from the massive bed, my arms crossed over my chest, watching Jay sleep. I hadn't slept a wink. I had literally just stepped off a grueling, ten-hour flight from London after a brutal week-long assignment, and instead of heading to Section E headquarters, my feet had brought me straight here. To her.
Jay was completely out cold, buried beneath the plush duvet. But because she had a habit of sleeping completely exposed when I wasn't around to anchor her, the blanket had shifted. The smooth, golden expanse of her bare shoulder and the curve of her collarbone were exposed to the cool morning air. My gaze locked onto the sight, a dark, heavy possessiveness settling deep into my gut.
I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees, just waiting.
Slowly, she began to stir. A soft, tiny sigh escaped her lips as her long eyelashes fluttered. She stretched, her bare legs moving beneath the sheets, completely oblivious to my presence. She rolled onto her back, blinking sleepily at the ceiling, her hand automatically reaching out to my side of the bed. When her fingers met empty, cold sheets, a small, disappointed pout formed on her soft lips.
"Looking for me, sweetheart?" I murmured, my voice a deep, gravelly rasp cutting through the silence of the room.
Jay froze. Her head snapped toward the armchair, her eyes widening into massive, beautiful circles of pure shock. "Keifer?!"
Before I could even stand up or give her my usual lazy, teasing smirk, the entire duvet exploded off the bed. Jay didn't care that where she was she launched her massive frame straight off the mattress and threw herself directly at me.
Thud.
She collided with my chest like a runaway freight train, her arms locking around my neck in a fierce, iron-tight hug that nearly knocked the armchair backward. "You're home! You're actually home!" she cried out, her voice loud and bursting with pure, unadulterated chaotic energy.
"Jay, wait—"
I didn't even get the words out before her mouth slammed into mine. She was completely frantic, kissing me roughly, tasting the warmth of my mouth, then pulling away for half a second just to pepper my jawline, my cheeks, and my nose with wet, breathless micro-kisses.
"I missed you so much! You stupid, beautiful eyes , handsome man, why didn't you text me you were landing early?!" she rambled against my lips, her legs wrapping securely around my waist as she completely squished me into the chair. She grabbed my face with both hands, squishing my cheeks together, and kissed me deeply again. "You smell like airplanes and expensive cologne and I love it!"
A low, gravelly rumble of pure satisfaction started deep in my chest. My large hands immediately came down to grip her bare hips, locking her flush against me. "Calm down, wild girl," I growled lazily, though my own hunger was flaring to life under her chaotic assault. "You're completely uncovered."
"I don't care!" she cheered, planting another loud, smacking kiss right on my forehead. "Carry me! Take me to the bathroom, I want a bath!"
I let out a dark chuckle, effortlessly scooping her up into my arms. She was practically vibrating with excitement, her fingers tangling in my hair as she kept attacking my neck with kisses the entire walk into the steaming bathroom.
The second I lowered her into the warm, aromatic bath I had quickly prepared, she splashed the water excitedly, nearly soaking the front of my shirt.
"Wash my hair, Keifer! Hurry!" she demanded, laughing loudly as she leaned her head back against the edge of the tub. But every time my large, rough hands tried to meticulously massage the shampoo into her scalp, she would sit up abruptly, splashing water everywhere, just to grab my jaw and pull me down into another deep, lingering kiss.
"Jay, stay still. You're getting soap everywhere," I growled softly, my jaw clenched in a mix of amusement and intense focus.
"I can't help it, you were gone for a whole week!" she complained dramatically, blinking through the soap bubbles and kissing my cheek yet again. "Rub my back! More bubbles!"
It was absolute chaos. By the time I finally managed to rinse her off, wrap her in a plush towel, and sit her down at the vanity, my shirt was half-soaked and my lips were thoroughly bruised from her constant assaults. But I didn't care. The protective paranoia in my chest was completely settled by how desperately she wanted to be near me.
I picked up the makeup brushes, trying to maintain my clinical, hyper-focused gravity. "Don't move. I'm doing your makeup."
"Ooh, makeup!" Jay gasped, wiggling in the chair. As I leaned in close to carefully apply a swipe of mascara, she crossed her eyes at me through the mirror, making a ridiculous, goofy face.
"Jay," I warned, my voice dropping into that quiet tone that usually made people freeze. "I will poke your eye out."
"You wouldn't dare, you love my eyes too much," she shot back instantly, leaning forward to plant a quick, sticky kiss right on the tip of my nose before I could pull back. "There! Now you have lipstick on your nose. You look tough."
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, letting out a long, quiet sigh, but the lazy, possessiveness in my chest only grew. Once I finally managed to finish her light makeup and helped her into a breathtaking, elegant sundress, she grabbed my hand, practically dragging me out of the bedroom.
"Come on, let's go eat! I'm starving!" she yelled, practically skipping down the hallway.
The moment I pushed open the double doors to the main foyer downstairs, the sheer, unadulterated chaos of my life hit us like a brick wall. The entire ground floor of the Fernandez house looked like a circus. My entire unit, Section E, was mixed in with Jay's family, and true to form, they were completely running the operation into the ground before it even started.
"I'm telling you, we need a banner that says 'CONGRATULATIONS ON INDENTURED SERVITUDE!'" Felix was currently yelling, standing on top of a priceless mahogany side table trying to tape a massive, ugly sign to the chandelier.
"Get down from there, you idiot, you're going to break the crystal!" Freya snapped, aggressively throwing a throw pillow at his head.
Near the kitchen, Blaster and Rory were huddled around a catering tray, aggressively playing rock-paper-scissors over who got the last pastry, while Kuya Angelo sat on the sofa, his arm around Honey, staring at them like he was calculating exactly how many ways he could disassemble them.
"Aries, stop pacing!" Ella scolded, pulling on Aries' arm as he radiated pure, angry "horoscope" energy.
Like I am scared of him.
Right in the center of the room, Adrix was banging a water bottle on a glass coffee table like a gavel. "Order! Order! When they come down, everyone scream 'SURPRISE WEDDING!' on three! One... two..."
They were completely ruining the surprise. The proposal was supposed to happen at the private flower garden I had chartered, but these absolute lunatics couldn't keep their damn mouths shut for five minutes.
Jay blinked, her hand tightening in mine as she looked at the madness. "Keifer... what is everyone doing here? Why is Felix holding a sign that says—"
I couldn't let them ruin it. Not a chance.
I stepped directly in front of Jay, cutting off her line of sight to the chaotic crowd. A dark, gravelly rumble started deep in my chest, and I slammed my foot against the hardwood floor with a deafening thud.
"Shut the fuck up! All of you!" I commanded, my voice dropping into that terrifying, dominant tone that usually made hardened criminals freeze.
The entire room instantly went dead silent. Felix froze mid-air, a piece of tape stuck to his forehead. Adrix dropped his water bottle. Aries stopped pacing, and the rest of the crew—Yuri, Percy, David, and Josh—who were leaning against the back wall grinning like wolves, immediately wiped the smirks off their faces.
"If a single person opens their mouth before we leave this house," I growled, my dark eyes sweeping over the room with dangerous gravity, "the open bar next week is canceled. Permanently."
A collective gasp echoed through the room, but nobody dared to breathe.
The moment the foyer exploded into total chaos behind us, I didn't give the crew or her family a single second to ruin the actual moment. I threw a lethal, warning glare back over my shoulder to ensure everyone kept their mouths shut, wrapped my arm firmly around Jay's waist, and guided her straight out the front doors to the car.
"Keifer, wait, where are we going?" she asked, her voice vibrating with that beautiful, unadulterated chaotic energy as she hopped into the passenger seat, her new dress swishing around her knees. "And why did Felix have a neon sign? Are we having a party? Can I eat first? I'm literally starving, please!"
"Eat later," I growled softly, a lazy smirk tugging at my lips as I started the engine. "Just shut up and trust me."
I drove us out to the private, secluded valley on the edge of the estate—a massive plot of land I had quietly chartered, locked down, and personally spent months transforming.
When I parked the car and walked around to open her door, Jay was already practically bouncing out of her seat. I caught her hand, threading my large fingers securely through hers, and led her through a towering, thick wall of green hedges.
The moment we stepped through the archway, Jay stopped dead in her tracks. The chaotic, playful rambling completely died in her throat, replaced by a sharp, emotional gasp.
Spread out before us was a breathtaking, massive botanical sanctuary, completely designed from scratch. Every single square inch of the garden was overflowing with her absolute favorite flowers, arranged exactly the way she had always offhandedly mentioned she wanted. There were dense, vibrant patches of white gardenias, sprawling clusters of pale pink hydrangeas, and endless paths lined with fragrant, soft jasmine. Overhead, a canopy of weeping wisteria hung down like lavender rain, filtering the warm afternoon sun into a soft, magical glow. In the center of the clearing stood a beautifully rustic wooden archway, completely woven with fresh, blooming white roses.
"Keifer..." she breathed, her eyes instantly welling with thick, sudden tears as she looked around the paradise. "You... you did this? For me?"
"Every single flower, sweetheart," I murmured, my voice losing all its gruff edge, replaced by a quiet, focused gravity. "I know I've been stuck in London for a week. But this is what I was working on before I left. I wanted it perfect for you."
I stepped directly in front of her, forcing her beautiful, tear-filled eyes to lock straight onto mine. My heart was thumping a heavy, steady rhythm against my ribs, but my gaze never wavered.
Slowly, deliberately, I sank down onto one knee on the lush, green grass right in the center of her dream garden.
Behind the dense wall of hydrangeas, a loud, collective rustling erupted as Section E tried—and failed miserably—to hide.
"Move your fat head, Felix, you're blocking my view!" Adrix hissed loudly from the bushes.
"Shut up, Adrix, I'm trying to film this for the group chat!" Felix whispered back aggressively.
"If either of you ruins this, I am going to bury you under these exact flowers," Freya threatened in a sharp, lethal murmur.
"Both of you shut the fuck up, Keifer is about to speak!" Blaster chimed in, accidentally snapping a twig in the process.
I ignored the absolute idiots, keeping my dark eyes locked entirely on my girl, though my jaw clenched slightly.
Jay's hands instantly flew to her mouth, a soft sob escaping her lips.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the velvet box, snapping it open to reveal a flawless, brilliant diamond ring that caught the dappled sunlight perfectly.
"Jay," I said, my voice deep, steady, and full of every ounce of unadulterated possessiveness I possessed. "You're the only person who can tame the animal in me. You're my anchor, my peace, and my entire world. I will spend the rest of my life protecting you, caring for you, and loving you fiercely. Marry me."
For a single second, the only sound was the rustling of the wisteria in the gentle breeze. Then, Jay didn't just say yes, she completely launched herself at me.
Jay's POV
"Yes! Yes, of course yes!" I sobbed out, completely tackling Keifer right onto the lush green grass.
He let out a loud, gravelly laugh that vibrated beautifully against my chest, his massive arms instantly locking around my waist to hold me flush against him. As he slid the stunning, sparkling diamond securely onto my finger, the overwhelming rush of pure happiness made my heart feel like it was going to burst.
Through my tears, I looked up past his broad shoulders, my gaze drifting over to the edge of the clearing where the rest of the crowd was finally stepping out from their hiding spots.
I looked at Kuya Angelo first. He was standing with his arm around Honey, his usual stern, intimidating posture completely melting away. He met my eyes and gave me a slow, proud nod, his gaze filled with a deep, fierce protectiveness that told me he knew I was finally safe and exactly where I belonged.
Next to him stood my dada, his eyes shining with a rare, emotional warmth as he looked at his baby girl. He gave me a soft, reassuring smile, his stern shoulders relaxing as he silently gave us his blessing.
Then my eyes landed on Aries, who was standing like a literal stone wall, crossing his arms aggressively to hide how choked up he actually was. Even though he was trying hard to maintain his tough, overprotective brother act, I could see his jaw tight and his eyes gleaming with thick tears as he looked down at my ring.
Right behind him, Percy was leaning against a tree, a massive, genuine grin splitting across his face as he gave me a playful wink, completely thrilled for us.
Finally, I looked at my mom. She already had a tissue pressed to her eyes, crying happy, messy tears as she clutched my stepmother's hand. Seeing her look at me with so much love and joy made a fresh wave of tears spill over my own cheeks.
Keifer caught my chin with his large thumb, gently tilting my face back up so I was forced to look only at him. "Look at me, Jay," he growled softly, his dark eyes swirling with intense, unadulterated devotion. "You're officially, permanently mine."
Before Section E could start cheering or screaming their nonsense, he captured my mouth in a deep, hungry, lingering kiss right there on the grass, completely sealing our future surrounded by my favorite flowers.
After proposing.
The ring was barely on her finger before the absolute circus of wedding planning officially began. And true to form, my protective paranoia and need to control every single detail for Jay kicked into overdrive.
When Jay mentioned she wanted to look at wedding dresses, I didn't just book an appointment. I chartered three cars, drove straight to the highest-end bridal district in the city, and bought the entire wedding mall. Every boutique, every designer showroom, every catering vendor under that roof was bought out for the day.
"Keifer, you are a literal psycho!" Jay had yelled, her voice bursting with chaotic energy as she stood in the center of a massive, marble-floored bridal gallery. "I said I wanted to look at dresses! Not buy the whole building! Tell them to open the doors for other people!"
"No," I growled lazily, crossing my arms as I leaned against a gold-trimmed pillar. "You're not sharing a mirror or waiting in line with anyone else. Pick whatever you want, sweetheart. It's all yours."
She pouted, stomping her foot in her elegant sundress, but I could see the hidden, affectionate sparkle in her eyes as her mom and stepmother immediately dragged her toward a rack of silk gowns.
But the real disaster started the moment we got back to the Fernandez house.
We walked into the main living room, and Jay's family was already waiting in a tight, formidable semi-circle. Tita, Lola, Angelo, and Aries looked like a tribal council preparing for war.
"Keifer," Jay's father said, his voice carrying a stern, ancient authority. "We need to discuss the arrangements for the next few days. According to our family rituals, the bride and groom cannot see each other or be in the same house for the week leading up to the wedding."
My jaw instantly tightened, a dark, dangerous rumble starting deep in my chest. "Excuse me?"
"You heard him," Aries smirked, crossing his arms like a victorious gargoyle. "Tradition is tradition. You have to move back to the Section E barracks. No touching, no holding hands, no looking at her until she walks down that aisle."
"Absolutely not," I growled, my dark eyes flashing with immediate, unadulterated possessiveness. " A whole week? I just got back from London."
"Oh, come on, big bro, don't be a party pooper!"
I closed my eyes, a massive headache forming instantly as two deeply irritating, identical voices echoed from the doorway. My younger brothers, Keiren and Keigan, sauntered into the room, grinning like absolute hyenas. They had flown in for the wedding, and they were already making my life hell.
"Yeah, kuya, respect the rituals!" Keigan laughed, throwing an arm around Aries' shoulder like they were lifelong best friends. "You've been an animal for years. Surely you can handle a little celibacy?"
"Look at him, Keigan kuya, he's already vibrating," Keiren teased, pointing at my clenched fists. "He's going to go through withdrawal. Who's going to rub his back when he throws a tantrum?"
"Shut the fuck up, both of you" I threatened, my voice dropping into that terrifying tone that usually made hardened soldiers freeze.
They just burst out laughing, entirely unfazed.
I ignored the idiots and stepped around them, my eyes locking entirely on my girl. Jay was standing near the staircase, watching the whole argument with a look of pure, chaotic amusement. The heavy, protective urge in my chest flared—I just wanted to pull her away from this madness, drag her upstairs, lock the door, and hold her frame flush against mine until the wedding day.
"Jay," I murmured, stepping toward her, my large hand reaching out to catch her waist. "Come here."
Instead of walking into my arms, Jay's eyes danced with total mischief. She took a swift step backward, completely out of my reach.
She looked straight at my dark, intensely focused face, crinkled her nose affectionately, and playfully stuck her tongue out right at me.
"Rules are rules,my groom!" she chirped loudly.
Before I could even register the shock, she spun on her heel, hoisted up the skirts of her sundress, and went sprinting up the stairs, laughing like a maniac as she hid herself away in the upper floors of the estate.
"Jay! Stay still!" I roared, making a move toward the stairs.
Instantly, a wall of flesh blocked my path. Angelo stood on one side, Aries on the other, while Keiren and Keigan grabbed my heavy shoulders from behind, laughing hysterically as they tried to drag me backward.
"Don't cross the line, groom!" Keiren shouted.
"Guard the stairs! Secure the perimeter!" Adrix yelled, suddenly bursting out of the kitchen with a broomstick like he was defending a fortress.
I stood there, surrounded by absolute lunatics, my jaw clenched so hard it ached. I stared up at the empty staircase where my chaotic, beautiful wife was hiding, a lazy, possessive smirk finally tugging at my lips despite the absolute madness.
She could run and hide behind her family all she wanted this week. But the second she walked down that aisle, she was permanently mine, and I was never letting her out of my sight again.
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