This chapter is dedicated to @Valerievoyse. Thank you so much for adding my book to your reading lists!! It made me really happy!!❤❤

-:Cecelia's PoV:-

"Where the fuck were you?!" Aaron demanded as soon as I was in the driveway. I sighed as I parked my car and got out. Barefoot. My feet were blistering a little but I was sure they'd heal in a few short hours.

"Umm, school and then a café and then a spontaneous run . . ." I lied.

"Don't lie to me, Cecelia. The pack members told me that you've been AWOL since after the first period," he scolded. "And why was your mind link closed?"

Okay. So we need a new lie. Think, Lia. Think.

Then a lightbulb went off.

"I was just feeling overwhelmed being back, Aar," I said in a sad tone. "I was away for six years. It's not easy to rehabilitate, you know?"

His eyes softened. 

Broke him.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly. 

"The run did me good." I nodded.

"I was about to send a search party for you!" He groaned.

"What?" I asked incredulously. A search party? "I was gone for like a few hours and I texted you that I was okay!"

His face darkened.

"You won't understand," he said.

"Try me," I snapped, throwing my backpack over my shoulder and locking my car. I stomped up the driveway inside the Packhouse to see mom and dad huddled up on the couch, looking very distressed.

"Cecelia!" Mom exclaimed as soon as she noticed me. She ran over and mauled me.

"I'm fine!" I exclaimed.

"What happened to your clothes?" She pulled back.

"I shifted without thinking . . . "

"Cecelia." She chided.

"I know, I'm sorry. It will never happen again, I promise . . . I think."

She sighed.

"It better not," I heard my father grumble. I gave him a weak grin.

"Aaron," I stopped my brother who was conveniently fleeing away. "We need to talk. Now."

"I am busy," he excused.

"With what?"

" . . . Training the noobs." 

A decent excuse. I groaned.

"Fine. But we're talking today."

He nodded before disappearing out the backdoor.

"Can I have a patrolling shift tonight?" I asked my father. I wanted to think. My mom and he exchanged a look, surprised I would volunteer. 

I've changed, people. Get over it. 

Their eyes glazed over. They were undoubtedly mind-linking. I rolled my eyes. There was no need to be so overdramatic about it.

"North border," he agreed after a while. The one with the stream. The one that borders Silver Moon. I suppressed another groan that threatened to escape.

"Fine." I huffed when I realized it was probably my only option.

The training was fun. None my age could keep up with me - I owe you, Jules - so Aaron ended up fighting me. We let out our frustrations on each other. It was an aggressive match and my almost healed bruises were going to be fresh again. My feet had healed. I had also remembered to stash a pair of shoes and a set of clothes in the trunk of my car for the future.

We had a quiet dinner and I did my homework after that. I had quite a lot to catch up with since I joined late. My pack members were more than happy to help me. 

I went for a patrol around half-past nine. Werewolves can survive pretty easily on six hours of sleep, so I used to take full advantage of that. My shift would end around half-past eleven or maybe midnight. I would be golden to wake up early without being cranky and go on with my routine.

I walked slowly, savoring the feeling of being out in the forest. We sometimes got fireflies, too. It would get more beautiful every time. I missed that when I was away.

There was a gentle breeze blowing that day and it calmed me. I was exhausted from the day's draining events but I wanted to be among the trees. Feel the grass beneath my feet. Smell the scent that seemed to be unique to the forest alone. 

I stopped when I neared the river. The sound of flowing water drowned me in peace. For once in the day, I could not feel a part of me missing too starkly. I could sit down in the damp grass and not have to pretend. I couldn't believe nobody saw through my act. I was rather disappointed. They didn't know me. I fucking missed Julian and Liana.

I didn't know when but tears started wetting my cheeks and the hollow in my chest intensified. 

I missed grandma. Her words of reassurance. Her embrace. Her hands running through my hair. 

I missed Julian. Him and I stirring trouble. I missed practically ruling the social hierarchy by the time we started high school. I missed how we'd make bets and be part of the dance courts in our school every year. How we understood each other.

I closed my eyes and forced my heartbeat to calm down. I was getting hyper again. I took deep breaths to help. Soon enough, I was okay. But then I froze. A twig splintered nearby. My eyes snapped open, searching for an intruder. I relaxed when I realized I recognized the scent.

I became panicked again when I noted that the scent belonged to someone who shouldn't have been there. I was debating warning Aaron when he came into view - well, his wolf did. A solid midnight black. He was majestic.

He walked towards me slowly, maintaining eye contact, assuring me he wasn't a threat by his soft gaze.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered when he stopped less than a foot away from me. He was almost my height. Wow. In response to my query, he let out a whine and nudged me gently with his snout. Sparks danced everywhere he touched.

"What?" I asked, not understanding what he meant.

He let out another whine and licked my face - my cheek to be more precise. I couldn't bring it in myself to find it gross. He was trying to comfort me. I gave him a weak smile. His eyes looked haunted.

"I'm fine," I assured him, hesitantly reaching up to pat his fur. He eagerly leaned into my touch, making me chuckle. He gave me a wolfish grin but his eyes were still worried. He gave a deliberate glance at my new bruises and let out a low growl.

"I'm fine, Xav," I told him again. His ears perked up and I realized my slip up. "Can I call you that?" I asked, afraid he wouldn't like it. He assured me he did by letting out a small bark and licking my face again.

I sat back down, dog-tired. He stood on guard and earned another smile from me. I searched my head for Sera and she appeared to have blocked me out. I sighed. Xavier didn't seem too bad. It was his human I couldn't say the same about.

Xavier roamed around a ten-meter radius before he deemed it safe. He came and sat down beside me. He stared at me meaningfully and when I failed to understand what he wanted to convey, he proceeded to rest his furry head in my lap anyway. I gasped when he did so, but he seemed unbothered.

I just watched him for a minute before he raised his head and scowled. I didn't even know wolves could do that. He gave me another pointed look.

"You want me to stroke your fur?" I guessed. He grinned again and gave me a nod before flopping down again. I slowly ran my hands through his fur, relishing the feeling it gave me. It was like he was my personal endorphin. My worries melted away and I felt like if I had him, I wouldn't need anyone else. Not grandma, not Julian, not Liana . . . nobody. 

It was intoxicating.

We sat like that for a long time. Unfortunately, our time was up.

"You need to go back," I said quietly. His body vibrated with his growl. "My shift will change soon and they won't like it if there's Silver Moon scent lurking here. You don't want to start another pack war, do you?" 

He raised his head and whined again. Gee, will you look at that. What has an Alpha wolf come to for his mate?

"Go," I urged. He looked at me intently. "Yes, we can meet again. But right now you really need to go."

He barked lowly and licked my face once again before walking back slowly towards the stream. I watched as he turned around and jumped twenty meters in one lunge, straight back to his lands. He looked back again and I smiled, waving slightly. He howled and ran away, disappearing into the thicket of trees on the other side.

I registered how I was at peace again. Not the unstable peace where one thought of grandma or Julian would send me over the edge. The stable kind where I could think of them and still smile and appreciate the little blessings I had. Cherish the memories and not feel sad. Miss the person and not be mad that I miss them.

Maybe having a mate was not so bad.

I remembered to hide his scent the best I could and then trotted back to the Packhouse.

I slept the best I had in a while that night.

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A/N:-

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