This chapter is dedicated to @LailaMckisic! Thank you so much for adding my book to your reading list! You made me really happy!!❤❤

-:Cecelia's POV:-

I was gradually being let off the drugs I had been on. They started giving me more and more time off it until I was completely free of them by the end of the week. Unfortunately, I could never carry out my threat to Julian two days after the said declaration. But then again, a week in bed and after wolfsbane poisoning, I didn't think I'd be able to anytime soon.

And boy did that knowledge irritate me.

Nobody could find who pranked me, either. It could've been either one of our pack members, but we couldn't narrow it down to even a group of ten, let alone one person. It was enraging for me to not know who had played such a dangerous prank on me. It had almost cost me my life! It was a good thing Ashton was there to donate his blood that day.

Not to mention, the medicines were giving me withdrawal symptoms. My body had never reacted to drugs well before and that time was no exception. Actually, I put that period at the top of my worst encounter with drugs list. 

Yes, I had a list. What's it to you?

I was moody as fuck. I screamed, cried, and was so restless. Not being able to go out for a few more than a few minutes at a stretch was killing me. And that did not help the situation. Everyone was wary of me.

At one point, the doctors contemplated giving me more drugs to help my mood swings. My maniac laugh at the suggestion had them questioning my sanity and scurrying out of the room with horror-struck faces. 

The issue calmed down when they had a chat with the pack doctor at Evergreen. Apparently, Dr. Zeus and Julia had trouble believing my parents and Julian when they told them that I was behaving normally given my situation. 

No worries, it was all cleared up after one phone call. Not that it stopped them both from giving me side glances and weird looks every time they checked in on me.

Julian was taking every opportunity to taunt and jab at me, infuriating me more and more. I wished Liana was there so I could rant to her about him. She would have set him straight.

Speaking of Liana, we talked. So did my grandma and I. Tears were shed, voices were raised and accusations were hurled. I loved them, but that was a taxing day. Yes, my genius brain called them both on the same day. Safe to say, I was extremely crabby by the end of the second conversation. So much, that even Ashton and Julian were at a loss.

Ashton. So much to say about that asshole. He was being literally perfect. Perfect, I tell you. I'd cry and he'd wipe my tears. I'd shout and he'd listen silently. I'd be whiny and he'd soothe me. I'd throw a tantrum and he'd pamper me.

See? What does one even say to such a person?

Let me enlighten you: you scream at them that they're robotic and abnormal and that you hate them. Then you spend a few hours in guilt while they take it all quietly and then you cry and apologize.

And guess what? They accept your apology and forgive you with a kiss on the forehead. I mean, come on! He made me look like an absolute bitch.

Not that I minded since I got a kiss every time. 

On the forehead. Geez, you guys.

The news about Ashton and me being mates had gotten out quickly. To be fair, it was inevitable. The way he was over every day, missing school along with me, and had been spotted with me taking strolls more than once through our territory. We were practically joined at the hip.

How did everyone take the news?

Well, the reactions in my pack ranged from 'Aww, they look so cute together', 'I'm so happy for them' to 'That traitor bitch'.

We turned a deaf ear to them. It was our business, no one else's. Ashton's father was coming around after a lot of coercing on Mrs. Summers's part. He was still grumpy about the situation and far from pleased, but he was slightly less opposed to our pairing.

Mrs. Summers wanted to meet me, and I quote, 'her future daughter-in-law' soon. I had expected Ashton to exclaim a 'no!' and be embarrassed but he was grinning. I guessed he was really close to his mom and had to push aside a pang of envy.

I got Sera back Thursday evening. It was a faint connection at the start but as the drugs worked their magic, she became stronger and stronger and back to her old self.

Liana and I had been talking the day before. She had been acting sketchy. Jumpy. Suspicious. I couldn't take it for more than a few minutes. I exploded. And then she spilled the beans.

" . . . and that Jane is so infuriating! By the way, Carla was asking about you. Not to mention, Ace says he is missing you. Call him, wi-" she babbled.

"Liana," I interrupted, cutting off her rambling. She stopped speaking, blinking rapidly.

"Hun?" She said stupidly.

"What's going on with you?" I asked.

"Nothing," she gave me a well-rehearsed reply.

"Liana." I deadpanned, staring at her in the eye. She tried maintaining eye contact with me but her eyes filled up with tears and she looked away, wiping them away.

"What's wrong? Talk to me," I asked, concerned.

"Nothing," she repeated.

"Liana, I swear to God," I pinched the bridge of my nose. Julian and Ashton were busy in another meeting.

"Please," I pleaded. I hated seeing her that way. She took a shaky breath, her shoulders stiffened.

"I-I . . ." she stuttered, breaking into sobs.

"Liana, Liana," I called for her attention desperately. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Can you tell me what's wrong, please?"

She didn't.

"I'll call Julian if you won't talk to me," I finally threatened. Her sobs ceased as she shot me a panicky look. She shook her head vigorously. I frowned as she signaled me to wait.

"Liana . . . ?" I asked, getting increasingly confused. Silence followed.

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out. My eyes widened as the news sunk in. 

Then I squealed like a little girl.

"Eeep!!" I yelled in excitement. "I'm going to be an aunt!!!"

She gave me a weary smile. It was forced.

"Why aren't you happy?" I asked, noticing her lack of enthusiasm.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"Of what?" I frowned.

"Of everything!" She exclaimed. "The pregnancy, the birth, the parenting! My future! I'm still in college, Lia! I'm barely twenty! I'm a child myself! And now I have one inside of me! And how will I tell Julian?"

"Okay, Julian will be glad!" I told her. She looked at me skeptically. "Liana, trust me, I've known him longer, he'll be over the moon. As for pregnancy . . . he will be there for you every step of the way in any way you'll ask him to be. Even I will, however, you might need me. Luna Curtis will be more than happy to help you. And you'll be a great mother. You're so mature, Liana. I swear, it'll be okay." I tried to soothe her. Her tears started flowing again.

"I'm so bloody scared!" She cried. Oh, how I wished I was there with her.

"Liana," I said gently. "Please calm down. How far along are you?"

"A little over four weeks," she croaked. Okay. So she had about four and a half months to ready herself for birth. And then I'd become an aunt! Julian and Liana, Goddess bless, would become parents!

"Liana, listen to me. you have to tell Jules soon," I said urgently.

"I know," she wailed. I hoped it was just the hormones that were making her act up. For her sake and Julian's.

"Liana, sweetie," I sighed, glancing at the time, "Julian will be free any moment. Please calm down." She sniffled, nodding. She got up, leaving her laptop on the bed. I heard the water flowing and relaxed a little.

'Will she be okay?' I asked Sera.

'Yeah, don't worry. Nevaeh will take care of her." She sighed in reply. I hoped.

Liana came back with puffy eyes and red cheeks.

"How did you find out?" I asked.

"I wanted to go on a run but I couldn't shift," she answered hoarsely. "I took a test to confirm it."

I bobbed my head. Then paused as I heard voices and footsteps.

"I think I hear Julian coming," I said. "Do you want to speak to him now?"

"No," she shook her head furiously. I sighed.

"Take your time -but not too much!- and tell him soon. Take care."

"You too," she nodded and hung up.

Poor Julian was still clueless in the morning. I wasn't happy about it, but it wasn't my place to say anything. Liana called more often after that. We talked a lot, discussing so much. I kept trying to get her to tell Julian, but she would change the topic.

"What are you thinking about?" Ashton asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. 

We were sitting under a tree by the stream. He had his back to the truck while I was laying down with my head in his lap. He was playing with the end of my hair.

I looked up at him at his address only to be caught up in his hazel eyes. He chuckled.

"Ce," he said, amused.

"Yeah?" I responded absent-mindedly. It was Sunday afternoon. Ashton and I were sprawled under the tree he punched almost a fortnight ago. By then, I was off those drugs completely and participated in light training. I wasn't as weak as I had anticipated, but I had a fair lot to catch up on.

I noticed how many kids had started training. All the kids over ten were forced to run laps, do push-ups and squats. Julian and Aaron were squeezing the life out of those poor souls every morning. It was amusing to watch them deal with whiny, emotional, and stubborn kids for an hour and a half every morning.

"Lia," Ash chuckled again. "A penny for your thoughts?"

I moved to stand up. He protested, pulling me back with a pout.

"Stuff," I smiled at him, bumping our noses together teasingly. He groaned. Sera growled in my head in frustration.

"What stuff?" He asked curiously, recovering from my tease. Our wolves were getting more impatient and harder to control. I meant, it had been two weeks since we met and he hadn't even marked me, let alone mate. It was taking its toll on both of us. Our proximity helped . . . but then certain things like a tease made it worse often. Mainly because of me. He got back at me by flirting boldly.

"Just how the week went," I told him, not revealing the part about Liana.

"Hmm, eventful, wasn't it?" He mused, pulling me closer. The stream rippled steadily in the background.

"Hmm," I wrapped my arms around his neck. He moved to adjust me. Soon I was in his lap with my legs around his torso. We looked at each other wordlessly. We had been doing this a lot lately. Just sit and stare at each other. And since I got Sera back, I realized how good it actually felt to be in his arms. The sparks were so strong and brought so much warmth and comfort to me. 

They gave me the feeling of home.

I bit my lip and his eyes snapped there. His eyes darkened as he groaned and looked away. I smiled to myself, feeling like messing with him more.

"What's wrong?" I asked innocently, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"You know what's wrong," he glared at me noncommittally.

"Nope," I grinned. "You're going to have to tell me."

"Oh," he raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "Okay." He agreed easily.

"Hmm," I hummed, encouraging him to go on.

"You," he kissed my forehead. My breathing became uneven. Butterflies danced in my belly. He maintained eye contact all the while, smirking slightly. "Make," my right cheek. "Me," my nose. "Want," my left cheek. "To do," the corner of my lips. His eyes momentarily searched my eyes. He must have found what he was looking for because the next thing I know-

"This," he breathed as he gently placed his lips on mine.

My breath hitched and my eyes fluttered close. Sparks shot up all over my body as our lips moved in sync, the kiss gentle and sweet. Warmth bloomed through my being and set my soul alight with a beautiful fire. Sera howled in excitement.

He tenderly grabbed my face, caressing my cheekbone with his thumb. His other hand was placed at my lower back, holding me close to him. My hand hung loosely around his shoulder and the other resting at the junction of his neck and shoulder as an anchor.

Neither of us broke our kiss for a long time. And when we did, we were both panting.

Our first kiss.

I didn't open my eyes as he touched his forehead to mine. I wanted to savor the moment as long as I could. I never wanted to forget it. Not that it would be easy to forget. I knew even then, despite our circumstances, and no matter how we turn would out, that memory was going to be burned in my memory forever.

And strangely enough, I loved the thought of that.

************************************

A/N:-

Heyyy!!! They had their freaking first kiss!! How was it??? I hope it wasn't too bad.

It wasn't, right?😅😂

Also, I put up the cast list, so you can check it out if you want!

Enjoy reading! Comment your thoughts and theories!!

QOTD:  Burgers or Pizzas?

Tap that star on your way out!

Until next time, all my love,
xoxo.

P.S.:- All the rankings have been frozen for three days now. Not just mine, everyones. I wanna cry, istg. Why??😭😭

{7th June 2021}