CATRINA

Sitting here in the living room of my mother's home, I take in the homely feel of it. It's a home for her but somehow, I do not feel at home here. For a few days it is okay, but to imagine spending my life here without Connor is something which I don't like.

I don't know when did this change happen but I am looking forward to spending time with Connor. His overprotective way, the possessive look in his eyes whenever I talk about anything else; it all has grown on me.

And now, I can't imagine my life with him. But there's this fear. What if he once again dumps me?

The question has been swirling in my mind for a few hours now and I don't like the emptiness the thought brings me.

This time if Connor does dump me, I won't survive, not after knowing how deeply I've fallen in love with him. Again.

The first time was something like a delicate build of my emotions, developing from the first-ever crush that I had ever experienced. Dealing with my adoptive parents, my bitchy class friends and my overall confusion with being attracted to Connor had all swept me off my feet when he asked me out.

I was totally on cloud nine, buzzed on his attention that I lost my identity. That's why it was difficult to gather myself after he shattered me into millions of pieces with his unexpected break-up.

But this time, it's entirely different. Connor came back into my life. He threw my life out of balance. All the effort it took to overcome my losses were all jumbled and thrown askew by his dominance and his claim.

He rearranged all my pieces by entangling himself into it so thoroughly that if he ever left me now, I wouldn't get back together. Not when he takes himself away and I'll be left split open in half, not knowing how to glue myself together.

This is what scares me the most. The fear of not being able to get back together when he goes back to his own life.

"Why do you think that he's going to leave you?" asks Mila and I startle out of my thoughts. I totally forgot that she was here, sitting beside me after my twin went to sleep. She had come to ask for my advice with Cayden and I didn't even realise when the tables turned, with her asking me questions about my deep-seated fear about Connor.

I peek a glance at her and see that she's curled up on the sofa where a few minutes ago Cayden was sleeping until I woke him to go and sleep in his bed upstairs. She was uncomfortable at first but then as if it was becoming unbearable, she slipped into Cayden's seat and curled into herself on the couch, inhaling deeply and then sighing in contentment.

That behaviour of hers had caused me to ask her questions about her and Cayden but looks like she really doesn't have anything to tell me, yet. That's when she had asked me about Connor, forcing me to address the incomplete bond between us.

"It just feels inevitable. That's how it happened the first time, you know," I whisper and twirl my hair in a bun on top of my head with an elastic band. It's becoming hotter now. My heat's coming back.

God! This is exhausting.

At my words, Mila shrugs and then looks at me with her lips upturned. "Not necessary. First times are not always good," she whispers, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips as if she's recalling a particular first time in her mind.

Just as I am about to ask her what she means, there's a knock on the front door.

"I'll get it," I whisper and get up from the chair when the door knocks once again.

"Yes, I am coming," I yell, running to open the door and find Connor standing there with his hands in his pockets, looking breathtakingly handsome. My heart leaps up in my throat to watch him standing in front of me, fit as a horse. No, as a wolf.

It feels like it was days ago that he had been hurt with the stab wound and not just a day before.

"Hey Solnyshko," he whispers and I look up into his eyes, only now noticing the hunger in them. Was he staring at me when I was busy ogling him?

"Hi." It comes out like a breathless whisper and I feel a shiver run down my spine when he licks his lips gazing at my lips.

"Wet them," he commands and I immediately do, licking my dry lips and wetting them as per his instructions. He growls when my tongue peeks out of my lips and somehow this feels like some sort of foreplay.

A throat clearing has me turning around and Connor to look over my head at Mila who's awkwardly sitting up behind the sofa now, her face red in awkwardness.

"Umm. I should get going. Meet you for dinner Catrina," she whispers jumping around the sofa, passing by me with a pat on my arm and then she's out of the door in a whirlwind. I've realised that her touch doesn't hurt me.

"Is Cayden sleeping?" he asks and my attention is drawn back to my devil of a mate who's smirking at me. I nod my head at him, unable to get irritated at his smug expression. He knows about the effect he has on me and I am so smitten that I actually don't care.

"Let's go for a walk then?" he asks, his eyes asking the main question. Can I walk or is the heat unbearable?

"Yes. I can," I whisper and put my hand in his which he offers me. As soon as I do, he pulls into his arms, one hand wrapping around my waist and the other tugging at my hair, loosening the bun on top of my head.

"I like those curls waving around you," he whispers just before dipping his head and kissing me.

The kiss feels like a rejuvenation camp. It lights all my nerve endings which end up triggering my clit and causing it to throb in demand. My body betrays my mind and I give in to the kiss, responding greedily to his touch.

Going on my toes, I curl my arms around his neck, pressing my breasts against his chest which causes him to pull me closer, and he squeezes my ass. My knees buckle as arousal flows through my veins, the lack of oxygen long forgotten and we just kiss, pouring our feelings into it.

A few minutes pass and soon, my head spins forcing me to pull back from the kiss, taking in deep breaths to replenish my lungs with oxygen.

"You are breathtakingly beautiful. My little temptress," he whispers over my mouth and then continues pressing open-mouthed kisses from the corner of my mouth to my neck where he licks at the mark that he's given me.

My speech has eluded me, I think as I close my eyes and relish the feel of his lips on my skin, grazing over it and causes my hormones to go haywire. After that near-death experience, I have no problem letting Connor have his way with me.

But soon, he growls and lifts his head from my neck, looking at me as he finger-combs my hair, sending sparks tingling in my scalp.

"You are irresistible, Catrina," he whispers, once again dipping his head to kiss on my forehead, making me feel cherished. I nearly miss it because of the intensity of my arousal but I do sense as if he's holding back.

"What is it?" I ask, not doubting myself and watch when he closes his eyes and rests his forehead on mine.

"I want to ask you something," he says, his voice husky in arousal as well as something else.

"Ask then," I whisper, twirling my fingers in his hair and pulling at them just the way he likes it. He groans and suddenly I find my back resting on the wall beside the door of my mother's home. He grinds his erection against my stomach causing a moan to slip from my throat as my legs fall open for his thighs to slip in between them, letting me grind on his thigh.

"Blyad."

His curse words disperse the hazy cloud of sex and I blink my eyes before focusing on him and watch as he's doing the same while shaking his head, trying to control his urges. I do the same and wait for him to speak.

"Umm. I want to ask you. I am not sure if you are ready," he says and the smile drains away from my face as I try to make out the meaning from his words.

He senses the direction of my thoughts perhaps because he winces and then quickly adds, "it's not like that, Cat."

I still stay quiet, unable to actually believe that he's leaving me again. After all this. After my heat. After knowing about my miscarriage. After knowing that I have a chance of conceiving.

Fuck that!

After making me fall for him, he's leaving me?

I start shaking my head and try to untangle myself from his firm hold but he doesn't let me move. He traps me in his embrace while his hands come up to frame my face, trapping me under the intensity of his gaze.

"It's not what you are thinking, baby. I just want to ask you if you will come back with me to my pack. To Blue Moon?" he asks and the uncertainty lurking in his eyes calms me. The raging storm inside my mind calms suddenly and I take a deep breath.

It means that he cares. That he'll be hurt if I reject him, yes? The realisation calms me and all the negative thoughts are pushed out of my mind as I understand that he was just nervous.

He wants to take me back to his home. He wants me to go with him.

Now how can I say no to that?

"Yes," I whisper breathlessly and then jump him.

He kisses me when I do and then pulls back to look me in the eyes, his forest green eyes shining back at me.

"One more question?" he asks and this time, I don't even hear his words. It's just a whisper but I nod nonetheless, eager to know what he wants to ask.

"Umm. How do I explain? Okay. Here's this. Ah. Werewolves have a claiming ceremony where they claim their mates officially with a blood bond. In front of their pack and Alpha King," he explains in a rush and my brows rise in confusion.

"Okay?" I ask, not really understanding where he's going with this.

"Well, I want to ask you if you are okay with it. Will you be mine officially, in front of my pack, as my Luna?" he asks with one of his hands rubbing the back of his neck and the other squeezing my waist as if he's not ready to let me go, even if I say no.

However, I am too happy to say no. This was my fear. My fear of being left by Connor. But he's proving me wrong. He's asking me for a forever.

"Yes," I laugh as my eyes well up in tears. He kisses my eyes, not letting the tears fall and then once on my forehead before peppering small kisses all over my face.

"Oh, thank the Goddess," he shouts and then thinks a little, the frown making its way onto his face. He suddenly takes a step back, detangling from my arms, making me feel cold. I frown at his behaviour, confused now.

Suddenly he goes down on his knees, like both of his knees, kneeling in front of me. My eyes widen in shock as I stare down at him, wondering about his intentions. He walks on his knees, coming closer so that he can place his hands on my waist. He takes a deep breath and I feel that he's nervous.

"Thank you for letting me claim you officially as my Luna. Now will you accept me as your husband, too?" he asks, shocking me once more.

"Connor, I..." I start but he interrupts me.

"I know I am one of the shittiest mates anyone has ever heard about. But I want to have you for myself. I want the world to know that you are mine. All mine. I want my scent on you, my name with yours and eventually my pup in you, once again."

By the time he finishes speaking, those tears are now overflowing from my eyes and I have a hand covering my mouth to stifle my cries. I have never felt so happy before.

"Solnyshko?" he whispers, nervously, but the endearment with which he calls me, his little sun, it sends me crashing down on my knees and into his arms as I smash my lips against him.

"I'll marry you, Connor. I can't wait to take your name," I whisper when I am allowed to come up for air. Connor growls, this time in arousal and then swiftly lifts me in arms, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist and kisses the hell out of me, on the front porch of my mother's house where anyone can walk in on us.

But do I care?

No!!

"Ah, fuck," he curses after letting me up for air and removes his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. It's vibrating.

"What?" he growls into the phone. I smile at the displeasure shining on his face. I don't know why but I like it. I like how he doesn't like to be disturbed when he's with me. He gives me his full attention and I crave it.

"Yes, she's fine," he replies to someone on the other side while looking at me, his eyes clouded with lust.

"Okay. I'll let you know," he says again and then hangs up.

"My Beta is very concerned about his Luna, it seems," he whispers and then rubs his nose against mine in a gesture of teasing me. I look at him bewildered at his choice of words.

"Maybe because he wants his Alpha to be happy and sated," I whisper back, my voice smug. He lets out a loud laugh which sends tingles all over my spine.

"That's true, my love," he nods along with his words and pulls me closer before dropping a kiss on my head and then my lips.

"Do you still want to adopt that pup?"

His sudden question puzzles me but I am firm on my decision.

"Yes, only if you are okay with it," I whisper. We are both together in this so I wouldn't want to do something without his consent.

"Yes. I am fine as long as it makes you happy," he whispers once again causing the butterflies to erupt in my stomach. I chuckle at his behaviour but startle when he pulls me from the wall and leads me away from my mom's house.

"Let's go, name our daughter and then complete the adoption process," he declares andI happily oblige, excitement coursing through my veins at this new beginning.

~~~~~~

So, the adoption is happening.... Any guesses of what will be the name of Connor and Catrina's new daughter????

Thank you for reading!!!

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