Chapter one : Cleo

The fall air in Juniper was always just what Cleo needed to make her lungs feel healthy and full. She loved to visit her parents whenever she could and she was willing to thank every god in existence for manifesting her parents moving to Juniper and out of the palace.

"The pumpkin is crooked," Owen said, standing in the front yard with his morning coffee in hand.

"That's the aesthetics, dad," Cleo laughed as she stood up and brushed off her hand on her jeans.

"You did a wonderful job, baby," Owen said with approval as he looked around at the fall decorations. "That's that?"

Cleo looked at the boxes on the porch, "Wire ghosts. I'm going to hang them on the trees."

"I thought we said no scary decorations this year?"

"Ghosts aren't scary. These ones are cute."

"Call me when you're ready, I'll help you hang them. I don't want you climbing on the ladder with those heels on."

"You don't like my shoes?" Cleo looked down at her suede grey thigh high boots. "Pip got them for me last Christmas."

"They look nice. But they're not Juniper shoes," Owen's nose scrunched up.

"I'm not really going hiking, am I?"

"No," Owen laughed, rolling his eyes. "You? Hiking? Never."

"Pip says Sebastian likes to hike," Cleo began to roll up the wire she had measured out for the ghosts.

"Do you find it strange that Pip doesn't really share a whole lot about this guy?" Owen leaned against the door frame.

"No," Cleo snorted. "Pip's always been very private. Have you seen her social media page?"

"Maksim and Ella seem to like this new guy."

"That's good."

"You're her best friend and she hasn't even mentioned anything about him to you either," Owen frowned. "Who is this guy? Where is he from? Does he make her happy?"

"Well, obviously he does," Cleo said. "She invited him to spend Thanksgiving with us. That's huge."

"Is it?"

"Dad," Cleo laughed. "Pip and I won't bring home just any boy to meet you and mom, okay. We made a promise to each other a long time ago that we will only bring home a true keeper."

"We won't have to worry about you," Owen said. "Your wolf will know the right one. I'm worried about Pip. She's human."

"I'm sure Sebastian is a wonderful guy," Cleo walked up the steps and handed her father the wires. "Pip was gushing about him on the phone last week."

"If you say so."

"She made me promise her to keep you and mom in check," Cleo warned. "No funny business. Do not scare this poor boy away."

"I won't."

"What about dragon lady?"

"Don't call her that."

"She's scary," Cleo laughed, lowering her voice. "Do you remember prom night? My god! My dad was shaking in his suit!"

"She loves you girls," Owen defended his wife.

"And we love her, but did she really have to sit on top of the house in her dragon form? If I told Macky and Clare, they would be mortified by her behavior."

"This is why we moved out of the palace."

"It is also why I picked the farthest college to attend," Cleo winked.

"Yes, yes," Owen shook his head. "You in California and Pip in New York. I would never do that to my best friend."

"You married your best friend," Cleo snorted. "And beside, old man, distance makes the heart grow fond."

"So you keep telling me," Owen laughed.

"Alright, so the decorations are done and I have fed the horses. Did you give Walter his breakfast?"

"I did," Owen sipped his coffee and nodded. "He was very grumpy this morning."

"He didn't sleep well last night," Cleo checked her watch. "They should be here by now. Their flight landed an hour ago."

"Maybe they're caught in traffic."

"Where?" Cleo arched her brow. "Traffic? In Juniper? There are only two traffic lights in this town, Radacovick."

"Let's head inside," Owen opened the door and ushered his daughter inside. "No point in waiting for them out in the cold."

As soon as Cleo stepped foot into the warm home, she was met with the scent of sweet cinnamon and apples. She could hear her grandmother laughing in the kitchen with her mother. The candles on the coffee table flickered and the fire in the fireplace crackled. Cleo took in a long deep breath.

It was moments like this that made her regret going to California. She needed the cold weather and white Christmases. It was so easy to let the heart sit back and relax when everything around you was wrapped in the sweet smell of sugar cookies.

But Piper and her had both agreed that they needed to find themselves in college. Going to college together would have been great, but they would have been too comfortable in their friendship to make new friends.

"Baby," Mavi poked her head into the living room, pulling Cleo out of her head. "Pip just called, they're pulling into the drive away."

"Okay," Owen sat down his empty mug and adjusted his watch. "Show time."

"No," Cleo shook her head. "You guys promised you would behave."

"We are behaving!" Mavi said, taking off her apron.

"Woman, if you shift this week, Piper will never bring home another man."

"Boy," Owen said. "She's bringing home a boy."

"Owen," Manya shook her head with disapproval. "Your daughters are now women. Of course, they will bring home men."

"Thank you, grandma!" Cleo said, grabbing the door and yanking it open just as the car came to a stop in front of the house. "Everyone, behave!"

"Okay, okay," Mavi huffed.

Cleo cleared her throat and walked out onto the porch. She could see Piper beaming inside the car as she took off her seatbelt and jumped out. Her eyes lit up as she found her family all gathered on the porch, ready to meet her boyfriend.

"He didn't open the door for her," Owen whispered to Cleo.

"The girl jumped out," Cleo whispered back. "Relax."

"Cleo!" Piper shrieked as she ran forward, dropping her bag. Her blonde hair flew behind her as her cheeks turned rosy and her warm breath hung in the air.

Cleo raced down the steps and ran towards her best friend and adopted sister. No amount of video calls were ever enough to fill their hearts. Mavi and Owen leaned into each other as they watched their children's love for one another. They slowly made their way down to where the girls embraced as a tall figure exited the car.

"Did you tell them to behave?" Piper lowered her voice as she pulled back.

"Yes," Cleo said. "I told them I would call in Mackay and Clare if they didn't behave."

"At least mom's not on the roof with her wings flapping," Piper sighed, letting go of Cleo's hand.

"I heard that," Mavi teased.

"Good," Piper winked as the man who had walked out of the car came to a stop behind her.

Cleo was so distracted by the happiness of seeing her sister and having her family together for the holiday that she forgot to notice the way the air had shifted around her. Her wolf sat with it's ears perked up and twitching with each step the man took. She raised her wet cold nose up in the air and took a small sniff.

Oh no...

Cleo's heart stopped.

"Mom, dad," Piper looped her arm with the man and wiggled with excitement. "This is my boyfriend, Sebastian."

Cleo slowly looked up, her heart pounding in her chest as her knees started to shake. Her long lashes lifted and caught the man's warm hazel eyes.

Mate.

"Hello, sir," Sebastian stepped forward with a charming smile to greet Owen.

He was human, Cleo recognized immediately.

He wouldn't sense her wolf. He wouldn't know she was his mate.

"It's so nice to finally meet you," Sebastian said with ease and confidence. "Pip has told me a lot about you."

Cleo's ears were ringing. She couldn't hear anything other than the way her heart hammered against her chest. Everything around her slowed down to an agonizing speed as stared at her family and Sebastian.

Piper couldn't look away from the man. Her eyes were glued on him, taking in every second. She hung on his every word, blushing, laughing, swooning.

And then there was Mavi and Owen. They were rejoicing in their daughter's happiness, completely unaware of their other daughter's world spiraling out of control right before her eyes.

"And you must be Cleo."

Cleo's gaze snapped up. Everything around her disappeared as she gazed into those soft hazel eyes. Her heart leaped into her throat as her wolf pushed her to step forward and touch him.

"I've heard a lot about you too," Sebastian laughed. "It's a pleasure meeting you."

Cleo was speechless. That voice....wow, that voice.

She could feel each word echo in her heart as if he had whispered them into her ears. All other sounds disappeared from the world. Cleo could only hear Sebastian.

"Cleo?" Mavi nudged her daughter.

"Huh?" Cleo looked at her mother as if realizing for the first time that she was standing beside her. Mavi smiled and motioned towards Sebastian's hand.

Holding her breath, Cleo slowly turned towards Sebastian and reached out.

"Hello," she said, taking his hand.

Instantly, a spark blossomed from the moment their fingers touched each other. It traveled up their arms and spread all over their body. Cleo watched the pupil of Sebastian's eyes dilate as if the same firework that exploded inside of her heart was reflecting in his eyes. But he had no idea what it was...

Sebastian tilted his head curiously and narrowed his eyes.

"This is Sebastian!" Piper appeared beside her boyfriend. "I've been dying for you to meet him!"

"I was just telling her," Sebastian let go of Cleo's hand and moved his gaze over to Piper, finding the simple task to be very difficult.

"This feels like a dream," Piper laughed. "I can't believe we're here, with my family. When are Macky and Ell coming?"

"Tonight," Cleo cleared her throat.

"Oh perfect," Piper turned towards the house. "Let me get my bag."

"I'll get them, love," Sebastian stopped Piper.

"You two can stay in your room, Pip," Mavi said, welcoming everyone into the house.

"Where's Cleo staying?"

"She's staying with Manya in the guest bedroom," Mavi said.

Cleo watched everything happen from the yard. Piper followed Mavi inside as Sebastian picked up their bags and followed. For a second she thought his gaze flickered towards her but she couldn't be sure. She was too scared to allow herself to think that.

"You okay, my love?" Owen looked at Cleo.

Cleo nodded.

"What's wrong?" Owen arched his brow, noticing the way his daughter looked as if she was just struck by lightning.

"Pip..." Cleo was amazed she found her voice. "She looks so happy with him."

"Yeah," Owen looked over his shoulder towards the house. "I think she's in love."

"What?" Cleo's throat tightened.

"The way she looks at him," Owen laughed. "She's in love with Sebastian."    

You all wanted a Cleo story, right? LOL