The Couple

Celia

After finally finding the person who can help us, I started thinking of a way to meet her. Witnessing my condition, my parents won't let me leave this house without them. And talking to her in their presence is not an option. Also, I can't ask her how to get rid of my parents in front of them. Although I love them and the thought of living with them excites me, but they want to take me back and I don't want to leave Chris.

Unless, he refuses to take me back and I am left with no other option but to leave this to town.

I wonder if he will still burn down the whole world if I leave this town. Or was it just because we were seeing each other back then. Should I try this? Well, maybe. I mean he said it himself that he will go to every extent to make me stay here. Maybe if he saw me leaving he would take me back and also convince my parents to let me stay without scaring them with his wolf, obviously.

No, I can't trust him. He eventually threatened me with his wolf when he warned me. I can't take the risk.

I will go with the plan to talk to Selena and explain her the whole situation and ask for her help. I just hope she has a solution to atleast one problem.

But right now, we need to find an answer to how to talk to her. When Selena and Robert retired from their family responsibilities, they not only gave up the house but also the connections to the world which includes cell phones.

I always wondered how Chris or Ethan informed them of anything. It must be tedious to drive the whole way to their cottage nearby forest just to invite them for family gatherings or inform them of small things. But now I know they just mind link with them. It is even more simple than connecting them through calls.

Jeanne suggested she go down to their cottage and make a video call to me, so I can join their conversation and talk to Selena. But I refused as I wanted her personally. I don't know why I insist on meeting her personally but that's how it is now.

We both came out of my room together and pushed each other forward in front of my parents. We both are nervous like teenage girls who need to get permission from their parents for a late night party or a night stayover.

As soon as we reached there my parents on my couch sitting too close to each other, looked up to us.

"Are you hungry, again? Because I am. Honey..." Mom turned to face dad and pouted silently. I shook my head at her act. I have seen my dad cooking delicious food and mom stuffing it all without gaining any pounds. I wonder how she maintains herself with so much eating. Not that I refuse her to eat but how?

"No mom. We're not hungry." I frowned and replied even before dad could reply to her or get up to cook something for us.

"Then, what is it really sweetie?" Now, we got their attention as they sat up right and looked at us cautiously.

“Umm... Mom” I glanced back and forth between them and Jeanne before I continued. "Dad, we want to go shopping and for lunch tomorrow. I really want to go out right now. Can we go?"

"Sure, princess. Tell me where you want to go. We will go there." There you go. I knew it was going to be hard.

"No, dad I meant me, Jeanne and Mary. I want a girls day out.”

"Well, it works fine. Make a list. We will do everything you want before we leave here. It is a girls day out." This time mom spoke as she gave dad an assuring look. And dad sighed nodding his head. "No mom. I just want us girls. Not you or dad babysitting me." I screamed which angered my mom.

"Lower your voice, young lady. And we're here to babysit you because you can't take care of yourself as you promised before." Now, mom is standing and we both are at the same level staring at each other directly. I surely got her stubbornness.

"I think I should take a leave now."

"Is there anyone to take you home, girl?" Mom snapped back at her. Jeanne shook her head as she was too intimidated by mom's aura that she didn't dare speak. "Then you better stay and call someone to pick you up. You're not leaving alone." With this Jeanne remained silent and didn't dare to speak again. But I stood my ground and crossed my hands across my chest as I kept glaring at my mom. "You shouldn't forget I am your mother."

"I remember that very clearly and you should also not forget I am a grown up woman who just turned 24 and can take care of her own."

"Yeah, I can see how you can take care of yourself."

"Don't forget, I got in danger just because I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE ANY OF YOU! I JUST TRIED TO PROTECT YOU!" I felt my eyes getting wet with tears. I didn't want to break down in front of everyone. I never cried in front of everyone, it always made me feel weak.

I ran into my room and shut the door behind me. I threw myself on the bed and cried my guts out. I know everyone outside knows I am crying here but it is better this way with them not seeing me at my worst.

I heard a few knocking and calls from Jeanne. I didn't want to open the door and go outside before I heard the calm voice of my dad. Actually, it was not calm and more nervous but still holding his ground and not losing his senses like I and mom did just now.

It was always like this mom and dad reacting the opposite to every situation and handling the situation together as a team. I wonder how each time one of them is acting so calm and remains stable while the other one goes insane. I want the same for me and Chris, always handling the situation as a team together.

I composed myself back and opened the door just to find dad at my door while Jeanne and mom went back to the couch. I approached him carefully and he patted my head before holding my one hand and taking me back to the couch opposite to mom's. Dad and I sat at one while mom and J sat at the other one. Mom still looked pissed but under control now. I wonder how many minutes did I cry in my room before dad came as it is getting dark outside now.

"Princess, your mom just wants to protect you, she didn't mean to hold you hostage and we're not babysitting you here. We both just want to protect what we failed to do. It is not about you but more about us. We both forgot that you're now a grown up woman not our little girl who might burn the kitchen down to get our attention." I looked up to meet his beautiful smiling face. He definitely got old since I last met him after my birthday, stress is working over him. I leaned on his shoulder and got comfortable there.

"If you want you can have the day out, without us." He took a deep breath as he said it. I was shocked as he said it, I know it was hard for both of them. I looked up and glanced back to mom and then again at him. I didn't think it would be easy to convince mom. "But..." I knew there would be something more.

"But Jeanne, you might ask one of your brothers to accompany you. It can be either of your brothers. And princess, you will have to call us every 15 mins to inform us." With the corner of my eyes, I could see the devil smile on my mother's face. It was her condition.

"1 hour." I tried bargaining, making a sad face, hoping he might agree.

"30 mins. That is, the deal is done. Or you can always stay here." I nodded and agreed with the current conditions before dad changed his mind.

"Well then I will start preparing the dinner now. Jeanne are you staying for dinner, we would love it if you stay."

"Which idiot will refuse to eat your food?" And we all laughed. Dad moved to the kitchen and signed mom to follow him. I am sure they are gonna have a talk which I definitely don't want to hear.

I pulled Jeanne in the room with me. Right now, she is nervous because she couldn't get the guts to face Selena after what she did. Since, it is all her doing she is afraid that Selena might be angry with her or atleast will be disappointed in her.

Yes, she cares more for Selena's opinion than anyone after Chris or Ethan. She once told me back in college after getting drunk like too much drunk that she just calls grandma as Mumma because Chris wants her to and not because she feels like. If she would have wanted she would have called Selena as mom even in her childhood she took Selena as her mother for several years until she was told about the truth of her life.

Well, Selena's behaviour pretty much explains Jeanne's response.

At dinner, mom calmed down but still glared at me a few times like telling me to back off and stay here or atleast allow one of them to accompany us. But being her biological daughter, I couldn't do that, could

1?

After a late dinner, Greg picked her up. Mom and dad also went to their room to have a good sleep. Mom left me a hot water bag at the dining table for the night. I went to the bedroom after that as well and went for a hot shower.

When I got back, I found my hot

water bag plugged in the socket

again. I remember it correctly. I didn't plug it as mom already left it hot for me to use. Shrugging my doubts laid down with it to have comfortable sleep. As soon as nuzzled in my pillow, I smelled a similar smell which wasn't there before. A tear left my right eye and soaked the pillow. If he is here and still cares for me shouldn't he just come to me and comfort me instead of torturing me like this.

'Maybe you deserve this for hurting him!'

Next day, Bryan came along with Jeanne to pick me up. Mom was still resistant to send me alone but dad held her back. Did Chris ask him to protect me or was it just Jeanne asked him to tag along with us to assure my parents. I couldn't resist asking him as we got out of my building.

"Did Chris... Christian ask you to follow me around or was it just Jeanne asked you to help us get me out of my apartment?" I sneered at my impatience.

"Brother never asked to stop protecting you from threats." He opened the back gate of the car as he answered my question but I was still reluctant to get in yet.

"Can I trust you and ask you for something?" With that question I got both of their attention, I could feel Jeanne's gaze poking at my side face.

"You can, Luna."

"You serve your Alpha with your loyalty and faith." I waited before he agreed. "He appointed you to follow me and protect me all the time except he is with me himself. So now on, you will serve me first." I don't know what made me ask him or should I say command him.

But this made sense as I repeated it in my head again. All his pack call me Luna but I will always be an outsider in their pack and their loyalty will always be to their Alpha more. I need atleast one man for myself to help me, back me and support me even in front of their Alpha.

I could see his tension all over his face and a questioning look asking me if he should trust me with this and promise me to be my man.

"Don't worry, I am not gonna make you kill your Alpha or turn you up against your pack." Yes, I made sure there was no one in hearing range before I brought this topic up.

I think I convinced him as he nodded and looked towards Jeanne. I think he is saying something to Jeanne through their mindlink since they all can talk with mindlink. Damn, I should have asked him this question in private.

Jeanne asked him to drive us to

Selena's cottage. I could see Jeanne getting nervous and shaking with anxiety as we drove there. She even hesitated before we knocked on their door. I just squeezed her hand and pulled her with one hand to the cottage. Before we even knocked on the door, it was flung open by Robert. Werewolves and their heightened senses, this made sense.

He gave us a warm hug to both of us and invited us in. Bryan followed us and both men just shaked their hands. Sensing our presence, Selena came out too. She wiped her hands with the apron she was wearing and then took it off before coming forward to hug us. She hugged Bryan too and ruffled his hair a bit as he was a little kid.

"Take seats, please. I will bring drinks for you all and then we can chat." Soon Selena came out with several fruit juices for everyone. She served us and took a seat beside Robert on their loveseat.

Their cottage is small but still too

big just for two people. I mean, it can

adjust their whole extended family into it. It didn't have anything modern but still everything looked beautiful and adjusted to resemble modern art. I would love to take a chance to look around the whole cottage and see how they decorated it. Because I am sure it was both of them who decorated it personally as it had the warmest personal touch with everyone's photo hanging all around the cottage, covering the walls.

"It took Selena her whole life to decorate it. Since we always planned to shift here after handing over everything to kids, she came over here and added one thing or another all the time." Robert explained as he saw me admiring the cottage with lust in my eyes as I want to decorate the same Chris's cottage.

"You want a tour of the cottage. I am sure you will love it." Selena spoke as she almost got up to give me the tour but I interrupted her.

"I will love it but right now we came here for some reason."

"Oh yeah, I knew you came here for something. But I thought you have time."

"You knew?" I looked at her with wide eyes. And she nodded, giving me the warmest smile of hers. No wonder she melted the heart of Robert, a strong man. Jeanne and Chris both told me how Robert handled everything alone and how workload made him forget to smile after a few years until they both retired from the family responsibilities.

"Give me a second, I need to call my parents before we start otherwise they might report my kidnapping." Robert gave a hearty laugh while everyone just giggled except J. Robert should laugh and smile more as he looks handsome.

I got up from my seat to make a call to my dad. Mom picked it up even before it rang, it was like she was glued to the phone. I assured both of them and returned to my seat. Bryan and Robert are gone. Jeanne played with glass in her hand and avoided Selena's eyes which showed her worry for Jeanne.

"Robert and Bryan?" I asked no one in particular.

"Oh, Robert took Bryan to show off his vegetation in the backyard. Poor kid." I nodded and cleared my throat before continuing as I don't know how to start.

"How did you know we have something to talk about with you?" Selena again smiled and looked at me like a little kid.

"You visited us. It is not like I never thought you could visit but in normal circumstances you would have visited us with Christian for the first time but here you're with Jeanne. You're surely here for some reason Now, speak before men return or either it is time for you to return." I couldn't help but nod at her explanation.

I don't know why but her explanation made me nervous. Instead of breaking the ice, the ice got thicker. Now, I was back to the square and didn't know where to start or how to start. Because I might say something to upset Jeanne which I really don't want after what happened these past few days.

"Let me break the ice for you girls." She put her glass down and moved closer to me. She bent towards me a bit and made eye contact with me. Honestly, I was uncomfortable by her move but her eyes had something which made me not leave hers for a second, maybe a connection but it was comforting and told me she meant no harm.

"Tell me, Celia, you love my boy, Christian?"

"I... I... "

"Yes Celia, will you keep him high on everything? Will you accept his love and his reality? Will you stand beside him on the platform under sun, rain, heat or storm?"

"I will. I will take care of him, stand beside him and love him for himself." She leaned back with a smile. I don't know what took over me when I replied to her. It was like she just hypnotised me with her eyes and brought the truth out of me. I didn't even realise what happened but Selena spoke again, wasting no time.

"Now, tell me what brought you both to me." I noticed she couldn't stop smiling after my reply.

"I messed it up again, Selena!" Jeanne broke out this time before I could explain things calmly. Well, I think it is better this way. "And I know you already know what happened. You're still the Luna in the pack's heart. You will always know."

Selena's smile vanished and her worried eyes replaced that happy face. She just closed her eyes for a few moments and took a deep breath to calm herself and concentrate on the situation before starting again and I think she will give the solution to my problem.

"You guys only have one issue and that is her parents. And the solution for them is easy. Just mend up your ways with him, Celia and your problems will vanish in air like smoke."

I was looking at her in amazement. She looked at me with a smile and continued. "And how you have to make up with my son is your personal issue and I will not interfere in it." She winked, I blushed, getting what she meant and moved her gaze to Jeanne. "You will stay here as I and your uncle need to have a word with you."☐☐☐☐☐