The Couple

Celia

After talking with Selena, everything seemed to be calmed and under control. I still don't know why she said Chris knows how to handle my parents. Like if he would have known I wouldn't have been this worried and exhausted. I am super confused.

I must say she cooks delicious food and can compete with dad. Obviously, they both can share their recipes and invent new dishes together. They both must spend some together if mom allows because I don' think she ever let Selena near dad alone after they visited our apartment. I had a few things running in my mind when we had lunch at her place.

She seemed to read minds as she spoke, serving me more food.

"Don't exhaust your mind too much, Celia. I will teach you everything personally and make sure you become the best Luna this pack can have." Hearing her optimistic thoughts of me being the Luna made me blush and nervous.

Honestly, Chris and my relationship is on the edge right now and everyone already thinks of me as their Luna. I am overwhelmed by their gesture but at the same time it scares me. How they can be so sure that our relationship will work out and I will be their Luna. They expect so high of me and I don't know anything about their culture or things. I don't think I deserve that.

I ain't sure of our relationship yet. It is not like I ain't sure of my feelings or Chris's feelings but it is more like everyone is so involved in our relationship and everything is moving too fast that it scares me and wants to run away from all this.

It is scary.

But can I tell them my true feelings?

After lunch, Bryan and I left while Jeanne stayed with Selena and Robert. Bryan opened the back door of the car for me but I chose to sit in the passenger seat beside him. As usual he is expressionless, how does Tyler a fun loving guy fall in love with this emotionless human.

'Same way, you always fight avoiding person fall in love with a ready to kill guy.' Well, that is true.

"Take me to Dante's house please, Bryan." He just nodded and changed his direction.

"You know, you can tell me." I looked at Bryan with confusion. Is he talking to me? Is he initiating the conversation with me?

"Don't look at me like I got horns grown over my head." I shook my head and composed myself back. "I know there are many things going on in your head and it is pretty normal. Since I swore secrecy to you, you can share your feelings with me." His explanation is quite convincing.

"What did you talk about with Jeanne earlier? I know you mindlinked with her immediately." He nodded before replying. I might have asked him to be my secret keeper but do I trust him?

"She asked me if I am really going to do this."

"And What did you reply?"

"I simply told her I can't refuse to be Luna."

"Even if it means going against your Alpha?" I want to know his views clearly before I trust him completely.

"I am sure you will never make me do something to betray my Alpha which might make him question my loyalty to him or the pack, will you?" He looked at me for a second to check if I would and then continued when I didn't reply but stared back at him. "I will remain loyal to you" A small smile spread over his face.

There was silence after that in the car which was more awkward after what we talked about. So, I chose to speak up about what I was feeling now for sometime. I just hope it won't mess things up more. "I don't feel like being Luna." He frowned. I can see he is judging, maybe I did the wrong thing. I shouldn't have talked to him about this. Not when we both are new to this.

"Well, what do you mean? Do you don't feel like being with my brother or do you just not feel like being Luna?" I am amazed how he efficiently analysed the situation because it was one of my fears that someone might not get it that being Luna is hard and not just it will happen.

"What if I say I don't just feel like being Luna?"

"Then I will say, it is okay. I can understand. You're a human, you're new to this and you have a lot on your plate. Things will fall in place with time." Maybe I judged too soon.

"Aaahhhh.... That's the thing Mary, Selena, Jeanne, Chris everyone says it will be okay and not a big deal. They will help me but it is just too much for me to handle. Everyone keeps calling me Luna. They just want me to be the perfect Luna, everyone happens to know I will be a great Luna but I don't even know what Luna is or she is supposed to be." With that I felt him pushing car brakes.

It was then I only noticed he didn't bring me to Dante's house or my building but to the lake where Chris brought me for our first date. I got out and walked to it. The memories came rushing back to me. How Chris left with everyone just to come back for our secret date. How I was clueless about the location. How sweetly he arranged everything here, the arrangement he did. Everything became more special with him. And the make out session... I heard the throat clearing.

I turned to find Bryan standing near the car. Slowly, he made his way beside me. I was still in gaze of our first date.

"You know Luna Teresa did a lot for this pack. After she was gone Robert handled the Alpha's duties and Selena became Luna. Many accepted them as their leaders while many waited for brother to take over and for the last 6 years everyone has been waiting for their Luna. I am sorry, we didn't mean to scare you but it was just everyone is just overwhelmed with your presence."

"Does your whole pack know about me?" Damn, that was the least I wanted for their whole pack to call me Luna and bow down to me whenever they see me in the town. "No, just a few people." Well, that is a relief.

"I get it now but I am scared that if I need things wrong, what if I didn't fit in, it seems like everyone is so sure of me being their Luna when I don't know if Chris will take me back or not or if my parents will let me stay here or not."

"Alpha must have found the way to keep here by now and there is no chance he will let you go. It should be the least concerning matter for you, he loves you so much that he will forgive you in a heartbeat when you come face to face with him." I could feel myself getting hot as he said it. Is it so obvious that he will forgive and I am making a fool of myself stressing myself over thinking strategy to approach him. I heard him chuckle a bit.

"And about what Luna is, Selena and Mary will tell you everything as time will come and how she is supposed to be, she should be just like you. There is a reason the Moon Goddess chose you."

I nodded but then the realisation hit me. He said Moon Goddess chose me. What does that mean? What did he mean by that? Did someone choose me for him and Chris was with me just because this Moon Goddess chose me for him not because he loved me.

This is insane.

"What does that mean "Moon Goddess chose me"? Does.... Doesn't Chris love me?" I turned to Bryan to face him to read his face while he tells me the truth but whom I am kidding with. He is the one of the guys who Chris trusts more than me.

"I am not meant to tell you this, Alpha will tell you this himself when he finds the right time but till then he surely loves you more than everything."

"Yeah, sure whom I am kidding with, you are Bryan who is loyal to his pack and cousin of Alpha. You will never say anything against your brother." I turned around to leave, leaving him standing there. "Drive me to Dante House, I want to meet Mary."

Later on the whole drive, I didn't talk to him. Somehow, it made him smile a few times.

'Oh, don't tell me now he is talking with Chris and joking about you.'

As soon as we reached the Dante house, I got out of the car and ran to meet Mary. I don't want him around for quite some time. I found her in the dining room sipping coffee. She is just allowed to have 2 cups in a day and 1 on stressful days. It took Ethan and her a whole week to come to this agreement. But I know she ditched it many times.

"Maaryyyy.... pheewww" I hugged her as soon as I saw her. It was good to meet her again. The time I left with my parents, I didn't have any time to say goodbye to her or hug her.

"Oh Celia, how are you? I heard what happened after you left. I just can't believe Jeanne did all this."

"Leave it Mary. Right now we need to focus on finding the solution."

"But I thought you went to visit mom. Didn't meet her?"

"I went to meet her. Umm, actually wait for a second, I need to report to call mom and dad." She nodded and I excused myself to make a call to my parents just like I did every 30-40 mins. Mom and dad both got eased out by now and don't shower me with questions each time I call, just ask if I am okay or do I need to tell them. Honestly, I think this day out is good for them as well, as they need to understand that they can't babysit me all the time in the heavens.

"Sorry, they both are being overprotective but now they both are eased a bit. Where were we? Yeah, so she doesn't seem to have a solution to my problems." I saw her spitting her coffee as she heard. "What... did she say that? How is it even possible that she doesn't know what to do?"

"Umm... actually she didn't say that exactly." She nodded to let me continue while she cleaned the spilled coffee on the table. "She said I have just one problem and I don't even have to think about it because Chris already has his solution."

"Well, that is so likely Selena. She never ever gives you the direct solution but drops off the hints and lets you find the solution yourself." I nodded as she told me what Selena meant.

"So, you say I just need to make things better with Chris and he will take care of all the other things."

"MMhhmmm, that's correct."

"But how, I mean just to meet Selena I had to lie to my parents. I lied to them that I was going for a girls day out with you and Jeanne. Even then they put restrictions on me. I, a 23 year old girl, got a curfew. Pfff" She chuckled as she heard me whining over my current situation.

"Well, that is an issue. We need to think of a way to give you and Christian some time alone. And as mom said Christian is not an issue, he will forgive you as soon as he sees you again."

"I don't think so." She frowned at my statement.

"What do you mean?"

"He almost spent all his nights on my balcony but didn't come in once let alone talk to me."

"Did you see him there?" I shook my head.

"But I know he was there."

"Of course you will get to know if he is around before anyone else."

"And what does that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." I shook my head at her behaviour.

"You all seem to behave differently and say strange things. Is that some werewolf thingy?"

"Who all? Who said strange things?"

"Bryan. He said something like `I am chosen for Chris and some Moon Goddess chose me for him'. I am perfect and should be just myself."

"Talk with respect, girl. Do you even know whom you're talking about?" I and Mary turned around to find grandma standing in the doorway fuming in anger. I think she is still angry and hasn't forgiven me yet. "Hello grandma." I stood from my seat and went to greet her but she raised her hand and stopped me midway.

"No need to be polite to me when you can't respect my culture and traditions."

"I don't understand. I am sorry if I..." She left without hearing me out and letting me explain. I turned around to face Mary who is now standing too with her hands around her cute little baby bump, well not sure i it is baby bump or her food belly. I went near her.

"I think I should take leave now." She gave me an apologetic smile and I bent down to caress her belly. "Your aunty will come meet you, honey. She loves you already." I kissed her belly and got up straight to give her a hug before I left this time.

"You don't worry, I will talk to Ethan and try to find a way to get you and Christian some alone time." I nodded and went back to find Bryan.

As I left the dining room, I saw Bryan coming out of Chris's room which means he is home. He can smell me with his heightened werewolf senses and still didn't come to meet me or see me. We could have sorted out the whole matter right now as Jeanne also agreed with our relationship but no he needs to complicate the things more. He needs to do his bit to mess things up.

I left the Dante house without attempting to stop at his office although I urged for it more than ever but if he doesn't want to see me, I will not make attempts to embarrass him. Bryan dropped me to my building. I got myself back before I entered the apartment.

I and Jeanne have already discussed the things we visited on our fake day out. I don't need to think much when my parents will shower their questions on me but just answer them calmly with a smile although I have a tornado running inside me.

I didn't spend much time around to avoid blurting out something I don't mean to tell them. I got my clothes changed and got back in pyjamas. left a text for Jeanne to ask her how it went with Selena but she hasn't replied to me yet. Neither I got any update from Mary but as we were about to sit to have our dinner, I got the call from the sheriff department. They want us to report to the station tomorrow.

I sent a message to Mary immediately to ask her if she knows anything about this or does she know if Ethan or Chris got to do something with this. She replied back almost immediately.

'Don't worry. I don't know exactly what it is but I am Ethan and Chris got it covered otherwise Jacob would have got it covered. Don't worry, I am going to ask for it. Will let you know how it goes.' Maybe, I am worrying for nothing. It will be just a regular interrogation and nothing else.

I went to bed after having my shower knowing Chris out there in darkness somewhere standing in my balcony checking up on me. But tonight I might have a plan to bring him back to me. I just hope it will work.

I got out of the bathroom with just towel wrapping around me which I soon dropped to the ground. I made my way to the mirror in my room. The room is completely dark except the lamp near my bed which allows my movement in the room with dim light but still keeps Chris hidden in darkness.

I removed the towel from my hair and started drying my hair with the towel instead of the dryer which I usually use when I wash my hair at night. I made sure to move my body as much as possible as I stood in front of the mirror with just panties on. Throwing the towel in a nearby chair and touching my body curves, appreciating them as I traced them softly.

I grabbed a body lotion and turned around to sit on the bed to sit in front of the balcony exposing my complete body for Chris to witness. I applied the lotion on my bed as slowly as I could over my arms and then shifted gracefully over my legs. I spread the lotion over my chest and massaged my breasts carefully, as I pinched my nipples a few times.

I saw two golden orbs outside the glass door which I know definitely belong to Chris flickered a few times. as a moan escaped my mouth. I turned around with my back facing him and I heard a frustrated groan from outside. I tried applying totion om my back which I know I couldn't. I groaned a few times in frustration of not having him close. I moaned one more time as I felt some hand touching my back.

Before I could turn around and get a hold of him, he was gone. My balcony door was closed. I got my towel wrapped around me, and opened the balcony door. And a cold wind sweeped in. But he wasn't there And I was left alone in my room. I got dressed and went to sleep quickly before the dwelling tears could fall off and show him I am weak without him.

Next morning, dad got the breakfast ready before usual. He is in a good mood right now. I checked my phone and there was a text message from Mary and Jeanne.

'Nothing to worry. Everything is fine.' ~Mary.

'It was bad but now they are cool or less hot. :' ~Jeanne.

After breakfast, mom and dad came along with me to the sheriff's station. It is not that I am bothered by their company. They both seem to act differently or should say unusually happy and relaxed. I haven't seen them this relaxed since they got here. It seems they know something which I don't.

As we reached the Sheriff station, I found Chris's car already parked there. Now, I am nervous and anxiety is crawling into my nerves and freaking me out. Dad asked one officer for the sheriff who told us to go to the Sheriff's office. I couldn't bring myself to move forward and head to the office. It was like my consciousness telling me to move out and not show up in the office.

We entered the sheriff's office and found Jeanne already sitting there with Greg while Chris sat at the couch placed at one corner of the office. Mom made me sit beside Jeanne and went to sit with dad and Chris on the couch. I didn't hear anything or concentrate on what the sheriff said as I only tried to get Chris's attention all the time but he avoided me.

I heard a crashing sound and found everyone's attention on me. I realised I pushed a glass of water on the ground from the table.

"I am sorry, I didn't realise it."

"It's okay, Miss Jordan."

"No, I am really sorry, I didn't realise..."

"It's okay, Miss Jordan. It's okay." I nodded and took one last look at Chris. He seemed anything but disturbed. I think maybe everyone's just wrong that he loves me with everything he has but he was just with me and tolerated me because I was chosen by some Goddess.

'Noooooo.' Was it Chris? No, it must have been my mind playing games on me. I am so desperate to hear his voice, to feel him that I am hearing his voice in my head. That's ridiculous. We might talk without talking but it was not him, not after all this time when I died for his attention.

I literally begged him for his touch but he left me just like he felt nothing. I meant nothing to him. Or maybe he was not there from the beginning and it was all just your imaginations. Yes, that was my

imagination.

"So, I was saying that we're finally

closing the case as we don't have any concrete evidence except the assassins. We got the rifle he was shot with but it had no fingerprints and it was registered under Harris's name. We found other weapon's inside his penthouse and some were illegal. We have doubts that he might be involved in the mafia." Everyone gasped. Even Chris, no he never told me that he knew but I

know he must have known it all the

time.

"We're on the deadend. If any of you three remembers anything, I request you to share with me." We all nodded to him like obedient children.

"Does that mean we can leave this town finally with Celia?" It was dad, obviously. He was so eager that he might make us leave right now if the sheriff agrees.

"Yes, you can. Just a few formalities like signing a few papers and then you can take her." My heart skipped a beat as I heard it. My eyes flew to Chris who had his eyes already locked on me. I saw fear in his eyes. I saw rage, I saw my wolf coming forward. Or maybe I saw that.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐