Chapter 8

AT CHANEK LAKE A FEW HOURS AGO

Max! I love you so much; this time we have been together, I have realized— how important you are for me; who would have thought that lonely boy would drive me crazy — I told him with a smile on my lips.

—I'm not going to lie to you, I never really thought I would become a one-woman man, don't get me wrong, but I was a womanizer. I say I was in the past tense because since I met you, all that changed. I changed, you are everything I ever dreamed of, and that I refused to have, to depend on someone to be happy, the truth is the idea didn't excite me at all.

—Max, and if you find your mate, what will happen to us if I'm not your mate? I'm only 16, there are still two years to go before we can know if we are……,— I said, worried, and lowered my eyes.

—I don't care; if I find her, I will reject her, I want to be with you, I love you without a mating bond that the goddess of the moon has drawn between us. I love you because my body and my heart love you, not because someone has told me or guided me to you; I choose you Ani, you will always be mine, first of all.

He came closer to me and lifted my chin, and he kissed me;  his arms went around my waist, bringing me closer to him. I felt safe in his arms; I didn't want to move away from him, I tried to tell him everything, and this was the right moment; I moved away from a little and looked at him from the front.

—I have something important to tell you, it's about my birthday this Saturday...— but before I could finish what I was saying he interrupted me, with a sad face that I didn't understand.

—Speaking about that, I have a commitment that I can't cancel, but I promise I will see you that day at night. I'll do everything I can to get free that day; forgive me, it was something unexpected," he said while caressing my cheek. — He said while caressing my cheek and what kind of commitment is it? You can't cancel it; it's so important.

—Let's say it's something I can't cancel, yes it's important but not more important than you, that's why I promise I'll see you that night; I wouldn't miss your birthday for anything in the world.

— tell me what you want to say to me; I'm all ears,— he said with a smile on his face, but when I heard that he had an engagement, I felt so sad, maybe it wasn't so important for him as he told me.

—It's nothing that can't wait, don't worry,— I said, disappointed, and I think he realized it.

—You know what, I'll cancel that engagement, and we'll meet here, you think so- he told me, but, I didn't want him to do that, forced by me, but to get out of it.

—Max, it's not necessary, it doesn't matter anyway, we'll see each other tonight, so don't worry, OK, don't cancel anything.

—Are you sure?

—Yes, it's OK.

—Ani, I have something important to tell you about me; I want to tell you everything; I want you to know my life and everything; I don't want to hide anything from you.

—What do you mean by that?" I said, confused by his words; what was he hiding from me. —I stared at him, and that's when I saw the time on my watch.

—By the goddess, look at the time, it's already very late, I have to go, do you think we'd better talk more calmly tomorrow, or it's something too important that can't wait.

—No, don't worry, we'll talk tomorrow.

—Tomorrow night then, you promise. — I said, looking at him as a fool in love.

—I promise.

Max came up to me and hugged me tightly. as if he wanted to let me go, as if it was the last time he would do it, or at least that's what he made me feel; I looked at him fixedly, and with my hand, I caressed his cheek.

—I love you, Max.

—I love you, Ani.

We said goodbye, and I left, but I had a strange feeling as if something was going to happen as if this was the last time I would see him.

THE NEXT DAY A FEW HOURS AN HOUR BEFORE THE PARTY.

—Katerina, I love what you did to my hair; thank you, I don't know what I would have done without you; I don't know anything about makeup,— I said excitedly.

—You have nothing to thank me for, but I am a little disappointed I thought we would both go to Prais and make the most of the lost time, like when you were little girls.

—I'm sorry, Katerina, you know I love you very much, even though we haven't seen each other that often, but I want to tell you something that only my father knows. I met someone, and I'm madly in love, and he loves me back.

—I can't believe it, you have to tell me everything.

I told Katerina all the details, how we met that day at the magical lake, our first kiss, absolutely everything up to what we talked about yesterday.

—Hannia, I'm so happy for you; what a pity I won't be able to meet him. I would have loved to see you with him at the party, but don't worry, you can dance with my brother Maximo.

—What do you mean, Alexia? What does she have to do with your brother?

—They have had a relationship for years, although nobody knows it; I discovered them once having sex. I think it's important because today he will come with her; I hate that she is our future Luna. —She told me, and I could see in her eyes that she couldn't stand her.

—You are not the only one; I can't stand her either before we were friends. Still, after my aunt Lexie died, she changed and started behaving hypocritically. She did everything she could to attract everybody's attention, which doesn't suit me.

—I didn't know she and your brother are a couple; is she his mate? — I asked her.

—By the goddess! Of course not; my brother has always said that he is not waiting to find his mate; He is what I call a titled prostitute if you knew how many women he has had and none he takes seriously. Still, this relationship with your cousin is the one that lasts the longest; he always goes back to her. Neither my parents nor your uncle knows.

—You don't know how happy I am that my boyfriend is not like him; I could never fall in love with someone as selfish and superficial as him; I'm glad I haven't seen him when he has come to the herd to see my brother.

Katerina and I continued talking while it was time to go down to the party.

IN XANDER'S ROOM

—Thank you for giving me a chance to leave my stuff here and change, brother; I appreciate it," I said to Xander while I fixed the bow of my tuxedo.

—No problem, you know you can count on me. Besides, you'll practically be my cousin officially,— said Xander mocking me.

—I already told you that it's over between Alexia and me; I already told her this is just a favor she asked me.

—You always say the same thing, and I don't know how good my cousin is in bed, but you always go back to her, Maximo.

—This time is different; I already told you I met someone.

—And who is that woman? Why didn't you bring her today? You could have brought her and made things official, don't take this the wrong way, but for me, it's one more of your adventures, brother, and I don't blame you.

—At the beginning it was, I never thought that things would get to the point where ......—before finishing, someone knocked on the door, and Xander opened it, revealing Alexia with a very sexy dress that left nothing to the imagination.

—At last, I find you, they told me you were here, so I said to myself why don't we kidnap him, from my boring cousin.

—Thank you for my turn.

—It's nothing personal, Xander, but I need the company of my beloved boyfriend. —She shouldn't have said that, but before I could make things clear to Xander, she left and left us alone.

—Don't worry, cousin, I understood perfectly, you see what I was telling you, you always come back. I'll see you later, the party started, and my sister will be down soon; I have to be near my parents to welcome her.

I looked at Alexia, furious, and I pushed her arm away when she tried to touch me —why did you do that? I made it very clear how our relationship would be from now on, practically as friends and nothing more, don't make me regret it.

—I'm sorry, I was playing, don't get mad, come on, let's go, you heard Xander. We have to receive the little princess,— she said, rolling her eyes in annoyance; I knew she couldn't stand her cousin, but I never understood why.

We left Xander's room, and I left my things there, so as soon as this was over, I could change and go in search of my beautiful girlfriend; we went down the stairs. I extended my arm like the gentleman I am, and she took it, gladly getting closer to my body; anyone who saw us would say that we are a couple.

Already at the party, I could see my parents. We approached them;— Son, what a pleasure to see that you arrived early for a change. Alexia did not expect to see you together at an official event. —Said my father looking that Alexia had her arm next to mine, and my mother could not hide her displeasure to see us together. She could not stand Alexia; she always thought she was a pretty selfish person, and now that I know her better I agree with her.

When I tried to clarify why we were together, she spoke first, —Sebastián! Elena!!, you don't know how happy I am to see you. Still, I don't know why the surprise, Máximo and I have had a relationship for years, maybe you have never seen us together, but many knew them.

I was surprised to hear Alexia, and I found her comment in bad taste —Alexia! I said looking at her in a challenging way; I would leave this place one more word.

—My dear, of course, I knew it; I am a witch, you remember. I know my son, and I know the adventures he usually has. Still, he has never shown more attention in any of them; maybe that's why we hadn't noticed you in the map,— said my mother looking at Alexia. I couldn't help smiling a little about my mother's comment.

—And my sister?

—She will be down soon, and she is with the party. If you excuse us we have to say hello to some friends, excuse me. — My father said, and they both left.

I stood there looking around and thinking about my beautiful Ani, how I wish I could be with her right now. At that moment, a call came to my cell phone, when I saw the screen it was her, Ani, people started to walk towards the stairs, I think the party was making her entrance, but that didn't interest me at all.

—I have a call; I'll go outside to answer it; it's too noisy in here,— I said to Alexia, and I ran out of the room.

When I got to the garden, I didn't answer her, I redialed her, but she didn't answer; I sighed for not being able to talk to her, I missed her voice so much, I looked at the time. I still had time —the faster this starts, the faster I will leave here— I put my cell phone in my pocket and went back to the hall; everyone was already around someone I couldn't see her. Still, I imagine she was the party girl.

The truth is that I haven't seen Hannia for so long. I couldn't recognize her, even if she were in front of me. I wasn't interested in wasting my time with a capricious girl, as Alexia always described her. I was looking at the guests when suddenly some arms were around my waist. When I turned around, I saw Alexa very excited.

—Come on, let's go dance; I don't feel like seeing my cousin.

—Alexia, I think I've been with you long enough; I'd better go,— I said, and her face changed completely.

—Maximo, you won't leave without dancing with me, this is a party, and at least you owe me that much.

—All right, one song and I'm leaving.

—One song is all I need,— she said smiling; I didn't understand why she was so happy, she took my hand and led us to the dance floor.

We started to dance, and she was getting closer than usual. When I tried to say something to her. she looked at me, putting her hands around my neck; I could see that her gaze was diverted to the person behind me. When I wanted to turn my head, she just passionately kissed me.

As we used to kiss before, my arms were around her waist because obviously, we were dancing. Still, everything happened so fast that I couldn't even react. When she moved away from me, she had a huge smile; the one always put when she's up to something. I realized that she was still looking at someone, which I imagine was behind me; I was in shock and decided to turn my head to see who it was, and that's when my world fell apart, my heart stopped, and my look was of pain.

Ani! My beautiful girlfriend, the woman I love, saw me making out with Alexia, and she was looking at me with tears in her eyes; shit! What have I done?