It was Annie. Cecilia touched the screen and held the phone to her ear. "Hello, Annie." “Could you pick up some ice cream for me on your way back?” Annie's gentle voice came through. “Of course, I will,” Cecilia replied with a slight smile. As she ended the call, the refreshing evening breeze stirred once more, grazing her skin like a whisper of fur. She faced Ethan again, his golden eyes mirroring the fading sunlight with that recognizable sparkle that always caused her heart to race. "You realize you have a debt to Annie," she remarked, raising an eyebrow. "For not entering the house when you came to get me." Ethan’s mouth formed into a youthful smile. "I'll compensate her for it." “Another time.” She sighed dramatically but smiled. Ethan inched a bit nearer.“It’s getting late,” he breathed, authority laced through every restrained voice. “Let me take you home.”Cecilia nodded, although she paused momentarily, her hand gliding over the bench as she picked her jacket lying upt
His voice diminished, yet his intention was evident. His wolf was prepared to protect her, regardless of being a mate or not. Cecilia moved ahead, narrowing the gap between them. "Ethan, I am grateful for that." I certainly do. However, this is my fight. You don't have to elevate yourself for me. "Above all, you have a reputation and a career to safeguard." Cecilia perched on the garden bench, her hand lay gently on her shoulders. Her gaze was far-off, lips gently ajar, engrossed in contemplation. The gentle whisper of leaves above scarcely pulled her from her daydream. "Cecilia," he whispered, his rich voice slicing through the nighttime atmosphere like silk with a hint of iron. Cecilia glanced up, surprised, but immediately calmed down upon looking at him. Her gaze gentled, and the strain in her shoulders dissipated. No soul but Ethan could have calmed her storm with such tender ease.Ethan came closer to the long bench that Cecilia was sitting on, he couldn't look away from the
Annie grasped Cecilia's hand firmly and guided her ahead as they waded into the crowd of guests assembled for the birthday party. Music blaring, yet Annie remained unfazed by the noise. Whenever her sharp eyes detected a recognizable face, she halted. She will give a quick handshake, a cheek-to-cheek embrace there. Cecilia followed closely, silently observing how Annie moved with a sense of belonging. The celebration circled them like an incoming wave. Sunday evening arrived gradually, the type that painted silver lines across the horizon. Annie stood without shoes on the wooden porch of their balcony, her hair ruffled by the wind. She rested against the railing."Cecilia," she shouted, still facing away. "That friend of yours, Ethan, is still coming tonight. Again."Cecilia, reclining comfortably on the sofa, lifted an eyebrow and laughed softly. "Yes, he is coming today.""I believe he has developed an affection for you." "Weren't you both just introduced?" Cecilia's lips turne
Positioned a short distance off. Janet's gaze met Cecilia’s for a moment. Her eyes then fell, gliding down to the contour of Cecilia’s abdomen. Cecilia acted without delay. She pivoted sharply, seized Annie’s hand with a hold strong enough to fracture bone, and started to move, quickly.They had made it halfway across the courtyard when Annie suddenly pulled her hand away. “Cece!” "You need to act as the brave one in this situation." Cecilia paused, breathing heavily. "She is still your mother," Annie murmured. Cecilia’s stare blazed, a golden flame flickering in her gaze. "She ceased to be my mother the moment she turned me away." "The instant she ran away from me due to my predicament." Her hand instinctively moved to her belly, feeling the pup shift in response to her anger. Annie remained silent. The click of Cecilia's heels echoed sharply on the ground as she turned to face her mother. She advanced with calm precision, her thoughts lost in the distance. She finally stoppe
"I shouldn’t have mentioned it," Hillary said softly, her words nearly lost in the deep silence surrounding them. Cecilia's gaze tightened a bit, yet she didn't reply immediately. Her fingers wrapped around the edge of the fruit bowl on the table. She leaned in and grabbed a strawberry, its aroma intense and sugary. She sank her teeth into it. The sour juice saturated her mouth. Her fangs touched the tender fruit. She concentrated on the texture.After she finally swallowed, she raised her eyes to him. Her voice was soft, consistent. "Simply don't trust all the information you receive." “Particularly not regarding me.” Her words lingered in the atmosphere like a last warning, cloaked in the unexpressed intensity of a growl. Hillary’s mouth opened as if he intended to say something further, but he refrained. He offered a slight nod instead."I have to leave," he whispered. This time, she didn’t give a nod. She merely turned her gaze, grasping for another berry, ignoring him silent
Victor Harris did not refute it. Also, did not confirm it. Merely remained in place, quiet and focused. His gaze fixed on her like a hunter observing a possible partner. She kept her gaze fixed. Her pride wouldn't permit it, nor would the instincts tearing within her. Without saying anything, Victor then turned and departed. Not in a rush, but with a deliberate, strong way that resonated authority with each footfall. Before the weight in her chest could ease its grip, her name slipped through the air from behind."Cecilia!" Cecilia spun around to know and see the person who called out her name like that. Camilla, the sales manager of the HQ branch, was striding toward her, a jacket draped over her arm. "You forgot this in the boardroom," Camilla remarked, presenting it with a slight smile. "Ah." Cecilia moved ahead, taking it. "Thanks a lot." "I didn't even see it." Camilla wiped away nonexistent dust from the sleeve before passing it along. "No issues." "It seemed like you were