Ciro steps in and his gaze wander over my room as I stand by the door. My room was not as large as his, but it was cosy, with off-white walls and a queen-size bed draped in a hand-woven blanket identical to the one I had left for him in his room. The little windows on both sides of my room are open, and the light white curtains are swaying in the summer breeze. I attempted to neatly organise my room, and one thing that I feel would catch anyone's attention the most is the flower arrangements and green plants that I have put around the space to make my room look like somewhat a miniature version of my garden. I watch as his fingertips run over the delicate petal of a wildflower, and a grin blossoms on his lips. I was correct, the flower arrangement did catch his attention. Abruptly he turns around to face me, and I instantly glance away trying to not meet his gaze directly.
“I have heard that you have decorated my room by yourself?” His voice is delicate and soft as he asks and I only nod my head.
“Yes, I hope you liked it.” I meekly say a lovely smile adorns his face.
“I certainly did. It is beautiful. Thank you.” Hearing that he liked how I decorated his room made me smile. Ciro once again glances around my room and returns his attention to me.
"I can tell that you have taken quite a liking to flowers and plants," Ciro says with a smile, and I look up at him. His words bring a smile to my face as I answer looking around at my plants.
"Yes, I find solace in nature. The trees and flowers always welcome me with open arms."
"When we were younger, I used to discover you in the wilderness, nestled among the soft grass and wildflowers. Perhaps your appreciation for nature has only grown over time." As he reminisces about old times, I look up at Ciro with warmth in my eyes.
"It most emphatically did." When our gazes collide once again, I avert my gaze. "Almost nothing about me has changed in the last few years. But you most certainly have. You have grown taller and more robust, now you resemble those the burly warriors in our pack." I giggle and look up at him.
"Do you still like cake and pastries, or have you begun loving raw eggs as well?" Ciro raises an eyebrow at me as I enquire.
"What do you think I am! I could never in a million years stop loving sweets!" Ciro exclaims making me giggle.
"I still enjoy the cakes and pastries we used to steal from the packhouse kitchen, and I have been terribly missing the cakes you used to bake for me," Ciro says with a warm smile on his face and loving eyes staring down at me.
"You still remember." I meekly said and he smiled brighter.
"Of course, I do, cvet." My heart skipped a beat when he addressed me by the nickname, he had given me all those years ago. I was always enamoured of flowers, and in his opinion, I was like a flower, therefore he called me cvet or blossom.
I couldn't move from where I stood as he takes a few steps toward me. As Ciro ground to a standstill in front of me, I felt as if I were glued to my spot. His scent floods my senses, and I could feel the warmth that is emitted from him. I froze as his hand reaches up and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. I couldn't maintain eye contact with him seeing as his eyes were pouring with unspoken affection. (Blossom)
"I remember everything. The days we used to run around the forest, play in the mud in your garden, pick wildflowers and tuck them in each other's hair, staying by your side when you fell ill when you cried on my shoulders because some wolf bullied-"
"-bullied me and you beat him up the next day and came to me with bruised knuckles and wounded face." I finish his sentence and he grins. "Yes, and how you helped me get out of my chamber the next day after Father had locked me up as punishment."
"We were still caught, and Alpha had doubled your punishment." I giggle, and a riot of laughter erupts from his chest. We kept laughing and looked at one other, reliving those days.
After a time, our laughter dies down. I sigh and glance up when I sense his gaze on me. "I remember everything, cvet," he says, as he flashes his brilliant smile at me. " And I had missed you tremendously throughout those days at The Royal Academy." His hand raises once again, and his large palm cups my cheek softly. As I close my eyes and reopen them to look up at him, the warmth of his touch fills me. (blossom)
"And I would like to apologise, Cvetić. For filling you with the dreams and hopes I had had. I had hoped and prayed for you to be my female. But the Goddess is the one who makes the decisions, and we have no control over it. But know this, you were and are my best friend. And you are the one I fell in love with for the first time, Nesta. Even if we are not fated to be together, you will always have a place in my heart and be my first love." As I look up at him, my eyes glisten. None of the words he uttered had a speck of lie in them. I could see his sincerity flash through those splendid eyes of his. (little flower)
"There's something more I would like you to know as well." He says and I ask. "What?"
"The elders believe your wolf is still sleeping, which might explain why I and my wolf couldn't sense the bond. So, instead of rushing to a conclusion, let us wait. Let us wait for your wolf to awaken.”
'Let us wait,' he said, and we did. We are waiting. We wait as time passes, as our friendship blooms once again, as I work on my small garden and he begins working with his father, learning all he needs to take over as Alpha. Ciro comes to see me every day after finishing his work, exactly like he used to when we were kids. And as the day progresses, the she-wolves' hatred for me grows stronger with each second, I spend with him. I could feel their gazes excavating holes and hurling daggers at me. And if glances could kill, I would be six feet under by now. But I don't blame them as I understand all the jealousy those thirsty females feel.
Why wouldn't they be envious when a blessed male like him with such physique, gorgeous face, and power did not even pay heed to them and spent his time with a frail, wolfless female like me? The females of our pack flocked to him at every opportunity, but Ciro, being the gentleman that he is, never even glanced at them in the wrong way. He waited, he only waited for his moon blessed. He didn't even look at me in the wrong way; he just waited to feel the bond. Ciro is a respectful male who wishes to preserve all his attention, emotions and every ounce of his desire for his female. It doesn't matter if it's me or someone else. And Goddess I prayed it was me!
With my knees on the soft soil, I am preparing a new flower bed for the wildflowers I found in the forest. After prepping the soil, I sowed the seeds I had collected and lightly doused them with water. I then took care of the fruit trees I was growing and groomed the flowering plants. Only a few days ago, the flower had been a tight bud, but it had already begun to grow and had a deeper pink hue. They will blossom in only a few days. I simply need to wait a few days before they would be ready to pick. And I can bring the flowers to the empty vase in Ciro's room. He is supposed to return in a few days from the foreign pack he was visiting for business.
I went inside and cleaned myself off. Before exiting my room, I changed into a fresh white midi dress and dried my hair. As I climb the stairs and approach mother in the living room, she smiles at me.
"I'm going to visit Luna Croía. Would you like to come along Nesta?" She asks and I eagerly nod my head.
"Sure thing, mother. What is that you are carrying?" I ask when I notice the pot she was carrying.
"Some of the Vanilice I had made this morning."
"Luna adores the Vanilice you prepare, mother. She would be delighted." Mother smiles as I speak up. We both walk out of our house, and my eyes widen as I notice Ciro's car come to a halt in front of the packhouse. He is already back home! As I make my way toward the packhouse, a smile forms on my lips.
"It appears that Ciro returned home quickly this time," Mother says as she follows me to the packhouse. I turn my gaze to her when I realise, she has stopped sniffing around with her nose held up in the air.
I frown at her, noticing her eyes darting around, looking for anything.
"What happened, mother?" I inquire, and she turns to face the car. I notice her eyes widening and I too look ahead. I draw a sharp breath in as I notice Ciro open the passenger door and help a female get down.
Ciro's gorgeous face flashes a small satisfied smile as his hand yanks open the passenger side door of his car. He offers his hand and a pale hand of a petit female grasps lightly onto his. Her lengthy legs are the first to exit the car and land on the soft earth, followed by the rest of her body. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the female. Her vulcanite-black hair cascades over her shoulders. She has a slender body with a shapely figure. Her waist is wasp-waisted, and her complexion is a gleaming pale. A pair of rapture-blue eyes sits beneath her slender brows. Through her velvety eyelashes, she gazes up at Ciro tentatively. Ciro's eyes gleamed with love and at that moment I knew. I knew my reality and my wretched fate.Ciro with the female by his side turns around towards the foyer of the packhouse. Luna Croía and Alpha Lain smile as they step out of the packhouse to greet Ciro. The immediate expression of surprise on their faces, however, reveals to me that none of them
Delila, my best friend, sprints toward me across the living room with a dazzling smile on her face, and a smile forms on my lips."Delila!" I exclaim as Delila engulfs me in a bone-crushing hug. "When did you come back?" As Delila steps back, I question."I returned just a few moments ago. I went to your house and your mother told me you were here!""Yes, I was preparing some wheat cakes.""Why? You shouldn't do anything but get dressed and look pretty for your Slava!" Delila says, frowning, and my eyes widen. I glance down trying to hide the flash of sorrow in my eyes, Delila's scowl intensifies."The Slava is not for me, Delila. It is to welcome Ciro's female." With a sorrowful smile on my face, I quietly say and look. Delila's confusion grows, and she drags me out of the packhouse."Please don't tell me it's someone else!" Delila pled, and all I could do was smile solemnly."He is blessed with a very beautiful female, Delila. And I know she will be perfect for him and our pack.""Y
“You have to go with me, Nesta! It would be amazing and we would have so much fun!” Delila pleads, and for the hundredth time this week, I shake my head. Just like every year, a wolf party is hosted for the wolves to mingle, and as always, I don't want to go, but Delila is adamant about dragging me there.“I don’t wish to go, Delila. I don’t like these parties. You should go.”“I will go but I want you to come with me! This party only happens once a year!” Delila exclaims, and I completely ignore her very presence and focus my attention on the pups surrounding me."You shouldn't mix with such speed; you will end up ruining the batter," I tenderly say, and the pup nods and mixes the better for cake slower. Delila rolls her eyes and groans.“You forgot how to be fun!” Delila grumbles, and I chuckle as I focus my attention on the pups.It has been a few weeks since the ceremony, and I am in the packhouse kitchen, teaching several eager pups how to make a cake. It's another tranquil day,
My gaze is drawn to the enormous table, and I have the feeling that all eyes are on me. There are expressions of sympathy, pity, contempt, rage, and disgust. My sight wanders across the room and settles on my brother, who is looking down, it must have pained him to see his sister being humiliated like this, and then my gaze falls on Delila, who is seething with rage and has her eyes closed. She opens her eyes to look at me, and I offer her an appreciative nod for not lashing out. I close my eyes and dash out of the dining hall and the packhouse, my head down.Despite the fact that everyone knew, no one ever said it aloud that I am wolfless. Even if they believed me to be cursed or simply thought that I was deemed unworthy to the Goddess, they never voiced it aloud. And, while I am aware of the vile rumours about me and Ciro, no one has ever branded me a whore in front of everyone. Everyone talks about me behind my back, but this is the first time such things have been said directly to
Before we knew it, the moment had come for slower thinking in that soothing amber glow. As I enjoy the soothing breezes brushing my skin through my window and bathe in the symphony of crickets, I feel the tranquil spirit of nature wash over me. When we start getting ready, I feel fully at ease. Delila applies makeup on my face, concealing the dark circles beneath my eyes and the paleness of my skin from the restless night of weeping. She assists me in applying red lipstick and blush in an attempt to make me appear more vibrant and less pale as if I am ill."Isn't this a little too short, Delila?" I anxiously ask, my gaze fixed on my reflection in the mirror."Absolutely not! You have beautiful legs, Nesta. Show them off girl!""All right, fine," I respond hesitantly as I look in the mirror at myself. After a long time, I stepped into a dress that curves and digs into all the contours of my body, making me look like all the females whom males are fascinated in. This dress makes me look
I open my eyes to find myself in a dimly lit room; despite the fact that it is already daytime, no one has opened the heavy drapes to let the sunlight in. The ache in my head ebbs and flows like a frigid tide, yet it is always present. I realise at once why they call it a hangover since it feels like the darkest of clouds has descended on my head and have no intention of lifting anytime soon. My eyes open and close a few times, and when I shift in bed, my entire body groans in soreness. I pull myself up and sit up on the bed. I sigh, massaging my forehead, and the silk duvet that has been covering my body slides off. That's when I notice I'm naked! What! Why in the world am I naked! Oh, my goddess in heaven! What happened last night! How did I end up in this room! That too while naked! As dread overcomes me, I scream in my head. As waves of nausea add to my misery, I instantly wrap myself in the duvet. My phone starts pinging with message after message, and I just want it to shut up!
As I rub my painfully sore body with soap, I wince in pain. My body is covered with purple blotches, particularly on my chest. He must have paid special attention to my bosoms. I feel a rush of heat to my face simply thinking about someone putting their lips and tongue on my breasts. I don't even remember how that might have felt. And that thought alone is enough to dampen my spirits. I wanted my first time to be special, with my moon-blessed. I wished to feel his lips against mine, how his hand would roam around my body, how he would whisper sweet nothings in my ear while he would make love to me. I wished to feel everything. But here I was, rubbing the scent of some male off my body, wondering how it must have felt. I gave myself over to a male whom I might never see again in order to simply quench the flame of some filthy desire. It would be preferable though. It would be better if I never saw that male again. And I'm glad I was drunk enough to not even remember his face.Nausea, a
There is a form of waiting that seems like salty stones kissed by soft onshore winds. It isn't very warm, but there is a sense of tranquilly, of nature, of things to come. Then there's the sort that feels like the head of a mediaeval mace is loose in my stomach and my skull has been pummelling with a large plank of wood. And it was the latter as I waited to feel her, my wolf's presence with in me.After days, months and years of waiting, she finally made her presence known. Taking over my body and mind and shifting her way into the world. It was supposed to be a joyous moment for me and my family. However, this is not the case. Because of my deeds.My body was motionless and in pain as I lay in my bed. Slowly recovering from my first shift at the age of twenty-four. I'm not sure how I got from the healers' chamber to my house, and I'm not sure how long I slept. But when I awoke from my slumber, my mother was nowhere to be seen. And it has been three days, and I still haven't seen her.