LEVI:
Kookie’s new house being ready makes me feel weird. There is a feeling in my chest I cannot quite explain. She will still be in the pack, occasionally meet with me because she is the Pack’s Chief Doctor now, and she is also in the council, but something about her moving out of the royal mansion makes me uneasy. I will not wake up to see her every single day. Maybe it is because I lost her before, and this feels similar to that.
A knock on my door jolts me back to reality. I let out a sigh as I relax back in my chair.
“Come in.”
Donald pushes the door open as I say this. He gives a bow before standing upright.
“I have given the keys to Dr. Kookie,” he says, causing my chest to tighten even more.
“What did she say?” I ask immediately, desperation in my tone. I sound like a child now, but I couldn’t care less because I want to know if she is eager to leave or if she feels this w
LEVI:It has been three days since Kookie and I got together. In the space of seventy-two hours, I have built a future with her in my mind. I have practiced asking her to marry me, asking that we move in as a family, but the more I think of it, the more it scares me. I do not want anything that will make her spiral, but I want to be with her.She hasn’t come around in three days, and it is killing me. I want to hold her again, and this time I do not want to let her go. I want her to be with me forever.“I have put together a list of things working well in this pack and those that are not working,” Donald says, cutting through my thoughts.My mind is back in the present, and I remember that I have a meeting with my assistant concerning the pack. I try to remain in the present as he goes over the list, but I cannot, as I am easily swayed by the thoughts of Kookie and Blue.
KOOKIE:My eyes jolt awake forcefully, and I look around, trying to make out my environment. Then I feel something around my body, which draws my mind back to the present as Levi’s hands cup the side of my body, tugging me towards him. I shift closer to him, and he turns to me.“What is wrong?” he rasps in a tired voice, and I shake my head.I do not know how long I slept, but I am trying to remember if I forgot something. My mind walks through the list. Blue is home with my mum, I do not have to be at the general hospital, and...“Oh, my goddess!” I yelp, pushing Levi’s arms away. I jump out of bed, trying to gather my clothes while Levi struggles to get up.He is still rubbing his eyes while I struggle to get into my dress, which is crumpled.“What is the matter?” He asks, staring at me, half-asleep. I walk to the mirror to zip my dress.
KOOKIE:The sound of his zipper opening sends a chill crawling down my spine. Levi’s eyes don’t leave mine as he strips the rest of the way. He tosses his pants away, and my breath stops. I take his length in, my heart thumping with anticipation. My eyes meet his gaze, and my face reddens.“It’s all yours,” he whispers, rubbing soothing circles on my thighs. I love how gentle he is, but a part of me doesn’t want him treating me like some delicate material that would break.I want every inch of him, but… I do not know how to say that to him, not when it feels like I am walking on eggshells around him. I pull him to me again, capturing his mouth in a kiss. His weight sinks over mine, and I wrap my legs around his waist, his bare length pressing against my stomach. His hands slide under my thighs, pushing me away slightly.H
LEVI:I pull away from Kookie, panting, and as I turn to see Donald standing with Elder Patrick, my brow wrinkles. They both scurry out of the room while Kookie sits still. Knowing this is about Leila makes me angry, and the way Kookie’s face contorts shows she knows too.Clearing my throat, I get to my feet. She sits up, and I put out my hand, expecting her to slap it away or say it was all a mistake, but she takes it.“I am sorry that happened,” I apologize, and she puts on what I think is a fake smile. “Will you wait for me while I take care of it?” I question.“Sure.”Her answer makes my heart jump in excitement. She isn’t running from me anymore. I walk her to the back door of the room, which leads to the hall to my bedroom, and as soon as she is gone, my brow falls flat. I march to the door, drawing it open to see both Donald and Patrick still standing. My heart is raging, and Patrick is
KOOKIE:“It is not that easy,” I say in a low voice, with my heart pounding so hard that I can barely breathe.“It is a simple yes or no.” His voice hits home, and I turn my face with my brows wrinkled, shoving at his chest, but he doesn’t move.“You act like it is fucking easy to make a choice!” My voice goes higher than intended. “Like it is easy to stop loving someone who engraved their entire existence in you. Like it is easy to make yourself hate them and move on with your life.”Tears crawl down my face as I speak, and my voice cracks, but I do not stop.“Making a choice for our daughter was the hardest decision ever, and you can hate me all you want, but I do not regret it.” I sniff, wiping the tears in my eyes.Levi takes a step forward, and I think he wants to give me space to breathe, but his hands wrap around my body, pulling me to his chest. Just like that, the dam of tears overflows, and I am bawling my eyes out on his chest. My body is so weak that I cannot even resist.
KOOKIE:Shock is an understatement of the state I am in. For a second, I try to believe it is all in my imagination, and Levi did not just admit to knowing Blue is his daughter. My mouth hangs open, and words do not come out of it. Levi steps forward.“Did you think I would never find out about her?” he asks, and I try to make out who could have told him. Everything has been confusing lately, and it could be anyone, including my parents.I do not even know what is going on anymore.“Your mother told you,” I say.“No. There are cameras all over your house, and I overheard your parents talk about it,” he says casually, like he is not admitting to a crime.Something explodes in my head as he says this.“What? Are you insane?”“Does that even matter?” he questions.“Yes, Levi, it m