Celeste's POV
Reading with one hand was also proving difficult. I nearly screamed the third time I tried to flip the page and ended up closing the book. I huffed, throwing the book down.
A whistle came from the door. "Wow," Lycer stretched. "You guys have a whole ass library?"
"Is it as big as the one at your dads?"
He shakes his head. "No, his was much bigger. Sorry, Celestial but he's got you beat there."
"Damn," I say in a false devastation. "How'd you find me here? I wasn't expecting to see you until dinner."
"I bumped into Josh? He told me you tend to be in here or the kitchen and this seemed like a more fun option."
I roll my eyes. "Cooking is lots of fun."
"I was always a book boy, myself." He gives a dramatic bow, bouncing back up and sauntering into the room. He studies the shelves and many seating options. One book seems to grab his attention in the historical section. I've read a decent deal of that section for my studies but the one he grabs I'd only ever passed over. Deep blue but faded with lettering that may have once been metallic on the spine. "'History of Lycans, Vampires, and Magi, Volume One.' Seems a little small to cover the importance of all three species."
"It is only volume one," I offer.
"They should just separate the species. Cover one at a time." I shrug, pushing myself up. It's an awkward moment of me realizing my usual bean bag was a terrible idea. I end up flopping back down with a huff and giving Lycer a pleading look. He puts the book back and walks over to give me a hand. He pulls a little too hard and my nose hits his chest. I whine, hand going to my nose, but Lycer gives no sympathy. Instead he gives a small laugh. "Do you think we still have time for that pack tour?"
I give a glance to the clock, shaking my head. "Dinner is soon. But c'mon, I'll introduce you to Hanna if she's in the kitchen today. She's taught me most of what I know." He gives me a look that I can't figure out. "Lycer?"
"Sorry." He shakes his head. "Yeah, that sounds great."
The kitchen staff today consists of only Hanna and an older gentleman I know as Julian. I give him a smile but he pulls me into a hug, welcoming me home. Hands on my cheeks, he's the only one to say he's sorry the Goddess let me come home in this state, let me be taken in the first place. I pat his hand, assuring him that I'm okay. I tell him to ignore the sling and it'll be gone in no time.
Hanna waits patiently, a smile gracing her heavily freckled face. Her dirty blonde hair is tied up and under a net but she's still a picture of beauty. Always has been and she has the personality to match. "Hanna," I take her hand, pulling her towards Lycer who stands awkwardly by the door. "This is my best friend Lycer. Lycer, this is Hanna. Food extraordinaire and future restaurant owner."
"Nice to meet you," Hanna says quieter than I've ever heard her speak before. She wipes her hands on a towel and holds one out. Lycer places his hand in hers, returning the greeting as a pink sweeps over her cheeks.
"Celeste tells me you're not only a great cook but a great teacher?"
She shrugs. "I wouldn't say great but I suppose I can share what I know when the right moment comes along."
"She is a great teacher," I insist. She fumbles over her thanks. "It smells amazing in here! What's on the menu?"
"Tonight we're having a fresh caprese salad with a grilled halibut served with lemon wedges."
"That sounds amazing," Lycer compliments.
A knock sounds on the wall. I turn to find Jared with his head peaked through the door. "Hey."
"Hey?" Not to be awkward because I know he's Xavier's best friend but Jared and I have never really interacted just the two of us.
"Delian is in the living room. I think she's worried you're mad at her." My heart breaks.
"Lycer, I'll be right back." He gives me a nod and turns to ask Hanna a question.
Jared leads me to Delian who sits on the edge of the couch, her lip between her teeth. "Deili, the Luna is here." Her little blue eyes find mine and I can already see them welling with tears. Her lip breaks free of its hold and wobbles. I quickly kneel in front of her and use my good arm to pull her into a hug. She begins to loudly cry into my shoulder, breaking out in apologies several times over.
"It's okay, I'm okay," I assure her. "No one is mad at you, okay?" She nods into my embrace, her tears continuing in a quieter manner. I pull back and wipe at her round cheeks. Jared hands me a tissue and I help clean up the snot that's falling from her nose. "Look at me, Delian. I'm home. Everything is okay." She lifts a shaky hand and points it to my injured arm. "What? This? This is nothing," I lie with a smile. "You should see the other guy." She gives a small giggle.
"I'm really sorry, Luna," she whispers, wiping at her eyes with her arm. "They-"
"They are bad people, Delian. And I'm sorry if they scared you. Were they scary?" She nods, lip trembling. "Yeah, I bet." Jared sits down beside her and rubs her back. "Sometimes we do what we feel is necessary to deal with the scary things in life. And it's not always the best choice we make." She shakes her head. "But we can't go back, yeah? So we go forward." I squeeze her knee.
"But- but-"
"No buts." I shake my head. "Those mean bad people don't deserve your fear or your sadness, right?"
"No," she mumbles.
"Exactly." I give her cheek a playful pinch until she gives a small giggle. Jared gives me a smile. "So what do you say, you and I just move forward?" She shrugs.
"Are the bad people gone, Luna?" I look to Jared. His jaw is tight.
"Not yet. But the Alpha and your daddy are going to get them to go away, alright?" She nods. "Good. Everything is okay, okay?" She gives me a nod, her lip still pouting and eyes still watery. "Now how about you go wash up for dinner and I'll see you there okay?"
"Thank you, Celeste." Jared gives me a small smile and takes Delian to go wash up, holding her on his hip, even though she's almost too big to do so, and rubbing her back.
There's a thudding coming down the stairs and Xavier appears, a bright smile making it's way to his lips when he sees me. He crosses the living room and pulls me from the couch, his lips finding mine. I squeal at the sudden attack and push back at his chest with a giggle. His kisses my nose, swaying me in his arms. "How was the rest of your day?"
"Good." I lean my head on his chest, falling into our gentle musicless dance. "Read a little bit, introduced Lycer and Hanna. I think she might be a little smitten." I smile. "It'll be good to have some people on his side." I pinch his side.
"Hey!" He swats at my hand. "I'm on his side."
"Then act like it." I pull back with a roll of my eyes, grabbing his hand and dragging him to the kitchen.
Lycer is already sitting down when we enter. Xavier and I join him in our usual spots. Xavier unnecessarily clears his throat. "How are you finding the pack so far?"
Lycer raises an eyebrow, glancing at me then back to Xavier. "Um, everyone I've met seems generally nice; though I haven't seen the grounds yet."
Xavier raises a brow this time. "I thought Celeste gave you a tour this afternoon?"
I shake my head. "No, Lycer wasn't feeling well after breakfast."
He hums. "I'm sorry about that. You're coming in an odd time of year. End of fall, beginning of winter. . . the packs probably divided between the seasons."
"It really is," I say. "I went out on my own, the fall/winter divide seems to be almost a contest in some of the shops."
"Then of course the snow is already sticking."
"I don't mind the snow with shoes," Lycer says casually. This causes Xavier to pause.
"I remember, as a kid, staying in wolf form all winter." Mom hated it, said it felt restricting to stick to any one form.
"I did too, after my Mom passed. Warmer, easier to hunt, no odd looks if you accidentally come across someone." Lycer gives a chuckle. "Rather, I think my wolf form scares humans more than most."
"It's your fur, it intimidates them." I shrug. He's just so blonde.
"We don't get too many humans around here. Closest human town is almost an hour drive away with the smaller of the mountains over an hour the opposite direction. If any humans even pass by our roads, they tend to be on the way to the mountains or the next town over. Occasional hunters but we own the land, have signs up miles off telling humans not to cross."
"Probably for the better. I've spent enough time in human towns to know they're definitely not the greater of the species." Lycer gives a small laugh and I'm pleasantly relieved to find Xavier joining in with agreement.
Hanna and Julian begin to set the table as everyone starts to trickle in. Delian glares at Lycer as soon as she sees him, only relenting when he gives up his seat next to me. Instead, he sits between Zay and Josh. Still, he occasionally makes conversation with Xavier halfway across the table. A weight I didn't know was on my shoulders lifts.
Xavier pulls back the covers for bed, giving a long sigh. "How did I do?"
I roll my eyes, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. "You did great, thank you." He smiles, climbing into bed. I flop down next to him, immediately burying my head in his chest. He pulls me close. "Do you think he'll join the pack?"
"For you, I'm sure he'd do anything." I hum, not quite liking the answer.
Xavier's scent begins to lull me, his lips finding my forehead. "Celeste?" I hum. "Baby?" I blink several times, pulling myself back from sleep, and look up to my Xavier. "I love you." My heart stills suddenly then quickly begins to beat again. I pull myself up and he helps as I fumble, giving a small rumbling laugh.
"What?"
His hand finds my cheek, tilting my head up towards him. He presses his forehead to mine. "I love you." His kisses the tip of my nose. "And I know you deserve for this to be said in a romantic setting with flowers and music but I can't not tell you anymore. I love you."
I feel as though my heart has jumped to my throat. Still - "I love you too." He smiles and I know he already knows. "I- I was too scared to tell you. I don't know why but I'm not anymore. Goddess, I love you, Xavier," I say through a laugh.