Celeste's POV
Sparks danced through my entire form, my skin bare against Xavier. My back to his chest, his arm thrown over my middle, our legs tangled together. I hum, fully content to lay here in his hold forever. But I'm sweaty and despite Xavier trying to clean me up as best as he could last night, me too worn out to even move, I still feel sticky down there. I try to ignore it but I can't. Prying Xavier's arm from me proves to be a harder task than I thought. "Xavier," I whine. "Let me go."
He grumbles, stirring behind me. I feel his member harden against my ass and I gasp. He chuckles, pulling me even closer. "And just where do you think you're going?"
"I need to shower." I huff, pushing at his arm enough that I can turn and look at him. My shoulder stretches and I grimace. It's started hurting less and less but it still feels like a moderate amount of pressure I wouldn't have previously noticed.
"Are you okay?" He trails his hand up my side, laying it on my shoulder and tracing his thumb around the bandage. I sigh, the sparks bringing a relief I didn't think of as a pain reliever. If only I could keep his touch all day.
"Yeah, I'm okay." I lean up, pressing my lips to his and slip out of bed. My legs are sore as I pad my way to the bathroom and I can't help but waddle on my way.
Last night. . . Better than any of the books I'd read. Xavier is always a little demanding in bed and I knew he was being kind. At first. Then. . . I bring my hand to my cheeks as I feel that all too familiar blush.
The shower is hot and refreshing after the night I had. My shoulders relax and I find myself trying the stretches Zay showed me. My arm is stiff, a feeling of intense pressure as I attempt to stretch it out under the water. I bite my lip, huffing through until my arm is straight in front of me. It's uncomfortable and the pressure increases as it stays stretched out.
A knock comes on the door. "You okay, baby?" I huff, guiding my arm gently down to my side. His bare foot steps are just barely audible under the still running water. There's a ruffling of clothes and then the curtain is pulled back; Xavier stepping into the shower. His eyes drift down my form, his eyes darkening. He closes them, taking a breath. I step towards him, leaning my head on his chest and closing my own eyes. His arms wrap around me, his hand stroking up and down my arm.
Xavier insists I put the sling back on despite my new found progress. "When Zay says you can stop wearing it, then you can. Only then." I huff at this but agree that he's probably right.
I knock on Lycer's door, leaning against the frame. When he opens it, he's not even dressed yet. Shirtless in a pair of sweats I bought for him, his light blond hair flying wildly about. His eyes land on my neck immediately, his eyes widening. "Is that-" I nod. "Congrats, Celestial. Or should I call you Luna?" I roll my eyes, pushing past him.
"Only when you officially join the pack, can you call me that." I sit on his unmade bed. He gives me a small smile, walking past me and into his closet. "So today we're going to tour the pack grounds, yeah?" He calls out his confirmation from inside the closet. I smile. "Great! I was thinking we could maybe have lunch with Lesa. She lives not far from the town square so it would be perfect."
"The one who's pregnant, yeah?" He asks, stepping out while pulling a deep brown sweatshirt over his head. I nod.
"Yeah, I figured we could basically check in on her. Make sure everything around the house is set for the baby; though, Xavier wants her to stay at the pack house for at least the first few days."
"Will she go for that?"
"Maybe! I'd like to think so but if she wants time alone then that's understandable."
"Where's her mate?"
I go quiet, my smile fading and my heart giving a harsh 'thud-thud.'
"Celestial? Did I-"
"Her mate was Christopher. She- she rejected him when she found out what he'd done." I close my eyes and I'm back in that white room. The back of my neck burns as though I'm there and my necklace is being ripped off of me. He was going to use me to trick Xavier. I shudder at the thought of him back in this pack.
The bed dips and Lycer's arm goes over my shoulder, pulling me into his side. "That's why he was with Malum," he whispers, maybe more to himself than to me. "Idiot. Whatever Malum promised him is a lie."
"If Christopher's still with him then. . . I'll get some of the warriors to be with her until this is all over."
Lycer gives a small laugh. "Look at you, being all Luna." I smile again. "With your mark, you get a ceremony, yeah?"
I nod. "The Luna Ceremony. Yeah. You'll get to meet Shia when it happens. Zay's mate, she's a magi." His eyes widen and I give a chuckle. "I know. I was just as shocked."
"Does that mean Zay is. . ." He trails off, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Is. . . What?"
He shakes his head. "Um, just - it's incredibly rare for Magi to have beloveds who are a different species. Not unheard of. Just. . . Rare."
"I'm not surprised. She's the only magi I've ever met, no one ever comes here besides her."
"The magi do not casually interact with others. No, they'd likely go to a council rather than a pack or individual. You said I can meet this magi?"
I nod. "She said she'd make it for my Luna Ceremony."
He shakes his head, letting out a little laugh, mumbling, "That's so cool." I lean my entire weight into him, shoving him off me and to flop back on the bed.
"Let's go."
Breakfast was a smaller group today. Just Xavier, Lycer and I. I was kind of relieved Jacob and Josh were off training. I don't think I could handle Josh's teasing so early in the morning. Before I had walked in, I found myself moving my hair over the mark in case Josh or anyone else joined us. It wasn't that I was ashamed, I don't think - It just. . . feels a bit awkward to announce to the world, 'I just had sex!' I shudder at the thought. However, the second I sat down, Xavier pulled my chair beside his and pulled my hair back, brushing his finger lightly over the constellation. The sparks shot through me at a rate higher than they ever had before. Not even when we. . . My toes curl and I bit my lip to stop the gasp. Xavier sat there all of breakfast, a smug smirk on his face as he talked to Lycer. His leg brushed mine the entire time.
I picked mine and Lycer's first stop as one I knew he would like. The pack library. It was more than twice the size of the one in the pack house. I didn't often spend time here but I occasionally had to pick up a book for my lessons. Right now, my goal is to read through all the books in the pack house and then move on to tackling the library. Though, some of the academic books confuse me. . . I'll save those for last.
Half of our morning went by before I dragged him out of there and into the music store leading to the center of the town square. I always just stared at the instruments, thinking them so beautiful. I would listen to others gently playing little tunes here and there and the subtle sound of the radio humming from one of the corners of the store. I was surprised to see Lycer pick up a few instruments and start playing several notes. The guitar came at less of a shock but when he picked up the violin, I was in awe at the simple half maybe less of a song he pulled from it.
"Where did you-"
"Dear old Dad," he said, in a somewhat mocking tone. "Hated it at the time but it's proven useful over the years."
He didn't pick up any more but the way he caressed the side of the large cello and the way he grabbed several brass instruments off the walls told me there was more to tell. Partially, I was in awe at this person I called my best friend. It also made me wonder who this person I called my best friend really and truly is.
We stopped at the little bakery right on the square and picked up a box of sweets to take to Lesa's. A few brownies, some tarts, two squares of fudge. When I get pregnant, I know I will single handedly keep that shop in business, no matter what Xavier says.
Lesa is waiting at the front door of her new little house to greet us, leaning against the door frame with one hand cradling her large belly. I wrap her in an embrace as best as I can, gushing over the size of her and how glowy her skin is. I hope my skin is as nice as hers when the time comes. Lycer smiles, attempting to shake her hand but she pulls him in for a hug anyways. He relents and leans into the smaller round woman, holding the treats out from between them. "Is that from Lenires?" Lycer looks to the box to confirm the name and nods. Lesa snatches it out of her hands, immediately pulling out a piece of fudge and taking a bite.
"Hey! We brought those to share! Don't hog," I whine. She rolls her eyes, handing me the walnut caramel fudge piece. I lean forward and take a bite while she still holds it, humming in satisfaction. That bakery. . .
"Aren't we here for lunch?"
"Shut up!" Both Lesa and I say before breaking out into a chorus of giggles. She pulls me into the house and Lycer follows after. Lesa, as we're walking, leans over to brush my hair from my shoulder, giving me a wink when she sees the new mark. I feel my cheeks heat but ignore her, after a playful shove to her side.
Lesa already has lunch waiting on the table. A beautiful crusted casserole, a side of seasoned green beans, and a small green salad tossed in a bowl. "Wow, smells amazing," I compliment. "I hope it wasn't too much trouble."
"Trouble? Please, Hanna has been dropping off meals for me for a few weeks now." She sits with a wince, hand curling on her stomach as she takes a deep breath. "Baby boy doesn't allow me to do much cooking myself, these days." She continues to hiss out several deep breaths before settling in her seat.
"Lesa, are you okay? We could grab Zay?" Lycer eyes her then me with alarm.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be much better when-" She hisses a breath through her teeth, leaning forward and gripping the table.
Lycer walks over to her, gently putting a hand on her back and rubbing gentle circles. "Lesa, I think you might be having a contraction." My eyes widen. "When did you say the baby is due?"
"Not for another week." Lesa leans back, sighing with relief that the pain must be gone.
"No, I think this is happening now."
"I'll link Zay."