Lucianna
I woke up the next day with morning kisses. Jacob’s face is buried on my neck, showering my skin with wet kisses, his hand on my stomach hugged tighter when he noticed I’m finally awake.
“Good morning?” he asked, chuckling a bit, his head lifted and he smirked at me. I had to roll my eyes from how confident he sounded. Well, he could act that way because clearly, he earned the confidence last night.
I groaned when my body shivered when I shifted. “I can’t believe its morning already. I feel sore all over, and I wonder who’s to blame for this.” I narrowed my eyes at Jacob’s grinning face. “What did you do to me? I think I’m suffering an amnesia or something.”
Jacob let out a throaty laugh. “Come on now, baby, don’t feed my ego too much.” he bent down and planted a quick kiss on my lips.
“Or maybe… I was trying to have some more.” I grinned. “If I’m calculating, you still owe me fifty-nine more.”
He squinted his eyes. “Because. If I may remind, you fainted.” I laughed and he grinned back. “Otherwise, you would’ve explored all my ways.”
I fucking can’t wait.
“Ah-huh. And maybe we can…” I touched his forearm. “…start exploring now?”
Jacob laughed again, this time he pulled me in for another embrace.
“I would be glad to oblige but!” he kissed me again, letting me go completely. “You already missed your Luna Ceremony last night and Mother will kill me if you missed it again today.”
My eyes widened! I what? I missed what?!
“I missed my Luna Ceremony?!” I sat up, letting the blanket fell on my lap. “I missed it?!”
Jacob sat up, too, but his eyes are on my bare chest for a brief moment before it moved back to my eyes. My brow arched because of that but I ignored it because my head is in a haywire!
I had a Luna Ceremony I didn’t attend to!
“I thought I’ve told you.” Jacob pouted. “Well, I won’t blame you for forgetting about it, I forgot it, too.”
My jaw dropped. Okay, fine! I had the best multiple orgasms yesterday and I fainted from it but Jacob? He forgot about it?! He forgot to remind me? Oh goddamn fuck!
“You are not thinking that I should’ve prioritize the ceremony than your urges, right?” His eyes narrowed.
“I fucking am!”
He rolled his eyes. “Well, don’t. Because if time will move backwards, I’ll still forgot it and I will still choose to sate you first. That is better than letting you stand in front of our people with the scent of arousal surrounding you, ain’t it?”
Oh. Well, he have a point. I brushed my hands over my face. Still, I cannot believe it.
“What happened then? How’d it all go?”
“Brent reached to me last night while we’re busy. I ordered the ceremony to be postponed.”
I shut my eyes close, feeling frustrated. All the after-shimmers of what happened yesterday flew away like a flock of birds gotten thrown a stone to.
“And was it too late? Or are the people already gathered?”
He scoffed. “Alright, baby, I don’t think it will be best for you to hear all the gory details.”
I whimpered because of that answer. So the whole pack was there and had waited for me!
Instead of answering more, I threw my face back on the bed, burying it on the pillow and screaming as loud as I could.
**
“Line the dresses here, no! Not there! Yes, perfect!”
I could hear Anabel’s cheery voice coming from inside her house. She called me earlier today about the gown fitting, saying I had to choose when I asked her to pick for me.
But I want to pick it for myself. I was just too ashamed about not showing up yesterday! What would she think about me? The people? The council? It’s not like I got a cold feet type, right? Heck, its better if they will think I got scared than knowing I was having the best orgasms of my life!
And now? My heart is pounding loud and fast, I’m freaking nervous in meeting her mom! Anabel must’ve know what happened, probably figured out why I didn’t make it to last night’s ceremony!
“Anabel is so busy, I could tell.” I whispered as Jacob and I walked closer to the front door. Several orders and yell came from inside and I sighed.
“She loves ceremonies.” he shrugged. “Why are you still nervous?” he sounded concerned but a tiny smile formed his lips, betraying his act. I rolled my eyes.
“Shut up.”
He chuckled then leaned closer that his lips touched my earlobe. “Stop acting cute or you’ll gonna miss the ceremony for the second time.”
I slapped his chest and he laughed hard.
“You’re both here! Why aren’t you coming inside!” Anabel’s high-pitched voice said as she walked to us.
“Hi, Anabel.” I greeted, inching away from Jacob to meet her halfway.
She jumped as she walks and locked me into an embrace. “It’s nice seeing you again, Lucianna.” she let go and smiled at me before glancing at Jacob. “Now get away from her and go to your father.” she snapped with arched brow.
Jacob smirked at me before moving on his heels. “Catch ‘ya tonight!” he said, lifting a hand as a wave.
Anabel smiled at me once Jacob was out of sight. “I’ve made some tea, I hope you like tea.” she guided me inside, one arm around me.
I nodded, still feeling nervous. The way she talked with Jacob, fuck me, I know she’s aware of my reason for not showing up last night!
She poured me a cup as we sat on her living room. I noticed the dresses lined up in front of us, there’s four of them.
Anabel walked to the dresses. “Here are your options for the ceremony tonight.” she touched them one by one. “I personally picked the designs, and I’m torn which of these dresses will you like.”
I bit my lip and eyed the dresses. “I-I love them all, to be honest.”
“I do, too! It’s a such a hard decision, right? Sadly, we only get to pick one.” she pouted. We both stayed silent as we eyed the four beautiful dresses.
One is a white BodyCon dress with emerald green lace falling from the hips down to the ankles, the front is open and there’s green details on the top.
Next is an empire waist dress, this one is olive green and white combined. The length is down the ankle.
Then, a one shoulder white A-Line with emerald green details on its hem.
And the last is a halter top, deep V-neck maxi dress, also in the white color and green sequined details from the hem up to the knees.
Damn. They are all beautiful. But I think I already fell in love.
“I picked the dresses that will match your eyes. Well, I thought of having it in green color but its tradition to wear white for the ceremony.” she smiled and stood up. “Come, you can try them on.”
I stood up but my eyes was glued to the last dress. That halter top, and the deep-V, together with those fine shimmers on its hem? Damn.
“Oh.” Anabel gasp, looking back to where my eyes are fixated and walked to it. “You want this one!” she grinned.
My cheeks flushed, suddenly guilty that Anabel go through all the trouble of showcasing the dresses.
“N-No, I can try them all--”
Anabel grunted and then chuckled. I frowned, eyes questioning as I watch her walk to my way. “Honey, this is your day. Not mine. You don’t need to please me, okay? I am here to please you, actually.” she smiled wide.
I gulped. She is right. I ain’t need to think so much and just enjoy this day! The day where I’ll finally be in my dream, a Luna ceremony!
“And I am so pleased, Anabel. Thank you so much.” I hugged her without even thinking and as if electrocuted, I jumped away with wide eyes. “I’m sorry, I was so touched with your efforts that I--”
She cut me off when she hugged me tighter than I did. “You can hug me as long as you want, Lucianna.” then she let go and smiled. “You’re part of the family.”
Family. My eyes watered. Its been so long. I keep on dreaming, hoping to start a family with Jacob but its late that I realized I already have one.
The moment my eyes met Jacob’s, I already have a family. I’m already a part of one. And later, after the ceremony… my family gets bigger. A whole pack I will call sisters and brothers until the day I die.
“Come, give your chosen dress a try.” Anabel pulled my hand and I smiled from how her warmth resembles Jacob’s.
**
Remember when I was hell-bent into having a mate from a strong pack? Because of what? Because of the parties, yeah!
Being in the second strongest pack of the North, Shadow pack sure know how to celebrate! I arrived at the Hall, which is the venue Jacob and Anabel agreed to held the ceremony, and the place is full!
Loud music, booze, and everyone was dancing!
“This is just how I remembered things were!” Anabel said, popping on my side with hands clasp together. “Shadow pack is always alive, it’s warming my heart so much.” she continued.
I smiled at her, looking at the crowd, I could say she was right. If Anabel says the pack has been like this ever since, then the pack is not just good at parties. They are damn awesome.
“Jacob and Roscoe grew up full of love, here at this pack. No matter what happened in the past, I’m glad they made up.”
I nodded. “I didn’t expect they will make up fast but I’m glad they did, too.”
Anabel chuckles. “Oh, those two.”
“Was Roscoe around?” I asked, looking around to see if he had come back from Prime.
“He’ll arrive soon. And I thank you, Lucianna. I know you helped fix things between them. I’m glad you are here, you’re a daughter I could ever wished for.”
I smiled when she reached and held my hand.
“I didn’t do much, to be honest. Just all talking and stuff.”
“Well, that talking and stuff cleared the deadly atmosphere of my sons. I’m sure you’ll be a great mother.”
Shiver ran down my spine as her words registered in my head. Suddenly, everything around us felt like it moved in a slow motion. I looked around and the people dancing was laying on the floor, blood oozing out of their body.
My breathing heaved and my exhales are loud in my ears.
The smile on the people’s faces turned into whines, cries and tears. In the middle of them all stands a boy, a young wolf with blood all over its face and its claws.
I cannot conceive this child. I couldn’t bring him in this world. I couldn’t risk the life of all this people.
“Lucianna?” I heard Anabel called but I can’t relax.
“What’s wrong with her?” I heard Jacob’s voice, followed by a hand gripping on my shoulders.
“Maybe she got cold feet? Overwhelmed by the crowd?” said Brent’s voice.
They are all here but I couldn’t see them. What’s in my head are the pictures of the possible future, replaying again and again in my head.
“Lucianna. Lucianna!”
I blinked.
Once, twice.
An then I saw him. Jacob’s worried face right in front of me, his eyes fixated on mine, his hands cupping my face.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” he asked, rather softly.
Slowly, I heard my heart calmed. The heartbeat that was pounding on my chest like crazy was now as stilled as a pond.
I nodded fast. “I-I’m fine.”
Jacob looked at me. He really looked and I know he read the lie in my voice. I am not fucking alright. I am scared, nervous, devoured by fear.
“Are you nervous, honey?” Anabel asked, her expression mirrors his son’s.
I tried to smile at her, though I’m not sure if I pulled it out fine.
“The ceremony is about to start, but take her somewhere to get a breather, Jake.” Brent said.
Jacob’s jaw clenches but his hand went to the small of my back, pulled me to his side and the next thing I knew, we are walking away from the crowd.
“W-Where are we going?” I asked once I got my focus back. I looked back and saw the people downstairs. Fuck, how distracted am I that I can’t remember going through the stairs?
Jacob opened a door and it was dark, only a dim light coming from a lamp at the corner gave life to the room.
I cleared my throat, cleared my head before looking at Jacob. The expression of his face tells me that he won’t think twice to postpone the ceremony again.
My head shook slowly from the thought.
“No, I’m fine, Jacob. I just…” I cleared my throat again. “I was just distracted.”
He studied my face then his eyes went to my neck, watching my pulse.
“What’s making you afraid, then?” he asked, a low and careful voice.
There is no way I’ll tell him about the images that flashed in my face if he hadn’t already know about it. But then, he knew. And partners should share their problems.
“I…” I exhaled, loud. “…I was scared of having a pup. It just popped up, a random thought but my head stretched the whole thing and I was consumed by it. I just blacked-out next thing I knew.”
My eyes can’t take his so I looked at the light from the light.
Jacob took a moment before he could speak, and I know that like I am, his mind may be in a haywire as well.
I thought he will be furious about all these situations, because I am, you know. I wanted to shout, to whine, to break things. There are a lot of people in this world, different regions and realms. SO WHY WOULD FATE PICK US?
But Jacob did the otherwise. He pulled me in, arms wrapped around me. He doesn’t feel like he wanted to explode like I do. He just felt comforting.
And one question was planted in my head: How can such calm and gentle man produce an evil? There’s no sense.
“We got this, baby.” he whispered.
That four words struck me.
Yes. Yes we got this. This is not Lucianna or Jacob alone. We are not working on this individually, we shouldn’t. Heck, I shouldn’t.
Family supposed to work as a team, because there is no ‘I’ in that word. I was fucking overthinking when it was Jacob who’s supposed to.
“Aren’t you scared?” I asked in a whisper.
Jacob chuckled a bit, ending it with a sigh. “Scared to the bones, baby.” he paused. “But I know that I will do everything it takes to make things right. I’m in the middle of a battle against myself, and it was hard, baby, it is. Though, the thought of my kick-ass brave mate pulls me out of my worries. With you, I know I will always win.”
Jacob scares me every time. He does, and it’s messing me up, stirring my insides like hell. It was now that I realized I should see him more as an inspiration, my own motivation, than to be scared of him.
“Wow, I… I never thought of it that way.” I chuckled, trying to hide my shame.
He kissed the temple of my head. “Hm, it’s alright. There are new things to learn everyday.”
I scoffed. “You’re already doing it, conditioning your mind and I’m in the process of realizing it. I feel dumb.”
He chuckled this time. “That’s the last word I’ll describe you, baby.”
I snickered. “Well, duh. You already called me dumb before.”
“I did?”
“I was in a daze and you said I looked dumber.”
His eyes narrowed. “And why are you in a daze?”
I cleared my throat upon remembering the answer to the why.
“Tell me, so I’ll know why I called you the word.”
“W-Well, you kind of fascinate me… I think you were hot and handsome that I drooled over you from time to time.”
I feel like a little girl confessing to a crush from what I said. Fucking hell, the thought of how my old self act around him before was embarrassing!
“Hm, then I was turned on.”
“What?”
“I was turned on whenever you’re eyeing me. It feels like you see me as your own personal dessert.” he smirked.
“And calling me ‘dumb’ was to?”
“To shoo you away so you won’t notice I’m having a boner each time.” he smiled wide.
I covered my face with my palms. “Oh, god, I don’t wanna hear more.”
He laughed and kissed me on my lips. “You look beautiful, by the way.” he said after the kiss, looking down at my body., His eyes stayed a few second on the deep line of the dress where my cleavage must be saying ‘Hi’ to him.
“I just ruined the memorable ‘first look’, huh?”
You know when the female dresses at her best, looking her best and feeling at her best and then the man sees her scene? My overthinking ghost just made me lose that!
“Not to me, baby. I was stunned when I saw you earlier, feeling like I’d rather push you in the wall and tore you out of that dress. I had the memorable ‘first look’, as you calls it.”
The thought made me squirm. Ugh, fine. I’m still all sensitive even though he warmed me up so well.
“Whatever. Let’s go back to my ceremony! Anabel and I worked this up, I can’t miss it again!”
He groaned. “Are you sure you don’t want to…”
“No. No. No. Let’s go back. Now, Jacob.”
He laughed, opened the door and gestured for me to go out of it first. I rolled my eyes off him and strode outside.