“Would you stop laughing?” I was getting sick of Arianamaking gestures about my situation. We decided to spend some time out during the holidays. Claire couldn’t make it due to a certain engagement at work, so I was stuck with just Ariana who at the moment was finding complete joy in my plight.“I would continue when you are done laughing,” I glared at her.“Sorry Ella, it's just a bit funny,” she continued laughing. “Your dad saw you smooching a man, and he kept quiet all this while, only for you to come back and he dangles it at your face. Forgive me for laughing but it is hilarious.”“You don’t even know how embarrassing that was, I couldn’t even look him in the eye Ari. Aaargh!!” I buried my head on the restaurant table.“Come now, it couldn’t have been that bad...or was it?” Ariana asked when I suddenly went silent.“I don’t think I have ever felt so cringe in my entire life. The fact that he knew about it all this while, makes it more embarrassing. I admit I am not the best at t
.The shrill ring of the phone startled me from my book. Glancing at the screen, a grin spread across my face. It was Nico. The day had been a slow crawl, and his voice was a welcome jolt of excitement."Hey," I answered, my voice bubbling with anticipation. "What's up?""Nothing much," Nico chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. "Except I suddenly have a craving for your company and the open air. Any chance you're free for an impromptu escape this evening?"My heart skipped a beat. "Escape? Does that involve ice cream and stargazing?""Maybe ice cream," Nico teased. "But the stars will have to wait for another night. Rainclouds are brewing, and I have a feeling they'll paint the evening with something more exciting than moonlight."Intrigued, I readily agreed. Within minutes, I was out the door, lucky enough, Dad and Nanny had gone out for a function. A giddy lightness filled my face as I out to meet Nico at the corner. He pulled me into a warm hug, the tension of the past week melti
Rain clung to my skin like the lingering warmth of Nico's touch, a reminder of the passionate whirlwind that had spun us together just hours before. Now, bathed in the crescent moonlight, we stood at the mouth of the ancient cave, Nico's hand a comforting weight on mine.It was quite a struggle to get here. I didn’t think I was ready to be introduced to Nico’s pack yet as his “mate” These were the words heused to describe me, he said it was a wolf thing. I stood still as I looked at the old hexagon cave, memories flashing back in a rush. The first time I was here, I left devastated because I found out Nico was a wolf, and now that I am here again, I am about to be introduced as his mate. My heart raced at the thought.Breathless, I clung to Nico's hand as we approached the mouth of the ancient cave. The rain stopped, replaced by a whisper of wind and moonlight. The cave loomed ahead, dark and mysterious, like a giant mouth ready to swallow me whole. My heart drummed against myribs,
“Are you going to say something or continue staring out the window?” Ariana snapped.I looked back inside, watching Ariana select clothes for the New Year’s Eve getaway. “You know... I am beginning to regret ever letting you know where I stay,” I said jokingly and watched Ariana’s mouth form an “ooo” that brought such a satisfied smile to my face. “Claire never worries me this much,” I stood up to stand beside Claire.“That's true,” Claire agreed smiling.Ariana hung her nose in the air, “I don’t care, Ella,” her voice full of pride. “I would just appreciate it if you were always present you know...not lost in God knows where all the time,” she sucked.I felt a great pang of guilt. My friends needed me, but I was somehow always stuck in the land of rainbows. Of course, new love excites me, it was thrilling infact, but I had to adjust my life also, Nico wasn’t the only person I had in my life.“Okay, what do you want?” I moved closer to Ariana, trying to help her sort the clothes, hopi
Anyone could have seen the tension that rose from the middle of the dance floor, but the music and high jubilees of the clubbers shut out every distraction that Michael and the stranger currently creating. I moved closer to Michael and touched his back, signalling him to let go. But his grip grew tighter and his gaze more fierce. “Ahhh...ahhh...let go...let go,” the stranger cried. “I am sorry if she’s your girl, I was just having a little fun. Nothing personal...ahhh... I promise.”“Look at her face,” Michael commanded “I said look at her face!” the stranger raised his head to look at me, I looked away slightly, feeling embarrassed at the commotion I had caused. “Whenever you see her, never again trouble her, or else...I would come for you,” Michael sounded deadly. The stranger shivered as he nodded, and straightened his hand when Michael finally let go of him.“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said quietly as I walked to the bar. I was grateful that Michael showed up, but I just fe
The house felt like Nanny had left her oven on with nothing inside to bake. Every corner of the room steamed, winter suddenly felt like summer. I tried to adjust my body con gown to knee length as Dad's eyes washed over me, his expression like he had just tasted a rotten mango. I felt sick.Of all places to get caught, it had to be at the CLUB. I shut my eyes as the embarrassment surged through my body. How did Dad get there? What exactly would be my explanation?I was still mad at Nico for his behaviour and his stupid assumption, I didn’t want to deal with anything extra at this point. But Dad’s eyes demanded answers, they were so furious I doubted if it was answers they sought or to reprimand me.“What were you doing at the club on New Year’s Eve Ella?” his voice was calm, but I could see beyond them that he was trying so hard not to blow off on me.“Ariana decided....”“Don’t you dare pin this on someone else,” There it was. His voice finally lost its control.“Caro Mio,” Nanny tri
I felt trapped, both in my house and betweenher Dad and Nico. The home wasn't a cosy nestanymore, it seemed like four wallsholding me captive. Even my beloved books, usually windows to exciting worlds, felt like prison bars. They all tried to reach out to me, but my heart was still too heavy to speak to anyone.Ariana and Claire had come to visit after countless times trying my phone, but Nanny told them to visit some other time. Nico’scalls were endless, he kept calling and texting, apologizing for what he said. I cried while listening to his voicemails, reading his text and looking at his pictures. The house carried a weight heavier than that of a truck filled with cement. There were no more sneaky smiles at dinner, no shared secrets giggled under our breath, no late-night gossip or stories. Every room was heavy with unspoken feelings, like dust bunnies of hurt and misunderstanding. It was suffocating.Nanny, sometimes felt like a warm blanket in a freezing room. She tried to mend
“Don’t tell me it cost a dragon's head to get here,” Arianawelcomed me with her usual sarcastic tone.“You don’t want to know,” I said dryly.“It did?” Claire sounded amused.I finally left home after several days of constant watch from Dad’s interrogative eyes and Nanny’s subjective plea. Dad watched me like a hawk and Nanny assisted when he was not around, her calm voice projecting how much she would always defend Dad “You know Papa loves you, you don’t need to be like that.”Coming out to Claire’s house took a lot of convincing. He offered to drop me off at her place, but Nanny luckily intervened and Dad let me go under the condition of...“What!!!” Ariana and Claire said in unison, amusement running all over their faces as they looked at my location app.“Wait a minute,” Ariana chuckled. “Your Dad asked you to keep it on so he could monitor your location?” her voice filled with questions.I nodded, feeling more damned than the last. “He insisted that I give him the address of Clai