The ExtraOrdinary Luna

Choice

Seth gazed at Edith, who lay facing him. Her complexion was pale—almost the same shade as her blonde hair. Fatigue lingered on her delicate features, yet it did nothing to diminish her natural beauty.

"May I touch your belly?"

Edith’s eyes fluttered open, and she remained silent. She stared at Seth, trying to process his words. The reality of being in his presence unsettled her, yet she forced herself to brush aside her discomfort and surrender to the moment. Though she loathed the situation, she resolved to tolerate his touch—at least, in this instance.

Her piercing green eyes met Seth’s, cutting through his defences just as they had that night. He felt his pulse quicken, the blood surging through his veins with alarming intensity.

A strange tremor overtook his body, his breath becoming unsteady. He clenched his eyes shut. He couldn't reveal the truth to her yet—not now. He turned away, evading her gaze.

"Not now," he murmured. "Get some rest."

"I need to make sense of all this, Seth. I'm exhausted—exhausted from constantly fighting with you. Please, I just need time."

"Very well, Edith. I understand."

Edith woke with a start, fragments of the previous night flashing in her mind. She vividly recalled those glowing yellow eyes—eyes belonging to a creature twice her height, its powerful form looming over her. She remembered the moment it had leapt towards her… and then, nothing. She must have fainted.

Pushing aside the tangled sheets, she made her way to the window. Drawing back the curtains, she squinted at the bright sunlight. Outside, a vast lawn stretched before her.

Her gaze fell upon Seth, deep in conversation with an older man. From the tense expressions and clipped gestures, it was clear the discussion was serious. Then, as if sensing her eyes on him, the older man glanced up.

He muttered something, and in an instant, Seth turned towards her. He hesitated for a brief moment before saying something to the man and striding back towards the house.

Moments later, the bedroom door swung open. Seth stepped inside.

"Do you need anything?" he asked. "Lunch is being prepared. My parents would like to meet you—we’ll be dining with them. I’ve set out some clothes for you. Get dressed."

"But I have something to say first, Seth. Lunch? Like this?" She gestured at herself, still dressed in yesterday’s attire.

"It’s just lunch. Nothing too formal. You can tell me whatever it is afterwards."

Her eyes flickered to the neatly folded dress resting on the table. It was undoubtedly meant for her. Deciding she needed to freshen up, she headed to the bathroom. The feel of warm water against her skin would surely help clear her mind.

Fifteen minutes later, as she stood in front of the mirror, she caught sight of Seth entering the room. Their eyes met in the reflection.

"Is it time?" she asked.

"Yes. My parents are waiting."

A wave of tension coiled in her stomach. This felt like an audition—one where the final decision could make or break her. Taking a steadying breath, she stepped out of the room, walking alongside Seth, who exuded effortless confidence.

The dining room was grand, with a large wooden table surrounded by six chairs. Two of them were already occupied—one by the older man she had seen earlier, and the other by a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Seth.

"Hello, Edith," the woman greeted warmly. "You look lovely. Please, sit down."

"Thank you, ma’am," Edith replied hesitantly.

"Just call me Hope," the woman said with a gentle smile.

Seth pulled out a chair for her, and she sat down, glancing at the spread before her. The dishes were mostly meat-based, and their rich aroma made her stomach growl in anticipation.

"I’m delighted Seth has finally brought you here," Hope continued. "We were quite excited when he told us about his choice of companion. Has he been treating you well?"

"Absolutely, Hope. He’s been… considerate," Edith answered, though the words felt foreign on her tongue.

"I’m glad to hear it."

The older man, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "We’ll talk after lunch." His voice was firm yet composed, much like his demeanour. His accent stood out—different from Seth’s, suggesting he wasn’t originally from Britain.

The conversation faded into silence as they focused on the meal. Edith found herself contemplating Seth’s parents. Hope was warm and welcoming, yet something about his father exuded an unspoken authority.

After lunch, they moved to the living room. Edith sat beside Seth, her nerves prickling at the change in atmosphere. Hope remained cheerful, but an unspoken tension lingered in the air.

Breaking the silence, Hope reached for Edith’s hand and said, "Seth has told us about your situation. First and foremost, we’d like to apologise on his behalf. But more importantly, we need to ask—what do you want to do about your pregnancy?"

Edith stiffened. Her pregnancy? Was she even pregnant? She hadn’t confirmed it herself. Panic swelled within her chest. She had no idea how to respond—she needed to be polite, but she also had to be honest about her emotions.

"I… I didn’t even know I was pregnant," she admitted.

Hope nodded. "Then, as I suggested, let’s go to the doctor first. We’ll follow their guidance. If it’s possible, you can stay with us."

Edith gasped. Stay with Seth? It was difficult enough being in his presence, let alone living under the same roof.

"I still have school," she murmured, barely above a whisper.

"You can continue online," Seth’s father interjected, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Don’t worry, dear," Hope reassured her. "We’ll do everything we can to support you."

Despite Hope’s kindness, Edith couldn’t shake her frustration. The prospect of online classes was logical, but what about the student council? She was on the verge of becoming the president, and the results would be announced in two days. She had worked tirelessly for this—she couldn’t simply walk away.

Seth’s father glanced at him. "I’ll leave the rest to you."

"I understand, Dad," Seth replied.

Their discussion came to an abrupt end as his father stood. He fixed Edith with a lingering stare—intense, almost scrutinising—but then, as he turned to leave, his expression softened into a faint smile.

Hope gently squeezed Edith’s hand. "Would you like me to accompany you to the doctor?"

"I… I think it would be best if Seth and I went alone. I wouldn’t want to trouble you," Edith replied hesitantly.

"That’s quite alright. But remember, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask."

Seth, sensing the shift in conversation, took charge. "Come on, Edith. Let’s go back to the room."

Edith followed him, determined to discuss everything in private. Once inside, she took a deep breath and sat on the sofa, facing Seth, who stood opposite her.

"I don’t want to keep arguing with you," she began. "Hope’s right. The first step is to see a doctor. But before that… I need to talk about what happened last night."

Seth’s jaw tensed. He had been expecting this.

"I remember," she continued. "Just before I blacked out, I saw two massive wolves. Did you see them, Seth? You must have been close. The brown one… it was protecting me from the black one."

Seth hesitated. He had two choices: tell her the truth now or wait until her feelings towards him softened. Either way, the risk of pushing her away was high.

Finally, he exhaled. "Edith, there’s something important I need to tell you."