Cleo's Heart Decisions.

Sparks!

Real love gave them sparks that feel more like fireworks they had no idea about...

~at the same time, Blood Pearl Pack, pack house~

Alexander’s pov

My skin shudders listening to her whispering my name in her smooth, sweet tone.

My eyes meet hers and I forget about everything and everyone else. We are alone, the time stops, all I want, need and love is her and it’s the first time in my life I am so relieved, happy, scared and nervous.

I can’t believe she is standing in front of me more beautiful than ever and too surprised and confused.

She finally came to our pack, her pack and she is here, in my pack house, our home!

Her place is here, our family and pack are here and my love for her is here stronger than ever.

I thought I was going to be more self-collected, but I was wrong, I can’t be!

I was dreaming of this moment for years and last days were torturing, I could barely sleep, eat, work, train the warriors, run the pack and speak to anyone. All I could think about was Cleo, my Cleo! I wanted everything to work and I couldn’t calm down, I was constantly in tension, I was lost.

From the moment we met, I mean at Bree’s ceremony, I had an even harder time without her. Loving Cleo and being away from her, being incapable of touching her, telling her how much I love her, what she means to me and explaining to her everything, was hell for me, but the feeling became stronger some weeks ago…

It was the first night I saw her again at the lake after one year of being ‘apart’, the day she went back to Diamond Heart Pack. That night I and Axel allowed her to touch us, we knew we shouldn’t do that, because our bond (from our side) would become stronger, but we couldn’t see her crying, we couldn’t feel her in so much pain. She thought we were rejecting her as well as the asshole and our barriers fell, she won and from the second she touched us, we can’t live without her!

It’s like she is our oxygen, she is our mate, the one Axel’s and mine heart chose seven years ago.

We had already accepted Cleo and her wolf although we didn’t know Clea back then, when we turned 18, but now the bond from our side has been completed, because that touch was the last thing we needed to be bounded to both of them. That night we realized we had done the right thing for accepting Cleo although she was just a twelve years old girl the first time we saw her.

We knew from the beginning the risk of this decision of ours, but we had hopes and I pray she gives us a chance. I mean… She loves Axel, I do believe it and I am happy for him, he deserves it, he is dying for her, he was the one she knew all these years, because I shouldn’t reveal my identity and now I hope she accepts to give me a chance, give her and me a real chance.

I don’t want to lose her, she is the only one for me, she always was. She is my mate, my Luna, my everything!

I was dying all these days, I was waiting for her, praying we would make it and we would bring her here safe and sound and now it is happening and I have paralyzed.

Kevin told me she really liked me, Bree and Kendra told him that Cleo was too interested in me and she also understood that it was mutual. As he explained to me, the girls had been teasing her and she was blushing, I felt it, I had made it clear that I liked her and I was trying to be optimistic that she would like me as well and I am relieved Kevin assured me she felt something. But…

Now I am again back at zero, because I don’t want her to get mad at me, leave me no opportunity to talk to her and explain myself and lose her for good.

She is standing in front of me and she has already full power over me, her presence is more mesmerizing than ever before and I feel desperate, I am hanging from her, it’s up to her if I fly or fall...

I can’t imagine my life without her, I don’t want to. There is nobody else for me, it’s only Cleo and if she denies giving me a chance, she’ll break my heart and I will have to live under the same roof with her for the rest of my life without being able to…

Show her my love.

I take a deep breath forcing myself to be patient and strong and take one step forward.

I don’t take my eyes off her, although Micah and Ava are here and they are extremely silent and I clear my throat. I smile weakly and very nervous and Cleo stiffens, but doesn’t step back or changes her expression.

I don’t know if this is a good sign or not, I can’t think and this frustrates Axel that growls warningly to me. He is right, I have to behave like the man I am… But how?

“Welcome, Cleo…” I say instinctually, not really thinking about it and she bites her lower lip awkwardly.

She is confused, she seems to be thinking about what to say, how to react and I listen to her strong heartbeat that is in a perfect, harmonic rhythm with mine. It’s like they are going to explode from second to second and both of us are shaking uncontrollably, we can’t move.

Damn! I just want to hug her, but I don’t want to push it! She is already too overwhelmed, nervous and she could be scared, I must be calm and help her feel more comfortably, everything is new to her.

“Alpha… Do you want to talk alone with Cleo before we met her and Ava to the pack?” Micah asks timidly and I snap my head to him for the first time.

It takes me a moment to realize what he suggested and the warm, sympathetic smile on his face gives me some courage. I know he talked just because he wanted to help me and in reality he saved me, I didn’t know how to ask from Cleo to talk alone in my office, I was worried of her denying from fear.

This man is definitely one of my rocks, I am lucky I have him and the other two! These three brothers of mine are always by my side, they make everything easier. And I do owe Micah, I really do! Today he rocked, he was fantastic, I don’t know what happened yet, but from his smile I am sure he had no problem and he was convincing, we did win Thor Walker and Etan Taylors and we did it together!

I turn to Ava slowly, I got informed about her coming with Cleo, one of our men texted me to tell me about Adira’s out of nowhere request and I can’t deny it was very sudden for me, but I am happy she is here. I am sure Adira had a very good reason for asking from Micah to take her with him and she is one of Cleo’s friends, so she is more than welcomed here and I already like her.

She is shy and sweet, descent and I think honest. She looks tired and nervous, but she is calmer than most would have imagined and imagine she was an omega… She has something and the pack is going to love her, she is an equal member of ours already.

I look at Cleo again and her expression has changed now. Well, not only her expression. She is not so pale anymore, she has blushed and she has the most discreet smile there is, her eyes are shining and her heartbeat is slower and much calmer.

I guess I have to ask her and Ava, if they agree… I don’t want to pressure them and Ava doesn’t know Micah at all, maybe she wants to stay with Cleo.

“Would you be okay with it? I know it’s a lot to take and it’s not easy… Miss Ava doesn’t know my Beta and she is unaware of me and Cleo knowing each other from before and Cleo… I hope both of you feel comfortable with getting separated for a while. It’s going to take just some minutes and then we are going to talk all together and explain everything!” I say as confidently as I can, but at the same time I try to be encouraging.

Neither of them talks and I exchange a worried look with Micah that is still standing between them. I observe Cleo taking a small step forward, just enough so she can look at Ava and I hold my breath is agony.

I am sweating, I am trembling, I can’t breathe appropriately and I am running out of oxygen and I keep on telling myself to be patient, but it’s like I am deaf, my body has betrayed me.

Cleo looks at Ava in wonder, I think they are not talking through their link, they are not so lost in each other. They are reading each other’s thoughts through their expressions and I am surprised Ava nods timidly with a shy smile and Cleo clears her throat and turns to me the next second.

About one meter is separating us and her scent has filled every cell of my body, I am scared of staying alone with her, because I feel too weak under her gaze. I want to make the best impression, I know it’s not the first time we met, but this is different, she stays here from now on and I am going to ask from her one chance.

“Alright… But I want Ava too close to me… And she stays alone only with Micah!” Cleo states firmly and I nod immediately in agreement.

I want to scream, seriously! I am going to stay alone with her and she agreed, she…

Oh my Goddess!

“Of course! Micah’s office is next to mine.” I reply pointing the door on my left and she shakes her head pleased.

“Um… We are leaving you then. Shall we, Miss Ava?” Micah asks impatiently (he wants me to stay alone with Cleo the sooner or… s**t, I can’t think anymore) and Ava signs ready.

He takes her hand in his again and I find it weird, but I am so dizzy and nervous right now that I won’t think about it more and he heads to his office with Ava following him in silence. It takes them only some seconds to reach to its door and they stop just to give us one last look and get in with Micah holding the door for Ava that walks inside first.

The moment he closes the door behind, I lose my breath completely and Cleo stiffens with a forced awkward smile.

I am impressed she hasn’t tried to kill me or run away yet and I am glad she is not so frustrated, scared or nervous and she seems to trust me, but it is surprising as well.

Do you think she really likes me or am I dreaming?

Is she up to something or is she not?

I know she doesn’t like pretending, she is always honest, but the circumstances are… Complicated!

“Shall we?” she asks me with her voice coming out of her lips almost like a whisper and I bite my lower lip nodding.

I am an i***t, but I think I am excused this time… For now!

“Yes, sure! Please, after you…” I mutter breathless and take one step to the right to give her space to pass.

I lock my eyes on hers before she starts walking to the office and I join her side instinctually, place my right hand on her lower back and both of us freeze like we are being electrocuted and turn to look at each other shocked.

I felt… Them!

I open my eyes widely with Cleo gasping and Axel howls ecstatic in my mind, he is giving me an even harder time and I feel ready to pass out.

Sparks…

“How? What…” Cleo mutters under her breath and I shake my head in confusion with my hand still placed on her lower back.

I felt them, because I did accept her, both me and Axel did, but she?

She felt it, there is no doubt, she felt what I did, she jumped up, she…

“I…” I begin to say, but pause and lower my head shaking more, unable to breathe.

How did this happen now?

This was not supposed to happen, I mean they had told me that she had to accept me truly before we become real mates and our bond gets created and now this happens and I don’t know what to answer to her.

I can’t tell her I am the white wolf, she has to love me without being affected of Axel and me being the same man. I want her to love me for whom I am, not for my wolf! I don’t want to force her, because if I tell her, it will be like I am forcing her by using Axel!

If she wants to be with me, she has to love me as Alexander as well…

“She already does! If she feels the sparks, she already loves you! Don’t you get it?” Axel screams excited and I exhale heavily overwhelmed.

Can it be? Is he right?

But… She doesn’t even know me, she saw me only for once and I did nothing, I am still a stranger to her, how can she love me?

“Remember how we fell in love with her! One look was enough!” Axel says through his teeth furious at me.

I don’t manage to reply to him, I don’t know when or how I am being dragged in the office from a pale Cleo that bangs the door behind us, but doesn’t stop.

She pulls me deeper inside the office, walks to the double, black couch and once we reach it, she collapses on it gasping and leaves my hand with me standing like a statue in front of her.

Our eyes are never leaving each other’s and everything inside me is on fire. She is everywhere in me, I still feels sparks although she is not touching me and I am getting terrified, because she has so many questions and now I don’t know what to say.

I wasn’t expecting anything like this, I was caught off guard and I am fighting not to pull her in my arms and kiss her.

Mate, she is my mate, she became my mate!

Does she love me?

“Alexander…” she whispers with her watery now eyes locked on me and my skin shudders as I do my best not to cry.

“What do all these mean? What is happening… Between us?”

Cleo’s pov

I put many efforts to take even one short breath, but I can’t!

I am a step away from passing out, my heart feels like it is getting bigger, but it is not painful and Clea has gotten crazy in my head.

We felt sparks, I felt them and it is more intense than it was with Thor!

I think I am losing my mind, I must be dreaming, this is not true!

This day is just a dream, but I don’t know if I can call it nightmare or the best dream I have even had!

Alexander… He is the pack’s Alpha, he sent Micah who lied and brought me and Ava here and I hadn’t freaked out before, but now with the sparks…

I had felt no sparks the last time I saw me, that by the way was the first one I met him and he seems to be as shocked as I am, but I have the sentiment there is something more here and he knows about it.

I can’t understand why he brought me here in the way he did and why I am dealing with it like it’s normal!

When I saw him, I felt excited, I forgot about everything and everyone, my pain disappeared like it never really existed, I wanted to hug him and now I need to scream!

I am crazy, yes, this is it!

Is he my mate?

If he is, why doesn’t Clea say it like she did with Thor?

I run my hands through my hair and lower my head, breaking eye contact with Alexander that is pale and petrified. He felt them, he knows what I am talking about and the fact he keeps on staying silent is making me feel even worse.

I have never felt this way, everything is changing inside me!

“Cleo…” I listen to him whispering, but I don’t move.

I don’t think I can face him, not yet. I am finding myself lost in him every time I look into his eyes, I can’t take it, the feeling is just too much!

I move back and forth and try to breathe in despair, I am drowning, I have no oxygen left in me, my lungs have none. I close my eyes when the first tears fall from them and soon I feel two big, warm, strong hands capping my face.

The sparks return and my body gets more tensed, but I don’t move back and away from his hold, I don’t want to do that. His touch is heaven and hell at the same time, it overwhelms me, but it also calms me down.

I know it sounds insane, but it does both and…

I really need him to hold me, it’s like he is the entire world for me.

“Try to breathe, open your eyes, focus on me and try to calm down. Please!” he says mostly begging me panicked and I press my lips together to hold back a sob.

My open my eyes slowly, my vision is blurred from the tears that keep on falling, but I understand he is already looking at me, I feel his gaze burning me and I observing him falling on his knees and kissing my forehead.

A low cry of surprise and relief escapes my mouth when his soft lips touch my hot skin and I unconsciously place my hands above his and exhale straight on his bare neck. He gasps tightening his hold without hurting me and wipes the tears from my eyes with his thumbs. He does it so gently like his fingers are feathers and I don’t know how I manage to find my breath with myself drown in him.

His eyes are going to be the end of me, he is going to be my chaos and it sounds perfect to me…

“Why?” I ask in despair unable to say even one more word and he smiles emotional.

He is about to cry, his smile reveals pain and love and I think I can feel how he feels, our hearts are connected already, I am not alone, I have him inside my heart.

“I am going to explain everything… But in a while, there are some people you need to meet first… After I introduce you to the pack and it welcomes you… We had been waiting for you, all of us… I promise, I am not lying… I…” he whispers with pauses in order to breathe and I place two fingers of my right hand on his lips to prevent him from continuing.

The feeling exceeds every limit immediately, both of us gasp, more tears fall from my eyes and Clea stops screaming, howling and moving to help and support me.

I felt something for him from the first moment I saw him, I think I fell in love with him, I wished he would feel the same way for me and now everything makes sense, my heart screams this is right, he is necessary for me, I do love him.

And he?

The girls were right when they were telling me he was interested in me, but I couldn’t imagine he would bring me here and I can’t deny I am not mad at him, I feel great I am here with him, it’s like I was destined to live this moment.

I really trust him, for a weird reason I have no doubt he is honest and he wants the best for me, but why me, why do we feel sparks and we didn’t feel them some days ago?

“What is happening?” I ask in agony wishing he has an explanation about the sparks and he stiffens nervously.

Fuck! I need something, I have to know, I don’t get a thing!

“I don’t know… It was a surprise for me as it was for you.” He mutters with the first tears finally falling from his eyes that are looking into mine nonstop.

“Why me? They… I mean one of them… Called me…” I say next and stop unable to finish my phrase.

Scott called me Luna, Micah seemed to be worried about it, he didn’t want me to know and Alexander is the Alpha, so they knew something I don’t. I want to believe he wants me, I guess everything leads there unless I’m insane, but I need him to tell me.

Do you know what?

I am scared of losing him although he is not even mine and this is terrifying, it hurts like hell!

“Luna!” he states reading my thoughts or suspecting what happened and I nod ashamed for a reason I don’t understand.

Maybe because I have too many hopes and I don’t think I deserve him. I could say he has given me signs, from that night he keeps on proving me we feel the same way for each other, but a part of me still hesitates to believe it completely.

Thor rejected me and I was his true mate, he broke my heart, but I did it, his behavior helped me stand on my feet again and erase him from my heart, but with Alexander is different, I think I won’t bear his ‘rejection’ now, not when I feel more alive than ever with him.

“Cleo, he called you like this, because…” he begins and pauses only to lean closer to me with only some inches between us.

I hold my breath, force my strength not to abandon me, feel my stomach tightening and my heart trying to get out of my chest and then get inside Alexander’s and I open my eyes widely in agony.

The more I am waiting, the worse I am getting.

“I want you for my Luna!” he states with confidence and I close my eyes smiling although I am not sure it’s obvious to him.

He is certain about it, this is how he looked like, that’s why I said he said it with confidence, because he is worried, I feel it and I can’t believe he wants me.

“Please, give me a chance. I know it was too sudden, everything happened way too quickly, but… Please, give me six months to show you what you mean to me and… I am going to leave you alone, if you don’t want me after this period of time. I am never going to force you, I won’t touch you, I swear! Just give me one chance…” he continues desperate and a sob escapes me again.

I open my eyes and cap his face. We are crying, but we can see quite clearly and I smile touched with Clea purring and shaking her tail in adoration. She really likes him, I think she has also fallen in love with him, she believes him and she is enthusiastic with the turn things have taken for us.

I don’t even have to think about my answer, I know what I want, I have no reason to delay it, everything feels right and I take it as a sign. I feel safe with him, I feel…

Completed!

“But why me? Your mate?” I ask getting helpless in the thought of losing him and he smiles in adoration surprising me pleasantly.

To be honest, he doesn’t look like the man that would choose someone else except from his mate, but I have to know everything. I have nobody, Thor is a long gone story from the moment he slapped me, I had to know better back then, but it’s over.

“In our pack the Alpha doesn’t have a mate, Cleo. He chooses it and it’s something like a test for him, a challenge to find the right one.” He replies and stops stiffening nervously and clears his throat ready to continue, not giving me opportunity to talk.

“And I have chosen you, Cleo, because from the first time I saw you, I was sure that everything inside me needed only you, because you put my heart’s pieces together!” he says next and I break into sobbing grateful.

I am glad I found him, he is who he is, we feel this way for each other, I am here, he respects me because he asks from me to give us a chance, there is nobody between us and his words make my heart melt.

He is a gift to me, a blessing and there is no way I am stepping back.

I remember my wish at the lake that night, the wish I had made to the full moon…

“I just want real love…”

That was my wish and I think the full moon listened to me. This is why it sent me Alexander!

“I accept…” I state although I am still sobbing.

Sweet warmth surrounds me as Alexander pulls me in his arms and kisses my forehead and I wrap my hands around his neck.

This feels amazing, his arms…

“Cleo, I want you to know that…” he whispers with a trembling voice and I pull back just a little bit to look at him and smile with affection.

“Yes?”

“I love you!”

******************

Hello my dear friends!

This is the chapter 23 and we can cheer, even if better things are yet to come when Cleo finds out the truth about Alexander and the white wolf being the same person (this is going to happen in some chapters from now)!

I know this chapter is not as long as the usual, but as I mentioned in some of my other books the previous days, I have the last exam of a lesson for my degree and I didn't want to keep you in so much agony, so I wrote a chapter just for Cleo and Alexander to please you a little bit.

And I really need to know your thoughts and feelings, so please let me know!

What do you think about this chapter? What about what Alexander said? What about what Micah did again to help him? How do you feel about Cleo's calm behavior at the beginning? And how do you feel about what happened when Ava and Micah left? What about the sparks? Also, what about Cleo's reaction after? How do you feel for what they said next and how Cleo felt? And last but not least, what about the ending? What is going to happen next?

Thank you very much for everything, your love, support, commends and impatience in order to read the next chapter! I also read all the comments and I try to answer them the sooner so I am sorry if I am delaying it sometimes because my memory is not very well, I am reading everything and I love it! I am trying my best so please continue showing me how much you want more and commend and tell me your opinion.

This is it for now, I will see you again in the next chapter or in my other books! Until then stay safe, smile and have fun!

I love you all very much,

                   Marie!