Fated Mate

Breakfast

When I wake up in the morning I smell pancakes and bacon wafting through the air and I look around to see that I am the only one left in a sleeping bag. I start to get up but pause as I hear voices from the kitchen.

“She asked why you call Lee, Rourke last night you know” I hear Josie say followed by the sizzling of bacon in the pan.

“What did you say?” Sean asks her.

“Me and Maeve just got really weird and quiet and we told her she would have to ask you”

“You couldn’t have just said a lie about me wanting to respect him or something?”

“Sean I think I am keeping enough of your secrets and I think I am doing a pretty good job, don’t you think?” She says in a hushed but fierce tone.

“Look I am sorry I just, what if she picks him?” He says his voice breaking.

“Then you will survive just as you have always done Sean it’s not that complicated.” Just as she finishes talking the front door opens and Lee comes in and sees me sleeping on the floor.

“They did the whole nine yards last night?” He asks as he squats down. As he does he notices that I am still very much wrapped up in his sleeping bag. “Cute” There I go blushing again, but, rather than avoiding his eyes I look into his eyes to see the shine flicker by once more. Josie comes in from the kitchen spatula in hand.

“Oh nice of you to finally join us” She says as she crosses her arms.

“Oh my bad that I didn’t drop everything I was doing to come eat your burned pancakes”

“Lee I will kill you and make Celeste’s choice so much easier.”

“At this point I would really love to see you try”

“I would also like to see that.” Maeve says walking down the stairs and joining us.

“Okay Sean is officially on top of my sibling list” Josie says throwing her hands up in the air and returning to the kitchen. I hear Sean say “Hell Yeah!” from the kitchen as well Maeve goes in next and Lee and I are left alone again.

“How did you sleep Love?” He asks reclining on the sofa.

“Pretty good for my first sleepover” I answer.

“I am glad to hear it” He then blushes and I watch as the red creeps underneath his freckles. “I wanted to ask if we could have a sleepover tonight” He looks at me and looks more flustered than you would expect an Alpha to look asking his mate to spend time with him. “I am sorry if that is too forward or too soon I just” He pauses. “I missed you last night”

“Yeah we can sleep together” I say surprising myself and him. I guess I could have thought of a better way to phrase it but, words are hard. That’s why I turned to painting in the first place. Pictures make sense and they click together. Words are so abstract it is impossible to find concrete meaning in them. I mean someone could describe an apple to you your whole life but, you will never be able to properly visualize it until you see one. He is blushing furiously at me but smiles.

“You know I missed you too” I say. His redness fades away and he turns to his cheeky side to say.

“Well, I thought so since you had to use my sleeping bag” I playfully swat at him.

“I didn’t have to use it Josie just gave it to me and I didn’t want to be rude.” I cross my arms and fake a pout.

“Sure, whatever you say Love” He gets up and gestures for me to follow him as we make our way into the kitchen. I haven’t had a family breakfast in so long I am amazed the by the selection that Josie has prepared eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and my favorite corned-beef hash. I set to salt and peppering everything on my plate and building up a scramble to end all scrambles. I also take this time to watch Sean and Lee. Lee has an ease about him that floods the room. Sean is wound tight however and that is just as noticeable. He interacts simply enough with Josie and Maeve but, with me and Lee he is cagey. I realize that I just hadn’t noticed any of this since I was just so worried about everyone hating me. He even sits in between the sisters so he doesn’t have to be near either Lee or I. He is shaky as he lifts his glass of orange juice to his mouth to drink. I want to know what is going on with him especially before I become his Luna. From the way Josie and him were talking it sounded like he had an issue with me choosing Lee. Maybe he thinks less of me for being an Omega? Maybe he doesn’t trust me? I am scared to ask Lee anymore questions about it since the last time I asked a question I got the weirdest treatment of my life.

“So what are we doing today?” Josie asks.

“Wait Josie shut up, Celeste do you wanna come to my shifting ceremony?” Maeve asks. Josie rolls her eyes and drinks her chocolate milk.

“Are you sure? I mean aren’t they just for like family and friends?” I ask.

“Yeah and we are friends plus, you can meet Liam.” Maeve smiles.

“Maeve no one wants to meet Liam.” Lee grumbles next to me.

“Just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean that no one will”

“Maeve he has the personality of a pop-tart.” Maeve seems truly upset by this.

“What are you gonna do if he is my mate?”

“At this point arrange an accident” Lee says and laughs. Maeve does not find this funny and gets up from the table to leave.

“Lee you took it too far” Josie groans standing up to clean up Maeve’s plate.

“Oh she is just being dramatic” He says waving his hand a way at the issue. and continues eating Josie frowns and starts doing the dishes. I wish that I was not here for this family fight and I don’t think Lee is sensing my need to leave. Sean is however.

“Celeste is there anything that you wanted to look at today?” I want to mouth thank you at him but , decide against it since I still don’t really know where I stand with him.

“I don’t know I mean not unless you got a fairy to show me” I say as an attempt to make a joke that apparently was not well thought out.

“So you have heard those rumors?” Lee says.

“Yeah sorry, I was just being funny” I try to explain.

“Well I can’t promise you an actual fairy but I can show you some Fae stones and circles.” Lee explains finishing his plate and getting up to bring to Josie.

“Oh yeah wow that sounds neat”

“Perfect! go ahead and get dressed in something comfortable for hiking though, I’ll meet you outside.”