Thea: Lunar Descendant

Chapter 5: Admission

Celeste POV

I watched as Máni climbed out of the water, fur drenched. He was massive, though it was to be expected for an alpha wolf. I decided to lay across a smooth boulder set near the edge of the lake, dipping my feet in the cool water as the sun dried the rest of my body. I couldn't help but daydream about what Thea would look like if I could shift. Before long, Thomas laid down on the boulder next to me. 

He’s worried. I feel it rolling off him in waves. 

I glanced over to see Thomas’s forehead creased, his eyes slightly squinting. One would think it’s due to the sunshine, but laying in the sun has always been a happy place for us as kids. Something was definitely off. 

“I know the visit can’t be stressing you out this much, besides I’m usually the one to get frustrated over that kind of stuff in this dynamic duo. What’s troubling you?” I said as I rolled on my side to face him. Thomas took in a deep breath, flipped onto his stomach and propped himself up, looking behind us back into the shaded forest. “I feel like I’m lying to you.” He whispered, casting his eyes down. 

“What makes you say that? You know I don’t lie to you, why would you feel the need to lie to me?”

“I just feel frustrated. I don’t have my mate, and it’s leaving me feeling like I’m cursed.”

“You’re telling the person who can’t shift that you’re cursed? Ok.”

Thomas glanced at me before a soft smile crossed his face. “I’m sorry. I’m being stupid. I just don’t know how to say this or explain it.”

“Just tell me.”

“It’s Raven. I’m anxious to see her again. I kinda kissed her before she left but I don’t want to lead her on in case she’s not my mate. But the longer she’s been gone, the more agitated I get. I’m not 100% sure, but I think she’s the one.”

I just sat there, jaw open. “How could she keep this a secret from me? We text all the time.”

Thomas gave me a guilty look. “I asked her not to tell you. I was worried you’d feel like I was stealing your best friend away.”

“Never would I think that. Maybe that’s why she’s reluctant to visit though, I gotta call her!” I jumped up and pulled out my phone, about to hit call as her silly face popped up in my contacts. Raven had the most contagious smile. Her skin was dark as the night, making her golden eyes stand out even more. She was by far the most gorgeous girl I’ve seen. It was a little intimidating at first until she came up to me and asked me to join her to a swim in the lake that first summer she joined our pack. 

Thomas quickly snatched my phone from my hands, “Don’t you dare! I also did that so she’d focus on her studies. You know how much this means to her. I don’t know how I could live with myself if I kept her from her dreams. All I want is her happy, even if it means pushing her away from me.”

“I think your being an i***t, but she’s suppose to be done in a month. Last time I saw her parents they said she was coming home for her break. We’ll hopefully sort it out then. She may have promised you not to tell me but I’m talking to her about you being too stubborn.”

We continued to laugh and soak in the sunshine, both feeling more relieved than when we arrived. Before long, we could hear the pounding of feet. From the cover of trees stepped out a large deep gray wolf and a reddish brown. Damien, the grey one, was the son of the current Gamma, and Andrew the red toned wolf, son of the Beta. Both were around the same age as Thomas and grew up with him. Andrew was always nice to me, and usually agreed to train with me if Thomas wasn’t available to. Damien was usually nice but only really stuck around Thomas. He was mostly pretty reserved, though Raven said he would compliment her, her claiming he was nice. I would catch him staring after her, but now his eyes were almost boring into me. I did my best to shrug it off and waved to them before they disappeared behind the bushes. Damien stepped out first. He had black hair, piercing green eyes, and a good enough body. Andrew on the other hand had shaggy sandy blonde hair, and deep brown eyes. He was a bit leaner than the other boys, but he was fast. 

Andrew’s shirt was unbuttoned as he came around from behind the bush, I couldn’t help but gaze at his chest and abs before he finished the last one. I looked up to see him with a playful smirk on his face. Damn it! He usually teases me when he catches me staring. I can’t help but have a little bit of a crush on him, but I try to keep my distance as he’s a good friend of my older brother. 

“We should get back" Thomas muttered as his eyes drifted off towards the forest. "Dad just mindlinked me. He doesn't sound thrilled that we left. I better get back quickly. He wants you to go see Mom, and I have to review the details on the pack meeting." 

“I’ll tag along with you if that’s alright, he originally sent me to get you but he’s a bit stressed today.” Damien chimed in. As usual, trying to follow Thomas like a lost puppy. I can’t help but find him a little off, maybe it’s just the way used to look at Raven that pissed me off. Maybe I’m just being too overprotective, but he’s felt off to Thea. Right now it feels as though my brain is flustered, and I stopped paying attention to their conversation long ago as I stared off and calmed down before I heard Andrew say my name. 

“Cel, I can take you back if you want.” He was leaned over to be eye to eye with me, and when I looked behind him, I saw the retreating tails of Damien and Thomas. “He ditched me.” 

“Awe don’t pout, you got your best buddy Drew to escort you”, he chided with a cocky smirk.

I laid back down on the rock trying to steady my heart, but before I could enjoy it he reached down and threw me over his shoulder. I squealed and began thumping my fists on his back, and his deep chuckle radiated through me making me blush. “Calm down half pint it’s time to go home.”

I got even more flustered before I had an idea. I swung my legs to wrap around his other arm, and while he was caught off guard I lifted myself from his shoulder and swung my body across his towards the ground. Using the momentum I gained, I was able to place my hands on the ground and knock him forward. He fell facedown, and I quickly got up and tried to sit on his back. Before I could straddle him, he rolled over. I tried to throw punches but he closed his hands over my fists before I could make contact. “Clever as always but too bad you’re not fast enough.”

Before I knew it he flipped us and smoothly pinned my hands above me with one of his before tickling my sides. I kicked and giggled, before hoarsely getting out “I concede, I surrender!”

“Tickling never fails.”

 Our giggling died down and I looked up at him, realizing he still had my wrists pinned above my head. “You know you can release me, I’ll leave willingly I promise." Andrew’s eyes penetrated me and I saw him bite his lip. “I gotta admit I love seeing you this way.” The red began to creep up my neck and cheeks. It felt like my nerves were going into overdrive tingling all over. “Do you feel that?”, he asked. I felt a slight warm where his hands were, I thought it was just his body heat, but maybe there’s more to it. Thea purred in my head, and I was struggling to form thoughts. I looked into his eyes, and he then glanced down at my lips, he was closer, just barely hovering above me, his chest just inches from mine. His hand touching my neck caused me to whimper below him, and I swear his eyes went a shade darker. I don’t know what came over me but I closed the few inches between us, and kissed him. He let go of my hands above me and propped himself on his elbow. 

He licked my bottom lip, and I couldn’t help but let both my hands tangle in his soft waves of hair. It felt as soft as I imagined. He kissed me, there on the forest floor, before freezing up and pulling away. I sat up confused before he turned his back and ran his hands over his face. He looked over his shoulder with an apologetic look, “Sorry, I got mindlinked and it kinda snapped me out of it. I need to take a step back before I get too ahead of myself. I’d never want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of you or anything.” I stood up and went to stand near him, and noticed he kept turning slightly away, it was then that I noticed why. His excitement was very apparent on his lower half and it was then that I noticed he was blushing too. “I swear I feel a pull towards you, I tried to be respectful but it’s getting harder and harder to stay away from you.” 

“I won’t say I didn’t enjoy the kiss. I’ve always thought you were cute and sweet Drew, and I know you’re not like that. I got caught up in the moment but honestly I just don’t fully know, I can’t feel things the way you do I think. Maybe we just need time to process this and all. We’re still friends though right?” I couldn’t help but feel a little panic at the thought of things becoming awkward. Granted I’ve dreamed about doing what we just did but it wouldn’t be worth losing him entirely.

Drew hugged me, “Of course we’re friends. Always. I understand. We should get back though, it was your mother linking me. Honestly she scares the s**t out of me sometimes.”