ARIA’S POV:
The loud beeping of the digital clock beside my bed woke me up.
“09:00”
I stretched out, hiding my face from the sun rays that was now filling the room through the sides of the window blinds.
I looked around and found no trace of Draven.
When I tried to get up, my head banged like I had been met with a pan to the back.
“Mummy!” Ella ran in not long after, flying on the bed and wrapping her little arms around my neck.
I placed my arm around her, feeling an unusual relief as I felt her heartbeat on my body.
“Are you okay?” I probed and she nodded excitedly.
‘Was I dreaming?’ I wondered, but Nicolle walked in immediately to clear every question that I had.
“Good morning, Luna,” her smile ran from her left ear to her right ear and I knew what it meant.
It meant it was now official, that I was now Luna.
“Good morning, Nicolle,” I replied, “Where is the Alpha?” for some reason I couldn’t seem to explain, all I could think about at the time was seeing Draven.
“He asked to prepare you and the princess for brunch,” Nicolle responded.
“Brunch?” I took another look at the clock.
“He said it’s a little late for breakfast. He has been trying to put brunch together after you both missed breakfast.” Nicolle sounded to me like a broken radio.
“By himself?” my eyes opened, my jaw dropped.
Nicolle nodded slowly.
“We’re all in disbelief,” she said, but disbelief didn’t even begin to capture half of what I felt.
“Sweetie, let’s go get ready to meet daddy, okay?” I carried Ella as I got out of bed and handed her to Nicolle.
“You’re a little too big to be carried around. You know that?” I tickled her.
We both laughed.
“Get her ready. I’ll do the same.”
I walked to the window, pulled open the blinds and just outside was Draven, placing down a white tarp on the grass in the garden.
“What is going on?” I whispered.
It looked too much, even if it was to redeem the act of yesterday.
Logan and I did not do more than a hug.
I watched him place fruit trays and all manner of snacks on the tarp.
“The best way to find out is go there,” I took a quick bath, threw on a flowing red dress and allowed my hair to fall on my back.
I stood in front of the mirror, observing my look when Ella rushed in.
“Let’s go!” she seemed very excited and I couldn’t help but convert some of my anxiety to excitement too.
I brought all my hair to the right side of my shoulder and walked out of the room with Ella.
Nicolle, who was waiting at the door, walked us down the hallway and when we got to the exit, she came to a stop.
“I’ll be close by if you need anything,” I nodded in acknowledgement.
Ella and I waited a few more seconds before proceeding to the garden.
“Would you look at my girls, being right on time?” He said, placing the last plate of food on the tarp.
Ella ran to Draven and he did not hesitate to welcome her with open arms which she launched into and was off the ground in a second.
“Did Logan remind you today was your birthday?” my look was scrutinizing.
When I lifted it from the meal, I found his pale eyes staring at me.
“I’m sorry.” I looked around.
“Logan is no longer here, if that is what you are looking for,” I quickly turned fully to him.
He was right.
I was searching for Logan.
“He’s an Alpha with a pack to take care of,” he continued.
I looked around one more time.
I wondered why he would leave. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
He didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye and just like I thought the first day, it was too good to be true that he’d actually teach me fencing.
“Have a seat,” Draven gestured to a spot at the edge of the tarp.
The varieties on the tarp left very little space for us.
“Grapes!” Ella reached for the bowl, which was on my side of the tarp.
I reached out to get it for her, but she did not stop trying, so much that she fell on the other fruits lined before the grapes.
Ella laughed heartily and her smile had the same effect on both Draven and I.
We erupted in hearty laughter.
Ella finally got to the grapes and her first move was to throw one at Draven.
“Oh no, you don’t,” In a short while, we were in a fruit fight and it did not take long for us to be on our feet and running around the garden, playing tag.
Ella and I completely forgot that we hadn’t eaten or had the need to eat.
Joy filled the atmosphere and every time I disconnected briefly from the rush, I felt like this was something I could get used to.
Watching Ella and Draven turned out more satisfying than anything I had pictured, even fencing.
“I think we should really eat.” At 11:30am, I announced, calling them both.
We wandered a bit and walked back to the tarp hand in hand.
Ella walked between Draven and I, holding both our hands as we moved in the short chain.
“You’re back. I’ve been waiting.” Violetta’s voice was the first thing to hit us out of the smiles and stares we had gotten lost in.
She was seated on the tarp, stuffing her mouth with some of the food.
I looked at Draven, who was displeased and angry, but I also realized that whatever drama was going on here, it was more than me, and I couldn’t be involved.
“Nicolle will make us something,” I took Ella’s hand and walked into the house, leaving Draven alone in Violetta’s company.