Chapter 20:

CHAPTER TWENTY

JEREMY "Take her bags inside," I ordered the guards. They packed up Celia's bags and began walking inside with them. Celia turned to me and hugged me tightly. I spoke to her dad the previous night before they arrived in the morning. They were going on a trip and wanted me to take care of their daughter until their return. The alpha and his wife left their pack under the care of their beta, and now they were keeping their daughter under my care. "You have to watch over her until I am back. Do not let her out of your sight." "Mom?" Celia stressed. "I am no longer a child." I smiled. If only she had heard everything her dad had said to me the previous night about keeping her safe and all. She would not complain about this tiny statement her mom had just made. After her parents left, I led her into the house. Celia and I had a lot of catching up to do. I organised the maids to prepare a room for her. I picked the closest room to my room so that I would be able to watch after her as I had promised her parents. "I am surprised to learn that you do not have a girlfriend yet," Celia teased me. I giggled lightly. "You can't blame me for choosing celibacy." Celia punched me lightly. We both decided to hang out in my room since the maids were still preparing hers. I had not seen it for almost a year. And for the past three years, we didn't get to spend time together like this. When we were much younger, Celia and I were always seen together. Her guards would drive her here every time to spend the weekend with me. Her holidays were also spent in this pack. People thought we would fall in love and eventually end up together. But it seemed like the moon goddess had another plan for us. "So how have you been?" I asked Celia. She leaned closer to me and rested her head against my shoulder. "I've been well," she replied and forced a smile. I wrapped my arm around her. I wanted to ask about her mate and why they had not sealed the deal yet, but I decided that it was not my business. Celia and I had intentionally been avoiding any conversation concerning her and her mate since she found him four years ago. There was a rumour all over once that I was jealous because she found a mate and I didn't. It was probably because of the rumours that I had refused to have any conversation concerning her mate with her. "Do you think I am too much trouble?" Celia asked me. I frowned deeply. "Why would you think so?" I asked her. She shook her head and exhaled deeply. I wondered what was going through her head. I didn't ask her immediately what the problem was. I waited for her to think about it thoroughly and decide if she would tell me or not. I suddenly thought about Mira. I had been struggling the whole time to keep Mira off my head. I didn't want to get distracted. I wanted to give my best friend all the attention she needed. I had starved her from attention for a long time, and we were finally seated on the same bed again. "I don't know," she replied and smiled broadly. "My parents think I am a bag of trouble." I assured Celia that her parents would not think that way. After the maids were done dressing her room, I helped her pack her things into the role and fix the wardrobe. After fixing the room, I decided to give Celia time to get dressed and have some rest. It wasn't up to an hour after I left the room when she returned to my room. She had freshened up and changed into something lighter. Celia had grown bigger than the last time I saw her. She was a bit fleshy, and she grew bursty. We both had breakfast together. She ended up sleeping in my room and woke up later in the evening. We decided to hang out at the garden. I was still thinking about Mira. I was bothered that she could be mad at me. I wished that it was possible for me to read her thoughts. Mira had been acting strange ever since we had sex. I wished that she could let me talk to her at least. That way, I would be able to figure out what was going through her head. She left me here in the dark, and it was unfair. I knew that I fucked up. I shouldn't have slept with her in the first place. "Are you okay?" Celia suddenly asked me. "You seem withdrawn." I forced a smile and nodded. "Of course. Why do you think I am not okay? There's nothing bothering me. Just work and the pack's security." I didn't think it was necessary to talk to Celia about Mira yet. We were just settling. I didn't want our first day to be filled with sad discussions. I decided to keepnit until another day. Lying was the best option at that point, so I chose lying. "Sad," she responded. "At least is not love issue bothering you." I giggled. She would never stop teasing me concerning the fact that I didn't have a mate yet. I held her hands and she stopped for a second. She looked up at me and let out a wide smile before we continued walking. I tried to start an interesting conversation to divert the topic and to also distract my mind from Mira. I decided that I would watch her and allow things play out whichever way it wanted to play out. I still found myself thinking about Mira over and over again. It looked like I was obsessing over her and scolded myself for doing so.