Weight of Dreams - Part ll

Ciro steps in and his gaze wander over my room as I stand by the door. My room was not as large as his, but it was cosy, with off-white walls and a queen-size bed draped in a hand-woven blanket identical to the one I had left for him in his room. The little windows on both sides of my room are open, and the light white curtains are swaying in the summer breeze. I attempted to neatly organise my room, and one thing that I feel would catch anyone's attention the most is the flower arrangements and green plants that I have put around the space to make my room look like somewhat a miniature version of my garden. I watch as his fingertips run over the delicate petal of a wildflower, and a grin blossoms on his lips. I was correct, the flower arrangement did catch his attention. Abruptly he turns around to face me, and I instantly glance away trying to not meet his gaze directly.

“I have heard that you have decorated my room by yourself?” His voice is delicate and soft as he asks and I only nod my head.

“Yes, I hope you liked it.” I meekly say a lovely smile adorns his face.

“I certainly did. It is beautiful. Thank you.” Hearing that he liked how I decorated his room made me smile. Ciro once again glances around my room and returns his attention to me.

"I can tell that you have taken quite a liking to flowers and plants," Ciro says with a smile, and I look up at him. His words bring a smile to my face as I answer looking around at my plants.

"Yes, I find solace in nature. The trees and flowers always welcome me with open arms."

"When we were younger, I used to discover you in the wilderness, nestled among the soft grass and wildflowers. Perhaps your appreciation for nature has only grown over time." As he reminisces about old times, I look up at Ciro with warmth in my eyes.

"It most emphatically did." When our gazes collide once again, I avert my gaze. "Almost nothing about me has changed in the last few years. But you most certainly have. You have grown taller and more robust, now you resemble those the burly warriors in our pack." I giggle and look up at him.

"Do you still like cake and pastries, or have you begun loving raw eggs as well?" Ciro raises an eyebrow at me as I enquire.

"What do you think I am! I could never in a million years stop loving sweets!" Ciro exclaims making me giggle.

"I still enjoy the cakes and pastries we used to steal from the packhouse kitchen, and I have been terribly missing the cakes you used to bake for me," Ciro says with a warm smile on his face and loving eyes staring down at me.

"You still remember." I meekly said and he smiled brighter.

"Of course, I do, cvet." My heart skipped a beat when he addressed me by the nickname, he had given me all those years ago. I was always enamoured of flowers, and in his opinion, I was like a flower, therefore he called me cvet or blossom.

I couldn't move from where I stood as he takes a few steps toward me. As Ciro ground to a standstill in front of me, I felt as if I were glued to my spot. His scent floods my senses, and I could feel the warmth that is emitted from him. I froze as his hand reaches up and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. I couldn't maintain eye contact with him seeing as his eyes were pouring with unspoken affection. (Blossom)

"I remember everything. The days we used to run around the forest, play in the mud in your garden, pick wildflowers and tuck them in each other's hair, staying by your side when you fell ill when you cried on my shoulders because some wolf bullied-"

"-bullied me and you beat him up the next day and came to me with bruised knuckles and wounded face." I finish his sentence and he grins. "Yes, and how you helped me get out of my chamber the next day after Father had locked me up as punishment."

"We were still caught, and Alpha had doubled your punishment." I giggle, and a riot of laughter erupts from his chest. We kept laughing and looked at one other, reliving those days.

After a time, our laughter dies down. I sigh and glance up when I sense his gaze on me. "I remember everything, cvet," he says, as he flashes his brilliant smile at me. " And I had missed you tremendously throughout those days at The Royal Academy." His hand raises once again, and his large palm cups my cheek softly. As I close my eyes and reopen them to look up at him, the warmth of his touch fills me. (blossom)

"And I would like to apologise, Cvetić. For filling you with the dreams and hopes I had had. I had hoped and prayed for you to be my female. But the Goddess is the one who makes the decisions, and we have no control over it. But know this, you were and are my best friend. And you are the one I fell in love with for the first time, Nesta. Even if we are not fated to be together, you will always have a place in my heart and be my first love." As I look up at him, my eyes glisten. None of the words he uttered had a speck of lie in them. I could see his sincerity flash through those splendid eyes of his. (little flower)

"There's something more I would like you to know as well." He says and I ask. "What?"

"The elders believe your wolf is still sleeping, which might explain why I and my wolf couldn't sense the bond. So, instead of rushing to a conclusion, let us wait. Let us wait for your wolf to awaken.”

'Let us wait,' he said, and we did. We are waiting. We wait as time passes, as our friendship blooms once again, as I work on my small garden and he begins working with his father, learning all he needs to take over as Alpha. Ciro comes to see me every day after finishing his work, exactly like he used to when we were kids. And as the day progresses, the she-wolves' hatred for me grows stronger with each second, I spend with him. I could feel their gazes excavating holes and hurling daggers at me. And if glances could kill, I would be six feet under by now. But I don't blame them as I understand all the jealousy those thirsty females feel.

Why wouldn't they be envious when a blessed male like him with such physique, gorgeous face, and power did not even pay heed to them and spent his time with a frail, wolfless female like me? The females of our pack flocked to him at every opportunity, but Ciro, being the gentleman that he is, never even glanced at them in the wrong way. He waited, he only waited for his moon blessed. He didn't even look at me in the wrong way; he just waited to feel the bond. Ciro is a respectful male who wishes to preserve all his attention, emotions and every ounce of his desire for his female. It doesn't matter if it's me or someone else. And Goddess I prayed it was me!

With my knees on the soft soil, I am preparing a new flower bed for the wildflowers I found in the forest. After prepping the soil, I sowed the seeds I had collected and lightly doused them with water. I then took care of the fruit trees I was growing and groomed the flowering plants. Only a few days ago, the flower had been a tight bud, but it had already begun to grow and had a deeper pink hue. They will blossom in only a few days. I simply need to wait a few days before they would be ready to pick. And I can bring the flowers to the empty vase in Ciro's room. He is supposed to return in a few days from the foreign pack he was visiting for business.

I went inside and cleaned myself off. Before exiting my room, I changed into a fresh white midi dress and dried my hair. As I climb the stairs and approach mother in the living room, she smiles at me.

"I'm going to visit Luna Croía. Would you like to come along Nesta?" She asks and I eagerly nod my head.

"Sure thing, mother. What is that you are carrying?" I ask when I notice the pot she was carrying.

"Some of the Vanilice I had made this morning."

"Luna adores the Vanilice you prepare, mother. She would be delighted." Mother smiles as I speak up. We both walk out of our house, and my eyes widen as I notice Ciro's car come to a halt in front of the packhouse. He is already back home! As I make my way toward the packhouse, a smile forms on my lips.

"It appears that Ciro returned home quickly this time," Mother says as she follows me to the packhouse. I turn my gaze to her when I realise, she has stopped sniffing around with her nose held up in the air.

I frown at her, noticing her eyes darting around, looking for anything.

"What happened, mother?" I inquire, and she turns to face the car. I notice her eyes widening and I too look ahead. I draw a sharp breath in as I notice Ciro open the passenger door and help a female get down.