3. Nine

I sighed in despair as every other person in the house, with a normal sleep-wake routine, retired for the night. First, my parents turned off their lights, then my brother Cody, and then, finally, Ethan went to sleep. Leaving me wide awake in my room.

I had slept till sundown so there was no way I would be able to go to sleep anytime soon, even if it was nearly 1 in the night. I felt like a nocturnal animal, sleeping during the day, and staying up at night. 

I huffed as I sat on my bed, leaning against my headboard, no idea what to do now. I picked up my phone from the nightstand and opened up my call logs, which revealed the many calls that had come through Mom's and Cody's phones. I asked both of them, about their reason for calling me so many times. I wondered if there was something urgent, they wanted to tell me, or something good. Both of them looked confused when I mentioned the missed calls and they denied calling me in the last couple of days. Both of them showed me the call logs on their phones and I frowned because there wasn't a single call made by them to my number. If they didn't call me, then who did?

I got up from the bed and went downstairs to arrange some snacks for myself. I was awake, might as well catch up on the series I have been meaning to watch for the longest time. I grabbed several packets of chips and chocolates and went back to my bed. I picked up my laptop and logged into N*****x, all set to watch the web series.

Halfway through the episodes, my thoughts wandered to Harper. It was a lie there hasn't been a moment he hasn't been lingering at the back of my mind, since the morning, when I saw him after so many months. As much as I wanted to blame and curse him for the alpha ceremony, I knew I had no right. I was the one who had told him that I wasn't coming back. What was he supposed to do, leave his pack in danger?

Moreover, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be the Luna, because as prestigious as the title was, it also came with a lot of responsibilities. If I had been here, I don't think I would have accepted the Luna position if Harper had asked me to. Not because I was afraid of the responsibilities it entailed but because it would have bonded me and Harper intricately, and I doubted either of us was ready for that, especially not the way things were going right now.

Oh god, what a mess! I wanted Harper but I didn't want him at the same time. And then there was the matter of Ethan, who was sleeping in the guestroom, merely feet away from me.

I shook my head as if the simple action would ward off any thoughts of the boys in my life and the drama that came with them. Can't boys just be without drama?! 

I tried to concentrate on the laptop screen, rather than my thoughts when I heard a tapping sound on my bedroom window. My eyes widened when I realized that I hadn't imagined it. My heartbeat sped up when I thought about who it could be. I sat stunned on my bed while the movie on my laptop continued. Movie? Or was it a web series?

I shakily got up from the bed, closed my laptop without thinking, and walked to the window, which was currently hidden by the curtain. Was it Harper? I didn't need to ask the question. The way my body was tingling and sweating, I knew it was him. I knew that he had seen me at his alpha ceremony, which would explain his visit. What I didn't get was, why after so many hours? Why did it take so long for him to come to me? See, all this time I wanted to be away from him and now I was wondering why he hadn't come to me sooner. If this kept up, I would surely go mad. 

I swiped the curtain away, which only left the window glass between me and me. Between me and Harper. I could just not open my window and Harper would take the message and go away. I should do that, considering the circumstances of our relationship right now but when have I ever been smart or opted for intelligent choices when Harper was concerned?

I took a deep breath and unlatched the window, not having the guts to open the window and invite him in. Harper would have heard me unlocking the window latch and he would do the honors himself.

I follow the movement of the latch, my breath coming in soft spurts of light air. The window is then pulled up and a jean-clad lands in my room, followed by another leg, a muscular torso, and finally Harper's face. 

Suddenly, my body feels very heavy and I want to sit down but I don't have the strength to walk towards my bed or to my chair so that my legs can rest. My eyes meet Harper's and a shock of awareness travels through my body. He holds my gaze and I find it unable to move mine. 

The air in the room suddenly feels heavy, with a scorching intensity that hadn't been there when I glanced at Harper during the day. Somehow, him being here, standing in my room is far more personal and effective than gazing at each other on opposite ends of the backyard of his pack house. 

"Hey!" I whispered, my voice coming out deep and so throaty, that I wondered if it had been me who had spoken. Harper's gaze turned fiery and without a word, he stepped forward and put his arms around me, his face finding his place in the crook of my neck. 

Harper's scent washed over me and I let myself enjoy his presence for the moment. These four months apart had somehow made him more muscular, and somehow taller than he was before. I put my arms around his waist and let the both of us have this moment. This one selfish moment before we started talking about things, about our problems, about our lives, and everything else went to shit. 

Harper didn't let go of me for a few minutes and I didn't have it in me to complain. I was enjoying his hug, even though later I would admonish myself for being weak. 

He leaned back from me, his scent overwhelming my senses in the best way possible. He put both of his arms on my face and I subconsciously leaned into his touch. He placed a feather-light kiss on my forehead before he took two steps back, taking his body heat and comfort with him. 

"I needed to see you," Harper said and crossed his arms. His arms bulged in his leather jacket, more than they had four months ago. I nodded because I knew what he meant. 

Seeing Harper after such a long time had been like breaking the floodgates of emotions. Every emotion I felt towards him felt so heightened and the need to be close to him was so overwhelming that I just wanted to get back into his arms again. 

"I wanted you to know that I needed to have my alpha ceremony because of these rogues who have attacked the pack again and again." He opened his mouth to continue his rant but I interrupted him.

"I know, the goddess told me." Harper nodded and moved his gaze around my room before making it back to me. 

"I asked Natalie to be the Luna, not because we like each other but because I didn't want to include another girl between us. I didn't want to make this crazy triangle into a distorted square or rectangle or whatever." Harper explained and ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't blame you for choosing Natalie to be your Luna. I understand your reasons." I whispered, even though it hurt me to say so. It somehow felt wrong to say it out loud as this whole scenario somehow went against nature and it did. Natalie wasn't supposed to be Harper's Luna, I was and that was why it felt so wrong. "Why didn't you come to see me before?"

Harper flinched at my question but didn't look guilty. He moved around me and sat on my bed. "This room feels complete with you in it." Harper smiled at me and I wondered what that meant.

"What does that mean? How do you know how my room looks when I'm not here?" I wondered out loud and noticed Harper's cheeks turn pink. 

Before I could ask him exactly what he meant, he started explaining why he didn't come after me, how his father had collapsed on the stage and he had to rush him to the hospital. Sebastian still wasn't stable and this night was crucial for his survival. The more Harper spoke, the more it affirmed that I had come at a very good time to deliver the goddess' message to Sebastian. 

"Oh, harper. I'm so sorry." I whispered, touched how he came to me even when his father was fighting for his life at the hospital. He nodded wordlessly and got up from my bed.

"I, uh, should go." He looked everywhere else but at me and I frowned at his sudden change in demeanor. 

"What? Why?" I could hear the hurt in my voice, which I hadn't expected. 

"Because if I don't go right now, I'll do something like this." He was suddenly in front of me, put his arms around me, pulled me to him, and crashed his lips on mine. I gasped in surprise and pulled him to me, kissing him back with equal intensity.