Book 5: Chapter 62 – Heated Confessions

Book 5: Chapter 62 – Heated Confessions
Cerelia’s POV 

My knees buckled at his heartfelt admission. The intensity of his feelings for me took me by surprise. I had expected anything, but not this. 

His muscular arms went around me to keep me upright. “Are you alright, Cerelia?” His voice was warm against my ear and I sagged into his chest, maybe to stop him from leaving. 

“How can I be alright when you’re leaving me, Xandrios?” I looked up to see the fleeting emotions of pain and longing in his eyes. 

“You know I don’t want to leave you. That’s the reason I was dreading meeting you. I knew I couldn’t go after meeting you once.” He held my face between his hands and drowned in my eyes. “I couldn’t leave without meeting you even.” 

“Then don’t leave without me.” His arms fell to his sides in defeat. 

“I have to, Cerelia, but I’ll be back next month.” He flashed a tight smile at me while my heart wanted to howl and protest. How could he leave me for a month? 

“I won’t survive that long without you, Xandrios. Take me with you, please.” I wrapped my arms around his shoulders to stop him from escaping. 

He would have to take me with him. 

Xandrios stilled and gave me a confused look. 

“I’m going to Lucania. Are you sure you want to go there? There’s no force, Cerelia. I just want you happy wherever you are. It’s crucial for you and our baby right now.” 

I shook my head, not willing to listen to him. “How can I be happy without you, Xandrios? For months I’ve waited for you. I endured everything, hoping to unite with you one day. Now, when you came so far for me, how can you leave me behind? I want to start afresh in Lucania with you. You’re not forcing me. I want to be with you because I love you.”

I released a staggering breath, happy to get it off my chest at last. 

He gazed at me as if astounded by my admission. “What did you just say?” 

I gaped at him in disbelief. Hadn’t he heard me? “I waited for you.” 

He shook his head. “No, after that.” 

“I want to start afresh in Lucania with you.” My cheeks colored as I released him to repeat my confession. How had he not heard it the first time? It was so embarrassing to repeat it all over again too, with his fiery gaze watching me intently.

He grinned, a little satisfied now. Yet he wanted more. He closed the door, and I felt even more nervous. “No, after that.”

I colored even more, realizing what he wanted to hear. His arm went around my waist and I placed her hands on his chest. But he wound them around his neck like before. With his lips hovering near mine, I forgot to breathe. “I have never loved someone as much as I love you, Xandrios. I promise to love you and honor you as my mate all my life. We will always belong to one another.” It was almost like the wedding vows the humans took on their wedding day. 

He cupped my cheek and grabbed my butt to pull me closer. “And I promise to love and protect you always, my little mate. I’ll always put you before me, to love and honor for the rest of my life.” 

My heart filled up with joy as I thought of a future with my Xandrios. “You already have, Xandrios. You’ve pursued me and risked your life to save mine.” 

He pulled me into his warm chest and held me against his pounding heart. Was it beating this fast for me? 

“Yes, only for you,” he whispered, taking my breath away. So he still could connect with me. I was glad that our mate bond was still strong despite our separation. “Every cell in my body is throbbing for you. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

He leaned over to grab the back of my head and crashed his lips to mine. I felt delirious and needy for more. 

“Xandrios.” It was a breathy moan as I surrendered to my mate.

His possessive mouth devoured me, making me dizzy while his heady scent enveloped me, seeping into the recesses of my heart. I had wanted this for so long. I had missed him so much. If only I had listened to him, but now I knew his worth. I would never, ever disobey my mate. 

I kissed him back with blistering heat, not getting enough of him. I was afraid I would find my release before he even touched me. Obviously, my pregnancy hormones were to blame for everything I was going through. The feelings, the lust, the happiness, everything was double because of those hormones. 

I pulled away, gasping for breath. He gazed at me with so much intensity, it burned my soul.

“Cerelia,” he whispered my name like a prayer, his lips trailing to my neck where he had marked me. Feeling his tongue trace it erotically, my entire body came alive. “Do you know what I want right now?” 

“Yes, I want the same too, Xandrios. It’s been so long.” A shudder of need swept up my body when he kissed the mark tenderly. It strengthened the mate bond between us and Lia purred deep inside me. 

“We will unite, but not here. Although I’m dying to make love to you now, I know it’s impossible with everyone waiting for us outside.” He released me and I watched his swollen lips shyly. Had I done that to him? What would my family think if they saw our lips?

He chuckled, sensing my thoughts. “They won’t mind as long as we’re happy.” 

“I am happy. I’ve missed you so much. If only I had listened to you, we could have avoided this. I understand it all now, Xandrios. I really do.”

I searched his eyes, silently apologizing for being so immature and making us suffer so much. 

“I know, Cerelia. I’m glad you’ve realized it at the cost of losing your life. Ever since I returned to Lucania, I didn’t get a moment of respite. I was so worried about you, but I couldn’t come earlier. For fifteen days, I was unconscious for no reason and no sickness.” 

I gasped and released him to stare at him. So the curse had affected him too. “It was my grandpa’s cursed sword that affected mated wolves alike. It scraped my neck when I was trying to save myself from him. I fell unconscious afterward for a fortnight.” 

Xandrios pulled me again back against his chest. “I’m glad it’s all over Cerelia. I’m relieved you’re unscathed in all this mess. Your family explained everything to me. It’s a miracle that you’re still alive. I’m forever indebted to your family for standing up for you against all odds.”

I raised my head and gazed at him hopefully. “Me too. Will you take me home with you? I refuse to stay here without you. Next month is my delivery and I want our twin baby girls to be born in your hospital under your guidance. Aunt Sophia has permitted me to travel now, but not after this.” 

His eyes widened as he realized he would be a dad to two angelic little girls. “Wow! That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! We should get going then. I wouldn’t want your delivery to happen here. I’ll book your flight ticket right away. Do you need help with your packing?” 

He released me and took out his phone to book my ticket. My heart swelled with happiness. Finally, I was going home with my mate.

“No, Aunt Elena and my brothers have helped me with the packing. I’ll just pee and change into something comfortable.”

After half an hour, I hugged and thanked my family and left Pieria at last. Alpha Alexios and his team traveled with us to Thessaloniki, where we parted ways. They left for Transylvania while we boarded our flight to London. 

I couldn’t wait to reach home. Memories of my mate’s cozy penthouse made me realize it’s worth. No place in the world was safer than my mate’s home. Now it was our home. “I had almost given up hope, Xandrios. I never thought I would go home to Lucania with you one day.” 

He caught my hand in his. “I hadn’t given up hope, Cerelia. I knew I would rescue you one day. Do you know I saw you in a crystal ball too? You looked so devastated and in pain, I lost my mind.” 

I gaped at him. “Crystal ball? The one witches use?” 

He nodded, telling me about his visit to the witch, Annabeth, and the vision he had experienced. “I was so jealous of the male hand I saw in the vision. It was holding yours.” 

I chuckled, realizing who it could be. “That should be Nikos. He has helped me a lot.” 

“I’m sorry I misunderstood you, baby. I thought you moved on from me and found a new mate who lived with you in your house.” 

I rolled my eyes at him. “You think too much, silly. I can never move on from you. You’re in every cell of my body, my heart, and my soul. You’re stuck to me for life.” 

“I’m happy to be stuck to you, sweetheart.”