TESSA’S POV
My heart beat as loud as the thunder roared while I kissed Atlas back. This was the first time I had ever been kissed, and I honestly didn’t know how to do it. I just imitated the movement of his lips on mine. My lips slightly trembled, but the way his lips tasted was like an ecstasy…
So this was what being kissed felt like…
“Meow!”
I blinked my eyes open and pulled back, covering my mouth and looking at him in shock. It was as if I just came back to my senses and realized that we really kissed while stuck in this dark barn!
Catching my breath, I turned my gaze on the cat who was seated right next to me, tilting its head while also looking at us and perhaps wondering what we were doing.
My cheeks flushed. That was my first kiss…
“Was it… your first?” he asked huskily.
I gently nodded my head, biting my lower lip, and was completely ashamed.
Why did he ask? Wasn’t it good?
Shit… What was I even thinking?
He chuckled softly, and then caressed my hair. That made my heart skip a beat.
“I’m glad that I was your first kiss then,” he said.
I was not sure if he was teasing me or something, but I felt my cheeks burn even more. I looked over at the fire and cleared my throat. I didn’t know what had gotten into my head to let him kiss me and return the favor. It was on the spur of the moment, and my mind became haywire due to a sudden desire to feel him.
I didn’t understand why, but the feeling wasn’t that bad. In fact, it was something ticklish, and it still lingered in my gut.
He breathed heavily and then spoke, “I don’t think the storm will stop any moment. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when it’s time to go.”
“O-Okay…” was the only thing I could say, and then lay down on the floor filled with hay, still remembering in my mind the kiss we shared.
***
I had no idea how I was able to sleep comfortably on the hay, but when I woke up, my body seemed so recharged and refreshed. The sound of the birds chirping from the outside was the first thing I heard. As I sat upright, I noticed the bright sunlight coming through the little window, an indication that the storm had finally gone away. Atlas was leaning against the door frame, his back facing me as he looked outside.
Seconds later, he spun on me and smiled. “Good morning, little wolf.”
“G-Good morning,” I stuttered.
He ran a hand through his hair as his gaze turned to the outside again. “The storm is gone. I think we can go home now. They must be worried about you.”
I blinked numerous times. That’s the only time I remembered that I had vampire guardians waiting for me to come home. I immediately stood up and straightened my still wet clothes, and then went to the door.
“Let’s go home, Atlas,” I said worriedly. “My aunt must be worried about me. She was supposed to pick me up at school after classes…”
“Calm down, Tess. I will explain everything so you won’t be in trouble.”
I nodded and smiled a bit. I had no idea why I found comfort in his gaze and words, but I guessed I just had to trust him on this.
After a few minutes, we already started walking on the familiar trail that we had walked on yesterday. The smell of forest musk and wet ground lingered in my nostrils. I held the cat in my hands, hugging it so it wouldn’t escape, and Atlas was leading the way, instructing me to avoid some puddles so I wouldn’t slip.
“You can visit the cat at home,” I told him as we continued to walk.
He checked over his shoulders, and I noticed that his brow arched. “You will let me visit the cat every day?”
Every day?
I cleared my throat and answered, “I-If that’s what you want…”
“Alright, I’ll visit the cat, and of course you.”
I bit my tongue, trying to control my lips to curl up into a smile. The hillside was a bit rocky, so he scooped me up and carried me all the way down. I could have sworn that my heart raced faster because of the mere touch of our skins, but I pretended that it didn’t affect me.
I didn’t want him to figure out that I could feel a lot of indescribable emotions towards him. For the record, it only happened after that night of the mating season. There was something in my impression of him that changed.
After almost an hour and a half of trekking back to the village, we were able to arrive at my home safe and sound. We were having a normal conversation and he was giving me advice on how to take care of the cat when a clacking sound of footsteps approached us.
There I saw my vampire guardians, Cohen and Mikhaela, walking toward us.
“Tessa!” Aunt Alice called my name, her voice seemingly worried. “Oh my goodness, we’ve been looking for you anywhere!” She then embraced me and began inspecting my entire physique. “Are you alright? Where have you been?”
“I-I’m sorry, Aunt Alice. We were stuck in the forest last night due to the heavy storm,” I explained. “I’m really sorry…”
“Why were you in the forest in the first place, Tessa?” Uncle Harry asked in his cold tone of voice.
“Allow me to explain what exactly-” Atlas was no longer able to finish what he was about to say when Cohen punched him hard on the face.
All of us gasped about the future Beta’s sudden attack on Atlas. Cohen was about to hit him again, but I immediately pushed in between them.
“Cohen, stop!” I shook my head as I covered Atlas. “Why did you punch him? He didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Tessa, it’s okay. It’s really my fault,” Atlas told me as he breathed hard behind me.
“No!” I looked over my shoulder, gritting my teeth. “It was my own decision to go with you into the forest.”
“Why did you do that, Tessa? Are you choosing him now?” Cohen asked suspiciously.
“Cohen, stop it. This is not the right time to ask her who she is choosing. How about we just be glad that they came back safe and complete?” Mikhaela butted in, but her brother did not listen and was still glaring at us as if we made a huge mistake.
I was surprised by Cohen’s action. I never expected him to act this way. He used to be so calm, and soft. But the Cohen I was seeing in front of me was completely different. He looked dangerous, ruthless, and seemingly wanted to pick up a fight to prove that he was much better than Atlas.
“Cohen, please… stop. Atlas didn’t do anything,” I said once again, in hopes that he would understand. “We were supposed to go home yesterday, but the storm came. We had trouble trekking in the forest, but we’re fine and we’re here now.”
I didn’t know why they looked as if they didn’t buy my explanation. Even my Aunt Alice seemed not to be cool with it. She then tugged me away from Atlas, making the cat on my hand meow in shock.
“You can leave now, Atlas,” she told Atlas in her firm voice. “I’m so sure that the Alpha and Luna are also looking for you. If they found out that you were with my niece, they would be mad at her again. I don’t want that to happen, and I hope next time you will think of the consequence of your action prior to doing it.”
“I apologize, Alice,” Atlas said, and then gazed at me.
My heart sank because of this situation. I could not figure out why they seemed to be blaming Atlas. He wasn’t at fault… He even protected me and kept me warm! How could they treat him this way now?
“Auntie, this isn’t right. Why are you treating him like this?” I asked, disappointed.
“I am just telling the truth, Tessa,” Aunt Alice fired at me. “Now, go inside the house. We will talk as well.”
“But-”
“No buts, young lady. I’ll appreciate it if you do what I say.”
Alright. This sucks…
I looked at Atlas again, only to see him offering me a smile. He then nodded his head, motioning me to follow my auntie’s command; as if he wasn’t being treated unfairly by them.
“R-Remember what I told you a while ago?” I asked softly.
“Clearly, Tessa…”
“O-Okay then. I-I’ll look forward to it…” I said, referring to him visiting the cat every day.