Chapter 2

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

Cleo chanted over and over in her mind as she sat still as a rock near the kitchen counter and watched Sebastian and Owen in the living room. The man was painfully handsome. His brownish blonde hair was thick and wavy. The eyes were piercing with deep set lines in the corner and his strong jaw was covered by neatly trimmed facial hair that made him look rugged like a high fashion of the runway model. Cleo knew she shouldn't stare, but she couldn't look away.

"Sebastian and his brother just started a business together a few years ago," Piper told Mavi as they moved around the kitchen fussing over the sugar cookies. "He was in Australia a few weeks ago. We were going to come sooner but his work trip got delayed."

"That's okay, baby," Mavi said. "We're glad you are here now."

"And thank you for bringing such eye candy," Manya winked, making Piper blush and laugh.

"He's a sweetheart, you guys will love him," she said.

"Looks like Owen already does," Mavi leaned around the counter to peek into the living room. "Are you boys okay in there?"

"Yes, thank you," Sebastian placed a hand over his heart with a charming smile on his lips.

Ugh, stop.

Cleo looked away.

"How old is he?" Manya wondered. "He's not in college with you, is he?"

"He's a....little older," Piper cleared her throat and turned away.

"How much older?" Mavi asked with concern.

"He just turned 25 last month," Piper declared.

"And you're just 20," Manya said.

"It's not that bad," Piper said, looking at Mavi. "Right?"

"It's not," Mavi agreed. "It's pretty good for our family."

"That's what I said," Piper laughed. "And I think it's good for me that he's older. He is more mature and he knows what he wants."

"And what does he want?" Cleo asked without thinking.

With a sigh, Piper began to ponder, "A serious relationship. Someone he can settle down with and grow with. He talks about family and buying a home and traveling the world. I don't know, guys. I really like him."

With each word the girl spoke, Cleo felt her heart ache. She bit down on the insides of her cheeks to keep herself from tearing up.

"He sounds amazing," Mavi walked over and kissed the top of Piper's head. "Great pick, sweetheart."

"But I don't really know how he feels about me," Piper sighed.

"What do you mean?" Manya looked up from the pie she was stuffing.

"He's so sweet and amazing but he's also very....introverted," Piper explained. "He doesn't really talk about his emotions openly."

"That's all men," Mavi rolled her eyes. "The boy likes you, trust me."

"I don't want him to like me," Piper blushed, causing Cleo's heart to contract once more. "I want more."

"Soon," Manya promised. "Patience is a virtue."

Feeling the air in her lungs starting to suffocate her, Cleo suddenly jumped to her feet. Everyone around the kitchen stopped and stared at her as she rushed towards the back door.

"Where are you going?" Mavi asked.

"I need to check on the horses," Cleo lied, reaching for the door and yanking it open.

"Cleo, wait!" Piper dropped the frosting bag and wiped her hands on the apron around her waist.

Cleo stepped out onto the back porch and watched her best friend hurry out after her. Piper quietly closed the door and walked away from the window, out of Mavi and Manya's earshot.

"What's going on?" Cleo asked, curious about the sneaky look in Piper's eyes.

"Do you have condoms?"

Cleo's eyes were ready to pop out of her skull. The air caught in her throat and she began to choke slightly.

"What?"

"What's wrong with you?" Piper arched a brow. "Why are you acting like we're 13?"

"Why do you need condoms? You're frosting cookies?"

"I accidentally left my make-up bag in my dorm. I had the condoms in there. I don't know if Bash bought any but just in case he didn't, I need to find some."

"I don't have condoms," Cleo lied, feeling sick and guilty and extremely shitty. "And you're in a house full of werewolves. Please for the love of god, don't have sex this week. Everyone will hear you. Mom, dad, Macky, Ell, Clare, Ares, grandma, Uncle Alec, Eden, Arden, ME!"

"There are other places beside the house, Cleo..."

Cleo gasped, "Not the treehouse! That's our childhood!"

"I was talking about the lodge in town," Piper smacked Cleo's arm. "Bash and I were going to spend some time alone in town tomorrow."

"Then just get condoms from the store," Cleo thought he might turn green from the way her stomach turned. She stepped away and tried to move as far away from her sister as she possibly could.

"And risk the shopkeeper telling dad I bought condoms?" Piper followed her down. "You know how people in Juniper are."

"Must suck to be you," Cleo pushed her hands into her pocket and stared straight ahead.

"How effective is the pull-out method?"

"Oh my god," Cleo threw her hands over her ears, her heart burning up with a fire strong enough to burn down Olympus.

"Then again, I wouldn't mind having his baby-"

Cleo didn't let her finish as she marched off towards the barn. She knew Piper wouldn't follow in her expensive boots.

"Where are you going?" Piper called out instead.

"To go drown myself in the frozen lakes and end my misery," Cleo muttered under her breath, too low for anyone to hear her.

The short walk to the bark seemed to stretch on forever. Cleo held herself together until she stepped through the doors and let out the breath she was holding. Her eyes began to sting with hot tears as her lungs burned with a scream that was tearing her apart. Her gaze moved over the horses who seemed to all stop and stare at her, wondering what she was up to.

Suddenly faced with a mute audience, Cleo began to cry. She couldn't stop herself as a childish sob broke out of her and she covered her face to hide from the horses. Her feet stomped the ground as she screamed into her hands.

This is not happening. This is not happening. This is not happening.

"What the fuck?" Cleo looked up at the ceiling as if the gods could hear her. "What the actual fuck?"

Feeling utterly confused and drained, Cleo wiped her eyes and made her way into one of the stalls where they stored hay. She sank down onto the bed of golden hay and let out a huff, causing her dark chocolate hair to fly off her face. The horse in the stall next door peeked inside and began to chew obviously while staring at Cleo.

"Go on," Cleo said, looking up at the animal. "Laugh at my misery, Buttercup."

The hose leaned down and nudged Cleo's head, his cold wet nose touching her cheek and making her pout.

"What am I going to do?" Cleo looked up at the horse. "I can't take him from Pip. She adores him. And she wants to have his babies!"

The horse continued to chew.

"Maybe I should leave," Cleo began to think aloud. "Mom and dad will be pissed. It's only a temporary solution because if Pip ends up.....marrying him, I would have to avoid them forever."

"Girl, what are you going on about?" The horse asked, his voice drawing out a thick Southern accent.

Cleo stared at him for a split second before scurrying away with a scream.

Suddenly, a sweet laughter, like bells rang out in the barn. Cleo jumped to her feet and ran out of the stall.

"Eden!" She huffed in anger, finding the blonde standing by the door howling with laughter.

"Hey, pumpkin," Eden waved, trying to stop herself from falling over.

"Buttercup does not need to speak," Cleo shivered. "Ever."

"Oh come on," Eden rolled her eyes. "You used to love it when I made your pets talk when you were younger."

"I'm not six anymore," Cleo brushed off her legs.

"Fair enough," Eden winked. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

"I was trying to hear myself think."

"The house is extremely crowded," Eden looked over her shoulder. "I told Mavi we should all just stay with Manya. But you know how your mother is."

"Yeah," Cleo nodded. "Is Uncle Alec here?"

"We came together," Eden said. "Ian had a hockey game so we ran a bit late."

"What about Arden?"

"Oh he's here," Eden huffed. "If he thinks he can avoid coming home for Thanksgiving he's a fool."

"I thought he was going on a Machu Picchu trip."

"Not anymore," Eden said. "Thanksgiving is family time."

Cleo slowly nodded. She let Eden blabber on about some lady in town or something as they made their way back to the house. Cleo was lost in her own thoughts until the heart wrenching scent of wood-fire and frost slapped her across the face as soon as she entered the house. Her eyes shut and her lungs held on to the scent as her ears filled with the sound of Sebastian's laughter.

"My god, Pip's new man is hot," Eden whispered.

Cleo made a small whimper in the back of her throat. Eden turned towards her and arched her brow. "What's wrong, darlin?"

"I need to lay down," Cleo didn't wait around for anyone to say anything as she rushed towards the steps.

Her family was all gathered in the living room as she kept her eyes low and ran up the steps. They didn't pay her any attention as the holiday mood carried on in full swing. As Cleo climbed the steps, she began to feel the back of her neck heat up in a way she had never felt it before. Her feet stumbled, causing her to pause and look over her shoulder.

Her gaze caught with Sebastian's. Both of their breaths stopped along with time.

"Is this seat taken?" Piper asked as she plopped down onto Sebastian's lap.

Sebastian's gaze broke away from Cleo, "Nope."

"Thought so," Piper smiled as she cuddled closer.

Sebastian pulled her into his arm and cleared his throat, not understanding the tightness in his chest. His eyes fluttered back up towards the steps, but those brown eyes were long gone. 

What would you do if you were Cleo?