The One

Full Moon: Part 1

 The next morning, she found herself awake earlier than intended, sleep evading her like a whisper in the night. Restlessly, she tossed and turned in bed, thoughts spiralling like a chaotic whirlwind—a million things racing through her mind, each one more insistent than the last.

Her brain played tricks on her; every time she slipped into slumber, her subconscious would take over, dragging her back from the edge of sleep and leaving her restless and bleary-eyed. Instead, she spent the night addressing urgent matters, her work demanding her attention like a demanding child.

Finally, the light of day began to filter through the curtains. Gently, she leaned down to wake her son, planting soft kisses on his forehead.

"Morning, Luka boy! Time to rise and shine, baby boy."

With a sleepy yawn, Beau blinked awake. "Morning, Mummy!"

"What a delightful surprise to see my little man up so early!" Her gaze fell upon Beau's enchanting midnight-black eyes, flecked with deep blue and gold, his smile illuminating the room.

"Luka is still asleep, Mummy, so I'll take over," he proclaimed with a sense of responsibility.

"No worries, sweetheart. Let him sleep, and let's get ready for breakfast with Daddy," she replied.

"Okay, Mummy!"

With infectious excitement, Beau squeezed his mother tightly before rolling out of bed. He darted to his wardrobe, standing before it like a tiny fashion guru, vexed over his attire for the day.

"Do you want Mummy to help you choose your outfit?" she offered.

"Nah, it's okay, Mummy! I've got this. I'm a big boy now!"

She chuckled softly, shaking her head at her son's determination and his adorable antics.

Thirty minutes later, the mother-son duo descended to the living room, only to pause abruptly as the front doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the house. Luka yelled, "Coming!" and dashed towards the door.

With a gleeful flourish, he threw the door open, beaming. "Morning, Daddy!"

"Morning, baby boy!"

Christian lifted Luka into his arms, stepping inside. The moment the door swung open, Karol's heart raced wildly, as if she were preparing for a long-awaited rendezvous.

In a bid to calm herself, she took a deep breath, attempting to steady her racing pulse. But the moment she heard her mate's voice, she froze, a shiver running down her spine that sent her nerves into a flurry.

'Stupid body! Why are you shivering like a fool?' she chastised herself, turning on her heel and darting back to her bedroom for a moment of respite.

'Luka, baby, can you please ask your dad to sit for a bit? Mummy forgot something,' she mind-linked her son, who replied,

'Okay, Mummy!'

'Ha! I need to get a grip. No time for this, Karol! Why am I so drawn to him? It's utterly ridiculous! I swear, he must be summoning me with some kind of sorcery!'

She paced back and forth in her room, a tempest of thoughts swirling in her mind.

"Aright, focus, Karol. You can do this!"

"Breath in... Breath out..."

"Breath in... Breath out..."

"Much better. Time to face the music," she told herself, slapping her cheeks lightly as if to awaken her senses, plastering on a brave, nonchalant mask.

But the moment she caught another glimpse of her mate's silhouette, panic clawed at her stomach, and she bolted back into her sanctuary.

'Oh, for the love of all that's holy! I must be losing my sanity! What is wrong with me today? Calm down, Karol!'

"Ahhh!" She muffled her scream into a pillow, fighting against her own emotions.

'You've got this, Karol. You are fabulous and strong, just keep your focus on your prince and ignore the Greek god lurking about. Keep your eyes on him, and everything will be fine.'

With a final pep talk in front of the mirror, she adjusted her clothes and hair before stepping out of her room.

As she sauntered into the living room, her eyes locked onto her son, refusing to stray towards her mate, who stood there, a dangerous temptation. Luka/Beau ambled closer, his innocent voice breaking through her tumultuous thoughts.

"Mummy, why are you taking so long? I'm starving!" he whined in his babyish tone.

"Oh, hello, Luka, good morning!"

"Mummy~," he proclaimed, his sweet voice drawing a smile from her amid the chaos.

Christian's gaze swept over his mate, drinking in every detail, from the way her hair fell in luxurious waves to the slight furrow of her brow that spoke of her intention to evade him. She casually said, "Okay then since everyone is here already let's go and have some breakfast," her tone light but her eyes revealed the tension underneath. "Let's go."

Without waiting for him, she turned, her fingers intertwining with her son's as they moved towards the front door. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries welcomed them at the diner, where she mastered the art of masking her emotions with a polite smile.

"Luka, love, after breakfast could you play with your grandparents?" she asked, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Sure, I can do that," Luka replied with innocent enthusiasm.

"Are you going somewhere?" The question came from Arlo, making her heart skip as she looked up into his penetrating amber eyes, which seemed to see right through her. A slight shiver ran down her spine at his tone, the shock of his unexpected presence catching her off guard.

"I have some unfinished business in the neighbouring city," she replied, forcing a calmness she didn't feel.

"Can we come?" Luka chimed in, his bright eyes wide with excitement.

"Sorry Luka, you can't come. That's why I want you to stay and play with grandpa and grandma," she explained, trying to keep her own emotions at bay.

"Karol, let me take care of him while you're working," Arlo offered, hope flickering in his gaze.

"Yeah, can I stay with Daddy?" Luka asked, his smile reaching his eyes.

"Yes, you can baby boy, just be careful when you play with your dad, aright? I don't want you covered in dirt," she said, shooting a brief stink-eye at her mate.

"I promise I won't take him to dirty places any more. I'll shower him before you come home, love. Don't worry about a thing, okay?" Arlo smiled, the term of endearment tugging at her heart. Yet, she maintained her composure, offering him a blank stare as she blinked slowly.

She turned her gaze back to her son, her smile warm and genuine as she said, "Good, because that's your job," directing her words sternly at her mate.