Loving Young

Chapter I

Stripping off my clothes, I eased into the shower, toes recoiling from the icy touch of the ceramic floor. A shiver crawled up my spine as I twisted the faucet, the water bursting out in a hot stream, pounding down on my head. The heat crept over my skin in soothing waves, melting the tension from my shoulders. My eyelids fluttered shut, blocking out everything but the sensation of steamy water running down my body. For a moment, it was just me and the warmth, a comforting silence that drowned out the noise of things I didn't care to think about.

I inhaled deeply, letting the steam fill my lungs, imagining myself beneath a waterfall—timeless, beautiful, infinite. But, like everything good, it couldn't last forever.

My eyes fluttered open, reality seeping in with the cool air creeping in at the edges of the shower. A groan escaped my lips. Reluctantly, I shut the water off, grabbed a white towel, and wrapped it around myself. Water droplets traced lazy paths from my skin to the floor, cold against the wooden boards as I padded to my closet. I pulled out a pair of white underwear, an oversized T-shirt, and dark blue jean shorts, slipping them on before reaching for my hair clip by the bed. Once I'd pinned my damp hair up, I swiped on a bit of rose lip-gloss to bring some color to my tired reflection.

The clock ticked past ten-thirty, its steady rhythm a reminder that most of the food was long gone. My stomach twisted at the thought. As I approached the dining room, the faint echo of chatter had already faded, leaving the table with only the bare essentials. A few lonely plates, half-empty trays.

I picked up a cold plate, grabbed two slices of bread, and spread a thin layer of butter over them. The honey trickled slowly from the spoon, a meager drizzle that barely covered the bread. With a sigh, I reached for the coffee pot, the familiar, bitter scent rising as I poured the dark liquid into a waiting mug.

"How you manage to drink that stuff black is beyond me," Elene said with a scrunched nose, her voice warm despite the teasing. I sat down beside her, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on her cheek before resting a hand gently on her belly, the subtle curve just starting to show beneath her shirt.

"You've got the biggest sweet tooth I know," I chuckled, shaking my head. "Of course, you don't get how anyone survives without drowning everything in sugar."

She rolled her eyes, huffing in mock indignation. We both knew it was true—pregnant or not, she practically lived off sweets.

Are you still getting morning sickness?" I asked, remembering the last few days when she'd been stuck rushing to the bathroom, too frustrated to enjoy her favorite meal of the day, breakfast.

She exhaled in relief, her lips curving into a genuine smile. "Thank Gods, no." Her smile turned into a laugh as I slid one of my honey-covered slices onto her plate.

She licked the sticky sweetness from her fingers with a soft hum of satisfaction, then looked at me, her brows lifting slightly. "Oh, by the way, my mate was looking for you."

I paused, mid-sip of my coffee, a flicker of curiosity passing over my face. "Did he say why?"

She shook her head, leaning back in her chair. "Not really. If it were something serious, I'd feel it." She tapped her chest lightly, reminding me of the strange, deep bond mates shared—a connection I still didn't fully understand but couldn't deny.

Alright, I'll go find him," I said, rising from my seat. My gaze flicked to her belly again. "Do you need anything before I go?"

She groaned, rolling her eyes with dramatic flair. "I'm only three months pregnant, not an invalid. You and Josh act like I'm about to fall apart any second."

I smiled softly, stepping around to pull her chair back for her. "We just worry, that's all."

She huffed again, but the corners of her lips twitched upward. I extended my hand, and she took it, her grip firm as she rose to her feet.