Astrophile (Paul Lahote)

fifty eight

࿔*:･fifty eight ࿔*:･

°. *࿐ ༻༺ ࿐°. *

“I think that’s the last of the boxes,” Jayden groaned as he dropped the large box in Paul’s living room and straightened up, holding his back. 

“Incorrect,” Leah muttered from behind him, walking in with another huge box, an easy-going smile on her face, something that had started recently ever since she had gotten over the shock of having an imprint. She had begun talking to Jayden properly, “that's the last of the living room boxes,” she indicated towards the box in her hand, “this is the first of the kitchen boxes,” she grinned and Jayden groaned as he crashed onto the couch. 

Carter chuckled, shaking her head as Jayden shot her a dirty look, “You know, you have too much stuff for one single person.” Carter shrugged with a smile as she started opening the box Leah set down, “Hey, I'm basically moving my entire life into a new place, I'm emotionally attached to all of this,” she waved her hand over the boxes. 

“Hopefully not more than you are to me,” Paul retorted as he walked in and placed another box down next to her, “clothes,” he muttered as she looked up at him with a loving smile. He leaned down to place a soft peck on her lips and Carter saw Leah and Jayden awkwardly glance at each other from the corner of her eye. 

“I'm ready to be emotionally and physically attached to you for the rest of my life,” she hummed back and got up without wasting another second. She didn't notice Paul freeze for a brief second before he let out a nervous chuckle and got up, rushing out of the house to gather her remaining things. 

It had been a week since Paul had asked her to move in with him, and she was glad to see everything going along so smoothly till now. Although Bella had not woken up, the Cullens had let Carter know that her transition, though slow, was also moving along just fine. Her pack was doing just fine as well, Carter had never seen Leah happier than she had been in the past week. She had seen more smiles in a week than she had the whole year and she was more than grateful that her friend was able to find love like that. 

Leah had confided in her many times, being one of the only two female shifters in the pack, she was concerned that she was different, that she wouldn't find love like her other packmates. Carter was glad that she had been proven wrong. 

Her parents' reaction was something that Carter was positive she would never forget, they were two peas in a pod most of the time, however, their reactions had been completely opposite. 

Her mom had played with her ring nervously, “Carter, sweetheart, are you sure about this? Living with someone is a big step.” it hadn’t taken long for her to be able to convince her mother that she was ready for it and she had given them a nervous but happy smile, “Well, as long as he treats you right and you’re happy, that’s all that matters.” she gave Paul a big hug after that, expressing her happiness. 

Her father, on the other hand, had levelled Paul with a long, hard stare, “And what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?”

Paul had choked on his own spit as Carter’s eyes widened, “DAD!” she protested. 

She had decided to spare them the trouble of moving her entire life from one house to another, not wanting to disrupt their date night. Instead, she had asked her friends for help. Leah had readily agreed, and Jayden had eagerly volunteered right after her. Vera, on the other hand, had been begrudgingly dragged along, protesting the entire way.

She was in the spare room that Paul had, setting up Carter’s books in a few bookshelves they had gotten just two days ago. 

As the last of Carter’s stuff was brought in, she sighed softly, a bittersweet feeling making her throat tighten. The scent of salt and pine drifted into the cabin through an open window and Carter’s fingers trailed over the worn wooden frame of the doorway, feeling its sturdy presence beneath her fingertips.