I just want to say thank you to you guys as always for being so amazing and all the lovely comments on the last chapter!! SO much love to you all. 

Also a special shoutout to the people who translate the pet names in the comments!! You are the real OG's for people reading this!!!! There's 'my little sun' (a common petname in russia!!) and my goddess is in it too! 

Some absolute MUSH in this and I have zero apologies. 

Fight me. 

LOVE U ALL IMMENSELY.

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CHAPTER 49

The packhouse at dinner time was a completely different place, especially tonight. Even though the day had started with a funeral it was ending in celebration. Celebration of not only Mrs Grenway's life but of Cole waking up too - apparently it called for a bit of a party and the energy in the house was high. 

As the weather was so lovely outside, the house had decided to cook outdoors - which was something they did constantly according to Trent. 

I suppose they were all outdoor animals. 

The pyre was further down at one end of the garden and had been blocked off for the evening - Trent explained that tomorrow they would get rid of the ashes and clear up the rest of the area - Witches apparently did not like their ashes being kept and so the plan was to let them go into the lake; she would have wanted to be returned to nature. 

I was so grateful for his help and knowledge of the world that I didn't know - without him I wouldn't have been able to give her the send-off that she deserved- he made sure that it was perfect. 

Everyone had changed out of their clothes from earlier and were now all in casual ones and I kind of felt bad that Kristie had left earlier with Cam considering the sight that she was missing out on. 

She probably would have died at the number of shirtless men and muscles that were accompanying dinner. 

"Honestly," I chuckle, watching another pair of shirtless guys walk past my chair and say hello, "Do you not ever just sit and stare at them all?" 

Scarlette laughs at my comment and shrugs, biting into the burger that she's spent the last couple minutes loading with every available topping. 

"Honestly, I've grown up with everyone - I feel like I'm related to them," she swallows the food in her mouth and winces, "Actually, I am related to quite a few of them."

"Did I hear my name, darling sister?" A voice calls from behind us as they jump over the back of the bench and take the space next to Scarlette, stealing her burger from her plate.

"Hello Lee, go away Lee, get your own food Lee," she replies, snatching it back from him while elbowing his side and he whimpers in response before deciding to settle on the chips on her plate instead. 

"But it's so far away," he complains before his eyes land on me, "Hi Elle," he grins, sending me a wink, "Nice to see you again."

I smile fondly at the teenager sitting with us, my memory from our previous encounter making me laugh at his confidence. With the two of them sitting next to each other it's easy to see the resemblance - not only was it the sparkling green eyes that I had recognised myself but their expressions were identical. 

I couldn't help but laugh at the way Scarlette kept pushing him back from her and putting her plate out of his reach. 

"Hi Lee," I chuckle, passing him a hotdog from my own plate, "Nice to see you again."

Lee's eyes light up as he reaches and takes it from me, grinning ear to ear while Scarlette scolds me. 

"Don't give in to him, he needs to stop being such a lazy shit," she complains as he stuffs half of it in his mouth, "You didn't even say thank you."

Lee grins sheepishly at me through his mouthful of food and thanks me before continuing to devour the item and I can only shake my head and laugh. 

"It's fine, Trent filled my plate anyway and got me far too much so I wasn't going to eat it."

Lee snorts and his chest vibrates with laughter as he looks at me, even Scarlette is grinning at my comment. 

"Mother hen Alpha at it again, making sure you're all fed and happy?" he teases, his tone mocking while I blush and roll my eyes, trying not to show how giddy it made me feel to know that I was special to him,  "Oh how I would love to see that caring side of Trent Night." 

My blush increases as golden eyes meet mine and my heart pounds in my chest as a shadow creeps across the teenagers back.

"Is that so?" 

It was hard to not stare at Trent and his glorious body that was visible. The lines of his muscles were prominent even with the sun glaring against them and I swear I could feel them beneath my fingers if I focused hard enough. The rest of the boys that had walked past me had nothing on him - he was like he had been plucked out of the skies. 

Scarlette begins to snigger as Lee chokes, his eyes widening in shock at the voice from behind him and a large hand clamps down on his shoulder, shaking me out of my daydream. 

"I can show you if you like?" 

I don't miss the humour glinting in Trent's eyes as the poor teenage boy goes pale and shakes his head below him, coughing on the food in his throat. 

"Are you sure?" he asks as he smacks his back, his lips twitching with a grin and Lee's head moves quicker, his hands rising in accompaniment, "If you're sure."

Trent shrugs easily and walks round to sit beside me, his legs spreading out in front of us as his arm circles around me and I smack his chest once he's comfortable. 

Oh, that definitely feels like pure muscle.

"That was mean," I state clearing my throat and trying not to look down, but the smile on his face is contagious as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking, "You'll scar the poor boy." 

Trent shrugs again and looks out into the garden, his eyes scanning across the rest of his pack and I shake my head, turning back to the siblings beside me who are still arguing over food, trying to forget the deep feelings that were swirling in me. It was kind of lovely seeing them together, I'd never seen Scarlette in a big sister role but it was quite hilarious and sitracted me pretty quickly. 

"So Scarlette, you never told me you had a brother," I state, digging into my pasta as she gives into the boy beside her and hands him her plate, making him howl in victory. 

Yes, think of the pasta and nothing else.

"I like to pretend I don't," she growls, "He's a pain in my ass."

"This pain in the ass stopped you from getting killed recently," Lee retorts snarkily, shovelling food down, "So you're welcome." 

"I was not almost killed," Scarlette hisses, punching him in the arm, her brows furrowed in annoyance, "I had it under control."

Trent scoffs from beside me but pretends to cough as soon as Scarlette's glare rounds to him and I hold in my own laughter when I see her expression.

"I did!" she whines before letting out a huff and folding her arms across her chest, a pout making its way onto her lips, "Whatever, you guys suck."

"What happened?" I ask, elbowing Trent as he tries to stifle more laughter at his cousin.

"Scarlette tried to go after some rogue wolves on her own," Lee teases, dodging his sisters attacking arm, "And she got her foot stuck in a bear trap and almost got killed by them." 

It seems like I'm the only person to not be shocked and concerned by the story - the two boys with us can't control their laughter and Scarlette is just whining in response about how it wasn't fair and she could have gnawed her leg out if she had to. 

"Was that not really painful?" I ask after a couple of minutes and Scarlette shrugs.

"It stung like a bitch, but I could have still knocked them out even with one leg stuck."

"Sure," Lee agrees sarcastically, "That's why I had to come along and fight them back from you with Trent and you spent a week in bed not able to walk on it."

"If you hadn't been in my head shouting about waiting for you then I would have been paying more attention to the ground and wouldn't have stepped in it!" she screeches back, flipping the plate of food out of his hand and Lee watches it fall to the ground, his mouth open in shock.

"I was eating that," he whines while standing up, "That's not fair!"

"Lifes not fair!" Scarlette mocks, shoving his chest and Lee shoves her right back. 

"Do you want to do this?" Lee laughs, circling away from her, "I don't want to embarrass you in front of our new Luna by beating you." 

"I would like to remind you that I'm your big sister and I could kick your ass blindfolded, you shrimp."

The two of them start shouting at each other with illegible insults while people around us begin to listen in and cheer, watching the fight with eager eyes. 

"Um..." I look at Trent, expecting him to be concerned by what was happening to the side of him but he's looking down at the phone in his hands, a grin on his face, "Should you not be doing something about this?" I ask, motioning to the two siblings who have begun to roll about the grass, their screams muffled by the laughter of the crowd. 

"Scarlette can take him easy," Trent says with a chuckle, "Plus, he's my cousin but he needs to be taken down a peg or two - he's been insufferable since we helped Scar out. Fight away from the food guys!" he calls over his shoulder. 

I look over to see what's going on but the pair are now blocked by the crowd of people who are slowly moving away and further down the garden. I sigh and shake my head, focusing again on the man beside me who hasn't taken his eyes away from the screen in his hand, listening to the calls of people get quieter as they move away.

"What's so interesting about that?" I ask, curiosity peaking as he tilts it away from me like a shy kid, "Something funny?"

"A little," he smirks, turning the phone around to let me see, "Your reactions really are priceless sometimes." 

The picture contains Trent and I but while he's smiling at the camera, his face full of laughter, I am sitting unaware with a look of complete horror and shock on my features as I watch the siblings fight just moments ago. Trent, of course, looks like he's just been plucked out of a magazine whereas my face is scrunched up in a very unattractive way and my mouth is hanging open so much that it could catch flies.

"Trent!" I complain, trying to reach for the phone but he holds it behind his head, his other hand rising up to waggle a finger at me.

"I like it," he half sings, the teasing tone not being missed as he holds me back with one hand, "I might get it framed."

"Stop it!" I try to be serious but can't help laughing as I push against him, getting up on my knees until I'm stretching above him, fingers scraping up his arm, "That can't be our first picture; I don't look nice!"

Trent stops laughing and pulls the phone down and behind his back, causing me to huff and sit back on my feet as I realise how close his face was to my chest, a pout coming onto my lips while he studies me and I try to not look frazzled. 

"Is that why you don't like it? Because it's our first one?" he asks, smirking a little at my blushing face. 

"Maybe..." I mumble like a child, not wanting to admit that I'm still a bit of a complete teenage girl and want a cute photo with the guy I like, "It's the only photo we have." 

Trent shakes his head at me and pulls me into him before I can blink, a squeal leaving my lips as my body becomes flushed against his and his face ends up just centimetres from my own. 

"You are adorable, Moya Solnishka," he chuckles, his lips brushing a kiss to my cheeks, "All you had to do was say that you wanted another one." 

My insides erupt in butterflies as he holds his hand out in front of us, his phone sitting in it waiting for a picture. I didn't expect him to be so okay with taking a photo - it's not like we were officially a couple I suppose... or were we? Were mates a step up from a boyfriend? Was being someone's soulmate pretty much the highest level of a relationship you could get?

Calm down. It's just a photo. 

Trent lowers his arm and looks at me with a charming smile, his soft gaze watching me, "What's on your mind, Mia dea?"

I feel my face heat up at his knowing look and I shrug as I clear my throat - the words stuck in them struggling to be heard. 

"I just... Um..." I stutter over what to say as his lips twitch knowingly, "Mates is a big thing... I just wondered what the... human equivalent was?"

He pretends to think for a moment and I honestly believe that he's just doing it to tease me and draw out my agony because he seems to be struggling to control the tilt of his lips from breaking out into a full-blown grin. 

"Hmm," he hums, scratching the stubble on his chin and I poke his arm and scold him, giggling at the stupid action, "Okay," he laughs, his arm coming up from resting on the chair behind me as his fingers run through my hair, twisting it at the end, "How about dating?" he asks.

"Dating?" I respond, the nerves in my stomach unfurling at his relaxed pose as he watches me, his gaze unwavering as his hair ruffles slightly in the wind.

"Elle, I told you that I would take this as slow as you wanted and I meant it - how about first I take you on a date before we start putting labels on things. Would that make you feel more comfortable?"

He really was perfect, wasn't he?

I nod in reply, my heart throbbing with how much I feel for him and his understanding nature - I didn't have to explain myself to him like I always had to in the past. He just let me be myself and gave me the opportunity to grow in confidence beside him.

"I'd love that," I blush, leaning closer into him as my hands touch his bare chest and I swallow the bubble of excitement that catches in my throat.

I can feel his heartbeat picking up underneath my fingers.

When he's this close to me I can barely think straight let alone get around the idea that I've just told him I want to take things slow.

"A d-date," I whisper, my finger trailing across his peck. His body stiffens at the contact and I stop myself from continuing, the heat firing through me enough to make me sweat. His hand curls around me and grips me to him, his breathing erratic as it brushes my lips. When I look away from his body and to his eyes I'm surprised to see them shut, a line across his forehead indicating that it isn't just his hand that's tense. 

"I'll make sure to wear more clothes on the date," he growls almost silently and I nod my head without realising.

"Good idea."

It takes a second for me to realise that the words have come out of my mouth and it seems to surprise Trent too whose eyes open in shock. This combined with the nerves I'm feeling plus my no doubt hilarious expression causes both of us to burst out in laughter, our foreheads leaning into each other as I try to get a handle on it. 

Trent's deep baritone laugh should sound funny with my own which must be at least a few octaves higher but it doesn't to me - it's like it accompanies it perfectly, grounding and echoing it.

"I didn't mean to say that," I sigh, wrapping my arms around his neck, "You just... make me say whatever I'm feeling."

"Well, I'm glad," he murmurs, his nose rubbing across mine as his fingers draw tiny circles at the side of my waist, "I don't ever want you to hide anything from me."

It's as if the world around us has disappeared for the moment, our eyes interlocked and held together by some magnetic force that I feel pulsing through me.

Desire.

"What if I wanted to kiss you right now?" I whisper, eyes glancing down to his lips that are just barely touching my own, "Do I have to ask you every time?" 

His chest rumbles with amusement at my words and I smile cheekily at him, remembering the torture he put me through every time he almost kissed me but pulled away. 

"Maybe just once more, Mia dea," he answers, his hand curling around my jaw. Without having to say anything he sees the questions swirling in my eyes and his own ignite with something new, "It means my goddess."

I was really falling for him, wasn't I?

"Kiss me, Trent," I beg, my constricted lungs feeling like they're going to burst. He doesn't wait for a second before closing the tiny gap between our lips - the feeling of them making my toes curl underneath me as I pull myself into him, getting lost in the feeling of his skin against my own. 

His lips are soft at first, hesitant like he's still waiting for me to change my mind but I quickly make that thought leave his mind as I wrap my fingers into his hair and open my mouth, my tongue asking him to kiss me deeper. He obliges, a groan echoing between us as his tongue finds mine and electrifies it with one simple graze, turning my legs to mush. 

There's a creak underneath us and I pull away from him slightly, panic flitting through me at the noise and the thought of the bench underneath us breaking. It's only when I do this that I notice how much I've pushed myself onto Trent and how my leg is beginning to go over his.

As if I was planning to straddle him.

Before I can even begin to move back or start apologising, Trent shakes his head and presses a gentle kiss to my lips, manoeuvring me down so that I'm back in my own space. 

"A date." He repeats, his words shaking slightly as he tries to flatten out his breathing and I nod in agreement, my teeth holding my lips so that they don't break out in a smile. 

Trent watches me do this and then his own lips smile, his arm raising beside us.

"This is how I want a picture of you, happy, flushed and glowing... and me knowing that I made you look like that."

I can only feel the blush light up my face even more as I turn and smile at the camera, my heart soaring as the screen lights up and takes a picture of our completely smitten grins and pounding hearts. 

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I HAVE SO MANY CUTE SCENES FOR TRENT AND ELLE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN TO PUT THEM IN AND WHEN TO HAVE STORY ADVANCEMENT CHAPTERS AND IT'S JUST REALLY HARD FOR ME!!!!!! 

I love u guys  x 

We're at 536K and Im so excited to get to 550K !!! going to cry when it happens xx