Eight am.
A total of twenty three young men and women arrived at the front gate of Stronghold Village. Only eleven of them are the ordinary humans and the rest are Shadow Claw pack members.
Selena was awed by the scene of the Village. She can't believed something so beautiful was hidden inside the woods. It's like a small town inside the small town. They were lead to a guest house near the Stronghold Clans house. A magnificent mansion that looks like a small castle. She can hear the giggling sounds of the other girls beside her. While the guys do the 'oohhss'.
"Welcome to Stronghold Village!". A beautiful middle age woman came to great them. She was tall and slender. Selena looked at her face and thought for a moment that she have some similarities from Luke. But she didn't dare asked.
Everyone said their hi's and hello's to her. Suddenly she stands in front of Selena and hug her tight. Everyone was shocked specially her.
"Wow!..... You smell so nice. What product of shampoo are you using?". The middle aged lady asked her politely.
"Uhm... It's a.... Herbal shampoo that my Mom made for me". Selena said honestly. She don't understand her actions but she still answered politely.
The woman brushed her palm to Selena's head. She was wearing her knitted bonnet.
"You probably have a very beautiful hair. I hope I can see it one day". And she smiled at her sweetly.
Selena felt her warm caring heart just like her mother. 'Whoever mother you are, that child is so blessed'. She thought.
"Mother!".
A deep and sensual voice echoed behind the beautiful woman.
"Oh, my son is here". A sweet smile flashed on her lips and run to her eyes.
"Mother, you're not bullying this students, are you?". Luke gave his mother a peck on her cheeks.
"Shush... Don't try to scare those kids.... Hey guys don't believed this handsome boy of mine he really loves to bully his mother". And a soft laughter filled the air.
"Mother don't say that they might believe you. How can I bully such a beautiful woman?.... besides if I bully you father will going to kill me". Luke chuckles.
Selena's gaze suddenly fell at Luke's smiling face. She never noticed how gorgeous he is because she always ignored him in school. She can feel a very warm aura emitting from him and it tries to pull her over to his arms. A tingling sensation inside Selena's chest happens again. A strange thought came to her.
"Oh no!..... I think this is not a heart attack". She simply grabs her chest and squeezed her sweater.. "I think..... I'M IN LOVE?". A sudden realization hits her.
Selena's attention was caught by Quin's loud giggles. She and her friends are playing the pushing game. Quin's friends pushed her hard and she made it in front of Luke.
"Good morning Mr. Stronghold, do you remember me?". She asked him gently and made some butterfly blink.
"Oh yeah... You're in Mr. Medina's class right?". He said nicely though he is quite irritated to her.
"Yes she is!".
Quin's friends answered for her and they all giggled at the same time.
Selena's forehead knitted. Now she knows why she hate Quin's guts. She is a total flirt. But she needs to admit. By the looks alone she's a goner.
Luke and his mother strike another conversation and Selena's attention was caught by them. She can tell how much Luke adores his mother. He is very gentle with the way he talks to her and Mrs. Stronghold is very sweet to his son. How she wished she could have a son like him someday.
Luke's mother noticed how engrossed Selena watching them while having a mother and son conversation. Her lips twitched. A naughty question pop inside her head.
"My little girl... Do you like my son?". She suddenly asked.
"Yes!". Selena answered without thinking then she got stunned. 'What did I just say?.... Damn mouth'. She cursed herself. "I mean NO!".
Selena heard scornful whispers from Quin's group but she ignored it. Then she simply took a glance at Luke's face and saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. She wondered why.
"You don't like my son?". There's a hint of disappointment in Mrs. Stronghold's voice and it also shows in her eyes.
Selena panicked. "I mean of course I do, every woman likes your son!". She blurted it out without thinking again.
"But you don't like him?".
Selena looked at Luke again and the way he is holding her mother's arms. She can actually feel his warm heart.
"Your son is a very gorgeous man. No woman in this world will say no to him. He deserves a beautiful woman to stay by his side and there's a lot of women out there who can be Mrs. Stronghold in the future but I won't compete for that position, I know my place". She smiled bitterly. She made a very honest remarks.
Luke and his mother looked at each other as if they are talking through their minds. Then Luke's mother smiled sweetly to Selena.
"Have faith my child and be brave. There are things that already belongs to you but you just don't see it". She paused and hug her. "By the way, my name is Avery and you are Selena right?".
Selena was stunned for a moment. The lovely woman hug her warmly like Erin does. But what made her so confused is her words to her. She is a smart person but she doesn't understand what she meant. 'And when did I gave her my name?'.
The guest house they were in is large enough to accommodate the eleven students while the others went home. They also live in this Village and just studying at the Academy.
Selena is in a small room by herself. The other girls already pick their friends to stay with and there are only two boys left. They are automatically be roommates. Avery was so fond of her she tried to invite her to their house when she found out that she will be alone in her room but Selena refused her politely. She don't like special treatment and the fact that she can't handle anymore the stabbing look Quin and her other classmates are giving her.
After they settled down they were asked to go to Avery's greenhouse at the back of Stronghold mansion. The green house is huge and a lot of plants and flowers are in there. Some are really rare and it really took Selena's attention. From there they started to study the different species of plants and flowers. There are also cultivated little trees in big pots. The art of Bonsai was applied to them.
Lunch time.
All the students are invited to the Stronghold mansion and Selena is facing a very long table with a lot of delicacy.
"Welcome to my house". A middle aged man who look so much like Luke came and took the head seat.
"Kids this is my husband Larry. Luke's father". Avery gave him her most sweetest smile full of love.
Selena chuckles. Avery always addressed them like children.
"Selena?... Honey?". Avery looks at her with concern.
"Oh I'm not really laughing.... I mean Mr. Stronghold is as beautiful as your son". She panicked.
"Oh thank you. The men in this house are really beautiful aren't they?". Avery said proudly as she looked at his husband.
"Yes Mrs. Stronghold they are all beautiful". Quin answered for Selena and gave Luke a very seductive gaze.
"Oh thank you young lady...." Avery said in a formal tone.
"It's Quin ma'am". She cut her off to introduce herself.
Avery didn't say anything again she just smiled at her.
"Awkward!". Selena mumbled.
Luke flashed a faint smile on his lips. He clearly heard what her Mate said. He sat down beside Selena and all eyes went to them. Quin's group are throwing dagger looks at Selena. Their jaw drop more when Luke starts assisting her with all the food. Selena can actually taste all the good food on the table because of Luke. But she noticed that he can't almost eat because of her.
"Here!". Selena put some meat in Luke's plate. She saw him smiled widely and ate the meat with full of gusto. All the food she already tasted and passed her taste bud's as delicious are now in Luke's plate all the small portions only. She don't want him to over eat anyway.
Quin and the other guests are in awe. They don't know what's happening to the two people in front of them but they sure are jealous. Luke's attention seems to belong all to Selena.
"Here Sir Luke, taste this one". Quin put a piece of meat in Luke's plate. She's quite sure he will also eat it.
"I think I'm full, thank you". He literally rejected Quin's gesture.
"Selena, my Mother made a strawberry cake this morning would you like some?". Luke suddenly asked Selena after ignoring Quin. He knows it's her Mate's favorite so he literally asked her mother to make one.
Selena's eyes glisten in excitement. She can't believed Luke's mother will actually bake her favorite. 'What a coincident'. She told herself, she felt very lucky. She quickly nod her head consecutively. Then she heard Luke's lively laughter. Selena looked at his handsome face and noticed his eyes. They are as blue as the sky and when he laugh they were like stars that glitters in the night.
"Oh shit!". She covered her mouth after cursing. Hoping they didn't hear her.
"Something wrong Selena?". Luke got worried.
"Nothing". She lowered her head. 'Stupid Selena, what the hell are you thinking don't lust for the male god'. Her mind is scolding her.
The strawberry cake came and Luke took the first slice and place it on Selena's plate. He doesn't care what other people think as long as his Mate is happy. He can see the happiness in her eyes. He can't believed how simple his Mate is. Just a slice of strawberry cake and her whole world feels complete.