My Fated Husband

Carolina's POV 

As I stepped off the plane at LAX, the warm California sun enveloped me like a comforting hug. I felt a mix of relief and guilt as I made my way to the baggage claim. 

Relief to be back in familiar surroundings, guilt for leaving Avon and the life we'd just begun to build together.

As I collected my luggage, my phone buzzed with notifications. I hesitated before checking them, knowing Avon would have tried to reach out. 

Sure enough, my inbox was filled with messages and missed calls from him.

"Please come back to me."

"I'll give you space, but don't shut me out." 

"We need each other, mate."

"It's not safe for you out there, Lina."

My heart ached, but I couldn't bring myself to respond. Not yet.

I hailed a taxi and headed home, watching the city unfold outside my window. The familiar sights and sounds of Los Angeles were a balm to my frazzled nerves.

As I pulled up to my apartment complex, a sense of nostalgia washed over me. This was my sanctuary, my haven from the chaos of the werewolf world.

I paid the driver and stepped out, taking a deep breath of the salty air. Home.

I lugged my suitcase up the stairs, fumbling for my keys. The door swung open, revealing the cozy space I'd left behind. Everything looked the same, yet felt different. My life had changed irrevocably.

I dropped my bags, kicked off my shoes, and collapsed onto the couch. For a long moment, I simply sat, letting the silence envelop me.

I fetched my phone and texted my friend, telling her I'm back in LA. Soon enough, the doorbell sound broke the silence. I jumped up, knowing it was Cassie.

"Coming!" I called out, making my way to the door.

I opened it to find my best friend, Cassie, standing on the porch with a concerned expression.

"Hey, girl! What got you back from your precious abroad? Don't tell me you fled..."

My eyes welled up as I ushered Cassie inside.

"Where do I even start?" I asked, sinking onto the couch once more.

Cassie settled beside me, wrapping a supportive arm around my shoulders.

"From the beginning, Car. Tell me everything." She beckoned.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything I'd been carrying. Cassie's concerned gaze was enough to open the floodgates, and before I knew it, the words started tumbling out. 

I didn't hold back. She needed to know everything, even if part of me still wasn't sure how much of it was real.

"You know when they called me back home," I began, my voice quieter than usual. "I thought maybe they were trying to apologize for giving me away, only to find out they were trying to get me married... to someone I don't even know..." 

I scoffed at the idea, rolling my eyes. "Like I'm some burden to them they need to get rid of." 

Cassie's eyes grew wide in surprise. She blinked numerously, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She understood my frustration better than anyone.

"That's insane!" she frowned. "Why call you back if they just wanted to pawn you off to some stranger?"

"Exactly." I let out a long breath, rubbing my temple. "And that's not even the worst part."

I paused, the weight of what came next feeling even heavier. Cassie leaned in, her expression softening, sensing there was more.

"I met him, the guy they wanted me to marry... My suitor, I guess you could call him that. But then... everything went wrong. His ex showed up. And Natalia, my supposed sister..." 

I trailed off, shaking my head, unable to bring myself to say more about everything. "It felt like they were all there to remind me that I didn't belong."

Cassie's lips tightened as she frowned. She knew how deep my insecurities ran, and this situation only magnified them. 

"I get it. Girls drama. That's too much to deal with. So what are you gonna do now?"

"I don't know," I whispered, the tension in my chest tight again. "I didn't even ask for any of this. So I'm not going back there. I don't want a suitor or... any of that bullshit drama."

Cassie sighed and let the silence sit between us for a moment. "Okay hon, we're going to figure everything out, okay? It's going to be alright."

I hesitated, wondering if I should keep this to myself, but in the end, I couldn't. 

"I'm pregnant," I said, the words tasting strange on my tongue. 

"The morning-after pills didn't work, Cass. That night... that one-night stand I had... Turns out, he's not just a random guy. He's my so-called suitor. The man I'm supposed to marry."

Cassie's eyes went round. She opened her mouth but nothing came out for a beat, and when she finally spoke, her voice was full of disbelief. 

"No way. You're... You're seriously pregnant with this man's baby?" She let out a low whistle. "Girl, there's no escaping him now, huh? I guess you're marrying him then."

I nodded slowly, staring down at my hands. "No. There's no running from this, but I need a break."

She gave me a moment to process, then leaned forward. "Okay, but... is he at least hot? You know, since you're stuck with him and all." 

There was a playful gleam in her eyes, and despite everything, I couldn't help but smile.

"He's... very handsome, I can't lie." I muttered, the image of Avon's striking features flashing in my mind. 

"But it's not just that. He's brooding and doesn't know how to love. He's intense, Cass. Like, I've never met anyone like him before."

"Alright, alright," she said, laughing lightly. "I get it. Hot, bold, with a touch of nonchalance. I thought that's the type of man we all wanted?"

I chuckled dryly, though the weight of my thoughts still pressed down. "I still don't know how to feel about any of this, to be honest. Everything's too much to handle."

"Hey, one step at a time," Cassie said, her tone warm and understanding. "And remember, you're not in this alone, okay? Whatever happens next, you've got me and your parents here. We'll figure it out."

Her words were comforting, and I felt a bit lighter knowing that I wasn't facing everything by myself. "Thanks, Cass. I don't know what I'd do without you."

We spent hours talking, unpacking the mess of everything. Eventually, Cassie left, promising to check in on me soon. 

As the door closed behind her, I felt a little lighter, the weight of everything no longer pressing as heavily on my chest. I was still overwhelmed, but at least I wasn't drowning in it alone anymore.

The apartment was quiet again, and as I sat there, my phone buzzed with a message from my mom. It was a simple text, but the timing couldn't have been more ironic.

"Sweetheart, we're dying to hear how you're doing over there. Please call when you get the chance! Love you."

I needed to let them know I was okay, and also tell them I'd be coming by this weekend. I grabbed my phone and dialed my mom's number, my fingers hesitating slightly before hitting the 'call' button .

The line clicked, and her warm voice greeted me almost immediately.

"Hi, sweetheart! How are you?" she sighed.

"Hey, Mom," I said, my voice softer than usual. "I'm doing okay. Sorry I didn't call earlier. Just been a little overwhelmed with everything happening. But I'll be coming over this weekend to visit. I wanted to check in with you and Dad. We have a lot to catch up on, especially about... everything with the Granvilles."

There was a slight pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear the quiet excitement in her voice as she responded. 

"Of course, darling. We'll be here. Can't wait to hear everything. We'll talk more then."

I felt a slight flutter in my chest at the thought of seeing them again. It had only been a few days since I left them but it felt like I had been pulled into an entirely different world since then. 

I sighed, hoping the weekend would give me a chance to sort through it all.

After that, I made a few work calls, apologizing for my disappearance. I lied about feeling under the weather but promised I'll be back to my normal routine tomorrow. 

With the quiet calm of the evening surrounding me, I tried to take a deep breath. "We'll figure everything out little one. Just us alone and no drama." I said contented, I was... home.