I Kissed My Professor And He Liked It

| stood in my childhood room with my childhood and even adulthood best friend, Brianna, sitting curled up on my bed hugging a fluffy pillow close to her chest. | stared at myself in the mirror, and | couldn’t believe how much older I looked.

I was no longer a child; | looked a lot like my mother with the same wisdom and courage in my eyes. Starting around my room, there were trophies and pictures of Bri and me in high school, even a couple from middle school. There were stuffed animals and some of the artwork | made. There were also a lot of books and journals.

This represented who | was and who | currently me. The past vs. the present.

This room was my safe haven when times were tough. It was a place to go when | needed privacy or inspiration, or when | just wanted to feel like myself.

“Are you sure you want to donate this stuff?” Bri asked, frowning as she glanced around the room as well.

| couldn’t even count how many times we've hung out in this room. We had some of our best heart-to-hearts curled up on my bed and hugging fluffy pillows close to our chests. We've cried together and we laughed together. | knew Bri was sad to see it all slipping away.

| was sad too, but it was necessary and time for us to move on from this chapter in our life. It was time to move forward.

| nodded as | glanced over my shoulder at Bri. She was holding one of our pics from high school and a smile tugged at her lips.

“It’s a shame to see our childhood over,” she sighed.

| turned my body around to face her completely.

“I'm not giving up our pictures. | was thinking of getting a photo album, or maybe I'll scrapbook them,” | suggested.

She lifted her gaze to meet mine.

“Maybe we can scrapbook together?” She asked hopefulness in her tone.

We were going to be living in the same packhouse; we were going to be hanging out a bunch and I couldn't wait for this.

“Absolutely,” | said with a smile.

| went toward one of my many shelves on my wall and started to grab the trophies off it so | could place them in the box. Getting rid of this stuff was difficult, but it’s not like | needed it anymore. These were just from competitions and sporting events | won.

All the trophies and rewards that | got from my artwork I'm keeping because that could benefit my career after graduation.

Just as | bent to lift the box and place it on my bed, | felt a flurry in my stomach, making me freeze, but only for a moment.

“Oh,” | breathed as | placed my hands on my swollen belly and straightened my back.

Bri looked up from the pictures she was rummaging through and narrowed her eyes at me.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

I smiled and then nodded.

“The boys are kicking,” | chuckled.

“I can’t believe you are having boys,” Bri said, shaking her head. “I was really hoping you'd have at least one girl. Girl clothes are so much better than boy clothes.” | couldn’t help but laugh and shake my head at my friend.

“I'm sure shopping for them will be just as fun,” | told her.

She sighed.

“I mean yeah, | love them regardless, Bri said as she kicked off my bed and started to help me pack the rest of my stuff.

By the time we had finished, a couple of hours had passed, and we were exhausted.

“We should get back to the packhouse and get some sleep. Tomorrow is your big day, and you want to be well- rested,” Bri said with a grin.

| nodded in agreement.

She was right; tomorrow was one of the biggest days of my life so far. | would be lying if | said | wasn't terrified.

| wanted to do this much earlier before my belly began to show, but Colton insisted on taking our time and planning this right.

So, months later, and with a swollen belly filled with pups, | was a night away from marrying my mate and the love of my life. Hence why | was packing up my childhood room and moving full-time to the Calypso pack. | was going to be part of their pack soon, which meant I no longer needed a room at the Nova pack.

Colton was now my home.

| was moving on to my next chapter.

Brianna helped me grab the boxes that | was keeping, and we went to place them in the trunk of her car. By the time we reached the Calypso pack, about an hour later, | could hardly keep my eyes open.

| stepped into the packhouse, and | instantly frowned.

I didn’t smell my mate, which meant he wasn’t at the packhouse. | knew why he wasn’t here; it was because it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. But | didn’t care; | missed him, and | wanted to wrap myself in his arms and get lost forever.

But | knew that was going to have to wait until tomorrow night.

“You poor things; you look utterly exhausted,” Dee said with a timid frown as she walked out of the kitchen.

“This baby drains a lot of energy from me,” | sighed. “I'm not sure what her excuse is.” “You woke me up early,” Bri complained, folding her arms across her chest.

“Get upstairs and into bed,” Dee ordered. “Both of you. I'll have Maisy bring up some tea.” “Thanks, Dee,” | said, hugging her before heading upstairs. | said goodnight to Bri and then she went to Ethan's bedroom on the second floor. | sighed as | watched her hurry to her mate, trying to ignore the ping of jealousy in the pit of my stomach.

Colton told me that Ethan was planning on proposing to her soon and officially making her the Calypso Back Beta Female. | was happy for my friend for finally getting her happily ever after.

My bedroom felt empty without Colton close by. My heart ached without him here and | found myself sulking while | got ready for bed. | started with a hot shower because | needed it to relax my mind and body.

| closed my eyes and allowed the hot steam to clear my senses. Then | grabbed my loofah and put a dollop of body wash on it. | took a deep breath as the bathroom filled with the scent of vanilla and lavender. | washed my body and then turned off the shower.

Wrapping a towel around my body, | stared at my steam-covered reflection. This was it; | was going to get married tomorrow.

Throwing my hair up in a messy bun I left my room and grabbed the nightgown I laid out for myself. | slipped it over my head and allowed the soft fabric to wash over my body. Then, | slid into bed and allowed sleep to overtake me.

| was woken by the sound of knocking on my door. The sunlight was desperately trying to squeeze through my closed blinds and curtains. | groaned as | lifted my head at the clock, it was almost 10 am.

My heart nearly fell into my stomach and the knocking on my door grew louder.

“Ella? Are you okay?” | heard my mother asking from the other side of the door. “We need to get ready for your wedding!” My entire body was frozen. | overslept and the wedding was at noon. | was supposed to be awake hours ago.

| quickly scurried out of bed and rushed to the door. My mother’s eyes widened when she saw my frantic face.

“Take a deep breath, Ella,” my mother said calmly. “You have plenty of time.” “I just want today to be perfect, and | overslept,” | said breathlessly as | rushed to put on some clothes before rushing out of the room.

My father trailed closely behind me as we went downstairs. | was relieved to see my entire bridal party in the front foyer ready to help.

Margol, the woman who designed my wedding gown, was getting the dress ready for me. Brianna wanted to do my hair, so she was setting up a station for that while | got the dress on. With a few finishing touches and size readjustments, my dress was finally finished, and it looked absolutely beautiful.lt was a gold-rose sleeveless dress with white flowers going down the sides of the dress. My heart swelled at the sight of the dress and the fact that it fit me like a glove.

The more the time ticked forward, the more excited | grew. Brianna did my hair and Sarah did my makeup.

“We need to get you to the temple now,” my mother said, glancing at the time.

With no time to wait, we shuffled outside and got into different vehicles. My heart was racing at lightning speed when | saw the Moon Goddess'’s temple in the distance. | saw a few cars parked outside and a few people still wandering around outside.

My father was amongst them, and | was relieved to see him. He smiled when he saw the cars pull into the lot and my mother and | got out of one of them. My mother was quick to embrace my father before she pulled away.

“I am going to find my seat in the front row,” she said to us and then she turned to me and gave me a loving smile.

“I'm so happy for you, Ella Bean.” We hugged briefly before she stepped away. Taking a deep breath, | turned to face my friends.

“So the first to walk is the maid of honor and best man, which also happens to be the Betas of the Calypso pack,” | said, gesturing for Briana and Ethan to step toward the door of the temple.

| turned to face Connie and Tyler.

“Then is the groomsmen and a bridesmaid,” | said, motioning for them to get into line behind Brianna and Ethan.

| turned to Rachel and Rodrick and had them step into the lineup as well. The next was Becca and Luis who stepped into line.

Then Beta Aiden’s youngest son and daughter were the flower girl and the ring bearer.

As the music started to play, the doors swung open for Brinna and Ethan to start their walk down the aisle and toward the front of the temple where they can take their places near Colton.

But just as they took a step through the doors, and the music started to play, | felt a severe pain in the side of my stomach, and | found myself falling to my knees.