The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy by Alexandra North Page A

go so wrong?  
    This is why you don’t mix sex with friendship. Someone always got hurt. My bloody gut needs to shout its instinct, much louder in future. I’d forgotten about my war wounds, probably because he’d sprung things on me and I’d been relaxed by champagne; no man had seen it since Niall and he had hated it with a passion and made me very aware of that fact. A constant reminder of Finn’s arrival and my body changing, he’d never gone down on me again - “It’s repulsive” - had been his words and I had to agree. The scar angrily worked its way across my body in a zig-zag fashion, from hip to hip, red and angry and a total mess.  
    Finn’s birth had been traumatic to say the least, 36 hours of labour, barely 4cm dilation and his heartbeat had slowed, resulting in an emergency section, where the only available surgeon at midnight had been a 4ft 11 junior, who needed to stand on a box to perform the cut. It had been barbaric.  
    My not so little boy had been far too large for my petite frame, causing huge internal bleeding, a cracked rib and many necessary blood transfusions, just to get him out - weighing a healthy 9lbs at only 36 weeks old. Heaven knows what he’d have weighed had he gone full-term or worse over - perhaps I would have delivered a fully grown man - I’d certainly felt like that was the case at the time.
    Many had thought Niall’s coldness after Finn’s birth was a direct result of post-traumatic stress but he denied it and in the end I gave up trying. I’d nearly died giving birth to his son, our son - the most beautiful baby boy and my joy, and now I was to be punished.  
    To me my scar is evidence that I had worked hard to bring Finn into the world but I am also aware that it is brutal looking and now my fears and hang-ups, may have fucked up my chances at continuing to moving forward. Learn from your mistakes Lu - I can hear my parent’s voices in my head - they were right. This wasn’t going to define me. It was a hurdle I had to get over and Niall wasn’t my lover anymore. Niall didn’t own me anymore. It was his hang-up, inflicted upon me and he would never have the privilege of having sex with me again.
    Now Seb on the other hand…

     

   
                           
    I wander into the kitchen and flick the red metallic Dualit kettle on. I’d managed three hours sleep and I seriously ache like I have done ten rounds with Tyson. Sebastian is still in bed and I can’t hear anything overhead so he must be out like a light.  
    Oh my word – what the hell was last night all about?  
    I actually feel physically sick. I sense that we’ve stepped into some kind of alternate world, and that he will walk in any moment and act as though nothing had ever happened and it was my seedy little mind working into overload. I’m dragged from my thoughts when I hear a rustle behind me.  
    “Morning Lulu.” He cheekily slaps me on my jean-clad bum. “Ahh Cup-of-Tea.”He grabs the cup and snatches a triangle of my toast and marmite. Screwing his face up when he starts to chew. Then slowly he starts to shake his head from side to side, weighing it up and jutting out his bottom lip, a la De Niro he mumbles, “Not bad. Always thought I’d be a hater.”
    I do nothing but stare at him, frozen to the spot. What the fuck? Why was he acting like nothing had happened? I am in that dreaded alternate world.
    “Any chance of a lift home Lu? God what did we drink last night? I’m not sure I’ll be hitting the gym today.” He rubs his forehead, wincing at the slightest touch.
    “Champagne. Beer. Wine. Oh and those slippery nipple shots that Jess made us all do.” I instantly regret mentioning the word nipple, as my obvious blush prickles up over my face and across my scalp. He either doesn’t notice how uncomfortable I am or decides to ignore it and continues.
    “Oh God yeah. Good night though - your mate Meg’s fun. Oh I borrowed your spare toothbrush. Hope you’re