35. Young and Old

Selene wanted the lithe weight of Seff’s body atop her tangled in her cool silk sheets. Or she could take her to the lake at night and they could swim in the starry waters. 
Altan returned with Seff’s response to her question of the events of the past two weeks. 
*Thank you for your respect. It was just two weeks of judgment and using my room to escape it. Nothing happened between me and Kiran. No one has seen him in that time anyway. The only wolves who don’t hate me are Altan and Elio, who I am eternally grateful for.*
It eased Selene’s worry and a smidge of jealousy. She wrote back,
*Good. The bastard deserves to closet himself and his grubby hands. The Moon pack never quits, as Elio has said. I hope we can meet again, Seff. I long to taste your skin again. The twins will keep me updated about the goings-on in the Sun.*
The harem was returning to normal, which she also updated to Seff in the letter, this time upgraded with new furnishings—all silver, black, blue, like a deep summer night. Her Omegas loved it and more of them spent their time there than in the nursery. The older pups were permitted to build pillow forts and invited Selene inside; she stopped her eye-roll and got onto her hands and knees to slip through the “entrance.” The pups gigged and yipped. Selene detected the deviousness in it just a second too late—they pulled felled the tent so all the pillows collapsed on top of Selene. They erupted into laughter, rolling on their backs despite their mother’s or father’s scolding. Even under the pillows, Selene picked up on their notes of alarm at their children pranking the temperamental Luna.
She was irritated, but their laughter reminded her of Seff’s and associated her laughter with effortless joy. So Selene emerged and everyone froze, but then she targeted her pups with a playful growl and that prompted them to squeal and Shift into their wolf forms so they could be chased by Selene’s. They skidded and jumped over couches and pillows trying to hide under blankets. Selene noised at their heels and batted their noses lightly, letting them pounce on her tail with their little paws until eventually they were passed out in a cuddle.
Selene knew Kiran had two or three Omegas he was closer with than most, and so did she. Fleur was one of her older consorts; she celebrated her fortieth birthday last week. She bore Selene ten pups in the time she was Chosen, and after she reached the age where she was no longer fertile, Selene compensated her and her pups to retire comfortably where they wished. Some of the pups took their share, but Fleur chose to stay in the harem and take on the role of caretaker and midwife in the nursery.
Over the years, the blind devotion grew into genuine care, and dare Selene say it, something like love. 
Fleur lounged on one of the couches, smiling fondly. Selene came and sank beside her, close enough for them to lean their heads together. Selene was rarely—extremely rarely—affectionate with her Omegas, especially since the formation of the Contest. Selene used to take her time to court the Omegas, learn about them and their interests, enjoying days together before consummating the initiation. 
In truth, Selene was secretly hoping for the same feelings she’d experienced with her first mate. No one had come close to the soulbound connection, but if Selene had to choose who would be in the running, it would be Fleur Aconite.
The Magnolia wolf was levelheaded and wise, traits Selene never would have pegged for being attracted to. She took some of Selene’s hair and started to braid it. “Who are you and what have you done with my Luna?”
On the opposite couch, a male Omega lay on his side with one of his—one of Selene’s—four-year-old son tucked under his arm, both snoozing. Peaceful and unbothered…unlike Luan.
He entered the harem by flinging aside the new curtain and sighing dramatically. The eight-year-old dragged his feet until he stood in front of Selene and Fleur with arms crossed, eyebrows scrunched. An angry pup was about as threatening as a surly squirrel, but he stared Selene down like he hoped she’d catch fire. Fleur hesitated in speaking first, glancing warily at Selene, who was scowling back at her son. The Luna had dozens of children, but rarely did they give her as much trouble as this one.
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I’m okay?” he demanded.
“Are you okay, Luan?” Selene asked flatly, rolling her eyes.
“No!” he moaned loudly. “Auntie Fleur, life is so hard these days.” Luan climbed into Fleur’s lap only to flop onto his back with his head on Selene’s. He threw up his arms. “My mom’s killer is still afoot, Mom! I thought you were gonna avenge her?”
Selene’s canines lengthened to bare them. Her personal bubble was very wide and very selective. Fleur’s peace-making hand on her shoulder kept her from pushing the pup onto the floor. She wouldn’t admit that the skinship of her bloodline made her calmer. Maybe she even wanted to hold him against her to comfort him. 
Conflicting feelings aside, she had a small list of questions. 
“*Afoot*? Are you reading classic novels or something? And since when is Fleur *auntie*?”
Luan’s deep blue eyes of the Moon pack flicked to the older Omega, who almost blushed. “Guilty. I’ve been looking after him most since…”
Luan’s chin immediately started to quiver and he hid his face with his forearm. 
They buried Ahana’s body the day Selene killed Kiran’s Omega. His mother was dead, and Selene would never be able to avenge her because her killer was already dead. And Selene intended that secret to *stay* secret.
Her fingers moved before she could ponder what to do with them—they stroked Luan’s hair out of his face, rhythmically smoothing the thick, messy locks. He stiffened, and then started to tremble with tears. All the pup needed was his mother.
But Kiran’s Delta killed her.