Ch. 54: Light Up the Dark

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Nick ~
My wolf hated the way Rachel had looked when we finally got to her house earlier. Asher reamed into me about how I failed my Alpha by letting her get this way. I tried asking him for a clear answer on if she was Jake’s mate but he wouldn’t talk to me. Just sat in the back of my mind howling. After we had left earlier he did come out a bit to tell me I was very lucky our Alpha was so kind to Rachel and that whatever Jake had done back there would make her stronger, would help her. I conveyed the message to Jake and he just nodded.
Since some dream Jake had told us about after the nap they shared the last time we were here, I had been really worried. Not only because it seemed she had to be his mate. But the color eyes he had described. In his dream his wolf led a dark gray she-wolf with silver eyes to the Goddess at a lake… He swore it was Rachel as a wolf. The eyes he described... It was similar to what Evan and I had seen in Jake’s eyes now and again when he got very riled up lately. There was something there. Something I couldn’t find in any of my research anywhere.
I admired Jake for the way he read Rachel so well - he just held onto her when she needed someone else’s strength to feel safe enough to let go. Evan and I had glanced at each other while they spoke softly on the couch. Of course we heard it all with our hearing being what it was, even though we tried to give them some sort of privacy.
We had been spending some time at Mitchell’s house while waiting for the tree lighting. Asher agreed that going to it would be good for Rachel and Jake. At Mitchell’s, Jake got so immediately tired he passed out and stayed asleep until a little after 5pm. I was glad he finally was getting some sleep. But I theorized Rachel was likely sleeping right now too. I shared the hypothesis with Asher and he didn’t question my reasoning or refute it. So I knew I must be right. Somehow these two were incredibly connected. And so early. And across species. And… I couldn’t stop my mind from forming different ideas for why he saw her as a wolf, for whether it was at all possible that they could actually be getting visited by the Goddess, or if their consciousness had her there. I wondered what Rachel dreamed of when she slept.
“Dude, breathe. I can see your wheels spinning so fast they’re going to come flying right off,” Evan said next to me.
I exhaled. “It’s just all this ‘wait and see’ stuff that drives me crazy. I’m an answers guy,” I huffed.
“Pfft. You don’t have to tell me. I’m that way too. But when I don’t have them, I don’t have them. I know the Goddess will bring it all together eventually,” he said while stretching.
We’d been sitting in the same positions for a while. Wolves were normally really active so it was rough being here in this house in this small town. No nearby forest to run through, and way too many human eyes. It must be tough on Mitchell.
Jake rolled his neck and opened his eyes. “Holy- how long was I out?”
“Welcome back to the land of the living!” Evan greeted him and patted him roughly on the shoulder. “It’s almost time to head out!”
Evan got up to use the bathroom.
“You were in such a totally deep sleep dude. We tried to wake you about an hour ago but it’s like the lights weren’t on and no one was home…” I noted to him.
“Yeah, I think she was there again, and that we were with the Moon Goddess again. I’ve got to ask her later if she dreamt and if she remembers it…” He looked straight at me, “Do you think it’s possible? That what I saw is what I think I saw?”
“I don’t know, J. I wish I knew,” I thought aloud. “There’s just so much we don’t know.”
His phone chimed and he smiled looking down at it.
“Is she on her way?” I asked, amused.
“I’m telling her we’re going to meet her at the top of her hill,” he glanced up at me, but the smile didn’t die down.
“Well, let’s head out then!” Evan said from the hall.


Rachel ~
We walked as a group up over the hill and down towards the park. It was still a tad early so they were finishing their set up. The fog had started to creep over the hill and as the sun sank further and further, a chill moved through town. I pulled up my hood and tightened it around my face, protecting my ears from the cold.
“You alright?” Jake asked, watching me closely.
Our gazes had become longer today and it made me feel like he thought I was the only thing of importance he could focus his eyes on. His concentration on me made me warm all over even in the cold.
“I’m great,” I said, smiling at him earnestly.
He returned the grin. It wasn’t an exaggeration. I felt great right now.
“I’m glad,” he said in a low tone.
He took a step closer and I swallowed. My cheeks heated.
“Ahem, uh J-” Nick started, “let’s go get some drinks huh?”
He looked over at Nick and sighed before following him to the snack stand.
I watched him go.
“You look so much better,” Evan noted, “F- I hope that’s okay to say?”
I chuckled. “Yeah that’s fine. I feel so much better. Today feels different, you know?”
He just laughed as I spun in a circle. Yeah I spun. I felt free. Light.
Jake and Nick came back with hot cocoa for all of us, and the mayor walked on stage as the crowd gathered. The girl scouts were on the side ready to lead our carols, and it felt like the magic of the holidays was in the atmosphere. Maybe everything would be okay. The mayor spoke, and Jake leaned over and squeezed my hand through a part of it. I wanted him to keep holding on but after a brief look at how public this was, I let go. I was still with someone and it wouldn’t be right to outright cross that line. Sh*t. I was thinking about crossing that line.
I saw Nick and Evan exchange some sort of look. I cleared my throat and felt my face totally on fire. I thanked the lord it was now night and now was as safe a time as any to be blushing so furiously in public. Jake was watching me with his brow raised in question. I just shook my head and tried to focus.
I lost my thoughts as we sang together as a large group. It was uplifting singing with my whole community. Before I knew it Evan was swaying to our voices and overly acting things out with his movements. It had me laughing and singing at the same time which I would’ve thought would be more difficult to do. In reality it was natural. I felt light and free. At last the lights came on the tree and the crowd’s verbal reaction just elated me further. This was perfect. Jake reached over and side-hugged me and I let it last a second longer than it should have.
“Just a beautiful voice too, Killer, I’m impressed,” he noted.
It made me feel proud. “Thanks!” I replied a little too loudly.
The crowd started to dissipate and Mitchell walked over to the guys telling them it was time to go.
“I’ll meet you guys there?” Jake asked the question but it didn’t really sound like one, he wouldn’t break eye contact with me and I felt warm all over.
“I can tag along-” Nick started.
“- that’s alright Nick,” Jake interrupted, still not looking away from me.
I couldn’t look away. Nick didn’t try again, just nodded in the corner of my visioon, and walked off. Evan waved goodbye.
“What was that about?” I asked Jake when we were the only ones around.
“Come on, I’ll walk you home?” he asked, this time a real question. His hand was held out for me.
I knew better, but I put my hand in his and let him walk me home.
We started uphill and I saw some families and couples walking in different directions. With most folks living close to the park, most people walked into town events. The stars shone brightly and I was warmed up all bundled, with hot cocoa and blushes keeping me warm despite the nip on my nose. My hand was practically vibrating with the electricity coming from his hand holding mine. With every breath he breathed out I saw clouds of steamy exhales. How was he so warm in just a thin jacket?
“What?” he asked me, eyeing me closely.
“I was just wondering how you’re not cold,” I replied. “And could you slow down a little more?” I laughed, “My stride is a lot smaller than yours.”
He chuckled and slowed. “I just run warm. It’s genetic.”
We walked pretty quietly up the rest of the hill with just the sounds of our breaths and footsteps accompanying us.