102. Kaya
Kaya
Cade looked at me as we lay in bed. Neither of us wanted to be physical. "How did you like the movies?" He mind linked me. "They were funny, though. I didn't really get the opulence of the whole thing." He smirked. "So now that we can talk, you said you wanted to talk about the goddess and her blessing." Cade looked at me, reached over, and began to stroke my hair. "It was amazing; when I fought off Jack and his men, I felt stronger than I normally do, and I think the fact you were able to resist everything was because you, too, were stronger." his mind linked me.
I sat there looking at him. He was right. The blessing they made us stronger. The Goddess had to be looking over me. It could have been so much worse than what had happened. Cade mind-linked me. "The whole pack felt they were stronger. They told me as much." I just nodded. "Oh, and I wanted to tell you everyone in the pack wants to get a tattoo." "Really?" "Yeah, the kids who are twelve are even getting them. After Solstice and seeing that the Goddess was blessing us, they all kind of realized the way you lived in the north was the right way." I was shocked.
"I have to say you have completely changed this pack. I guarantee that everyone will have adopted dens in the next six months. All I could hear from the pack the day after Solstice was how amazing they felt and how much they loved the hunt. They thought eating that way would be hard and gross, but they relished it, apparently." "I knew they would like it if they tried it." I was positive that if they allowed themselves to feel all the beautiful things it meant to actually act like a wolf when they were one, they would love it. It must feel liberating to them.
"Some of the teenagers apparently want to start eating raw meat. Saka said his mate's nephew would only eat raw meat now." I laughed. "See, hopefully, no more of that gross stuff you call food." "Yeah, Kaya, that is not going to happen with me. I mean, I can eat raw meat just fine, but I will never give up a nice cooked steak." Cade mind linked. I just smiled. "What do you think will happen now that Jack is gone?" "Let's talk about that after Christmas." I nodded. I knew there would be a lot to discuss, but he was right; it wasn't the right time. We could enjoy this holiday and then worry.
I waited until Cade was asleep. I knew he had brought his gifts down to the tree while I showered. Now, it was my turn. I snuck out of the room with presents wrapped in my hand. I was quiet, not wanting to wake Robert up, who slept in the room next to ours. I knew he would like to accompany me even if it was a trip downstairs. But there was no threat to me here. At least not now. Jack was dead, as were his men, and now that I was not drugged or drunk, I knew I could defend myself. Not that I thought I would need to. When I got to the tree, I found Kimi sitting on the couch, just staring at the tree. "Kimi?" I mind-linked her.
She turned to me. "Kaya, what are you doing up?" "I could ask you the same question." "I was talking to Nieva over the link." "Oh, what did she say, or what did you say." "I was telling her I didn't want to leave you." "Kimi, you know I want you here; I always want you around, but what if your mate is in the north?" "I don't think he is. I have been praying a lot since coming here, and I feel like the Goddess is telling me to stay where I am." "What did Nieva say?" "She said the decision is up to me. But that if I feel the Goddess speaking to me, then I should listen." I placed the gifts under the tree; I had several. Unlike Winter Solstice, everyone gave gifts, usually multiple ones; at least, that is what I was told.
Under the tree was overflowing with gifts. I sat down next to Kimi. I saw her with the tree lights glowing, and she signed, "So, how are you?" "Well, I don't know exactly. I am glad I am probably pregnant. But what if I am not and I can never have any children. Then what if I am? I should be happy, and I know I will be, but the idea I had was to have a big family like the one I grew up with makes me frustrated." "Yeah, I get that." "Then there is the fact I was almost raped, and I probably would have enjoyed it. It makes my stomach sour. Like it could have gone so much worse."
"But it didn't. You were saved and safe from what they wanted to do; you know the Goddess blessed you, right?" "I know, and I thanked her for it." I had. While in the bathroom getting ready for bed, I thanked her for not letting something more monstrous occur. Had I not been strong enough, I would be in worse shape. I continued to sign, "Just so many bad things have happened since I came down south. I didn't know the world could be so cruel." "But it was worth it, wasn't it? I mean, you love your mate." I sat there and thought about it for a minute. "Yes, I think it was worth it. I can't imagine life without Cade."
"I want that." "I know, and someday you will have it." She smiled at me. "So what did you get everyone?" She changed the subject, and I was thankful for it. I signed, "I will tell you what I got everyone except you. You get to be surprised tomorrow." "Okay." "Well, as you know, Helen took me shopping." "Yes, I know that. I was there but didn't see what you got, so I asked." "Right, so for Robert, I made him a quilt and bought him a sweater. For Mark, I got him slippers. Helen said he would like those. For her, I got a scarf and some earrings. Then, for Cade, I didn't know what to get him. Helen gave me many ideas, but none seemed right." "So what did you end up on?" "More like what did I make?" "Well, are you going to tell me?" "You know I have been hunting rabbits like crazy, right? I was going to make a blanket from them." "Yeah, you told me." "Well, I made him rabbit-lined gloves using some of the furs I have been stockpiling." "Those are nice as hell." "Yeah, and I also got him some fuzzy socks because they are amazing, and he owns none."
"What about Saka and Len? You got them gifts, too, right?" "Yes, they will love the sweaters and hats I bought them. Though those presents are still upstairs, I will drop them off at some point tomorrow." "Now I am wondering what you got me?" "Oh, trust me, you will love them." "I can't wait." I smiled at her. She told me what she had gotten the others. We stayed up late talking about everything, and I knew we must have fallen asleep on the couch because when I woke up, Cade was standing over me with a sullen expression.
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