#16

Aurora POV
Things had gotten a little intense with my brother and Evander downstairs. I wasn’t ready to come to terms with my feelings of abandonment by Blake. I still warred with the duty of The Mother he must have struggled with too. If the pull was as strong as mine was to Evander and this place, I cannot blame him. But it didn’t hurt any less. I sighed. Deciding to focus on the positive. I had gotten too used to these internal pep talks. I was going to be an aunt! Contemplating about it as I undressed. Had Evander's sister been like Evander was to me? Thinking about it, I understood him wanting to keep me a secret for my safety. And I guessed he couldn't visit because it would have given not only me away to these people but also it would have given these people away to me and the coven. That was a lot he had probably had to live with. Then there was the wolf thing. Was I going to become one also?

I poured half of the pitcher into the basin and lit a candle I found on the counter. The rain from the run had washed the bloody spirals from my body. I grabbed my soap and began working the warm, wet, soapy cloth over my skin. The warmth leached into me. It felt good after running in the freezing rain all day. It didn't reach the ache in my bones, though. When I finished scrubbing, I rinsed out my cloth and used the water in the pitcher to wipe my skin clean of the soap. Refreshed, I dried it with the towel and hung it on a hook in the bathroom. I took the flannel Evander left me buttoning it up except for the top 3. It hung to my knees.

Stepping out of the washroom, putting the washcloth into the hamper, adding all my dirty hiking clothes including my underwear. I closed up the pack and set it at the foot of the bed again. Going to put on the thermal pants, as I stepped into them I instantly realized they weren't going to work. The waist was 5 times to big and the leggs of them pooled around my ankles while the crotch was well past my knees. Short of a seamstress I was out of luck, I would hope my furnace intended on keeping me warm agian tonight. What was he thinking? He was far taller than me and his legs were built like tree trunks. Two of me could fit in each leg hole.

It was at this moment, where I stood, swallowed by these ridiculously enormous pants, that Evander came up the stairs. He looked at me with a playful smile on his face. "I guess we'll have to find an alternative to keep you warm." he teased with a chuckle. "Is my furnace out of commission?" I teased him back. He chuckled again. "Your furnace will be in full commission once he gets the grit of the woods off him." He said as he embraced me. I sighed contentedlyinto his warm chest, happily breathing in the scent of pine and earth. He let me go, and I dropped the thermal pants unceremoniously to the floor. His eyes trailed over what was exposed of my legs, the air becoming tense around us.

He bent over the intricately carved wooden chest at the foot of the bed and pulled out a plush blanket and handed it to me. "Do me a favor and stay up here. They aren't used to me having company. Words probably already out and this place hasn't been one they are used to knocking before entering." He ran his big hands over my sides, gripping my hips through the flannel, causing the shirt to ride up. My breath hitched and my skin hummed. Pleasure rose up my spine. "Ashamed of me, are you?" I asked questionably, an eyebrow raised. I was suddenly very aware of my lack of underwear. He looked at me like I had 5 heads. "Are you kidding me? I don't want to share you!" I looked at him to explain before I took things the wrong way. "No, no, no. " he shook his head stopping my mind from wandering. “They have been waiting for me to find you for some time now. They will all be curious, and you’re not appropriatly dressed. I want them to be introduced to you properly and without their eyes lingering on those supple legs.” he said, sliding his hands from my hips to my bare thighs. My body vibrating with the pleasure of his skin touching mine. His stubble tickled my cheek as he growled into my ear. His chest quivered as the sound reverberated through him and into me where our chests met. My body responded as I became very aware of a need throbbing in my core. "Sweet mate,” his voice grit out. As he ran his nose up my neck, nuzzling behind my ear. "Know that now we are here together when you are ready. I plan to worship this gorgeous body your goddess gave you as my temple." His hands slid up gripping the back of my thighs firmly. "That choice is yours to make but that honey scent of your arousal is going to make me very determined to convince you are mine!" He growled out pulling me firmly against him. I could feel the firmness of his member between us. Proving his eagerness.

He gave my butt a playful swat, as he pulled away passing me, then made his way to the washroom with another pitcher of water he had brought up, smirking. My gaze lingered on the wall of his muscled back as he moved away from me. I pulled the blanket around me and walked around the room. I noted a shelf of books. My eyes scanned across the spines, noting the titles. They all looked worn from years of reuse. I found a collection of poetry and took it off the shelf.

Skimming through the pages, not actually reading, just letting myself reflect. Being I was in the pack, home of an Alpha werewolf. Choosing to stay with the Alpha over my brother, who I hadn't seen in 6 years. I even exposed my deepest secret like it was nothing. I put myself at peril and I let myself get caught doing more than normal witch stuff. "What’s wrong?" He asked from the doorway wearing a blue and red flannel and worn blue jeans. I eyed him appreciatively for a moment. "Nothing," I lied. “That’s crap.” He said, coming towards me. I raised a brow at him.

He scooped me up and sat in the chair I had occupied with me on his lap. "You’re brooding." "Reflecting," I countered. "Well, what are you reflecting about?" He asked inserting air quotes. "Where to start?" I chided. "Evander, you don't understand. My entire life, I've had to suppress the biggest part of me. It’s like in one instant I've thrown all caution to the wind. I don't get close to people. I've never so much as flirted with that kind of danger.” He was listening to me intently as I ranted while perched on his lap, his hand on my hip as his thumb ran soothing circles through the flannel shirt. “I have been the essence of control since I was a toddler. Here I am shacked up with a predator, an Alpha wolf no less, which I didn’t even know still existed till I came across you.” I said, taking a breath. My fingers absentmindedly were playing with the collar of his shirt. I took in a sharp breath and stilled my hand, resting it over his heart. “I choose you over my brother, told you, the one secret I was never to tell anyone, and exposed those powers as well as almost becoming a wolf’s dinner." He looked at me with concern when he asked. "Do you want to stay with your brother?" "No, he left me, and now I have an idea why though. I understand,” I said, pointing back and forth between us. "But, at the same time, I still don't understand."

"I think it’s time I bite the bullet and stop handling you with kid gloves." He said, letting out a sigh. "I was going to let your brother help with this, but he will just have to fill in the blanks for you that I can't, as I was born this way. Once the food is brought over, we will talk over dinner. You've been running all day. You need to keep up your strength.” He pleaded with concern for my physical well-being. "One question." She held up a finger. "Am I going to go furry if I keep kissing you?" He chuckled amusement sparking in his blue gaze. "No not kisses," he replied. "Good," I said, taking his face in my hands and giving him a gentle, sensual kiss. The world seemed to spin around us. I pulled reluctantly away. He rested his forehead on mine. There was a knock at the door.
"Already?" I asked. He pointed to his head, and I remembered he could speak to his pack with his mind. "Just be glad they listened when I told them to knock." He grinned. I rolled my eyes. I waited out of sight on the stairwell, the blanket wrapped around me. He went to the door. I heard what sounded like a greeting. A few words, a congratulation, a thank you, and a fair well. I skittered down the steps after the door closed. Following him to the kitchen. He had a quaint-looking basket. Inside were apples, walnuts already cracked, 2 Mason jars of fresh milk, and some jars of pasta in sauce. I sat at the table. He eyed me. Do you need to paint the yoke from the egg in the pasta on your forehead?" I bust into a fit of laughter, nearly falling out of the seat he’d brought me to. "Well, I’m glad I'm funny," he said, shaking his head at me. I composed myself. "I can bless the food with a thought. The egg was never fertilized, therefore a spirit never attached to the animal." I clarified. "However, I appreciate that you thought of it." I honestly told him, squeezing his hand. “But I’m pretty sure you already knew that and are just making fun of me,” I said grinning. He gave me a winsome smile. I glanced up at him before settling into an apple while he placed the glass jars in the warm water on the stove to heat.

"What’s a Luna?" He smiled. "It’s a title I hope one day you will accept," he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.