#20

Evander pov
As I walked out of the house, I was in a daze as I made my way to where the laundry was done. I hadn't meant to come on to her like that, but the thought of leaving her drove me to remind her what we were. The lingering scent of her arousal filled my head and left me wondering if I’d made a mistake, we would have to discuss this whole thing. As an Alpha, I didn't want to come across as too strong. She was human. Well, by our kind’s standards, anyway. I didn’t want to overwhelm her more than she already was. Goddess, I thought I was going to go mad last night when she started making gargled screaming noises. Her body thrashed around, then she’d still momentarily before going back to it. I saw the guilt in her eyes when I stated she wasn’t doing this again anytime soon. I don’t know if I could ever bear hearing those noises coming out of her again. The fact that if I woke her, she’d possibly never come back to me was the only thing keeping me from pulling her out of that nightmare. I found myself staring at nothing in particular.

“Alpha,” Sara sounded. I found myself in front of the laundry lean-to. Sara, who was in charge of laundry, came up to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. She smiled; she was an older woman I had known since I was a pup. "Evander, “she questioned, "are you alright?" "I’ve just got a lot on my mind," I offered in explanation. "Something to do with a pretty little would-be Luna?" I looked down. There was no lying to Sara. She’d bent me over her knee a few times as a pup. "A lot to do with," I admitted. “She is pretty, isn't she?” she gave me a motherly tease that made my heart ache. I admonished offering her a silly grin. She chuckled patting me on the shoulder. "I came to see if you have anything in her size that has been passed down. Everything she has with her is in here, and I have nothing to fit her until I get her to town."

Sara dug through the hamper for her size. She grimaced, noting the blood from my leg that night, staining her clothes. She peered up at me. "Bear trap, she saved my leg," I explained without giving away details. “Seems this Luna is a keeper,” she noted taking the bag towards the dirty clothes and then turning to stacks of clothes neatly set on shelves. She pulled out a stack handing it to me. " Our Luna isn’t one of us, is she?" I shook my head no. She reached for a purple down jacket and a black beanie hat. "They will be a bit big, but nothing like trying to dress in an Alpha’s clothes." "I'll see what else I can come up with and leave them at the house with the laundry. "Haven’t had a human woman as a mate in this pack in years." She stated. Most of the men and women here were taller and broader than her or her brother. I nodded. "Thank you, Sara. You’re a lifesaver.” She gave me a knowing smile. “focus on your Luna.” “She will never steer you wrong. The goddess brought her to us for a reason.” "I don't think you realize how right you are about that," I said. She just smiled and nodded. I took the clothes she gave me, placing them in an empty basket, before returning to the house."

I quietly made my way upstairs. She appeared to be dozing. Placing the clothes on the dresser I made my way downstairs, grabbing a pitcher of heated water with me and I placed it in the washroom. I curled up behind her and kissed her cheek. She stirred gently snuggling back into me, “rise and shine, sleeping beauty” I whispered. "Mmm," the sound escaped her lips. "Did my fairy Alpha acquire me appropriate clothing for breakfast with our siblings?" She teased. "They will do for now," I replied. Sara will see what else we can find.

We will get you to town soon and find you more appropriate clothing. She made a face. “What's wrong?” I asked. “Shopping,.. ew!” she complained. Wow, I thought. A girl who doesn't enjoy shopping. I've hit the jackpot! But she did need things and it would have to be done.

She stretched cat-like and slipped from the bed in just my fresh flannel shirt. "You’re going to kill me," I grumbled. Her tussled wavy hair rested past the mid of her back, the heart shape of her rear, painting a kaleidoscope of images in my mind as she walked away unaware of my predicament.

Sorting through the clothes, she picked something out, walking unashamedly into the washroom as I watched her ass peeking out of my shirt as it had ridden up. I complained into my pillow for a moment. “goddess please give me strength.” I lay there, my arm over my eyes counting backward from a hundred to quiet the thoughts running through my mind. Suddenly I heard her proclaim. "Great Mother of Earth! My hair!" she exclaimed. She hadn't brushed it since the day she woke up at the pool. Must be coming out of survival mode, I thought. I chuckled. Maybe I’d see a new side of her today.

She sat on the bed pulling on socks before rummaging in her bag for something. She had dampened her hair in the washroom. Taking out a brush and a container of what smelt like her signature scent with the addition of caocao. She began working it into her hair. When she went for the brush, I grabbed it from her. She eyed me but didn't protest. Working from the ends up, I brushed out her hair. She tilted her head back with a contented hum. “Hmm,” I asked. She tilted her head back with a sad smile. “It's been ages since anyone brushed my hair.” “Your Aunt didn’t do it?” I asked. “My aunt never had children. I was her pupil, not hers to nurture.” She sniffed. I bent over where I was sitting behind her and kissed her cheek. “I will brush your hair any time you want me to.” She nodded, offering me a small smile and patting my hand. “Your sweet.” And I went back to brushing her hair. It still boggles my mind her brother stayed here all this time leaving her out there practically alone. I tried to set the brew of anger aside. There had to be more to the story. Once I made sure all was well since my absence, I’d have to spend some time with my Beta to try to understand before I could release the anger budding under the surface.

She had lost her elastic running in the rain. So, she wore her newly brushed hair loose. It framed her features like a tamed cascade of turbulent waves. Sunny highlights mixed with auburn and chestnut hues all mingle together in harmony. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to run my fingers through it or fist it roughly, both had their appeal. However, a piece of me wanted to dominate her with primal passion, the other wanted to worship her with love forever to be cherished.

She pulled on her boots and spun around. “Am I expectable today?” She questioned with a smirk. “You'll do nicely,” I offered, shoving my desires away. She gave me a playful look before walking off and making her way downstairs. Oh, this view, I thought as I sighed happily, a soft grin on my lips, as her full hips swayed their way downstairs.

"Are we going to be fashionably late?" she asked. Giving her a chaste kiss this time I grabbed her hand, leading her out of the house. People were up and about eyeing us curiously. "I see what you mean," she said as everywhere we passed, people stopped talking to observe us. "I forgot my notebooks. We need to show Blake he can help me with some of it," she stopped in her tracks, looking back at where we came from. She eyed the people wearily. "Let me drop you off, then I’ll go get them," I spoke. "Nobody else is to touch them or see them, you understand?" She narrowed her eyes at me. "Absolutely" I replied. " We're nearly there, anyway." We came to a house like the rest of the pack’s, a humble hideaway in the woods. Simple dwellings with moss-covered roofs tucked into the trees and jutting boulders. I knocked, and Blake answered. He embraced his sister, then looked her over. "That bad?" He asked throwing his arm over her shoulder and tucking her close. She nodded. "We left something at the house. I’ll be right back." I let him know, delivering her to the only man I trusted with her. "Is she here?" I heard my sister squeal.

I looked at Aurora apologetically before taking my leave to get her things. My sister would be all over her. She would declare them best friends, and this would be an end to our quiet time. I sighed sadly. Whinnie was something I couldn't save her from.

A group of pups from ages 6 to 12 approached me as I was walking back. "Alpha?" one of the older boys said. "Yes, Liam," I replied. "Is that Luna?" He asked curiously. "I sure hope so, young man," I told him honestly. "She’s pretty," little Amy stated. All the kids nodded in agreement. "She sure is," I replied, taking my leave of the kids. I walked off with that stupid lovesick grin on my face. Did I mind? Nah. I had every intention of keeping her. I didn't care what that entailed. As long as we belonged to each other, I would move mountains to keep it that way. But I wondered. How do you impress a woman who could probably move those mountains on her own?



Images of my brother and I flashed and solidified. The grey matter parted from my view. We were holding each other’s hands and facing each other. A sturdy pair of hands rested on my shoulders the hum buzzing through me and I was surrounded by wolves. Some of which I remembered drawing. Those wolves were between us and the others who were circled around.

My mind searched, reaching farther out, shrinking and backing up stilling over the budding spring landscape of the valley we now inhabited. Glacier lilies, agoseris, bluebells, and mountain monkshood covered the meadows and clearings of the valley. While bitterroot, moss campion, and saxifrage littered the rocky slopes. My instincts reaching out into the vision located several dark raging souls in the distance, beyond the valley. I glimpsed the radiating power coming from the elements and the pack around me as I siphoned the feeling of purity and peace from the harmony of the pack and landscape, into the darkened souls. At this point, I tumbled back into myself, my mind ungracefully clawing itself awake.

I woke disoriented. startling Evander reached out to steady me, Drenched in sweat and panting, I reached for my journal. "Easy there," Evander cautioned. I was still grasping my surroundings. "I have to put it to paper before I forget it," I murmured. He sighed, placing the journal and pencil in my lap before settling behind me. His nose was at my ear as he watched me work. I worked haphazardly. The first 2 pages were Blake and me, Evander at my back, and the other key wolves. I noted the eye color beneath for placement as they were circled around us. Then the clustering of wolves further back in the final circle. Turning to the next page, sketching the physical representation of several clustered dark souls. They were spheres of dark tangled masses tucked into the landscape. I scrawled within the crease 'purity, tranquility, peace, love.' I then mirrored the souls purified on the next page. The spheres were now clear but cracked, chipped, and or fragmented. I wrote spring on the page. Flipping briefly back to the dove and raven in the forest I’d drawn the other day.

I then flipped back to a clean page, sketching the scene of us with children playing in the woods. Evander stilled behind me. His fingers touched the figures on the page with one hand, the other wrapping around my waist like I might take flight at the possibility. I wrote possibilities down in the corner. I tilted my head back to see his face. He was full of wonder. I smiled weakly, but still brightly, at him. In this brief instant, I had allowed myself a glimmer of hope of possibilities, I had never had the luxury of dreaming up.

At the moment, I felt very frail. I had never worked so hard to chase a vision. I was the only one I knew who could. It wasn’t something that came with a guidebook or instructions. My family would work on deep meditation exercises with me in secret. Learning the triggers to pull me out if necessary. I looked towards the window. The light of the sun rising. I rested my back on his chest. "When is your sister expecting us?" I broke the comfortable silence. "Early," he groaned from behind me. "My sister has been an early riser since I can remember. She is up with the sun; she’s probably gathering eggs and such as we speak." He squeezed me, kissing my hair before turning me in his lap. His concerned eyes ran over the features of my face. His fingertips grazed the dark circles I knew resided under my eyes.

"I was so worried," he whispered. I could feel the sincerity and anxiety of his words. "Future Luna or not, you’re not doing that again anytime soon." He stated, looking me in the eye as he pulled me tightly to him. I just nodded, feeling guilty for what I put him through. He did need to experience all of me, though. If this was going to work in the long run. I pushed myself, testing the ends of my powers because I didn’t know what those ends were or what abilities I’d need going forward. It was true I was worse for wear, but now that I had a timeline to come up with a solution and my brother to help me, I relaxed. I was a person of action. I didn't play around and procrastinate about a situation I could move forward with. Between the day-long run and the mental and physical strain last night and the lack of sleep, I felt like literal crap. Maybe I had pushed too hard, but now I could step back and recoup with the knowledge I now had time.

"I’ll take you to the hot springs this afternoon for a proper bath," he said, rubbing my shoulders. My muscles hummed with pleasure, relaxing into his touch. “That sounds amazing,” I moaned unexpectedly. He chuckled softly. "I'm going to find you some clean clothes. I'm taking the dirty ones to the laundry." "Why don't you get out of that sweaty shirt and rest a bit longer?" "I'll put the water downstairs to warm. So when I come back, you can freshen up." He offered.

I watched as he now moved around the room. He had slept in boxer briefs and a tee shirt. Throwing on socks and jeans along with another flannel, this one green and blue. There was something strangely sexy about watching him get dressed. His full beard, wayward mass of curly hair, and large muscular build had me amused picturing some sort of lumberjack. I was unbuttoning the shirt as he gathered the hamper bag. I was pulling one arm out, not even realizing he'd come back into the room.

When his lips sealed into a kiss on my exposed neck from behind me, his hand grazed over my ribs just under my breast through the fabric. My breath shuddered, a moan escaping as his kisses trailed along my collarbone. I shivered, a soundless gasp escaping my throat. He pulled back kissing my forehead before heading out of the room. My body screamed at his loss, the tingles where his skin moments earlier sang for their conductor, still reacting to a bond I wasn’t sure I had the strength to walk away from. I quickly switched shirts this one like the other in what seemed his signature plaid. The cool air had me pulling the covers up, wishing my furnace was cuddled next to me. My tired body dozed as I tried to recoup what rest I could before he returned.