#21

Aurora
A tall, buxom chestnut-haired fury assaulted me. Her blue eyes matched her brother’s gaze. She stood just under my brother's 6-foot-3 stature. She charged me, wrapping me in a vice of a hug. "This is unbelievable!" She squealed again, squeezing me again. "Whinnie, she's a little more delicate than the rest of us. Ease up and take care of the baby." I glared at him. Whinnie smacked him hard on his arm. He winced, looking exasperated. “Just because I don’t turn into an animal doesn't mean I'm delicate.” Pointing a finger at him. "I remember you crying when I stepped on your toe in my first pair of heels." I started shoving my finger into his hard chest. Ouch! His chest was like a concrete block. When did this happen? I thought about pulling my hand back without reacting. "I'm not the delicate one in this family," I affirmed, not wanting to seem inadequate among predators.
“Oh, my goddess! You're perfect!” She stated excitedly as she bounced around. "Whinnie, please, you’re going to turn the baby's brain to mush." Blake pleaded. "Oh, stop" she chided. She latched onto my arm and set me at the table. Boy, I love her energy! She emitted perpetual joy and unending adoration. Given the circumstances of meeting me for the first time and her mate having kept such a monumental secret from her. The beaming acceptance she had for me came as a surprise. It took me off guard and I wanted to bask in that feeling, but I held the whim at bay.

“Well, I hear congratulations are in order!” I exclaimed, turning the focus on someone else. Gesturing towards her slightly protruding belly. I was skilled at this behavior of deflecting. It had been conditioned into me from a young age. Her hands instinctively rubbed her belly. Whinnie wasn't a willowy woman she had a solid build with extreme curves. The absolute happiness on her face was contagious. “Yes!” “A few more months till this little bundle is with us.” I smiled, genuinely happy for them. My plan until he had disappeared was to live my love of children vicariously through my brother. I pushed down the glimmer of hope I had. I still didn't know if once this monumental task was complete, I’d be free to have a real life, and this simple pleasure normal people took for granted. As much as I wanted to believe I could have a life besides the duty of my purpose, I also had to guard my heart. Thinking back to my soul-bound connection with Evander. It just might be too late to guard myself. I may not have fully opened up to him, but he clearly was willing to take whatever the bond would give him. Using it to gently erode those walls I had purposely built up.

"You and I are going to have a girl’s day real soon." She stated. "Away from hovering mates and possessive Alpha-holes." I giggled. "Wouldn't miss it." Blake rolled his eyes. "Roura, don't add fuel to the fire he pleaded. "Blake, you are no better than anyone else. I have all the fuel I need. But I’m not the one setting doll houses on fire now, am I? I had to save you on that one and take the blame.” Whinnie’s mouth dropped in an, oh, not reading the full truth.

It had been one of many times my older brother had gotten frustrated with his little sister and lost control just enough to get into possibly really bad trouble. He was about 13 and I was 7 or 8. He was packing for a camping trip with the fathers and kids of the coven. I had just wanted some of his attention before he left to have fun. I had never begrudged him that my predicament wasn’t his doing. “Sis, I’m too busy to deal with your pictures right now.” It was of Rook, his familiar. "I’m not a little kid anymore. I don’t have time for your arts and crafts.” Crumpling up the painting that had taken me days. I threw it at him. I’d spun around and slammed the door between our rooms with fury and a force of wind. I remember trying to hold the tears in my eyes. He in turn with his teenage angst and lack of self-control, set fire to the dollhouse our grandfather had made me. We had been surprised he had been able to set fire to something in the other room. That had been new. I didn’t play with it anymore, but I had left it up as something sentimental to remember him by.

I had taken the blame. Saying my anger had gotten away with me. I hadn’t wanted him to miss out on time with friends. At least one of us should be having fun. He had gone camping. I was sent to my aunt for the weekend for a grueling training session. The training had sent me into a 'power fever'. Something that would bedridden me for days as my body acclimated to the change. When he came back, we had made a pact that even though things were changing for him growing up. He’d never push me away. Then he left me. However, I selfishly wanted this moment with this newfound “family.” I was tired of hiding, of being alone and on guard. I just wanted a pleasant moment in time. So I ignored the burning betrayal in my chest.

He blinked, then gave me the watch what you say look. "No secrets with family, brother," I stated glaring back and showing him how serious I meant that. He sat opposite me. "Whinnie, can you give me a moment with my sister?" He looked at her. "I'm not going to leave you in the dark, but I do need to smooth over his overprotective fears if you could give us a moment." I told her. She nodded, then stepped out the back door. It felt bad asking someone for space in their own house, but this needed to happen.

“I thought this was to be kept between us!” He hissed as he pointed between us and glanced at the front door. “If," I stated with an eyebrow raised in question." you are still my family, so is she, and she also happens to be his sister. I have some things to show you. And I don't want you lying to your wife. "She’s my mate, and you're right. I’ve struggled with lying about you to her since I felt them pass." He sighed in defeat. "You don't have to anymore. We are all here together for a reason. We are going to need each other." He let out a breath, then nodded.

His hands steepled together, he peered at me. “What happened last night? You look half in the grave." He said worriedly. "A lot, but I need your help on some of it. We are doing this together. All 4 of us for the time being. We have time to plan.” I stated. “I look like shit because after hiking 3 days and mending an ‘Alpha wolf,' make that a ‘werewolf’,” I explained. Making quotation marks in the air. "You healed him," he questioned. I just nodded. “I ran 12 hours here because a black wolf with your voice asked for help. Then I had to go chasing visions that didn't want to cooperate. I’ve siphoned too much. The power it's going to grow, and it's been a while since I’ve dealt with that. Add in this whole new world I’m in and the very permanent vibe I’m getting from Mr. Alpha Wolf. All this and finding you here. I'm sorry you worried because I look like shit, big brother, but I’m going to be fine. I’ve got a lot to wrap my mind around right now but I didn’t get stuck." "Have you been doing this a lot?" He asked. I frowned. "Whenever the coven found issues, it couldn't figure out Aunt Bess asked me to help." He growled audibly, the anger wafting off him. "Why would you?" he seethed. "I'm sorry, she’s all I had." I could tell that stung. "I'm sorry for my reality, Blake." He shoved his fingers through his overgrown mess of black curls.

"How often did you get stuck after I left?" Biting back the anger. "Once, When Mom and Dad didn't show I went looking on my own. I watched them die, over and over again. The fear was too much. She had to pull me out. I was lucky she heard me." He took a shaky breath. "I should have come home; I should have brought you here. She used you and you know it." He was pissed. I took his shaking hand in both of mine. "I'm here now," I said smiling, trying to change the mood. "And I don't think Alpha Wolf or Whinnie are letting me go anywhere.” I pointed out. He took an enormous sigh blinking. I saw the threatening tears glistening in his eyes. “I hated that I’d never see you again, but I couldn't leave her." He stammered. “I'm not judging your choices now that I kinda understand.” I already promised Evander, I wouldn't do it again for some time." Blake nodded, seeming pleased with that. "Now go play makeup with your mate. Mine's bound to be here any minute, we will reveal what I've found out, after breakfast, let's just be family for a little while before we get down to business." “Well, that’s a different tune than I’m used to from you.”

“I've been without a family for a long-time Blake, but now I'm home.” He nodded in agreement and rose, stepping out the back door. I’ll be back, he mouthed. Maybe he would. I shrugged leaving him to his mate's ire.