#26

Whinnie pov
I watched my mate walk out the door with his sister. He was remorseful and petrified about how this would turn out. ‘Just be fair and honest,’ I spoke to his mind in support as he closed the door behind him. He didn't respond, his mind wrapped around whatever the two of them would need to get off their chests. I sighed, my eyes still on the door. “How do you think that's going to go?” I asked looking at my brother. He was leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head. He let out a long sigh. His tired eyes were full of that monumental wisdom he always carried, like a cloak around him. I’d always looked up to him. He has always been the shoulder to lean on, the one I brought my worries to, and now, with one question, he seemed lost.

“Whinnie I don’t know.” he sighed. “When you think you know someone, you find they are someone else entirely.” He stated. “He's still the person, you know. There's just more to him now than he allowed us to see. Can you blame him? We’ve tiptoed around your secrets to him from the beginning. He's a part of this pack and my mate. He was protecting what he left behind the only way he knew how.” “I suppose you're right but, I don't think we've got any idea what she's been through during the time he's been with us. In her mind, the only people that honestly knew her or cared for her were all gone in a blink of an eye. I just hope she gives us a chance to show her she can trust us and live here freely.” He confessed his fear. “So you really think she would leave regardless of the bond and destiny and all that hallabaloo?” I questioned. “She's even hesitant with me, Whinnie, and our souls have begun to bind. I won't take any chances pushing her too far. I want her to feel secure here. She's never known a place of acceptance.” He admitted.

I patted him on the shoulder. “You will make her a fine mate brother, she will come around. Everyone will love her soon enough.” I attempted to aleviate his fears. “That's what I'm afraid of. She’s like a horse ready to bolt at the first sign of anything her heart yearns for, and she’s scared of letting anything too close. Simply trying to get to know people isn’t normal for her.” I looked at him confused. “She seems friendly enough,” I said, still not understanding what he was getting at. “She's been hiding who she was since she was a little kid. Those drawings in that notebook, she was 5 when they started drawing those drawings. Imagine having to keep what she could do contained. On her own. Whinnie, I could feel the force of what she can wield. It's no idle task. And I'm afraid that was only a portion of it.”

I’d never really seen him concerned like this before, and it caused me to pause and think about it. My mug of ginger tea was my only saving grace since I fell pregnant. I gripped the mug playing with the handle as I looked down at the contents. I attempted to put myself in her shoes. She already had a complicated life as it was and here we were upending it again. Not to mention the situation with my mate. I sighed. “I think my taking her away for a day will help. The pack can be an overwhelming place for someone used to solitude. You know that they will bombard her because she’s going to be the Luna and they will want to pour out their acceptance of her. It would be that way even without looming destiny.” He nodded considering. “I don't like her being away from me, but I know she can take care of herself as well as you if need be. She saved my dumb ass already.” He pouted.

My eyebrows shot up. “Pray to tell big brother, what trouble did the little witch save you the almighty Alpha of Alphas from?” I asked, smirking at him. He smiled sheepishly, the corners of his mouth disappearing into the unruly hairs of his beard. It was a good look for him. “I may or may not have been distracted and I may or may not have stepped into an old bear trap.” My mouth dropped open in surprise. “How are you even walking?” I exclaimed. “She healed me enough that my own healing could finish the job. Whinnie, I should be a cripple right now.” I shook my head in wonder. “We have one badass Luna in the making, don’t we?” I said in awe.
My mate could do minor healing, but that was mostly re-alining chakras to help with one thing or another or the knowledge of basic plants for ailments. Thus my tea. What Evander was talking about was an entirely different level of power I didn't know could exist. Yeah, Diablo could light a fire under someone's ass if need be, which is where he got his name in his early days with us. But the technical and mental ability to make that happen I couldn’t imagine. He had tried to explain how it worked once, but I couldn’t fathom it. He was my mate because he was the other half of my soul, not because of what he could manifest. It wasn't important to me, but now I wondered as I tried to put myself in my future sister-in-law's shoes and possibly her future paws.

“Let’s go meet up with patrol as we are supposed to be doing. After lunch, I'll make arrangements to take Aurora to town tomorrow. We will leave early. It'll be an all-day trip, so you two fellas will have the honor to have our supper waiting for us.” I ironed out a rough plan, my mind still working in the background on how I could get this timid bud to bloom after being dormant for so long. He rolled his eyes at the mention they would have to cook. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, Alpha. Your niece or nephew needs to be fed and you and my mate will need to air out whatever is going on with yours. I've got a hard job trying to crack your Luna. The least you can do is feed me,” He groaned loudly, and I chuckled. “Coming from a woman, she’ll appreciate you aren’t a total caveman, even though you practically cage her constantly.” I pointed out. “Fine!” he relented, not able to defend himself from that attack. I got him twice today, well I had a little help the first time. This would be good.

As we left the house and went to see if anything new happened on patrol last night, Evander started giving me a list for the next day. I pulled out the worn notepad I kept in my apron pocket for his “lists.” Since we came out here, I had to learn how to organize his scattered thoughts, so we kept tabs on things. He asked that I check the current stores that there were enough dry goods for the month and feed for the animals. The animals we kept were not for slaughter. We hunted most of the meat we consumed and grew a lot as well as foraged. We kept the chickens for eggs, some cows for milk, and a few horses to get through the mountain terrain to town, which was a small town of just a few thousand people. Our settlement rested in unpopular mountain land, not the most sought-after hiking, skiing, or hunting grounds. Evander had purchased the land. Only a few of us ever left to do worldly business. Diablo and I, I should call him Blake now that I knew his true name. It had felt good getting things out in the open especially since I knew he was hiding something, but so was I so I let it be. As well as Evander of course, as well as Elijah and Evan, who did the carpentry, we took to craft fairs to sell along with quilts and other things we pulled together as a community.

This made it look to the outside world that we simply had a small homestead. Nobody realized how deep inside the mountain terrain we truly lived. We owned an old farmhouse we purchased from an aging farmer who had no kin to pass to. His family had lived on the land for over 100 years. Gained it back in the old days of the homestead act. Early on, the families growing near each other married into each other, creating a large installment of wild land. The Jacob family still lived in the home and never asked too many questions since we purchased the land and asked them to stay there as long as they would house the horses in transition and keep our vehicles in the old barn. The townsfolks always eyed us as peculiar, but they were good people and kept their assumptions to themselves.

“Check that the kids have enough supplies for schooling he added.” Though this essentially was to set up Aroua to be comfortable here, any chance to go to town was utilized for all needs. We would have to go again before the weather turned. I pulled my sweater tighter to me. It may be an early winter.

I surveyed my surroundings noting we still had about ten minutes at this pace. “So what does my big brother, the Alpha, want me to make sure his mate has anything specific? So I don't forget anything” I turned the page. His steps faltered. “I dont know Whinnie warm clothes, heavy boots, anything she desires. Just don't let her skimp. We have plenty of money but I know she's gonna push back if you have to fill the cart for her and Goddes’s sake, try to keep her off of Dominic’s radar” I had written nothing. Pretty sure I was going at this by the seat of my pants. He ran his fingers through his hair. A tell-tale sign he was punishing himself for something.

“What is it?” I asked. His blue eyes raised to the sky, probably wondering why the Moon Goddess would make an Alpha so stupid. I waited to hear his newest reason for doubting himself. He leaned against the tree trunk and slid down it. Sitting on the forest floor. “I'm a terrible mate!” I eyed him, confused. “How so?” I countered. I was used to talking him out of his moments, but this was new. He’d never full-on stopped mid-stride to console his doubts. “I… I should have made her stop yesterday, should have made her eat… I made her drink, but I let our joined worry for the pack, and Diablo overshadow the needs of my mate.”
“Evander!,” I said sternly. He looked up at me, his fingers still shoved in his auburn curly locks. For a wolf, ensuring his mate is provided for is non-negotiable. I could see where his brain was at but as a woman, I knew better. His eyes looked up at me helplessly. “You need to relax. She's a big girl and can take care of herself if need be. You do not have a delicate Luna. She is a warrior. You cannot contain or coddle her or she will flee.” He let a big breath out. “Whinnie, I don't know what I'm doing here. I am a lost man without a compass.” He admitted.

“Vander, she is your compass. Once you understand that the rest is easy, be happy the Moon Goddess gave you a Luna fit for your pack.” I eyed him. He stood again, still mussing his hair. “I’m just afraid of fucking this up. I'm terrified she could leave me… us.” He stammered. “Vander!, you need to calm down, yes you do not have control of her choices, but she is here, and she's considering. All you have to do is ensure she feels safe and loved here. That is what your Luna needs from you. She is more than capable of protecting and providing for herself. It's the feeling of safety with everyone and ensuring they are safe too that has her ready to bolt. She's not worried about yesterday. She is living in today.” I explained. “It is your job to think ahead and ensure that this is her place as much as it is ours for the future.” I felt a lot of my mother in those words. She was an amazing Luna who could transcend the bridge of two completely different packs. He took a deep breath and nodded. Coming to terms with his scattered mind. “You are right! And I am sure as hell blessed. I'm just terrified of fucking it all up.” “Well brother, be glad you have me.” I smiled at him and he shook his head, letting the stress fall off him. “Thank you,” he proclaimed before moving forward with his duties. I smiled inwardly. He's total mush haha!