#27

Evander POV

After making our way through the patrol briefs, who had nothing new to say after the rouges retreated to the outskirts, we began making our way back to the settlement. “Hey, Whinnie?” “What's up, boss?” She asked looking up from jotting things down. “The safety deposit box. I want you to empty it for me, just in case. I will probably make my way to town before it's necessary, but just in case. Do you mind?” She smiled big. “Not at all.” She responded. “I’ll give you the key in the morning, I was going to bring her to lunch with everyone, but after seeing her reaction to everyone watching her this morning, I think we will just pick up a basket lunch and I’ll take her somewhere quiet.” She gave me a knowing grin. “What?” I asked finding it strange for her to be looking at me this way. “Being smitten is a good look on you, Evander. Go live for yourself a little. Noone will begrudge you time with her.” She said simply. “My mate may murder you if you don't do right by his sister, so you best go all in.”

I let out a deep breath. My pack was used to me giving them my undivided attention. For a while, I would be more than simply distracted. “I know you guys can handle things if I become too preoccupied. I’m just not used to not being fully involved. Feels wrong, but it would feel worse to not spend the time I need to with her and helping her acclimate here.” “I already told her I’d take her to the hot springs today.” Whinnie chuckled. “Is this a ploy to see your mate naked again?” she teased. I must have blushed a little because her eyebrows shot up. “Evander,” she scolded. My hands went up in the air. “I swear, I just wanted her to relax and unwind a little. I was just going to let her bath while I made sure she had some privacy.” “Sure,” she said rolling her eyes as she continued walking towards the stables as I veered the other way.

I stopped at the kitchen to ask Shelly to prepare a basket for us. Where Sara had a grandmotherly aura. Shelly had been my mother's best friend growing up and, in her absence, became more of a mother figure to me. She smiled at me, a few members bustling around in the background. “Soo, Alpha, when do I get to meet your mate that everyone is fussing about?” she asked kindly. Sighing, I smiled back. “I was coming by to ask if you could set us aside a basket when you're prepping for lunch.” I replied looking up at her, knowing she’d be asking me questions now. “Why are you not joining us for lunch? You always come to mealtimes, and you haven't joined us since you took off.” She asked. She would interrogate me if I didn't state my case, so here it was all I was willing to let out now.

“I think Aurora, would be a bit uncomfortable with all the attention I’m sure she would get at the moment. She has a lot to process and I just feel better for the moment if she didn't have to worry about integrating into the entire community all at once.” I looked up at her to see if she would buy it. She was considering what I had said before asking. “She's a witch right,” “Yes, she's Diablos' sister. So finding him here has been a bit of a shock.” She nodded eyes big at the realization. “Makes sense now,” “What dose?” I asked. “The ‘rumor’ was that she walked off with the Beta, and they were confused if she was truly Luna, because you left her in another man’s care.” She informed me. Being a small community l wasn’t surprised. This would be the most exciting thing for them in years. They wouldn’t be able to help themselves. “I assure you she is my Mate without a shadow of a doubt. However, I don't want her smothered. I need some time to get to know her myself. She gave me a quizzical look before saying. "You are aware eventually you're going to have to share her." I chuckled. "I am unfortunately aware of that and I have no doubt she will be glad to get to know everyone. But for the time being, I'd like to let her settle in a bit. I will bring her along with me when I pick up lunch. You can let all the Chatty Kats know. She is their Luna, but I'm being a little selfish for the time being. Maybe ease their fears letting them know the beta is her brother." I said, offering her a bone to use.

Having someone like Shelly around was a good thing. She would bring me the whispered fears and I would offer her the antidote to balm their worries. She let out a small laugh. "That'll be enough to keep them busy for a while, wondering if they have to watch out for random fireballs again." She said with a smirk. I gave her a wink before heading home.

I was putting towels and washcloths in my backpack when I heard the front door open. “Evander?” she called before entering. “I’m upstairs,” I called out. I heard her shift inside and shut the door. Did she not feel like she could enter as she pleased? Her scent wafted up the stairs cocooning me and easing the deep anxiety I hadn’t realized I was holding in. I turned as she entered the room, crossing the distance and wrapping my arms around her. She seemed surprised at first, but then relented, relaxing into my embrace. Joy swelled that she excepted my comfort. Though I knew her conversations with Blake were not easy, it seemed she was at least still going to try to stick around for now. She sighed contentedly into my chest as I gently stroked her back. I tested the bond as we stood there. A little lost and confused, but I could sense acceptance and maybe a little bit of hope pushed far to the back of her mind.

“You ok?” I asked. She nodded, taking a deep breath in again. It was in a way that I could tell she was taking in my scent. The wolf in me vibrated with the contentment of her proximity and the animalistic action she had just shown. She chuckled softly looking up into my eyes. There was a light there that hadn't been there before. “You know Love, I consider this your home too, so don't hesitate coming in.” She gave me a strange look. “How is this so instant for you? You've opened your home and heart to me and you barely know me.”

I brought her with me pulling her into my lap, not wanting to lose her contact as I sat on the corner of the bed. “You came out here to follow your goddess's guidance. Do you doubt her?” I asked. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Well, I don’t doubt mine either. However, she is new to you and so are her ways, so I’ll let you in on something. If in a lifetime you are lucky enough to find your mate given to you by the Moon Goddess. You would be an absolute fool not to welcome them with open arms.” Tucking her hair behind her ear. “You, my love, are the greatest blessing I will ever incur, and I will cherish every moment I have with you for as long as we live if you allow me to.” She stared into my eyes as if searching for something before nodding. “I do not doubt that I will be terrible at this,” she said. “But, I will listen to our goddesses and try my best to let you in. You will need to be patient with me.”

My heart swelled. “Love, I will wait for you until my dying day if I have to.” I said, before dipping my head to taste her honey-sweet lips gently. To my surprise, she wrapped her arms around my neck, her delectable tongue greedily seeking entrance. As I opened for her, her fingernails grazed my scalp as her fingers ran through my wild hair, her tongue met mine. The wolf pushed forward, enjoying the primal gesture. She continued to kiss me and I allowed her to explore as I met each pensive stroke of her tongue. As her tenacity slowed, I realized her kisses held a hopeful promise as well as anxiety and fear. I found my hands tingled as I came back to my senses. They had slipped up under her sweater running gently up and down her sides and back. My instinct was to allow her to feel and express herself however she needed to. My hands coaxed and calmed her, the bond vibrating where our skin met. Our foreheads touched as she came up for air, her heart racing like a hummingbird.

Her eyes met mine. “What's wrong, Love?” I asked, kissing the tip of her nose. Scared eyes looked back. “Please, don’t break me,” she whispered, wild eyes looking into mine. “Oh my Love, the day I break you, Hell will take me and torture me for eternity. For that would be a sin of the heart. And my goddess will not allow for your heartbreak. For me, you are my essence of life, the one thing I will never be able to breathe without.” I pushed back her hair cupping her face. “Just know,” she whispered. “You are the only thing on this earth that could destroy me.”

As she pulled away to remove herself from me, I caught her hand standing with her. “Shh,” I‌ cooed, pulling her back to me. Her eyes searched mine. “I am far from perfect and I may fuck up from time to time, but for you?… I’d burn the world down if I had to, too, keep you. If ever,” I said, lifting her chin. “You doubt me. Just know that without you, my life is henceforth meaningless, and that's without the rubbish of fate and prophecy. The moment you touched my soul, you became my life force and for me, there is no going back.” She took in a steadying breath then nodded and at that moment, her resistance fell a portion. She gasped as I pulled her to me, relishing that she was now allowing my feelings into her space. “Feel it, Love, that is the depth of my endearment for you.” Her eyes looked at me as round as saucers as she processed the new channel connecting us. “I’ll tell you a secret,” she glanced up at me confused. “I’m pretty sure you're the only thing that can destroy me, too. So, for as long as it makes sense, destiny is my new BFF. She can be yours, too! I’m willing to share her, but only with you.”