#29

Aurora's pov
His answer confused my mind. As we collected our things from lunch. I warred with myself. Did I want to visit his mind space? It was obvious he was contemplating hard as we shook out the blanket and folded it up without words. “Love,” he said finally, and I looked up, recognizing his endearment to me. “Don't worry too much about it. We are more than normal. We just have to figure out how all this will fall into place. I trust my goddess and you trust yours. So we follow the path till we see it's wrong?” he asked. "Sounds like a plan," I said. Still weighing things in my mind. My gut said something to me. “We follow them, but we make our own decisions. When it comes to me and you, we will know what's right." He nodded, taking my hand as he led me back into the forest and towards the hot springs.

Evander POV
I wasn't going to lie. Things were peculiar. Her sharpened senses, the sense of smell. It slowed me down wanting to know exactly what we were dealing with. I realized there were people I usually avoided who I'd have to listen to. Resources I had I never bothered using. Voices that would need to be heard. I let out a sigh forgetting my company. Her mood immediately wavered thinking she was the cause of my stress. She shrunk in still not confident in her place with me. “Aurora,” I said, hooking my hand around her waist and spinning her to me. Her eyes were sad and standoffish but still held hope. It hurt my soul how little faith she had in anyone.

I met her gaze with authority. “Love?” she looked down before having the courage to face me straight. "Just another oddity that is me, another burden for you to bear." She shrugged, looking sadly away from my eyes. I growled, spinning her and caging her against a tree. Startled mossy eyes held no fear. "You are not my burden, but my gift. One I intend on keeping." I grit out. "Never," I enunciated. "portray yourself as any less to me. You are my heaven and earth, my soul and my heart. You may have your free will to leave but, I'll be damned If I don't do everything in my mortal power to maintain you at my side." My eyes never left hers and I watched as they went from stunned to acknowledging the fact of how seriously I was pursuing us.

I pushed the hair out of her delicate face with large, calloused hands. "Whatever our destiny, we will face it and choose it together. You are no longer alone. It is time you stop hiding in that vast cavern of your beautiful mind. You are not who they made you be to preserve yourself. Your soul is bigger and stronger, and brighter than the sun. And as gentle as a moonbeam. You came out here to find your purpose. Allow yourself to be loved and for others to see the person attached to your soul, not the witch or the powers you've hidden. Just you. Your powers do not define who you are. They are an amazing part of you, yes! But our people are nothing to fear. Give them an opportunity. Please, for any hope for our future." I wiped a stray tear that leaked down her cheek. She sniffed and nodded. "I will try." I kissed her forehead taking in a steadying breath. "Come on, let's get there before sunset," I said, interlacing our fingers and tugging her with me.

"Do you want a wolf?" I asked as we strolled further on. "I dunno if I can handle any more specialness. But if the wolf has already been chosen for my soul, I suppose I wouldn't want her a prisoner in my mind." She said, I considered her response pretty selfless for this being new to her. "How tough?" She said. I shrugged, taking in a deep breath. "I may have to speak to the elders and they may have answers. But my theory is that maybe when the Moon Goddess chose you as my mate she had a very specific reason for you of all people to be here with me." "But the rouges, it was The Mother that brought me here, not the Moon Goddess." She countered." "I think they are in cahoots together on this. My mother's people have been waiting for me and my Luna's destiny for centuries, but I'm also not a god and can't assume their heavenly choices are best intended.

“Why now of all times bring rouges into the fold of a pack?” She asked. “I don't know,” I looked up realizing we were here. "Well dearest, this is where I leave you to relax and become a prune," I said, pulling my bag off my shoulders. "You're not joining me?'' she asked. I smirked at her. "Is that an invitation? Because I would gladly join you, however, my charming side thought you would like some time alone. It's been a lot and I've been pushing your boundaries all afternoon. Oh, and what about those ground rules we never established?" I countered giving her a cheeky smirk, "It's not like you haven't seen me naked." She said, "and as much as I enjoy my solitude, I think I'm getting used to having a companion. But really?" She said, smirking over her shoulder. “I just want a better look.” She said, pulling her sweater over her head and tossing it at me as she worked her jeans down her supple thighs. I pulled my shirt over my head following suit. Only to get an eye full of her heart-shaped rear as she bent to pull her jeans off her feet. I quickly dropped my pants as hers came flying at my head, followed immediately by her undergarments. She giggled, which was music to my ears, and ran towards the water, jumping in. She immediately turned to watch me as I charged in, landing in the water with a huge splash.

I heard her loud shriek as she became utterly soaked. As I came up for air, she slid her arm across the water, causing a wave that she pulled just a little magic with that smacked me in the face. When I turned to her in utter shock, she was stifling laughter. Oh, little dove, the wolf has come to play. Beware. I thought. The water slowed me as I went for her and she nimbly evaded me. Somehow, she moved lithely through the steamy water. She was crouched, her nose and mischievous eyes flickering with her power just over the surface.

"Love? Are you cheating?" She grinned telling me it was true. "But Alpha,” she said in mock coy-ness “it's just the way I'm wired. That's not really cheating, is it?” I chuckled, a stupid grin crossing my face. She did know how to have fun. It was refreshingly beautiful to see this side of her. The bond was lighter and the wolf in me enjoyed the hunt. I feigned giving up, then suddenly I was upon her and she squealed. As I grabbed her from behind, I ran my nose up her neck, taking in her scent. I growled deeply. As my hands felt every curve of her naked body against mine and I clutched her tighter to me. The urge to mate her was strong. And as I leaned against a rock in the middle of the pool, l took a few deep breaths to soothe the urge.

"Evander," she asked. "Hmm, I replied, not trusting my voice to betray me. She rested her head back against my shoulder and looked up at me, and for the first time, I saw joy there. She smiled. Her eyes were a little misty with emotion. "Thank you," she said, the thick emotion heard in her voice. "For what?" I said, finding my voice confused. She looked away for a long moment. "Do you trust me? "she asked, glancing back up with a smile. "Of course," I answered wondering where this would go. "Close your eyes, and allow yourself to see," she said, taking my hands and placing my thumbs on her temples. I closed my eyes. "Now visit my mind," when I did as she asked. I realized it felt different. Less like a library and more like a cozy nook. The warm tendrils of her magic reached for me and I allowed it access.

As the song of it quieted, I saw images before me. It appeared to be summer and my eyes were looking over a book held by a small child's hands. The subject matter looked like alchemy. Over the book, I could see the viewer was watching a bunch of kids and teens rambunctious, and playing in a creek. A blond woman with Aurora's features came beside her and I realized this was a memory. "I know it's hard dear, but we can't risk it,'' the woman sadly said. Another more stern-faced woman with similar features. Came to her other side. "Aurora knows her place, and Viv, stop coddling her." The woman Viv glanced down at Aurora with sad eyes before looking at her with the other woman. Aurora's gaze was still steadfast on the children playing while my attention was on the women. "She's just a child, Bess, you know how much I hate this." "It's for the best Viv Noone can know." The woman, Viv, stomped off. While I could feel the other grip my/Aurora’s shoulder. "Stay strong, little one, play the part, and we can keep you safe."

The scenery changed, always the same view, a different task in front of her as she watched on. Clearing a table laden with food, a pile of schoolwork, and a sewing project. We went through 5 or 6 scenes of the same. A young Blake paused to check in on her before a flock of girls dragged him back to the water. Then she brought me to a scene. Where an average-sized man sat on a rock looking out towards her. “Rory, just be careful. I'm here if you need me. Just don't tell your aunt. I let you have some fun”; he chuckled. He had kind mossy green eyes and his features and build remind me of Blakes. I found myself underwater. Small hands created a bubble under the water's surface. I could feel my body instinctively holding my breath, and my lungs began to burn. Before the bubble came to my face and air suddenly filled my lungs.

I then found myself pushed out of her mind and into my own. She had turned to face me, her hands one on my chest and the other on my arm. “You ok?” she asked timidly. I looked down at her. Her eyes searched mine. “Don't give me pity, Alpha,'' she said simply. “You've fulfilled a big but simple wish of mine. Don't ruin the moment.” She stated as she reached up, barely able to run her fingers through my hair at her height. I looked down. Her other hand lazily played with the dusting of chest hair. If a wolf purred, I would have. Being able to experience her memories helped me understand her better than her trying to find the words. Her trusting me with them was a gift I would treasure.

My eyes looked up realizing the sky was darkening. I turned to her, instinctively her body obeying my gentle instruction. To look up at the valley's sunset. The view was even more spectacular with the background of the golden and red tree leaves. “It's beautiful,” she said in a soft whisper. “Not as beautiful as you, '' I growled into her ear.