#36

Aurora
As we approached the settlement, towing a mule named Thomas who liked to stop and nibble along the way. With grains and shopping bags stuffed in his leather saddlebags and the tarp strapped over everything. I was irritable and ready to be home… Was it honestly home? I missed him, my only comfort to keep the dark thoughts at bay. His presence was a light keeping the shadows in their dank corners within my mind, he allowed the hope to shine. Would I be willing to do this? As long as the pack’s safety was confirmed, why not? Would he still want me after learning all the difficulties we could face? Could he accept the damaged parts of me, without a promise they would be able to be mended? I wasn’t sure I could gain the trust of others. I couldn’t promise the shadows wouldn't follow me into this new life. Not that I was proud of them, but they had become integral to who I was. If I were going to do this, it would be all the way with no secrets or reservations about who or what I was. Just as my goddess was capable of good and evil, life and death and I only had 3 weeks to discover if any of it was even safely possible or if he could accept the damaged, possible at times unhinged me.

A soft voice “Aurora… Aurora…. Luna!” I pulled in a breath. “What!” I sputtered out coming to the present. The filly staggered sideways as my concentration failed. I pulled in my senses bringing her with me before I set my eyes on Whinnie.

I felt caught, like she saw something intimate happen. “You ok?” she asked, and I sighed. ‘All in' I said to myself, deciding that Whinnie was someone I could try to trust if anyone. “Yes, and no, there are still too many things that can go awry.”

“You were singing. It sounded sad, but it was pretty. Why?” “My heart sings when it is troubled or sad. I used to sing when I was happy. It's not something I do consciously anymore, but I've done it since I was a little girl. When I am with nature, it calls me home. The worries and doubts leach into the soil and come back to me as something else. I guess you could say it's like therapy. I lived for a long time in the suburbs. Out here, it's easy to just, I don't know how to describe it. Think, process, just be?” I looked over at Whinnie, who seemed to be contemplating what I was attempting to describe. "So you're deep in thought singing to nature and holding that spawn of the devil in check all at once?" She said appraising me. I shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a fan of multitasking. It's ingrained in me. My mind is a little different. I can work more than one energy at a time." She eyed me curiously. "My brother says he can feel your moods and your feelings. You can already speak to each other through the bond that has already been initiated. What's that like for you?" I shrugged a bit as I thought of how to answer her honestly.

"It's a little unnerving. I have the ability to keep my thoughts and memories to myself, but I can't block him from my moods. It's like he knows just how to react to me all the time. It's nice but I also worry I will grow to depend on that connection and not share the rest. Unfortunately, we all have our dark places and if this is going to work, I'll have to share mine."

I had Thomas’s lead as we wound around a bend. I got close and clipped it off. “He doesn't need the lead; he will follow us into oblivion. Thomas loves people, and he loves his home.” I Said rolling up the cord and looping it around the pommel of the saddle. For me, that said a lot about the pack. The way people treated animals surely said a lot about their character. “Changing the subject?” she asked. “Yep,” I said popping the p.

As we got closer to home, we dropped off the horses to Elijah and Evan, the two men that had attempted to restrain the filly this morning. I helped untackle her and placed her in the paddock before Whinnie and I headed to Evander’s, or rather, I guess our home; after the men unloaded the mule of grain and the goods for the kitchen. Thomas, friendly as ever at my shoulder as I walked. “The animals sure do like you,” Whinnie stated eyeing him as he huffed into my hair that had mostly loosened. I shrugged back. “I guess I got my perks.”

When we reached the house, I began unloading the mule as Whinnie went inside. Evander was immediately at the door coming out and taking the bags from me, setting them on the porch as he wrapped me up in his arms, lifting me off the ground. “You came back?” His muffled voice questioned, relieved. As he snuggled his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling. I leaned back eyeing him. “You honestly thought I wouldn’t come back?” I scoffed. He leaned forward, our foreheads touching, his nose gently nuzzling mine. Our eyes met, and I leaned forward, giving him a soft kiss that caused a rumble of a possessive growl to vibrate through his chest. His eyes darkened. “Alpha?” I questioned. Smiling up at him. “You are lucky little dove that I am showing so much restraint right now because I could throw you over my shoulder and march you up the stairs and claim you right now.” His gruff voice whispered into my ear causing me to shiver. “Well, you could if I let you, but I think we will leave your promise for another day. For now, how about you use those muscles for something useful, like to help me with my bags?” I gave him sass. He feigned a pout, but the mischief danced in his eyes and the grin that followed showed me something else. And a thrill ran through me. This could be fun.

Whinnie came out for her bag from the bank box, her face flushed, probably from my brother's kisses, glancing back and forth at us as we seemed to measure each other up for the future challenges we could present each other, my feet still dangling off the ground. She sauntered back inside shaking her head. Muttering something about playing with your food before eating it.

He grabbed the chest that was wrapped and strapped to the mule after he finally set me down. His eyebrows raised in question. “Don't question it,” I said. “You’ll understand when I unpack.” I said stooping to grab my bags. It felt excessive but the winter weather was coming and unfortunately or fortunately I had not decided. Yet, Whinnie happened, which I guess was the plan all along. He paused next to me. “So, you're moving in?” his eyes sparkled in his joy as we moved inside, caught up in our moment. “If it's a problem, I could always just take the filly off your hands and go make it in the woods.”

He scowled gripping the chest tightly. “Relax, you told me to treat it like my home, too. So I guess yes, I'm moving in if that's what you want.” He couldn’t set the chest down fast enough to close the distance between us, while the little glass bottles inside still rattled as I found myself swept up in his arms and his lips crashing into mine. Hands began to roam before a growl and a cough came from the kitchen area. Blake’s dark gaze met Evander's as the rumble began to bubble up his chest. Whinnie’s hand covered the laugh attempting to come out of her mouth while the other gripped my brother's arm. I put my hands on his chest snaking them up to cup his menacing face. I enjoyed how his soft beard hair tickled and soothed all at once. His dark glare met mine. “Hey,” I breathed. “For the time being, I’m not going anywhere. He’s just being a big brother. Settle down Alpha.” I cooed, and after a long moment, he relented.

“Now help me lug all this stuff, Whinnie made me get upstairs.” I inhaled the scent of meat stew just then hitting me. It surprised me I wasn't drooling. “Dinner smells great,” I said perking up. My stomach growled. “I caught your dinner, love,” he grinned at me. “Oh, did you’?” a strange primal joy filled my heart as I scooped the bags back up. What was that? I smiled as he followed me up the steps.