#40

Aurora

I woke early, the hum of Evander’s embrace cocooning me, dulling out the echoing ache in my head. I rolled over, gently disentangling myself as I felt around in the dark, quietly for clothes. I grabbed my bag after quickly dressing. Today I had some fitted bootcut jeans I threw on a light cream sweater and my corduroy jacket. I shoved my art supplies in my bag and made my way downstairs. I put the water on for our coffee and tea. The packets I used for the headaches had been left in the backpack for discrete ease of use. I wasn’t an idiot. They were keeping an eye on me. I slipped out the back door and flopped down on the stoop, setting my trail boots beside me. My eyes were fixated on the vibrant colors of the dawning sunrise. I pulled out the sketchbook and began etching the lively colorscapes across the large page in pastels. My fingers eagerly blended and reformed the lines of color, and they soon covered them in an artistic mess.

I heard the quick thuds of Evander's footfalls as he bounded down the stairs inside. I shouldn't be able to hear it. They paused in the kitchen where I heard him shuffle around before I heard a deep inhale and he made his way to the door. He came out with 2 cups. One of tea, the other of a life force I wish I could use to dull the ache. I met his azure gaze over my shoulder as he came moving towards me wearing sweatpants, barefoot, and shirtless. Goddess, he could take your breath away. He squatted down behind me. He caged me with his long legs on either side of mine where I sat on the step.

“You're in trouble,” he said, rubbing his beard into my neck, which both tickled and excited me. Just the thought of last night sent my heart rate spiking. “Why's that?” I asked, feigning innocence. “You were supposed to sleep in,” he whispered into my ear. Before he handed me my tea, which I took as I gasped at how good it felt his face nuzzled deeply in my neck. I lifted the tea. “Thank you,” I said. “Couldn't sleep, so I figured I’d catch the sunrise.” I said holding up the colored landscape of the bright rising sun, behind the cluster of fall-laden trees. Taking a sip of coffee he took the drawing from me appraising it. “We should frame this,” I shrugged. I was about to sip my tea when he said. “Every time you look at it, you'll remember what happened the night before.” I swatted his arm, glad I hadn't taken a drink yet. He chuckled, wrapping his free arm around me, pulling me firmly against his muscular chest as he buried his face in my hair.

“We should hang it, anyway. It's a beautiful representation of our home.” I smiled hopefully, but I kept the sigh on the inside. This constant apprehension of things going wrong wasn't going to help. I took a sip of my tea for courage as the numbness filtered through my body. I leaned into him. “Evander,” I said. “Hmm,” he answered, his mouth full. “I want you to know I want this, you, this place, these people. I just don't know how to not be apprehensive about losing it.” Admitting my fears. “Is that what troubles you, my love?” He said, setting the picture and the mug in his hand aside. “Yes,” I breathed out my confession. He took my mug from my hand and pulled me into his lap, tucking my head under his chin. His embrace instantly felt like home. “Just know love, he said cupping my cheeks now, looking into my eyes, the bond vibrating wildly. You are my future. It doesn't matter whose will we do or don't complete, if for the safety of the pack we need to leave, I will go with you. From the moment I met you, there was no other choice, and once we fully bond when one of us returns to the heavens, the other won’t be far behind.”

His declaration held no room for question, and I realized his love and adoration were sincere and devoted beyond any doubt. “I may have never counted on finding you, he added, but now that I have you, I can't fathom losing you either.” The sheer fact that if all else failed, I at least had him, made my heart soar and ache at the same time. I cupped his cheeks mirroring him. “But the pack?” I questioned in a whisper. “They will live and prosper with or without me,” his pale blue crystal gaze affirmed.

All of my doubts were fruitless. I dove into a searing kiss, which he replicated without pause as he pulled me around straddling him. My hands tangling in his hair. I found myself grinding into him shamelessly, one of his large hands gripping my neck controlling the angle of the kiss the other sliding up my sweater his fingers fondling my bare breast as he groaned coming up for air. I panted, our foreheads touching. I nuzzled his nose and joy shot through me. A tear rolled down my cheek as I realized I had unconsciously dropped one more of my barriers surrendering to him by opening up the bond to feel his emotions further. He caught my tear smiling while standing up and spinning around holding me bridal style as I let out a surprised squeal. Apparently, he noticed the new link now opened to him and an emotional joy leaked out of me as happy tears streamed down my face. Where my joy expressed my suppressed innate need for what he offered. His was a carefree, childlike joy that was hard not to find contagious.

I found myself laughing in my joyful tears as we spun. When he finally stopped spinning, us. I found my heart drunk off his joy, my head spinning and dizzy, and my soul intent on claiming. I looked up at him as he set me down I smiled. Not able to help the giggle that bubbled up as I saw the streaks of pastels in his hair and like crazy war paint across his face. “What? He asked. I held up my hands in surrender. He appraised the smudge coloring as I took off inside and found myself running up the stairs faster than ‘I expected. He was right behind me his eyes now dark the wolf getting his chase.

“I’m sorry!" I said hands up. The laughter still bubbling up out of me, as I found myself with my back on the bed and the predatory eyes of my dreams looking back at me. “Careful Love, because once I hunt you, there's no turning back.” he growled out and the bond mimicked his unwavering vow. And I believed him, but I didn't fear him. Our eyes continued the stare unnerved until the crystal blue returned. "Your wolf is very dominant," he said. letting me up, taking my hand. "Now you can help me wash all this art off my face." He chuckled. Dragging me to the bathroom where the pitcher of water and the basin sat.

"So my wolf?" I asked hoping he would elaborate. "I can sense her better now, he said referring to the fact I had instinctively lifted the veil blocking his feelings from me."She is strong but still dormant." I poured the water into the basin taking a washcloth and soap cleaning my hands as he gripped my hips behind me, the small window letting in the light of the morning sun.

Shadows are cast intimately within the small space. I scrubbed my nails dipping my hands into the cold water before turning towards him. "Sit," I motioned towards the toilet. He sat his stance wide as I moved in between his long legs, wiping all the streaks of color from his face, beard, and hair. His thumbs hooked in my belt loops grounding me as I inhaled his scent in the confined area. It was strong and heady.

“My senses are stronger,” I whispered. "It's strange the closer we become, the sharper my senses grow. Throws me a little off balance." Rinsing the washcloth in a basin of clean water I came back. His massive hands found me pulling me to him and looping my legs over his. His erection was painfully evident between our clothes, his hands gripping me there to feel it. As we stared into each other's eyes. “What?” I asked. Wiping at the suds still left in his beard trying to focus on something other than the very firm rod beneath me. “What are you thinking about?” Images and thoughts and feelings of the previous night haunted my thoughts. “You are insufferable,” I said shaking my head.

The call of my body to his was even stronger, and I took a sharp breath at his proximity. "So, this wolf thing how will she come about?" As I went back to dabbing at his face. The intimacy of the early morning light and the hum ever-present between us. Joy buzzed at my question there in the cavern our minds that we shared. It was small but would grow as the souls completed the intricate dance of their bindings. “Well, first love, I’d have to bite you here,” he said. Running his nose down where my neck met my shoulder. His breath tickled across my skin as he whispered into my ear. "It is best if we couple as the pain is less and the pleasure the most," he growled causing me to shiver as he held me firmly into his lap and thrust up. I gasped at the thrill of my body responding to, not just his words but his actions. "That so Alpha?" I said breathy. Meeting his stare.The lust was blatant in his deep indigo gaze. Which I was sure my mossy ones mirrored."Yes, love,” he grit out trailing his beard over my neck. Causing me to quiver.

The distant sound of shuffling filtered over my senses before the pounding on the door. Evander groaned out a complaint as he stood wrapping my legs around him, and carrying me through the bedroom and down the steps.

He gently let me slide down to my feet as we hit the bottom. Another knock sounded and my head began to pound again. The diversion of his intensity was gone. He cursed under his breath before answering.