#41

Aurora

A young woman with mousy brown hair and a bag over her shoulder stood with downcast amber eyes on the other side. Behind her were my brother and Whinnie. "What?" Evander practically spat out. The frustration at being interrupted was evident to me. I smiled standing off to the side, slightly amused and curious. "Are you joining us for breakfast?" Blake asked. “We were all headed there and seeing as we will be spending a lot of time together, I figured we might as well eat together.” He said eyeing us both. It was evident Whinnie was holding in her amusement also as the two men stared each other off. The woman was obviously uncomfortable in the middle of the situation.

After, a long awkward pause I said. “You usually eat with the pack. I think we should eat with everyone. My presence shouldn’t continue to take you away from your duties.” He sighed. “And I need to start getting to know them.” I said out loud. 'Maybe then, once everything is out. I will have a chance of them accepting me.' I spoke to just his mind. ‘Love,’ he said looking straight into my eyes as we had our own private conversation while the others observed us. 'They will accept you regardless of who you are because you will make me happy. They did not follow me out here to gain anything but harmony and a fulfilling life. Yes, there is the telling, but they seem to be content to sit around and see what it all means in its own time, just like I am,' he said. 'Then we should go,' I said, gesturing with a nod to the others.

"Fine," he said out loud. He opened the door for them to enter. "Aurora, this is Millie, our future elder and expert on all things mating." My brother said as he gave me a quick hug and Whinnie did the same. Millie and I shook hands, her eyes still cast down the dusting of freckles over her nose and cheeks giving her appearance more character up close. "It's a pleasure Luna," she said with a little bow. "Aurora," I corrected.

She nodded "as you wish." She said with another bow. I didn't like the reverence, but I looked to Evander for guidance and he shook his head to leave it. He seemed honored by her actions through the link we shared. Ok, this could have benefits for sure. They settled themselves at the table as Evander wandered upstairs to finish dressing. I slipped out the back, pulling on my boots and collecting my discarded supplies, gently closing the sketchbook, hoping it wouldn't smudge much. I collected our now cold cups of coffee and tea and went to the kitchen, placing the sketchbook on the counter and remaking Evander's coffee while warming up my tea with a splash of warm water. He came down in a navy mock neck sweater and a pair of threadbare jeans, the worn boots on his feet making evident his rustic lifestyle. His auburn curls had been dampened and slicked back. He looked sexy as hell in the most casual of ways. As he reached around me kissing my neck as he retrieved his cup. I eyed him over my shoulder as he took a sip. Then over his shoulder at the three pairs of eyes staring at us. I looked back up at him. "We should go," I said spinning away from him as I took a sip of tea. Everyone stood as Evander followed me out.

Our little group made their way to the outdoor kitchen It had a roof sporting solar panels that helped run a few industrial fridges and ovens, long counters for preparing Evander, his arm looped around my waist. Blake and Whinnie trailed behind us holding hands while Millie took up residence between us. There was a counter laden with a buffet-style assortment. He piled bacon and sausage on his plate as I passed behind him. I reached for an apple, and some berries and a piece of toast. He scooped a pile of scrambled eggs onto his plate and looked over at mine in disapproval. scooping another pile onto my plate and moved down to the condiments, adding ketchup to his eggs and salt and pepper. I put butter on my toast and hot sauce on my eggs. He eyed me without a word moving towards the long handmade picnic tables.

We sat at the end of one bench the other occupants greeting us I just smiled and nodded toward them. Evander exchanged greetings introducing me to the two men and two young women at the other end of the table. Rosa, Emmit, Samuel and Nevaeh. "How many members are in the pack?" I asked. "42 if you include the few hermits that choose to live off on their own." He answered before putting a forkful of eggs in his mouth. "It's amazing you've been able to keep things quiet here with all the people." "The town people aren't too nosey. I picked the place because it was small and there weren't any ranches or resorts to bring in too many people." He explained. I turned back to my plate as Evander lazily drew circles on my knee sending tingles through the fabric of my jeans with one hand, while he ate with the other.

I tried to ignore the eyes, but couldn't as I pushed around my food. I took a small bite here or there. Evander was a sentinel waiting to protect, defend or soothe me whichever was needed. A little boy sat next to me and I sat my mug down and focused on the kid, a little girl sitting next to him. “Hey there, who are you?” I asked, scanning the crowd for I don't know what? Pitchforks, parents maybe? “I'm Alex, Shelly is my gran mom,” he whispered. “I'm glad you are here.” “Why is that?” I asked in a whisper back. “You will complete the pack, Alpha needs a Luna.” The boy whispered with a shrug. “This is Amy,” he said, glancing back at the girl with red hair and blue eyes and freckles dusting across her nose and cheeks. “Sometimes she knows things.” he said. "What kind of things? I asked. "The important ones, Luna,” he said. "It's Aurora," I said. "Stop trying to make yourself small," he said. Almost flabbergasted. "OK lil man,” I whispered back a little taken aback.

The girl Amy leaned over putting herself in front of the boy whose aura protested the action. "Don't worry Luna it doesn't matter what you are, it's who you are and who you intend to be.” She had a point.? I looked over at Evander. Who was speaking to Blake across the table? He looked at me appraising the kids who had made themselves cozy with their plates beside me. He grinned. "These two seem wise beyond their years," I said, taking a bite of toast, and turning my attention back to the kids who were eagerly eating and chatting about gathering berries later in the day. "Those two are the youngest until our niece or nephew is born. They are two peas in a pod." Evander explained. 'He said she knows things,' I asked in my mind, glancing around, eyes quickly diverted from my gaze as they had been watching me or they smiled and nodded and went back to their food. “Amy, where are your parents?” I asked. Curious as to why these two were allowed to friendly up to a peculiar stranger.

“My mom is Nessa. She's helping Shelly in the kitchen. She told me Beta is your brother." She looked at me with curiosity. "He is,” I said. “My pa, he's spending a lot of time with the carpentry he has projects to finish for the market fair.” “What's that?” I asked Evander. “Things pack members make we take to the fair to sell to cover for what we can't grow or hunt and gather ourselves.” I nodded understanding. “Can you talk to animals?” Alex asked. Peering up at me. I looked at Amy and then at Evander, stunned, not knowing what to say. “Alex!” Amy scolded. “What!” He asked, annoyed. I took a long drink of my tea before answering and she whispered-yelled at him that it wasn't polite. “I can't talk to them with words,” I said. “However, I can speak to them with my mind through energy and feelings.” “That’s so cool!” Alex exclaimed. Amy’s eyes lit up. I looked back to Evander, who wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him on the bench. He looked over at Alex and Amy. “OK, you two, enough for this morning. Finish your breakfast and head off to your schooling.” “Yes Alpha,” they said in unison, tucking into their plates. Millie was watching from her peripheral, a small smile on her face.

"You need to eat," Evander whispered quietly in my ear. “I'm trying,'” I said, taking another bite of toast. It took me a while, but I eventually finished what was in front of me through the haze of the dull ache in my pounding head. I stowed the apple in my bag for later. The children scampered off to their lessons. And we discarded our plates scraping any leftovers into a tub that would probably be a slop for pigs or be turned into compost. We made our way back to the house, the skylight over the table letting in light enough. Millie eyed me quietly as I used my magic lighting the fire to warm more water for my tea. Putting the water on I rinsed out my cup and added more herbs to it. Evander came behind me kissing my cheek. “I need to see about a few things. Are you ok without me for a bit?” I nodded, not really wanting him to go. The way I was currently feeling, I just wanted to curl up in our bed with him and sleep for a year. Whinnie smiled at me as she followed him out, my brother sitting next to me as we faced our tutor opposite us.