In The Beginning, Chapter 92
When I woke up, the sky was still dark, and the space next to me on the bedroll was cold, I sat up, looking around for Daniel.
“Hey, I didn’t think you’d be up yet, coffee’s almost ready.” He called from the fire, and I saw a metal coffee pot in front of him.
“You brought coffee? You really are perfect.” I groaned, feeling like I had only slept for ten minutes, as I tried to sit and wake up properly.
“You really think I would risk coming here without bringing coffee?” He asked when he handed me a steaming cup, joining me on the bed. “I’m not suicidal, and I don’t want to bring out grumpy Charlie!” He teased, making me chuckle. “It’s not a latte, but it should do the trick.” He smiled as I blew on the boiling hot beverage.
“It’s caffeine, that’s good enough for me.” I groaned as I inhaled the glorious aroma.
“It’s a little strong, but I have sugar if you want it sweeter.” He offered, as I took my first sip. It was strong, and a little bitter, but still good.
“It’s perfect.” I sighed. Leaning into his chest and looking out over the edge of the plateau.
“It’ll be sunrise soon; the end of Luna’s Day... so what did you think?” I could feel his apprehension, but in my sleep deprived state it didn’t fully register immediately, and I answered without thinking.
“It was amazing, I hope we continue the tradition with our kids.”
“Our kids?” He asked softly, but I could feel his excitement.
“Yeah, maybe... if we don’t die fighting Zeus.” I tried to dampen his enthusiasm, while I had been thinking about kids with Daniel, and how that would look, I knew I didn’t want to bring a child into the chaos our lives had become.
“Yeah, there’s no way in hell I would let you run into danger while carrying our pup.” Daniel added forlornly, but I was tired and a little hungover, so I pounced.
“Let me?” I asked incredulously.
“You think my wolf isn’t going to drag you back to safety if you tried? I’m not going to be able to stop him, not when it comes to protecting you or our pup, and I wouldn’t want to.” He tried to explain, but it was putting me in a bad mood.
“Let’s change the subject before this becomes a fight.”
“Charlie, please understand. If you were fighting and you saw a pup, er a... toddler? In the middle of all that, what would you do?” He asked me sincerely.
“I’m not a child.” I argued.
“But you would be carrying one, ours, our baby. If someone threatened our child once they were born, what would you do?” He asked.
“You know, you wouldn’t be doing nearly as well if I wasn’t hungover, and sleep deprived.” I quipped, scowling at his perfectly reasonable argument. “It’s moot anyway, I’m not getting pregnant anytime soon.” I added, hoping that would be the end of it.
“I know, and I agree, right now would be a terrible time to have a pup.” He admitted, and I felt my bad mood subside.
“I’m not saying never, but I’m also not ready to be a mother yet.” I whispered a little worried he would be upset with me.
“Logically I agree with everything you’ve said. Emotionally, I want a pup with you, I want to see a bunch of kids running around with a little of me and a lot of you, I can’t help it either.” He replied, kissing my hair.
“How many is a bunch? I was thinking two maybe!” I replied slightly terrified he was expecting a litter.
“I dunno, as many as you want.” He chuckled at my reaction. “It’s almost time.” He pointed to the sky where the first streaks of sunlight were turning the inky black sky into a deep purple above the horizon. We stayed in each other’s arms, watching the sun lazily creep over the valley.
After we had packed everything away, and the fire was just glowing embers, Daniel led me back down the path, and shifted. He carried me all the way to the house, only allowing me to get off of him once we were on the front lawn.
“You go inside, get in the shower, I’ll join you in a minute.” He said via the link as he walked towards the barn side of the house.
“Where are you going?” I asked, confused. He turned back towards me, and I think he was about to shift, but his ears caught something, and he froze. A few seconds later I saw the household staff emerge from the trees on the other side of the house, as I followed his gaze.
“I will explain upstairs, I promise.” He swore softly through the link, as he encouraged me towards the front door with a nudge of his head. I scratched behind his ears giving his wolf some affection I was comfortable with by way of a thank you, making him way too excited. He licked my face affectionately while I laughed at his silliness. “You had better be naked by the time I get upstairs.” He growled and ran around the house. I almost walked straight into Kathy as I turned around to discover we once again had an audience.
“Can I unlock the door for you Luna?” Kathy asked, accentuating Luna with a sly smile, that made me chuckle despite my embarrassment.
“Yes, thank you Kathy.” I replied with a shake of my head and a sigh.
“Of course, Luna.” She smiled, unlocking the door and pushing it open for me to enter first.
“I could still order you to call me Charlie.” I teased, and her smile fell, momentarily, before her eyes narrowed.
“You could, that is your right as Luna, Luna.” She smiled. “But I don’t think you will.” She sang as I made my way to the stairs, and she led her troop into the kitchen. Too exhausted to argue, I climbed the stairs in silence, stripping my clothes off and throwing them into the laundry hamper. While the hot spring had been wonderful, I didn’t feel properly clean without soap to wash with. I turned the shower on and got in, relishing the heat and water, which were helping keep the exhaustion at bay. Daniel joined me after a few minutes, his hands immediately moving up my body, then combing out my hair.
“When the pack house was built by my however many great grandfather, the staff stayed in a building that was replaced by the barn, and they had their own entrance. Nowadays it’s used by anyone who comes to the house in their wolf forms. I put a small shower in there, and Kathy makes sure there are towels and clothes there too. We can get a little dirty, and I didn’t want to track mud all through the house.” He explained as he grabbed my shampoo bottle and started massaging my hair into a lather.
“Where?” I asked, I was sure by now I had explored the whole house, how had I missed that?
“Behind the laundry room and gym.” I could hear the smile in his voice as he rinsed the suds from my hair.
“What’s so amusing?” I asked, grabbing his shampoo to wash his hair too.
“I keep thinking you’re going to run out of questions, but you never seem to.” He chuckled, pulling my body closer to his.
“I have a lot to catch up on.” I replied a little defensively, as I helped him rinse out the suds.
“I’m not complaining, I like it.” He teased as he combed the conditioner through my curls.
“What time is it?” I asked, making him chuckle again.
“Gotta be close to ten by now, why?”
“As wonderful as last night was, without our phones, or distractions, it’s also a little discombobulating to not know the time.” I shrugged.
“But you have nothing to do today... except lunch with your mother, which I just remembered.” He groaned, as I washed his body, obviously frustrated with himself for forgetting, and worried I’d be upset.
“I like knowing the time, whether I have plans or not. It helps me make plans.” I replied, trying to cover my amusement at his discomfort.
“Are you mad that I made plans for you?” He asked, the concern in his voice broke me.
“If you had come away from a conversation with my mother without agreeing to a whole list of things you knew I wouldn’t like, you did okay.” I chuckled, and his posture relaxed. “Besides, I’m never going to be mad at plans that involve Kathy’s cooking.” I couldn’t help but tease.
“Your mother won’t be here for a few hours, I have it on good authority she is having a blast at the cottage with Hyacinth and Theia.” He murmured against my skin, before running the loofah over it.
“Good, plenty of time for a nap then.” I teased, faking yawning and stretching my arms, his eyes moved straight to my chest as his hands moved up my back.
“And I know just the thing to help you rest.” He chuckled darkly, as he moved me back against the cold tiles, his lips moving down my body.
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