"I'm sorry Court." I spoke as soon as we stepped in and I set the journal down.
"Don't apologize. You don't have anything to apologize for." Court said running a hand through his hair.
"I didn't think I was going to upset him." I murmured and Court looked at me.
"If you have questions please come to me next time. I'll answer anything you want or at least wait for me to come over. I don't want something like that happening again." Court told me and I nodded as he turned to me and hugged me.
I was a bit surprised when his arms wrapped around me and he pulled me into him. But I let him and stood there silently before hugging him back. Court let out a relaxed breath as he nuzzled his head on mine.
"Can I see the journal?" Court asked and I nodded as he let me go and I handed it to him. "Where did you find this?" Court asked as he went flipping through it.
"When I was looking through Lyell's books, I found it. It was the most interesting to me." I told him and Court nodded as he set the journal down before walking over to me. I looked up at him as I held the ends of my blue cloak.
"We can go back out if you desire." Court told me as he stopped in front of me.
I nodded and he offered me his hand which I accepted before following him back out where the rest of his pack and Thorin's were still celebrating the feast. Court held my hand as we walked out back into the center of the action.
Lotus was standing next to Thorin's sister getting her some food. "Where is Thorin?" Ivory asked Lotus who turned to her.
"He left to get Lycidas." Lotus told her as Court led us over to one of the seating areas and we sat down. He snapped his fingers and a younger wolf brought over some of the roasted lamb and then Court asked for more wine.
Court handed me a glass of wine which I accepted from him. The wine was a deep red color as I twirled it around in the glass before taking a sip from it.
I hadn't had any alcoholic beverages before. My parents rarely bought them and if they did, I never got any. I was used to it though. But I felt bits of happiness twirling in me as I sat next to Court sipping the wine.
The wine has a nice flavor to it. I enjoyed the taste. I set the cup down to eat some more of the roasted lamb before Court's arm wrapped around me and I looked over at him in surprise. Court smiled at me as he turned back as Xerxes came over.
He had taken out the pies I had made and now people were heading over to eat them. I kept my hands in my lap holding the wine as a large white wolf with black on its back in a saddle pattern trotted past.
Court's fingers pushed into the cloak as I looked up at him. He smiled at me before waving over some of the pie.
Seeing him in this environment was both amazing and a bit terrifying. With Lyell and Xerxes, he seemed much more laidback but still held an air of confidence and dominance. As of now all he had to do was wave a hand or snap his fingers and someone would bring him something.
Although from what I could tell the ones bringing him things had to be lower ranked. They held their heads lower and didn't stop to talk with Court.
After a slice of pie, I saw Thorin come back followed by Lycidas who was in wolf form. Thorin was also in his wolf form. The two were stark contractions against each other.
Thorin is solid black save for a few strands of white around his muzzle. Lycidas is bright auburn colored like his red hair. Lycidas looked around the place and his golden eyes settled on me before one of his ears went back. Thorin bumped him lightly before he came over and shifted before putting back on his clothes.
Lotus's eyes lit up upon seeing him. She left Ivory and went over to him wrapping herself around him as Lycidas moved amongst staying in wolf form. Court looked up.
"Lycidas would like to talk to her tomorrow when there isn't a bunch of people." Thorin told Court as he came over.
Court nodded. "That's fine." Court responded and Thorin smiled as he turned back to get more food as he was welcomed back. I cast a glance over where Lycidas had headed off to. He had gone over to the carcass of animals that were left out
I turned back to Court who smiled at me before he turned back to the feast.
☾
Around the time the moon had begun to sink was when the shifting began. A lot of them left and turned into wolves before taking off into the forest to run. I saw Xerxes shift into a dark colored wolf with bits of white flecked throughout him before Lyell's white wolf appeared and trotted after him.
I got a sight of Lotus's wolf as well. Her wolf was a pale blonde with a honey colored dripped down her back and then a brown honey colored mask around her face. Lucia also appeared a similar color but with much greyer in her pale fur.
Soon most of them had left as Court stood up and offered me his hand. "Do you have to leave?" I asked as he held my hand.
"Eventually." Court told me.
I nodded. Court looked over at me as we walked through the yard together. "Did you enjoy tonight?" Court asked looking over at me.
"I did, it was nice. The wine was delicious." I told him and Court smiled.
"I can get you more if you want some." Court offered and I nodded.
"I would like that." I noted and Court smiled as he stopped outside the cabin and turned to me.
"Good tomorrow I can go in and fetch you some more wine." Court told me as he smiled at me. I nodded with a smile on my face.
"Thank you." I told him and Court nodded. Finally, he took a step back off the porch of the cabin and turned around to face the forest. The place he'd be leaving to. He paused on the last step before he turned around and came back up.
"Are you ok-" He cut me off and grabbed me the waist his fingers locking in the cloak and bringing me over to him before he kissed me his right hand cupping my cheek. I froze as his finger brushed over my cheek and I shut my eyes.
Then he pulled back taking a deep breath and shaking his head. "I shouldn't have done that, I told you I wouldn't." Court muttered beneath his breath as he began walking backwards.
He got ready to turn around and run off when I walked forward and called out after him, "Court!"
He stopped and turned around. "What Ruby?" Court asked watching me uneasily now as I walked down to his level.
"I wouldn't mind if you kissed me again." I told him as he looked down at me. As I stood in front of him it became obvious how much taller he is than me.
Court bit his lip as he watched me. "I told you I'd wait for when you want it, I don't intend to force anything on you. I don't want you to view me like that." Court told me as he stood in front of me.
"I don't mind if you want to kiss me again. I liked it." I told him and Court watched me.
"Are you just telling me that to make me feel better about letting my instinct run?" Court asked and I shook my head.
"No. I mean it." I told him and Court nodded.
He took a breath before leaning forward and kissing my cheek this time before he pulled back watching me. "I'll see you tomorrow Ruby, stay inside unless you want something to eat." Court told me and I nodded.
"Goodnight Court." I told him and he smiled at me before going over to the edge of the woods.
I walked up the steps and glanced backwards where Court had stripped himself of his clothing and his body lurched forward and a large wolf took the place of where he once stood.
I had never seen his wolf up close or wasn't terrified when I did.
The top of him was a dark coffee brown color in a blanket section with the front of his chest being liver with a small dash of white and then the rest of his body was a mix of a dark red brown. His amber eyes flickered over to me before he took off into the woods.
I smiled before turning around and heading inside. Lyell had forgotten the huckleberry pie inside so after removing the gorgeous winter solstice dress and the cloak I went out and got myself a slice before going in and changing into my nightgown.
I climbed into bed and ate the huckleberry pie before lying down in bed. The solstice feast had gone late into the night, way later than I had ever stayed up, so I had grown tired by now.
I tucked myself underneath the fur blanket before letting myself drift off to sleep for the night satisfied that the feast went mostly well.
1608. And here is chapter 25! Hope you guys enjoyed it. Here soon some action should kick up as the main plot enters and a few POV shifts. You also get to see some more of Lyk is chapter 26. Feel free to comment any theories. ***