Stephen stood still while I undressed him, right in the middle of the big room in front of all the ship windows. Watching me with glittery eyes, his breath and pulse became more rapid. I just attacked him, I unbuttoned anything with buttons and threw his tuxedo jacket, cummerbund, and vest away.
"Mate," I purred in a funny wolf way, "I just have to eat you." Then led him into the master bedroom so I could relax more, and started touching him with my fingertips everywhere I saw skin. I next enjoyed taking off his shirt and shoes and socks, and I'm pretty sure I swallowed a cufflink. When I took off his pants I leaned back and laughed, he was wearing a pair of briefs that said 'Just Married' on them. But they had to go too, I pulled them down slow and just inhaled his scent. I looked up and licked his tip, his eyes were completely black now, and his hands were in fists by his side. He was struggling to control his wolf. I smiled, I was so happy, after everything I was happy with him. I was left with the most sexy man in the world, naked in front of me. Then I moved my mouth all over him. His cock was twitching as I bit him up and down his shaft, then I moved my mouth and lips everywhere, his chest, arms, sides, stomach, ass, thighs, and then his proud and twitching cock- and then back up again.
When I started back down to suck on his cock he moved and lifted me and took my dress off without ripping it. It was a beautiful dress. He took off my shoes, then leaned down and took off my bra and licked and sucked and bit gently- my boobs were getting pretty big. And he moved down to my lace panties and ripped them off with his teeth- and breathed in deep. He started sucking and nibbling and biting gently everywhere more gently than I did, Stephen moved back up with the grace of a panther. His muscles rippled under his skin as they moved, he was beautiful.
Smelling his marks he growled, "I love waking up in the night with you in my bed. I love going to sleep with you, I love seeing the sunlight in your hair in the morning." He kissed me roughly, then nibbled down my neck, "I love getting you wet and ready for me, and I love shoving my cock in your pussy and ass. You are so tight and hot for me, I think about your holes all day long. I want to fuck you every hour of every day." I smiled at him and kissed and sucked on his chest and shoulder. Then I bit it gently.
Stephen inhaled sharply, leaned down and picked up his grey silk tie and tied it around my head. I wanted to see him and lifted my hand while I started to ask him, "Stephen, I'd like..."
"No," he cut in while holding my hand, then kissed me roughly until I forgot what I was going to ask him. His tongue circling my mouth, his hands squeezing my breasts, then moving down to my hips and pulling my big belly hard against his stiff cock.
"Tonight is about pleasuring you, love. Tonight I want to feast on your body, give you the most exquisite pleasure." He lifted up my rings and kissed them, then turned my hand over and ran his tongue on my palm. I groaned and rubbed all over him, I wanted him so badly. Moving slowly, he took my index finger in his mouth and sucked while I felt my wetness start to run down my leg.
"Wait here for just a moment," Stephen whispered in my ear and left the room. He came back in a few moments later and I just wanted my mate buried deep inside of me.
Lifting me he laid me on my back on the big bed. "Feel this," Stephen whispered and I felt the faintest sensation, it was soft and he moved it on my lips and neck, collarbone and shoulders, then lower to my breasts. It was a large feather, and I'd never felt anything like it. So soft, it left me wanting more. Wanting completion, wanting to be touched hard everywhere he ran the feather. All over my skin and I arched and I wanted to beg for more.
"How does that feel, love?" Stephen whispered in my ear, I could feel his hot breath.
"Jesus, Mate! For the love of god I want you to fuck me!" I blurted out all at once, and reached out but he just pushed my hands gently down.
"Shhh, be patient. We have all night." And he bit my earlobe and made me groan.
"Darling," I started to beg Stephen, "I won't last much longer!" Stephen chuckled and started to rub the fly swatter on me, I could tell.
"What is that thing called," I asked him turning my head like that would help me see.
"A type of crop, it's a bdsm toy."
"Hmm," I responded as he hit my breasts lightly, then licked and blew on them.
"Danika, your boobs are getting huge, love," he said with his mouth full of my breast. He pulled an nipped and licked and used the crop gently, making my nipples stand out. I just groaned and started to reach out to him again.
"Do I need to restrain you or can you stand still?" he said and softly swatted my stomach and down my thighs.
"I'll try to stand still, but I want to run my hands down your back and ass!" I said loudly, it was my honeymoon also. Although the last six months has actually been a honeymoon.
Stephen swatted and kissed and held my pussy lips open and softly hit there also. It felt amazing and I couldn't help bucking.
"Love, stand still!" Stephen growled.
"I just can't and it's not fair to ask me that when I have a gorgeous naked man in front of me!" I shouted back, panting and wanting. Oh, so wanting.
Stephen bent down and picked me up and carried me to another room nearby. He shut the door with his foot and put me on a cool, padded surface.
"Can I look now?" I asked hopefully, reaching out to him.
"No," is all he said and I began to feel an ice cube on my cheek.
"Ah," I said arching in surprise, feeling the freezing cube and the melting drops fall off my skin. Stephen ran it down my neck and over my chest and over my breasts as I just gripped my fists and remembered to breathe. I then felt something soft following behind the ice cube, Stephen started rubbing it on my lips and I could smell it's wonderful fragrance.
"Rose," I said and smiled. He leaned down and kissed me, then rubbed the ice cube over my lips. I quickly opened my mouth and took the ice cube from his fingers and bit it in half. That was the end of that. I soon felt something else rubbing over my skin on my stomach and waist, he rubbed this soft thing over my pussy and into my juices.
I then heard him say, "Yumm," and he pressed it to my lips. I could smell strawberry and I bit into it. It had my juices on it, but it tasted good. He then took another one and did the same thing, eating it himself. I couldn't help wiggling a little.
"Delicious, love," he whispered in my ear. Then I heard Stephen get something else out and it jingled a little. I then felt some prickles in a line up and down my skin where he pressed the 'thing'.
"And this is?" I said a little breathlessly.
"A pinwheel," Stephen said. It can be used with a little bit of electricity for exquisite sensations. Electricity? I thought to myself, uh, I never thought of that. "I'd like to try it on you, it feels wonderful."
"Oh," I responded a little hesitantly. "I really just want your cock inside me."
"Oh I plan on it, love," and he kept running the pinwheel all over my skin.
"When do I get to do these things to you? You're always trying new things on me, I want to do new things to you."
"Later, Mate, you can do all these things later. This night is for you." Stephen kept slowly rubbing the pinwheel up and down my arms, chest, stomach, and all over. He would rub it slow, then faster, then slow, it felt nice. He stopped for a minute and I heard a sound of an electric machine, but different than the wand. He then ran the pinwheel over my skin again, and it felt so different! It was delightful in a whole new way, and made the hairs stand on my body where he rubbed it.
"How is that, love?" Stephen whispered again.
"Delicious, it's almost delicate and stimulates my skin," I said grinning. This felt so nice. Stephen turned off the electric sounding machine and made some small noises, then started it up again.
"We're trying a new tip, this one's broader and softer." Stephen than began running the soft tip all over me, and went to my breasts. I reacted like Stephen was blowing across wet skin, it was gentle but stimulating. Inhaling, I groaned and arched my back a little.
"Like that, huh?" he said. I could tell he was smirking.
"Yes," I breathed out, "it's a soft caress, almost like when you blow..." but I was cut off when Stephen applied it to my pussy lips. That. Felt. Amazing! And I couldn't help but moan loudly and buck off the table.
"Stay still, love," Stephen said as he pushed down on my stomach gently.
"I... can't...when you do that," I panted out. "What's this one called?" The sensation was wonderful. Then Stephen spread my pussy lips and moved it over my lips and clit. I bucked hard then but he continued to hold me down.
"A violet wand, it's an electric toy, and there's dozens of attachments we'll be trying out. Just wait, they feel fantastic." I groaned loudly, this sensation was different than his fingers, or mouth, or patting and tapping my pussy.
"Shh, love, I see this is too much for right now. I'll be a little more indirect."
I grabbed Stephen by the arm and begged him as earnestly as I could, "Please, Mate, I have to have you in me! Please shove your cock in me hard. I want you so much, we can do this later also!" I just wanted to feel him inside me, I was almost in a panic.
"As you wish," he said and turned off the machine. "Leave the blindfold on, I want you to feel this," Stephen said as he lifted me and carried me to a bed. The sheets felt cool and so soft, satin probably. He laid down next to me and brushed my cheeks and neck with his fingertips, then leaned down and kissed me softly.
"I am a lucky wolf," my Mate said then kissed me hard. He turned me on my side facing him and lifted my upper leg so it reached around his waist. He finally shoved two fingers in my hot core and I groaned and pressed into his hand. "Definitely lucky," he said and scraped my marks with his teeth and started to rub my clit with his thumb. I bucked harder and reached down for his cock which was hard and pointed up, and I leaned into him and guided the tip to my wet pussy.
Stephen slid in slowly, knowing it was driving me crazy. "Mrs. Highland," he murmured, "I love you." And he pressed his cock in deeper, making sure to be careful with me. But I wanted it a little rougher and desperately told him to go faster.
He started to pump in and out of me more rapidly, but not too deep. He was being careful and he felt amazing. I reached down and felt him go in and out of me with my fingers and heard him groan.
"When I was walking down the aisle I saw you there," I panted whispering in his ear. "I was stunned, absolutely stunned. You are so handsome and beautiful and I couldn't help but stop and look at you." Stephen groaned and went faster.
"I couldn't believe I was marrying you, the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. I forgot to breathe, the world faded and all I saw was you." Stephen was pumping fast now, and I was matching him thrust for thrust.
"Then you called me breathtaking, and reminded me to walk to you so we could get married. I forgot all those people, I just wanted to jump on your cock." Stephen was getting close now, just a little bit more. And before I could say anything else he reached down and pinched my clit and started rubbing and flicking it back and forth really fast.
"Love, if you can talk now then I need to keep you more occupied," he grit out between his clenched teeth. I screamed and bucked and he thrust in me hard three times while shooting his cum deep inside of me. We both just lay there breathing in great gulps of air, and I hazily reached up and took off my blindfold, then rubbed my hand over his jaw.
"Thank you Mr. Highland."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Highland," he said then leaned forward to nuzzle me. His cock was still semi-hard and I fell asleep exhausted and satisfied.
I woke up hearing Stephen in another room, talking angrily to a few people. I looked around the room and it looked like it was a mini play room on his yacht. I saw storage cabinets, and the strange electric device he was using on me earlier. It appeared to be in the middle of the night, and I got up and went to the bathroom. I could feel the yacht moving which was weird. Luckily there was a nice fluffy robe in there, and it fit nice. I knew Stephen wouldn't want me to walk out in only a robe, but I didn't have anything else to wear. I put on his shirt and tuxedo trousers, but I couldn't close them because of my big stomach. That was a bad idea.
"Love," I mind linked him, "sorry to interrupt but I have no clothes in here."
"Hang on sweetheart, I'll bring some in there in just a minute."
A few minutes later Stephen brought me a small bag of clothes- I looked inside and saw some maternity yoga pants, a large sweater with a bra, underwear, socks and sneakers. "We have a situation, Danika, and I need you to come out in the other room."
Stephen kissed me quickly, then left me go get ready. I got dressed quickly, ran a comb through my hair, and washed my face off. I walked out in the main room on this level, and the Doctor and her mate were sitting at a table. There were also a lot of heavily armed warriors positioned everywhere, on the deck and in our room. There was a lot of energy in the room, we were in crisis mode.
"Have a seat, love," he gestured to where the Doctor was sitting.
"Hello Doctor Tosell, Howard," I nodded to them as they sipped their coffee. I'd met Howard her mate before, he seemed a very calm and cheerful man.
"Luna," they both said together and nodded their heads. I briefly wondered what Howard did for a career, I'd have to ask him later.
Stephen ran his hands through his hair, and I nodded to him, "What's going on Stephen?"
Exhaling deeply he said, "The hotel we were going to stay at in Port Angeles was attacked and bombed a short time ago. The intel says we were warned only a few minutes before it happened, so my warriors had about two minutes to prepare. I put a whole platoon of warriors in that hotel, I booked the whole damn place, I thought my warriors deserved a break and let them stay there."
Stephen stopped and talked to one of his men really quick, nodded, then turned back to me. "If we weren't warned we would have lost a lot of good warriors. And if we had been there..." Stephen walked over to me and lifted me up gently and put his face in my neck to calm down. He was wearing his cammo outfit and had two guns strapped to his sides. He was ready to fight.
Turning to a man at a computer console, "How much time until we dock?"
"Eighteen minutes, Alpha," the man replied not taking his eyes off the screen, and typing furiously. He also was talking into a microphone to someone.
"Casualties?" he asked again, and another man on the phone across the room looked up.
"Twenty two of ours injured, Alpha, no fatalities reported. We were able to evacuate before the explosions."
"Captures?" Stephen asked sharply.
"One capture, Alpha," another man replied as he was working on a tablet and wore a headset. "Early reports of twenty-seven dead assassins," the man shouted, the noise from his headset must have been loud.
"Local police?" Stephen barked out again.
"On scene, but staying back due to recent gunfire and explosives," the man on the phone said. "We have 'pack' officers on scene and our troops are transporting all bodies."
"Helicopter ready?" A man just entered through the door and replied, "All ready, Alpha."
Stephen nodded to the men in the room, "You all know what to do, relay all new information to the Command Center. I'm flying my Luna and the Doctor home." Stephen held out a hand to me and waited for me to get up, then we walked toward the cabin door.
Picking up a coat, he said, "Put this on, love, it's cold outside. We're going back home by helicopter tonight, the roads are too dangerous until morning." As I watched the Doctor and Howard walk towards us, Stephen told me the Doctor was needed in the pack emergency clinic. He then held out a heavy coat for me to wear.
I just stood there while Stephen bundled me up and pulled me by my hand to the helicopter. The scene was surreal with the bright lighting in the darkness and men lining the way holding machine guns. I looked back briefly at the Doctor, she looked worried but followed with her bag, and was holding Howard's hand. Her eyes gave me support and she smiled a half grin. Stephen led the way to a helicopter pad that was lit up for night time flight. We had to crouch down since the helicopter was warming up and the blades were turning.
"Strap in, Danika," he shouted above the whirring chopper noise as he helped me inside and shut the door hard. From the other side he got the Doctor and Howard situated in the back seats, then got in the pilot's seat. He pulled on my harness to check it and buckled himself in. He put on a headset and started talking to someone, then flipped some switches and the blades revved faster. I held onto my armrests, I certainly wasn't expecting this. I thought I'd get to wake up to early morning sex, which I adore.
Stephen looked at me and handed me some ear protection, shouting "Put these on, it's going to get noisy!" He then instructed his other passengers to do the same. We could hear all communications, I started to hear several groups of men talking about different things. Stephen nodded outside and pulled back on the stick and we started to raise up in the air. I felt a flutter in my stomach from nerves and held on tight.
"Mate?" I heard thru our bond-link.
"Yea?" I replied.
"We're flying right back to the pack house, the command center bunker is the safest place you can be."
"Ok."
"The attack was well coordinated, it was just luck that we changed our plans at the last minute."
I thought for a second, "We have another spy."
Stephen nodded his head. I added, "And I couldn't feel it this time."
Stephen looked at me, then back to the control panel. "We don't know about your powers yet, we'll have to start investigating how to use them. I also figure you were really upset about the wedding, and it's ok love, I understand." Stephen looked outside like he was looking for a landmark. "I think that interfered. Also Zeke might have figured out how to block your powers, at least partially." He looked at me and his eyes had an exciting glint to them, Stephen was loving all this activity.
I looked out at the darkness and could see our little compound in the distance. It looked like an enchanted village, but was mostly dark. I knew Stephen had all warriors on patrol and security duty since we had been attacked. Some were wearing their night vision gear. Wolves had great night vision, but the gear made it even better. Stephen got close, then started talking on his headset. He relayed instructions to set down behind the pack house, and I heard over my headset that someone else was going to fly the chopper to start retrieving the dead enemy bodies.
Stephen slowed down when we neared the house, he hovered and turned the chopper around, then slowly lowered it until it gently touched the ground. He flipped some switches and the engines slowed down but didn't stop.
"Stay there, love," he said through the link, "I'll come around and unbuckle you after I get the Doctor out." He opened his bubble door, and made sure the Doctor and her mate made it safely past the spinning blades. He then ran over to my side of the chopper. Warriors moved closer, being buffeted by the wind while surrounding us. Stephen opened the door, took off my headgear and unbuckled me. He lifted me carefully and put me on the ground, we had to crouch as he pulled me swiftly into the house. After the door closed, he pulled me in close and put his face in my neck, breathing my scent and calming down. Kissing me fast and hard, he pulled me downstairs to the bunker and sat me down on that familiar sofa.
"Report," Stephen barked out, and I knew he would be occupied for hours. His teams managed to get rid of all the bodies with the help of the pack police. It was difficult since there were quite a few of them, and the one captive was put in lockdown under heavy guard. There was no way to hide the damage to the building, explosives had been used, machine gun fire peppered the building, and the police were mad as hornets since they couldn't get any information. The hotel was rented to Stephen, so he'd have to eventually answer some questions, but not until tomorrow. His lawyers were already stalling, and he'd been through this type of thing many times before in different parts of the world. Just never in his own backyard.
The Doctor was busy in the compound hospital according to one report, and was taking care of the wounded. Werewolves heal fast, but still needed first aid depending on the severity of the injuries. Communications were arriving from Stephen's teams and efforts were being coordinated to make sure the pack and village were secure. No one was sleeping tonight. Except perhaps me, and only because I was the mate of an Alpha.
Which meant I couldn't do anything. I decided that after I had the pup, I'd figure out some way to be useful in these types of situations. I can be trained for communications, hell I was the Luna and everyone could communicate with me. But sitting there I became a little sleepy, I had a big workout earlier and I also started to feel hungry.
Elise came over from the door and sat next to me. Taking my hand she asked, "Are you ok Luna?"
"Yea," I replied. I was sort of in a daze.
"I'll get you something to eat. Buck and Handy have been deployed to the hotel, but you're safe here." Elise got up and returned a minute later with a plate of foot and some juice.
"This will help," she nodded at the plate and smiled. I really needed that smile as I looked over at Stephen coordinating all the efforts, and if he was sensing me he looked at me quickly and smiled. I smiled back as he resumed his planning. I would definitely figure out how I could help next time. As I was eating the pasta salad I remembered a question I had.
"Elise, how were the warriors warned of the attack? That doesn't make sense."
She looked at me and responded, "Mave."
I looked at her and asked, "How?"
Elise just shrugged her shoulder and looked at Stephen. "I don't know, Luna, but she's in lockdown also. Beta Wallace put her there."
After the situation was handled and the warriors returned to the pack house and compound, Stephen sat down next to me. I could tell he was tired, it had been an exhausting night.
"You heard about Mave?" he said a little tiredly.
"Yea."
"I'm bringing her down, she might be the traitor."
"No," I said and yawned while I stretched, which pushed out my large breasts. Stephen just stared at them for a moment mesmerized, then looked up at my face and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Well we'll see what she knows. But she saved many lives today."
"Don't be too hard on her, Stephen, I have plans for her."
"Oh? Tell me." And I spent the next five minutes telling him how I was going to integrate her into pack life. Stephen agreed that she probably wasn't the spy, it didn't make sense for her to be one since she was already under a spotlight. And Stephen would find this person or group of traitors. If people were unhappy, why couldn't they just leave? Was it for the money? Because Stephen was generous with the pack funds, and everyone could invest their own. I couldn't understand how wolves could turn on their own people.
********
A little later, Mave was shown in to Stephen's smaller office in the command bunker and the warrior who brought her was the same one who fetched her at the gym: Beta Wallace. The warrior gestured to a seat in front of Stephen's desk, and Mave sat down and glanced at me. I was still a mystery to her. The warrior sat on the other side of her deliberately between us, a fact that was not lost on Mave.
"Alpha, I would never harm her," she said to Stephen then looked down bowing her head out of respect.
"I don't know that yet, Rogue," Stephen replied deliberately challenging her. Mave remained silent with her eyes lowered. Stephen looked at her for a minute.
"What in the hell am I going to do with you?" he said half to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. We all remained silent. Stephen and I had talked about how we were going to handle her.
"How did you know about the attack on the hotel, rogue?" Stephen leaned forward and asked her.
Still looking down, Mave said, "I don't know, Alpha." She didn't respond to the insult.
"Look at me!" Stephen shouted using his commanding Alpha voice and startled everyone, myself included. Mave immediately looked up with fear in her eyes.
"Good, you should feel fear," Stephen responded and Mave said nothing. "How did you know about the attack on the hotel. Answer me!" Stephen yelled at her and pounded his fist on his desk.
Mave looked at him and opened her mouth a few times trying to form words. She finally said, "I knew my Luna's life was in danger. I... felt... it somehow. I have never felt this before, but all the hair stood out from my body, I... felt... knew... somehow that she was in danger. I had to warn her... you... everyone. I am her 'silver' protector." Mave put her fingers on her lips like she didn't mean to say that. She bowed her head again and continued, "We are connected, Alpha, I don't know why. She feels it, and I feel it, and you respond to it like a threat. I was drawn here to this place, I think."
"Look at me!" Stephen shouted again and started rising from his chair but stopped himself, he looked tired. Mave immediately looked up, frightened as hell. Stephen took a deep breath and looked away, then sat back and started talking again. "I need you to tell me more about what you know and about the man behind this attack." We all knew Stephen's patience was running thin, and his wolf was volatile.
"Man?" Mave asked confused. "Alpha, all I know is my Luna's life was in danger, someone wanted to kill her. That's all I know. If Beta Wallace would have let me," Mave gestured with her head to the warrior next to her, "I would have run to the hotel or got there somehow. But he pinned me down! He wouldn't let me run to her, won't let me near her. And I understand, I really do, but she needed help!"
Stephen watched her a little while as she stared back at him, panting with her barely restrained emotions, Mave was very agitated.
"How did you know about the hotel, Mave?" Stephen asked a little too quietly.
Mave looked at Beta Wallace confused, "Alpha, everyone knew and were looking forward to the weekend party in a fancy hotel. It wasn't a secret in the pack, and I was remaining behind since I'm so new. I was on patrol duty, guarded as usual."
Leaning forward Stephen put his hands together and said, "Mave, you saved the lives of my warriors. Your warning alerted us so we were ready when the attack happened. The attackers were the ones who were surprised." Stephen got up to stand next to his desk looking down at her. "And they are dead." He didn't tell her that we weren't even at the hotel, or that one of the assassins was now a prisoner.
"You are now free to live here in our pack, you will no longer be guarded. At the next induction ceremony on the full moon you will become a member of the Pine Ridge pack." Stephen stopped to run his hand through his hair. "You will continue to report to Beta Wallace, he will be in charge of your task assignments and pack patrol schedules." Mave looked up at him, stunned.
"As of this moment your allegiance is to me as your Alpha, to your Luna, and your new pack. You can schedule with me if you wish to meet with your Luna, you will not be alone with her yet. If you find yourself alone with her for whatever reason, leave immediately. Do you understand?"
"Yes Alpha," Mave said clearly surprised. She continued to make herself look at him.
"Why didn't you tell me you are the daughter of an Alpha?" Stephen said and waited with his arms crossed while he stood there.
"My father disowned me, I am no longer a daughter of anyone."
"Your father wants to see you again, I contacted him. He confirmed you were in charge of the training center at your old pack, and how you are more than a black belt- you are a rare woman Aikido Grandmaster. He confirmed his grandson's death and corroborated your story. Your father said he was never going to allow you to be killed, but didn't know what to do with you since you were pretty much catatonic with grief and depression. I want you to work with Beta Wallace to incorporate your Aikido training with ours. Our warriors can become stronger with these new skills, I studied in Japan off and on for a few years but didn't see the value of this type of training for the pack- until recently. Our defense style is more military and attack oriented."
"Let me know of your decision, Mave, if you want to return to your father's pack. We'll make the arrangements."
Mave pushed her chair back and stood up slowly so she wouldn't alarm her Alpha or her Beta, she knew they were edgy. "My life is yours, as you said. I will not be returning there, and I have no desire to see my father. With your permission I would like to talk to our Luna now if we are finished. I have waited, and I have passed your endless series of tests. And with your permission I have some questions of my own."
Stephen nodded and sat back down, if he was surprised at her tone he didn't show it. He started to show the respect due to her since she was the daughter of an Alpha. And an Alpha that Stephen might need as an ally in the future. Stephen dismissed his Beta who left reluctantly and my Guard who also followed behind him.
Stephen looked at Mave again, he truly didn't know what to do with her. He knew she was telling the truth but was still a stranger. "Ask your questions."
Mave turned to me and sat down in her original chair keeping her distance, her gaze sent a shiver down my spine but not in an alarming way. It was more of a direct connection in a way I had not experienced except with her. There was just something about her, and Stephen felt it also but remained still even though I knew it was difficult for him. "Luna, do you understand what's going on? I certainly don't." Mave sat back in the chair and looked at me waiting for my answer.
"Mave," I tilted my head as I spoke to her, "do you ever just stand still and feel the wind on your face? Or smell the many scents of the forest? Or see the snowflakes melting on your skin?"
"Yes, Luna," was all Mave said.
Sighing I continued, "Yet you do not enjoy them."
"No, Luna."
"I am going to ask you to do the most difficult thing you've ever done. I want you to start to fill the empty spaces inside of you, otherwise you can't fully become a member of this pack. This will be incredibly hard, you can't replace what you have lost, but I can show you how to heal the emptiness. It involves connecting with our community, in service to others. I am asking you to take in an orphan and raise him as your own."
Mave immediately stood up and started pacing. Gesturing wildly with her hands she replied loudly, "Do you know what you're asking me?" Stephen growled low at her since she wasn't being respectful.
Through my mind-link I told Stephen it was ok, I had to do this to Mave like he had to pin her to the mat. I had to see her natural responses before she could cover them up- this was my way of testing her.
Mave immediately stopped and returned to her chair.
"Sorry Luna," she said, bowing her head and breathing deeply.
"I want to take you to meet him, he's at the daycare. His mother died a few months ago from an accident and his father died of heart break a few weeks ago. This seven-year old boy is hurt, confused, fragile, and frightened." She looked up at me, listening. I noticed her obvious reluctance, I had surprised her deliberately.
"I just want you to meet him and spend time with him. Tutor him on his schoolwork. It's your decision, Mave. This will be your decision without any repercussions from me."
She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Respectfully, Luna, do you know what you're asking me?" she said again, the depth of her pain reflected in her voice.
I sat forward and looked at her right in the eye. "I am no Angel, Mave. I want you to face your pain, and in that way am the very devil. I know exactly what I'm asking you to do. Do you spend all your spare time thinking of your son? We have kept you busy on purpose, Mave, to minimize the time to dwell on his death. Now you need some laughter and joy to fill in the long nights, to give yourself time to heal. And this boy needs a stable home desperately."
"Luna, let me know when you want me to go meet him," Mave said to the carpet.
"Look at me Mave," I said in my Luna voice, surprising everyone and Mave looked up sharply. I could tell she was getting a little annoyed at being ordered around. But I needed her to break through her grief and hear me. "I want you to go with us tomorrow, I don't want you to think about it too long so you can feel sorry for yourself. I also want you to know that I'm not kind, I'm not your fantasy idea that you have of me. This boy needs help, and I am being careful with him."
"And to answer your first question, yes I have some idea of what's happening but don't want to believe it yet." I looked at the wall like I was looking in the distance. Both Stephen and Mave just waited.
I looked back at her and knew Stephen was listening intently. "I hear the waves of a far off sea, I feel the spicy winds of another culture. I can almost hear this marketplace with swirling colors of fabric, and loud traffic and chaos. I have been feeling this... place... for a while now. We are somehow connected to this place, Mave, there are forces shaping events that will impact our lives. I don't know what's happening, I only know we will find ourselves in the middle of things. Danger, I keep 'hearing tasting' the word 'danger' on the wind. I feel this danger approaching in my heart."
I sat back also and looked at Stephen. He was not happy about what I just said.
**End of the chapter. Please comment and vote, I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks, Olympic Wolf