Rain
The following days are quiet, I spend as much time as possible in the company of my father- Shadow. I want to at least try and catch up with him, after all these years spent in oblivion.
Cedric and Zevrus were clearly not completely happy with my decision, especially since I pushed both of them away in the middle of my heat, and focused on my dad. However- they both understood when I calmed them down and explained how I feel about the whole situation, along with the huge wave of drastic occurrences, the quarters, the torture, the escape, and the heat- they decided that it is best to give me some space.
Shadow- my dad, showed a lot of interest in almost everything that I told him. I spoke to him about my childhood, how Jake and I were so close, the night the car accident happened when Jake and I understood that we were on our own. Shadow's face was solemn the whole time, but I did feel the swirl of emotions in his chest- I could practically feel regret, pain, anger, and sadness emanating from him, it was also hard for me, but I did feel that I'm completing a circle by putting him in the picture. We took a lot of walks in the forest, day and night, and we seemed to be talking forever- Cyprus had been kind enough to relieve Shadow from his rounds duty for a while until he and I caught up. And I showed him gratitude by hugging him and kissing him on the cheek, causing his face to flare, and a dis-satisfied rumble of growls from both Cedric and Zevrus.
My teenage years weren't much of a usual teenager's, in the morning, I went to school just like everybody else, and in the afternoons I came back home, only to change my clothes, and run to work as a bartender in a local bard two blocks far from our house, while Jake, who was older than me, worked two shifts to afford our living. I had a boyfriend here and there sometimes, but it never lasted more than a month due to my busy lifestyle. I didn't have time for dates and going out, so they all got bored eventually and broke up with me. Jake had a girlfriend- but she never showed up to his funeral and I never saw her since then- I guess they broke up before he died.
Shadow stroked my hair gently, he studied my face with his green piercing eyes, then he sighed and asked "tell me, how was Landon treating your mother?", I sighed and looked at the lake shining under the moonlight, it was a nice evening, freezing but nice since I wore a couple of layers of clothes, "they were happy together, I don't recall seeing mom sad around him, he always cared about her, made her laugh, hugged her and told her that he loved her..they were picture perfect", I looked back at Shadow who was still facing me, but his eyes were closed as if imagining what I told him, his hand was still on my hair but he wasn't stroking it anymore, it's like he froze for a second. I smiled sadly as I continued, "however, no matter how happy she was around him, when he wasn't around, either at work, or sleeping at night, I would always see her standing in front of the window at night, in the darkness, and she would always stare outside through the darkness, with tears rolling down her cheeks… I never understood why, until I met you". It was my turn to close my eyes, as I remembered her, in her white robe, standing in the dark room, her arms wrapped around her, and her hair brushed back on her shoulders and back- as her gaze was fixed on the dark woods outside the window. I would call her, and she would quickly wipe her tears and sniffle, before putting on a tight smile and facing me.
I open my eyes and look at Shadow as I say "my mom was a good mom, loving and caring", he smiled at me warmly and said, "I have no doubt, as she was an excellent mate as well".
I looked down at my hands "dad, how would you assess a good mate?", his hand slipped from my hair as he crossed his fingers on his lap "a good mate is loyal, caring, loving…it's pretty much how you would assess a good husband in the human world", I huffed a laugh "but Zevrus said that a mate bond is something stronger than a husband and wife", he nodded "that's right, that's why he almost died when you were gone", I grimaced at the memory, and Shadow noticed but he continued- "having a mate, is a bless and a curse at the same time, it can raise you up and make you stronger and full of life, and at the same time- it can destroy you and make you die slowly out of heartbreak", I nodded "but why do I have two mates?" Shadow smiled - "well doll, it's not something you can control, neither can they, this is all the moon goddesses' doing." he looked at the moon "sometimes, you gotta just stop fighting, and let the flow carry you away- they key to trust destiny, don't fight your urges, but always rely on your gut feeling". I smiled at him and we both continued to stare at the moon and enjoy the silence of the night.
Cedric
I lay low in the dark bushes, not too far nor too close to my mate and her father- as I listen to their conversation, the harmony and flow of their conversation reminds me of my own father and all the wisdom he had put in me and Zevrus, he used to seat us each on one of his sides- and talk to us about life, about the werewolf law, and as we grew older and older, he started to teach us about fighting techniques, the map of all packs territories- now the map is lost thanks to that fucker Jud, however, I've asked Cyprus to contact one of the other alphas and get a new one. My father would've been seriously disappointed if he was still alive- but luckily he isn't here to witness how one of his pack warriors turned out to be a traitor. A twig snaps behind me, jolting me out of my thoughts, I quickly whirl around- but it's only Zevrus, he puts a finger on his lips and talks to me through telepathy, "shhh, it's just me- I wanted to listen more closely to the conversation they're having". I nod at him and he squats right next to me, but then Shadow stands up and stretches, he tells Rain that he's going to head to his shack and get some rest and that she should do the same, however when she stands up he put a hand on her shoulder and huffs a laugh "I guess you can stay- you're mates are here so they can take you home afterward- right boys?", Zevrus and I sigh and emerge from the bushes, Rain's eyes twinkle with humor, excitement, and warmth as she studies both of us. I nod at Shadow as does Zevrus, he nods back and excuses himself- then he disappears into the darkness. I reach out to Rain and hug her, then I let her go so that Zevrus can hug her as well. I'm getting used to the fact that we're sharing the same mate- looking back, I guess I did have my chance with Talia- but I have to admit- I've never felt jealous around her as much as I have felt around Rain.
Zevrus
I pull away from my mate to look at her beautiful face, she's changed a lot, it's been a few months since we escaped the quarters. Since then, she gained back some of her lost weight, she keeps complaining about how she's getting "fat", but I just brush it off, I love her the way she is. she had cut her hair real short to get all the blond color out of it- it was too short, almost boyish, but it's growing back and it looks beautiful, the same natural brown curls are growing back, and the most important thing is that her smile and laughter are back as well.