Nadine and I finished putting away my belongings then watched movies in the living room, sharing popcorn together. She explained what happened with Bertolf when he found her and Lykaon the night of the bar, then explained how she's been meeting him on the western border to talk. Apparently, she couldn't fight the bond between them and decided to let him talk. Lykaon approved of her going as long as she stayed inside the territory and kept Bertolf out, then she said her mate might be able to come visit soon. I was happy for her and wanted the absolute best, even if I didn't like him that much.
After three movies, we went to the kitchen and decided to make dinner for the guys. Nadine told Lykaon to bring Klyn at my request, and he replied with, "Be there soon." We made pumpkin pie from scratch, a beautiful green salad with a vinaigrette, roasted vegetables with a hint of rosemary, and T-bone steak. Nadine explained how the wolf males eat five times as much as human males and we needed to make more than usual. I commented that was why his plate was stacked so high at the dinner in my family's pack.
It was a couple hours later when Nadine heard the front door open and close and boots on the floor, coming towards the kitchen. I was just putting the pie in the oven to keep it warm until the meal was finished when I feel Nadine start running. Closing the oven, I turned to see not just Lykaon and Klyn at the door to the dining room, but also the male who broke my hand, Bertolf, Nadine's mate. Nadine jumped into Bertolf's arms, making his eyes brighten before they landed on me and they darkened again.
Lykaon walked towards me, wrapping his arms about my waist and pulling me close. I looked up at him and he said, "It smells wonderful in here. Do you need help?"
Looking around at the food, I shake my head. "It's ready. I just need to get plates and stuff."
He kisses my head then pulls away. "Let me. Why don't you go see Klyn?"
"But, you're not supposed to help!" I hiss.
Lykaon raises his brows in shock. "What do you mean?"
"I don't want you to help. I want you to go sit down because I want to do it and help you." I had no idea if that made sense to him, but I wasn't going to tell him that I did this for him specifically.
My mate narrows his eyes as if he's trying to understand what's going through my head, but then steps back and raises his hands. "Okay. I'll go sit down with Klyn. At least let Nadine finish helping you?"
I nod and turn to get plates. Nadine appeared beside me a minute later and started helping me dish out food onto three plates for the men, and two for us. Nadine took one plate to her mate while I took the other two for Klyn and Lykaon. Klyn accepted mine with a smile and a thank you, but Lykaon pulled me onto his lap and kissed me, murmuring how lucky he was to have me. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I pushed him away playfully and told him to eat so I could get my food.
Once we all were seated and had dug into the food, Lykaon got my attention with a nod at Bertolf's direction. I looked over to the other side of me where Nadine and her mate were seated and found the male's eyes on me again. "I am sorry for what happened. I just wanted to get to my mate and was going insane."
I give him a tight-lipped smile and keep my injured hand under the table, on my lap. "It's fine. I should've listened to you and hear your reasonings, but at the time you and your buddies seemed threatening. I felt the need to protect Nadine because I considered you a threat."
"That," he adds on, "and because I'm a rogue who doesn't belong."
"Can you blame her?" Klyn asks sharply.
"Not all rogues are bad, Beta Klyn. There are good wolves who have done nothing wrong that are struggling to survive. Young women and children who are in need of shelter and protection. There should be no reason why she felt threatened because I'm rogue."
Suddenly, I was only focusing on Bertolf and seeing those words. All I could think about was that day long ago, then the other night. I laughed harshly, making everyone look at me. "I will always feel threatened by one of you, always go to whatever means necessary to protect someone like Nadine so she is not treated the same as that girl three years ago."
Startled by my outburst, Bertolf just stared at me. Nadine looked ready to drag her mate out of here and away from me, but at the same time, comfort me. I turned to the other two and saw Lykaon had on an approving expression while Klyn was unreadable. I stuffed a bite of steak and vegetables into my mouth and focused on my plate. From underneath my eyelashes, I saw the others slowly begin eating as well.
Underneath the table, Lykaon grabbed my hand gently and pulled it towards him. I looked at him and he smiled softly, mouthing the words, "That's my girl." His gray eyes watched me steadily as I finished my food. Klyn got my attention by tapping the table twice and when I looked up he said, "Thank you for dinner, ladies. It was fantastic."
I smiled then looked at Nadine who jumped up. She faced me saying, "Opal, we forgot the best part!"
Realizing she was right, I followed her, seeing the men's confused expression. When we entered the kitchen, I grabbed my friend's arm and stopped her. "I'm sorry, Nadine, for talking to Bertolf like that."
"I understand, Opal. I saw the way your eyes seemed to glaze over when he showed up at the bar. It's fine."
"But, I shouldn't have. It wasn't right because he doesn't know or understand."
Nadine put a hand on my shoulder and shrugged. "True, but you are my Luna. I'm always going to be on your side." Smiling, we went over to the oven and started dishing out the pie.
After the meal, the five of us went into the living room and watched a movie together: Nadine and Bortolf on one couch, Lykaon and I on another, and Klyn in an armchair alone. He didn't seem to mind though, but I felt bad for him. He caught me watching him and gave me a sad smile, shrugging his shoulders as if to say, "It'll happen eventually."
Lykaon glanced at the clock halfway through the movie and furrowed his brows. He glanced to his friend then paused the movie, making Nadine throw a pillow at him. He caught it, then sat up. "Let's go for a run before it gets too dark."
Klyn agreed, as well as Nadine and Bertolf, but I sat there in silence. I was disappointed he'd want to go on a run even though I was injured. I wouldn't be able to run, let alone walk in my wolf form. Besides, it wasn't worth stopping the movie. I said, "You go ahead, I'll clean up dinner."
Lykaon catches me before I can start walking to my destination, then pins me against the wall as gently as he could. I try not to show my shock and fear of what is about to happen but he seems to know anyways. "I'm not going to hurt you, Opaline. This is for privacy and so you can't run away from me."
"Privacy for what?"
"To talk," he says and leans closer to me, his warm breath fanning my face. "You are not going to argue and stay here by yourself. You're coming on the run."
I furrow my brows. "Lykaon, I can't. I wouldn't be able to keep up, let alone go as far."
Resting his brow against mine, he kisses my nose. "You're coming with us, even if I have to carry you. I don't want you staying here alone, by yourself, sulking."
"I wasn't going to sulk," I spat.
"Then you are not going to clean the kitchen without some help," he says evenly. "You will be able to come with us and have some fun. The pack wants to see their Luna, and this is the perfect time."
"What if I don't want to go?" I ask softly.
"Why wouldn't you want to go?"
"Because I just don't."
Lykaon chuckles. "Give me a better reason than that." I open my mouth, but then couldn't think of one. I didn't even know why I was arguing with him. I had no idea why I didn't want to go on a run when I loved running. He must've read my expression because he grinned. "I take it that you're going to listen to me now?"
I shrug and push him away playfully. "I guess, but I'm not changing out there."
Taking my hand, he tells the others to go on ahead and we'd be out in a minute, then leads me up to our room. Going into the bathroom, I undress and shift, setting my clothes on the counter, then scratch at the door. Lykaon opens it and steps aside, watching me jump onto the bed to wait for him. But instead of going into the bathroom, he comes over and brushes both hands through my fur. I almost purr at the sensation it sends down my back and through my tail.
"I love your coat, Opaline," he says in awe. I sit back and watch him go away to change, just imagining hearing his voice with my human ears instead of my wolf's. It only takes a minute before his big, black wolf canters over and licks my nose, then strides out of the room. It's when I go to follow him that I realize my paw doesn't hurt anymore and I don't have a limp. I howl my joy, making it echo off the walls.
Lykaon looks back at me with a wolfish smile and begins his song. When I stop to breathe, more wolves are howling outside. It melodious and filling the night with good vibrations. My mate leads me out and towards the pack house to where over one hundred wolves wait including Bertolf. Whining, I leap in between Lykaon's legs and try to feel invisible, but I know they are staring. Above me, Lykaon growls lowly, then howls again. Everyone joins with him, ready to stretch their legs.
A few moments later, we begin. I stay under Lykaon the whole time, feeling safe and utterly small beneath him while everyone else circles us at random distances. Klyn and another male stay beside us at all times, and Nadine stays with her mate right behind us. Lykaon doesn't ask if I need help or if my paw hurts, but trusts I will let him know. I find that I'm looking at all the wolves in a somewhat shocked state. It's overwhelming to see them all and not know who they are personally.
Some of us come to a stop near a little creak and drink while others continue at Lykaon's approval. I noticed another female close by, always watching Lykaon as if hoping he'd notice her, but he doesn't. Lykaon is so focused on making sure I'm alright to bother with anyone else. When the female and I lock eyes, I know something is between them, something I got in the way of. Lykaon never said anything about being with another female, but then maybe he wouldn't…
My mate nudges me in the shoulder to get my attention and I decide to take my mind off of the female and have some fun. Spinning around, I lower my front and give a playful yip. Lykaon does the same, still much larger than I am. He nips at my ears and I leap onto his back, biting fur and swatting his tail. Wolves watch us from all around, intrigued and curious. I got distracted and Lykaon was able to grab my tail and pull me off him and between his front paws.
Growling lowly, he leans his nose closer and intensely looks into my eyes. I lick him, wagging my tail and giving a demanding bark. He stands tall, looking down at me with a thoughtful expression. Turning over on my back, I put my paws up and whine, asking for a belly rub. Lykaon rolls his eyes, taking a step back. My ears go flat in disappointment until he lunges forward and nuzzles my belly with his nose, licking and gently playing around. I yip and bark, squirming beneath him.
When he stops, panting for air, we lock eyes, not noticing the world around us. He licks my nose, my cheek, then my eye lids before standing up and backing away, allowing me to do the same. I press my body against his, pressing my head to his side since I couldn't get any higher. He winds his head around the back of my neck, breathing in my scent while he has the moment of peace. I go under him and come up so my head is at his chest, looking up at him. He gazes down at me then looks around.
We were alone except for Klyn and the other male. Everyone has moved on and it was dark. Klyn's amber eyes glowed bright as he waited for Alpha's orders. The other male seemed to look around the area carefully. I came out from under Lykaon and sat in the middle of the three, looking at each of them in turn and wondering why they weren't doing anything.
Finally, my mate looked at me and gestured home with his head, starting to walk. I leapt over and walked beside him, loving the feeling of someone beside me who I could trust.