September 2nd
(Ella’s POV)
“I wasn’t sure if you would be here.” Violet says as we work on decorating the dinning room of her family’s house. Glinda’s birthday was yesterday and Nathanial’s is today, but both are being celebrated today. Glinda turned 69 and Nathan turned 59.
“Nothing is going on with the pack at the moment. All thing happening is that those of us who can shift are still training.” I reply handing her a piece of tape. Neither of us trust my coronation to stand on a chair to hang up streamers. Both Glinda and Nathan say every year not to go overboard for their birthdays, but have learned that Della and Violet ignore them. The first year Nathan lived here we celebrated their birthdays separately, but they decided it was easier to do it on one day.
“How are things going with your shop?”
“Good. I have a few commissions I’m working on. Having a dedicated art room is very handy. How is school going?”
“Okay. I have class late two days a week and one of those days is follows by an early class the next day.”
“We got the cakes.” Becca says as she and Della pass by the doorway on their way to the kitchen most likely.
“And I got plates and napkins.” Sophia says following them.
With three extra set of hands it doesn’t take long to finish setting up. Before long Damien, Hazel and Zachery arrive bringing pizza and other food items.
———
“Happy Birthday!” We all say as Edison and my dad bring out the cakes. Both are simply decorated with a boarder, a few roses and writing. They only difference between them is Glinda’s is vanilla and Nathan’s is chocolate.
“You guys don’t have to go through all of this.” Glinda says after blowing out her candles.
“Mom, you say that every year and every year the kids don’t listen.” Pierce says as he as he grabs a bowl to start scooping ice cream.
“I know.” Glinda says with a smile as she accepts the bowl of strawberry ice cream. She’s not a big cake person.
“Ella have any idea what you want to for your birthday next month.” Ezra asks handing Sophia and me bowls with chocolate ice cream and a piece of cake.
“I don’t know.”
“What about a Disney theme? We all dress up, but us girls as the male characters and the guys are the female characters?” Violet suggests.
“I like it. Glad you didn’t say the princesses and the princes as I don’t think would be enough. Phillip, I’m telling you know that you are going to be Aurora.”
“Why?” He asks putting his spoon back in his bowl.
“If we were going to go the traditional route I would say you would be Prince Phillip. It’s fitting.”
“Can I suggest that Zachery and Damien should be Vanessa and Ariel?” Piece asks laughing at their faces.
“They should.” Violet says.
We continue to talk about who should what character as we eat cake and ice cream. Afterwards Nathaniel and Glinda open their presents. It’s nice being with my family.
September 8th
(Ella’s POV)
“Is this the right way?” I ask as Carter drives. We are on the way to the Star Frost Pack with Kelly and Zachery. The talismans got finished a couple of days ago, so we are delivering them. It was decided to only have Zachery and Kelly put them up to keep the pack protected more.
“I’m not completely sure. The directions weren’t that clear.” He responds turning down a dirt road.
“Is it always hard to find where packs are?” Kelly asks from the backseat.
“For larger, established packs it’s usually easy to find them. It’s always harder to find newer packs especially smalls ones like this. There are some packs that don’t want to be found, so are near impossible to find.” I answer as we see a house and three people on the porch. One is sitting on the railing while the other two are leaning against it talking.
“Interesting.”
Once the car is parked and turned off we all get out. The only girl on the trio on the porch comes over to greet us. She has chin length dark brunette hair and amber eyes.
“You must be Carter and Ella. Welcome to our tiny pack. I’m Ciri, the Alpha.”
“Yes. This is Kelly and Zachery from the Moonstar Coven.” Carter replies.
“The blonde with the purple glasses is my husband, Adam, and the one sitting on the railing is Lance, our Beta. I’m going to say you don’t have to use our titles.” She says gesturing to the two still on the porch. Adam’s hair is longer than mine, I think, and pulled into a low ponytail. Lance could pass off as a half mermaid with the blue streaks in his brunette hair. He has bright green eyes that stand out against his dark skin.
“Hi.” Lance says as Adam just waves.
“We are very grateful to the Moonstar Coven for making the talismans when you didn’t have to.” Ciri tells Zachery and Kelly.
“We wanted to. My dad agreed as soon as Alpha Jared said y’all were a small, new pack. We know what kind of threat the Midnight Pack is and this way your pack will be safe if they learn about you.” Zachery tells her sincerely.
“Thank you. I do have a question. There is a large open space about a ten minutes walk through the woods to the east. Does it belong to any group we should know about?”
“It belongs to the our coven. In about 3-4 years the coven will be splitting as the space it’s currently in is too small. I knew you would be close, but not this close.” I tell her.
“I thought you were a shifter. Alpha Jared said two pack members and coven members were coming. I just assumed, sorry.”
“I am wolf shifter, but I grew up in the Moonstar Coven. It’s fine. You are not the first and probably won’t be the last to be confused.”
“How many members do you have at the moment?” Carter asks as Kelly and Zachery get the boxes of talismans out of the trunk of the car.
“Counting the three of us? 26. We have space to build more houses and take others in. Your father mentioned something about the future Alpha of the Midnight looking for packs that will take members in. I told him we would.”
“He told us. We haven’t told Ro, the future Alpha, about you or your pack just to be on the safe side.”
“Thank you. Our parents were very worried about us starting our own pack because of the Midnight Pack.”
“Parents worry no matter what. Our father worried when Ella decided to move to the Winter Moon Pack. Only for her to get hurt a month later.” Zachery says walking to the front of the car carrying a box, “Is there someone who can show Kelly and me the boarder of your land so we can put these up.”
“The scar on my cheek is minor to the ones in my side that got while in the coven.” I remind him, “I was one of the least injured in that attack.”
“I can show you.” Lance answers Zachery before jumping on the porch.
“While they do that let’s head inside. Would show you around, but there ain’t much to see.” Ciri says before heading back to the porch as Zachery and Kelly follows Lance.
(Zachery’s POV)
“So how do these work?” Lance asks as Kelly takes a talisman to hang up from the box I got stuck carrying.
“They an infused with magic by protection witches and warlocks. Together they will make an invisible barrier around the pack to keep those no permitted out. The coven leader or in this case the Alpha can pick who can enter. Covens usually do their members as well as members of covens they are very close with and trust. Those who are not permitted to enter get a mild shock at first, but if they continue to try the pain gets worse. There is a bit more to it, but that’s the simplest explanation.”
“I’ll work with Ciri before we leave to set up who can enter and who can’t without permission.” Kelly says as she hangs up another talisman.
“What do y’all do in you coven?”
“I oversee the making of talismans and any other protection charms. Currently I also mentor a younger protection witch to teach her how to us her magic.”
“I’m learning to take over the coven in a few months. My father is the current leader.”
“Is it like packs where the eldest takes over? Has your family always been the leaders?”
“Yes and yes. Though in the future the next leader might be the first non blood related leader.”
“You and Damien aren’t going to do a blood adoption?” Kelly asks.
“What is a blood adoption?”
“It’s a ritual that is used couples to triads to make adopted kids theirs biologically. It’s most common among same sex couples and triads. It’s done mostly with kids under 3, but it can be done at any age. If the child is older it’s only done with their permission.” I explain to Lance before answering Kelly’s question, “We’ve talked about it, but we plan to adopt an older child first. Not for a few years though.”
“I don’t know much about covens.”
“It’s not surprising. I know Winter Moon, our coven and the Amethyst Pack have been in talks about trying to change that.”
(Emily’s POV)
“I forgot what leading training was like.” Andy comments walking into the office as I type an email.
“Who talked you into it?” I ask looking up from my laptop as he sits in one of the chairs around the office.
“Jack asked me to take his place. It was new shifters, so it was a bit hectic. I see you got stuck replying to emails.”
“It always is with new shifters. It’s not too bad, better than paperwork.”
“Have you heard from Carter or Ella?” He asks as I send off the email I was working on.
“No, but they should have just arrived or will shortly. If I don’t hear from either in the next half hour I’m calling Ella to make sure they didn’t get lost.”
“That’s the last thing we need. Are you participating in training later?”
“Depends on if I get through all the emails. I’ve been messaging the leaders of the groups we talked about learning from each other. It’s a bit of a headache at times, but I think it’ll be good in the long run. I’ve found a fairy grouping that’s willingly to send members to talk with Krista.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They are called Lunar. The group is about a little over an hour south and live in a town opposed to a forest.” I say opening another email, “Someone from Emery and Haley’s clan knew someone from there.”
“Is that odd?”
“For fairies? Yes. Terra, the head of the grouping, said most prefer to live in forests away from people due to their eyes. The town Lunar lives in is part of an Elven Clan, so the only humans in it are those related to the elves to fairies.”
“I never knew that. Granted I don’t know much about fairies in general.”
“We are in the same boat.”
———
(Ella’s POV)
“Thank you again for the talismans. Maybe one day we can visit you.” Ciri says as Carter, Kelly, Zachery and me get ready to head back to the pack. Kelly and Zachery spent three and a half hours putting up talismans. Kelly then spent another half hour talking with Ciri to set who and who can’t enter the pack without permission.
“I’ll talk to my dad about that. Maybe we can figure out a date where some of the Amethyst Pack and Moonstar Coven members can come.”
“That would be nice.”
“We best be off as I promised my mom that we would try to be back before dark.” Carter says and with that we say a final goodbye before getting in the car.
———
“How was the visit? Everything go well?” Emily asks as we walk into the living room.
“Good and yes. How has things been here?” Carter asks as we sit down.
“Fine for the most part. Andy took over training the new shifters today. I’ve talked to the leader of the Lunar fairy grouping, Terra. She’s going to send some members to talk with Krista.”
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“She’ll probably love that. I know how hard it is to learn what one can and can’t do without help.”
“When will they be here?”
“Next weekend. The ones Terra is going to talk to about coming work during the week. Two are around Krista’s age and the other is older.” Emily says before her phone rings, “It looks like either Jared got lost or has made it to the Starfall Pack.” Answering it she leaves the room, most likely heading to the office.
“I’ve been thinking.” Carter says intertwining our fingers as I lean against him.
“About?”
“What to do for our next date.”
“A date with who. You haven’t asked me to go on another one.” I say jokingly.
“I was trying to figure out an idea before I asked you.”
“What about going into town?”
“Dinner?” He asks wrapping his arm around my waist.
“Sure. When?”
“How about tomorrow around 7?”
“That works. I have training 4-5, so that’ll give me two hours to get ready.” I say not looking forward to training tomorrow. Half of us will be in human form and half will be in wolf form.
“I have training 3-4, but I’m leading training earlier in the day.”
“I don’t have to do that anymore.”
“For now. Mom helps out from time to time when Andy is busy and can’t help.” He reminds me.
“Off topic, but talking about going to town tomorrow reminds me I have to go to the post office in the morning to drop off packages.”
“You finished the commissions?”
“I have one has a few little things left. I plan to finish it after dinner.” I say taking the his hand that is holding mine playing with his fingers.
“When will you be opening them back up?”
“Probably not until the start of next month. I took on less this last time with everything going on. I’ll probably take a few more this time as it’ll probably be the last one I do this year.”
“If you ever need helping packing just ask.”
———
September 16th
(Zachery’s POV)
“How does it feel it be the leader?” I ask Lucy as we walk around the town of Dawn where the Dawson Coven is located.
“Odd, but it has barely been two weeks. Fallon is coming by in a few days and Ashlyn has officially moved to the Moore Clan.“
“How did you celebrate your birthday?”
“We really didn’t celebrate. Garrett, Zane and Marcus couldn’t come down. Something to do with the council. Fallon was who knows where. It just didn’t feel right celebrating without her. It feels stupid being sad about that.”
“No it’s not. Turning 27 is a big deal for you and this was the first year y’all didn’t celebrate y’all’s birthday together. She may feel the same way.” I say putting my arm around her shoulders. Lucy, Fallon, Eva and Ava are like cousins to me, Phillip, Hazel and Ella. Phillip and me have always been outnumber.
“I think mom is planning something for when Fallon gets here. Garrett, Zane and Marcus are hoping to get down here while she’s in town. It’ll be the first time we’ve seen them since last year.”
“Maybe we can all try and get together.”
“At your coven or here?”
“Mine might be easier for Ella.” I say making a mental note to talk to dad about a possible get together.
“How is she liking the pack?”
“She loves it there. From what I’ve seen she’s more her true self there. I don’t know if it’s been spoke about, but from what I’ve seen the members treat her with the same respect they treat Carter, Bri and Kimber with. She seems to fully embrace the fact she’s going to be the Luna one day even if it’s a few years off.”
“How long do you think it’ll be before they get engaged?”
“They aren’t dating yet as far as I’m aware. I could be wrong. I know she said she didn’t want to jump into another relationship too fast after what happened with Lilliana. I don’t know if that’s change with Carter being her soulmate or not.” Might ask one of the others as they might know or possibly Keira.
“It feels like everyone I know is finding their soulmate. Fallon found her platonic one a few days ago.”
“We are interacting with more groups.” I point out.
“On that topic some of the members said they will be free Oct. 20-22 to visit the Winter Moon Pack to talk to them about our coven. We got a few different ages.”
“I’ll let Ella know, so she can pass the info on.”
———
(Ella’s POV)
“What happened last weekend? You are way happier.” Luca comments as we pack orders. Nina and Ember are off wedding planning and the others had training.
“Can’t I just be happy?”
“You are acting similar to how Alex did after her and Isaac started their relationship. Wait, are you and Carter actually in a relationship now?” Luca stops what he is doing to turn to look at me.
“Yes. I never thought I would be in a relationship again this soon. Especially after how my last one ended, but Carter is different.” I say trying not to cry. It’s been just over four months and it still hurts.
“Does he know what happened?” Luca asks putting a hand on my arm.
“Yeah. I told him the day after our first date. It was four months ago Wednesday that it ended. Finding this pack was probably the best thing ever.”
“If you don’t mind me asking. How did your last relationship end? I know it’s probably not something you want to talk about.”
“I learned she had been cheating on me for almost half our relationship. Those who I thought were friends knew the entire time and never said a thing. It was just over a month before our two year anniversary that I found out.” I say before laughing a little, “I feel nothing towards her anymore, but it still hurts to think about those ex-friends. They were some of the few that stuck by me after I learned I was a shifter, but for almost a year they didn’t tell me I was being cheated on. Being here means I don’t have to see them everyday anymore.”
“Your ex and those so called friends are all pieces of shit. Is it bad if I say that I wish they would all burn in hell?” Luca asks in such a serious voice that I laugh which makes me smile. Knowing him he’s mostly kidding.
“You are a good friend.” I say pulling him in for a hug.
“Just remember that if you ever need to talk to someone I’m here for you.” He replies hugging me back.
As I release Luca from the hug we hear Alex, “I’ve been sent to collect you two for lunch.”
“It’s that late already?” Luca asks standing and stretching.
“You two have been up here since 8 and it’s now 1.”
“Five hours isn’t bad.” I comment.
“We have been packing for five hours without a break.”
“Wait until November. One day I started packing orders around 8am and didn’t stop until Zachery came to tell me dinner was ready at 6pm. After that Zachery and whoever else was home helped.” I say as we head out of the room.
“If ever get overwhelmed with packing just say so and I’ll help.” Alex says as we head downstairs. On the second level we run in Ember coming out of her and Nina’s room. As the four of us head to the bottom floor she tells us that her and Nina have picked out a color pallet for their wedding. Nina went over to her parents house for lunch to ask her mother about something.
“It looks like we are just missing Nina and Isaac, but someone can introduce them later. Carter just left for training.” Emily says as we walk out on the back deck. Standing with her are three fairies. The eldest of the three has long silver hair, olive skin and her eyes are a mix of dark blue and purple. She has a kind smile. The shorter of the two younger ones looks like he might be related to the elder one. He has brunette and his eyes are a mix of bright green and yellow. The other is just a bit taller and has pink eyes. She also has shoulder length blonde hair with streaks of red and pink throughout. Her freckles are almost hard to see on pale skin.
“This is Mazie, her grandson, Kole, and his friend, Hope. Krista and her mom are should be here in a moment.”
“We are here.” Krista says walking up the steps with her mother not far behind. Krista has collarbone length blonde hair, pale skin and pink eyes. Her and Hope kind of look alike, but that might just be because both are blonde with pink eyes. Juliet has slightly longer dark brunette hair, light skin, and brown eyes.
“Perfect timing.”
As we have lunch Mazie, Kole and Hope tell us something about them and their grouping, Lunar. Mazie is Moon Fairy while Kole is an Earth Fairy. More specifically his powers focus on swamps. Hope is a Crystal Fairy. Krista asks the most questions which is understandable. We learn they ended up with an Elven Clan because their leader married the clan’s leader.
After lunch Krista leaves to show Kole and Hope around the pack. Mazie stays at the house to talk with Emily and Juliet. Alex, Ember, Luca and me head to the living room. Carter joins us not long after.
“Any of you have training today?” Ember asks as we all sit down.
“I have it in a little over an hour than I’m helping with the new shifters.” Luca says.
“Isaac is helping lead one of the sessions later. Two more weeks before we both can shift again. I’m going over to help his sisters color their hair while he is doing that.”
“What colors are they doing?” I ask.
“Lucy is going dark red all over. She loves the red we did on her ends last time, so now her whole head to be that color. Lily wants to do pink on her ends. Journey won’t let her completely color her hair yet.” Alex says fully stretching out on the couch she has to herself, “When are Emery and Haley returning?”
“Next week. The actual date it unknown.” Carter says as I lean against him and close my eyes.
“Tired?” I hear Ember ask.
“Try feeling drained. My sinuses hate me September through November every year. Andy picked me up some sinus medicine in town yesterday, so hopefully in the next day or two I’ll be over it for at least two weeks.” I say not opening my eyes as Carter starts to run his fingered through my hair.
“When are you, Luca and Bri going to the Evermoore Pack?” I hear Carter ask Alex.
“We leave Monday. Kimber decided to go with us. Tuesday will be ten years. There are times I wonder if it’ll ever get easier.”
Opening my eyes I look at Alex and see the sadness in her eyes, “My siblings and me ask ourselves that each year. It’ll be 11 years three days after Hazel’s birthday in November since our mom passed.”
“How did she pass? Our parents were killed in a car accident.”
“Cancer. It was caught too late. My daisy tattoo is in memory of her.”
“Was it her favorite flower?” Ember asks.
“Yeah. Zachery, Philip and Hazel all have one as well in the same place. Hazel did ours under the watchful eye of her mentor while her mentor did hers.”
“That’s sweet. I’ve been thinking about getting angel wings. I don’t like pain.” Alex says.
“Pain varies. I barley felt anything, but Phillip had it take two breaks. Violet says near the spine and across her shoulder blades were the worst parts of her back tattoo. I think she did it in three, maybe four sessions.”
“What does she have?”
“Angel wings in memory of her aunt. They cover her entire back.”
“I couldn’t do that. I thought about small ones on the outside of my left calf. Have you two thought about getting a tattoo?” Alex asks Em and Carter as I close my eyes again. I listen to the conversation without adding input as I start to doze off.
(Carter’s POV)
“Nina and I talked about getting a heart on the inside of our wrist. Hers would be green and mine would be purple. Something simple.”
“No. What about you Luca?”
“I’ve been thinking about seeing if Ella would draw a cute little panda for me to get as a tattoo. Probably on my side which I know will hurt, but I can’t think of another place I would want to get one.”
“Normal coloring or colorful?” Alex asks quietly as Ella has fallen asleep. She had trouble sleeping last night not being able to fully breathe through her nose. The leader of her training group let her take today and tomorrow off.
“Either blue and white or the pan flag colors. Yellow body with pink and blue ears, arms and legs.”
“Yellow is not your color. What about orange and white?”
“Maybe a pale orange.”
“While you talk about tattoos I’m going to take Ella up to her room.” I say gently moving Ella so I can stand up.
“Be careful.” Ember says as I pick up Ella. It’s not hard to carry someone up the stairs, but it can be a bit tricky as the stairs go around a corner. The hardest part is going to be opening her door.
“Carter,” I hear Ella say very faintly as I lay her down on her bed. Looking at her I can tell she’s still asleep. “I….” I brush a strand of her out of her face and she trails off. Kissing her forehead I leave quietly and head back downstairs.
———
September 22nd
(Ella’s POV)
“Are you okay?” Carter asks sitting down beside me as I lay face first in the middle of the living room floor. It’s been a tiring day. I had double length training this morning and afterwards helped with younger shifters before Carter and me headed to the Moonstar Coven. The Dawson family came for a get together. It was fun to see them all as it’s been over a year since we all got together last.
“I will be.” I say turning my head to look at him, “My head hurts and my teeth hurt.”
“Sinuses?”
“Yes. I have taken something, but it will be a bit before it helps.” It’s after 9pm, I think. It’s been a minute since I looked at the time. I move so my forehead is resting against my arms again. Not long after I feel Carter gently running his hand through my hair. That’s the last thing I remember before I doze off.
———
September 23rd
(Simon’s POV)
“I’ve never seen Ella so happy since before she shifted.” Grace comments as we watch the kids play soccer.
“Finding the Winter Moon Pack is the cause. I know at one time she contemplated moving to the Starfall Pack, but didn’t want to be that far away.”
“I think it’s more than just the pack that is causing her to smile more.” She says as Carter picked Ella from behind causing her to laugh.
“They have been together officially two weeks from what I’ve heard. Before that thought it was very easy to see how much he cared about her.”
“How did you feel when she decided to move to the pack?” Anthony asks from the other side of Glinda.
“A mix of emotions. I was worried because she would be over three hours away. In the end I just wanted her to be happy. She was there for a week while her car was getting fixed. In that short of amount of time I could tell a difference when I spoke to her in the phone. She was happy and now she doesn’t hide her true self.”
“Tony is worried about Ashlyn now that she has moved to the Moore Clan even though she’s less thirty minutes away.” Grace says looking at Anthony at the end.
“She’s the baby of the girls. I worry about Fallon as well.”
“She’s traveling, so that’s not surprising.” Garrett comments.
We continue to talk as we watch our kids have fun. It seems like the years have flown by. They are all adults and starting their own lives, but it seems like just yesterday they were babies.
(Luca’s POV)
We haven’t visited the Evermoore Pack since we left. It was hard on all of us for the first few years. After that none of us really wanted to see our old pack.
“Hi mom, dad.” Alex says as she kneels in front of their grave. From her voice I can tell she’s trying not to cry, “Sorry we never visited before today. A lot has happened in the last decade. I wish y’all were here to see it.”
“We have all found our soulmates.” Bri says sitting beside Alex and running her back as she starts to cry, “Kimber turned out to be mine and we getting married in December. We asked Andy and Jack to walk us down the aisle because you aren’t here to do that. Alex found hers in a fellow Winter Moon member named Isaac. Luca found his soulmate in an Amethyst Pack member named Timmy. We miss you both so much.”
Laying the flowers we brought down I sit on the other side of Alex. “Bri is going to be next Beta of the Winter Moon Pack. I’ll be moving in April to the Amethyst Pack. I wish you could met Timmy and Isaac as well as all of our other friends. We love and miss you.”
After that the four of us sit in mostly silence. The only noise that can be heard is sniffling from crying. It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade already.
September 28th
“Are you going to the Amethyst Pack next month?” Luca asks as get stretch to get ready for training. This is one of the rare sessions where we are all in our human form. Another group is going to be in their wolf forms. We are training partly in the tree line as well. It’s done as a way to get us used to reacting and defending ourselves against those in wolf if we can’t shift or don’t have time to. We all end up with bruises by the end.
“When?”
“I think the 20th. Kaiden’s birthday is the 12th, but they aren’t celebrating until the 21st. Cody is going to be out of town the 9th thru the 16th visiting another pack.”
“Keira’s birthday is the 20th. She is planning the two of us and Rose having a girls weekend. Maybe I’ll try and go the weekend before to at least give him a present in person.”
“I’m sure he’ll understand. I’ve decided to be Merida for your birthday.” I can see it with his hair.
“Fun. I still haven’t figured out who I want to be.”
“Who is Carter going as?”
“He is waiting for me to decide. I’m leaning towards an MCU character as I don’t want to limit the list to just animated characters.” There aren’t any that I want to be.
“What about Captain America and Carter can be Peggy?“
“I’m tempted just because Agent Carter, but maybe Bucky instead of Cap. I did tell Phillip he was going to be Aurora because of his name.”
“Do it. Timmy has decided to be Elsa. Sky asked if Zachery and Damien are actually going to be Ariel and Vanessa.”
“No. Zachery has decided to be Anita because of Patch. Damien hasn’t decided. Why? Does him and Garrett want to be them?”
“Yes.”
“Tell them they can do that.” I say as we get up as the leader for training walks over. I almost sprained my wrist yesterday in training.
———
October 14th
“This is a surprise.” Kyle says as he walks out of the house as I’m walking up the steps carrying my bag and Kaiden’s present.
“I can’t come next weekend, so I decided to this weekend even if it’s only for a night.”
“Now I know what secret Aurora has been keeping for the past few days. How are things in Winter Moon?” He asks hugging me before we head inside.
“Fine for most part. Over the next couple of weeks some will finally be able to shift again. Some still have a month or more. Hopefully training will lessen up some after that.”
“How often are you training?”
“4-5 days a week now that I’m not helping lead training anymore.”
“That’s a lot. Most here only train 3 days a week.” Kaiden comments as we walk into the living room.
“That’s how often we did it before the attack.” I say walking over to him and handing him the wrapped present, “I heard a couple of weeks ago that your birthday was this past Thursday.“
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” He says taking the gift.
“I wanted to. Now to learn when the others birthdays are.”
“I’ll make you a list.” He says opening his gift. I didn’t really know what to get him, but with a little help from Peter and Melody I decided on a leather journal. It was plain black when I got it, but I painted it. I painted the spine a pale blue and added a vine with small roses all in black as it’s Kaiden and Cody’s soulband. On the front I painted Cody and Kaiden’s wolf forms while on the back I painted Peter and Melody’s wolf forms as pups.
“I love it. I’m guessing Melody told you what mine and Cody’s soulband looks like?” He says turning the journal over to look at all sides.
“Yes and Peter told me that you liked to write.“
“How did you get a photo of all their wolf forms?” Kyle asks as he looks at the journal.
“That would be me. Melody asked if I had taken any photos of them so she could send them to Ella.” Aurora says walking into the living with Nicole who bolts over to give me a hug.
“This was the third time in the past few months I’ve painted people’s wolf forms.” I say whole returning Nicole’s hug.
“Really? Who else have you painted besides Nina and Ember?”
“Alex and Isaac plus their families. This though was the first time freehand and with something other than watercolor.”
“It’s really good. Thank you.”
Nicole talks me into having a tea party with her and Penelope, so the rest of my afternoon is taken up entertaining two seven year olds.