When I was a kid I used to love watching the waves as the tide came in. It’s one of the only things I remember from the life before Blood Moon. The way it would withdraw just to push forward, farther than it had been the last time just to withdraw again and rush forward.
Every time my life was going to shit, it would get worse and worse. I was scared out of my mind when I was brought to the Eclipse pack. I didn’t expect life to get better, I expected it to get a lot worse before it got better.
And yet, every time something bad would happen it always got better after. Yes, my life wasn’t a fairy tale and I wasn’t expecting a big happily ever after. With Viktor by my side, it would only continue to get better.
Day by day.
Little by little.
I felt like a different person. Today, I not only have a relationship but a happy one. My outlook on life has done a 360 compared to a few months ago. I was a different person. I was no longer the meek, obedient broken child but a strong, confident woman.
Sure the tide still went out but knowing I had him by my side as my life partner. I had something to look forward to when the tide came in. These were good times and there are many more to come.
My mate stood next to me pointing out the different tasks I would need to handle as Luna. He put everything into preparing me. There were spiral-bound books and planners on the desk. I doubt he would ever know the effect his care and love had on me.
Shortly after my return, Viktor insisted on me joining in on training. My days have been filled with training with the other members. Viktor and Beta Jake were shocked at my skill and showered me with praises. I died of embarrassment the first few times and avoided contact with members who were present to witness it.
By day I studied, shouldered my responsibilities as Luna, and trained alongside my mate. By night, he worshiped my body and we made love.
Could life get any better?
It could.
Viktor and I picked a date. I then had to add planning the ceremony to the mix but I wasn’t complaining. This was life, a normal life.
My life.
***
Three weeks have passed since I’d last seen Clara and killed all of those men. I haven’t heard from her and I didn’t know if that was good or bad. I felt a sense of guilt whenever I wished I wouldn’t see her again.
I still haven’t told Viktor about the flames and I’ve started to lean against it. I don’t even know what really happened out there.
“It doesn’t matter if we don’t know exactly what happened but we should tell him about the flames at least,” Athena murmured.
“I won’t have to call on them again,” I told her.
“You’re keeping secrets and you’re making me keep secrets,” she pressed.
I stood on the other side of the double doors, my silk dress falling above my ankles. My hair was pulled back and fell down my back in soft curls.
Was I keeping it a secret? I sighed.
“I’m not keeping it a secret, I’m just choosing not to tell him,” I tell her. “What would I even tell him? Hey love, when I was kidnapped fire came out of my hands? What would that even do?”
“It feels like we’re lying,” She mumbled. “I haven’t been able to tell Flash because you haven’t told Vik and you know he’ll tell him.”
“I don’t plan on using it again,” I tell her.
I shift from one foot to the other. My feet were already aching in the two-inch heels the event coordinator helped me pick out.
“What if there’s another attack or if there’s a war?” She asked.
“Viktor told me there isn’t friction between any of the other packs. We’re at peace right now. Other than the rogues, there isn’t any real threat,” I tell her.
I needed her to drop this. “And if there is another attack? What of it? I can’t stop an attack from happening Athena.”
“I just have this bad feeling,” Athena whines, “I haven’t been able to shake it.”
“I think you’re being a worrywart,” I tell her, attempting to make the conversation light. “We’re fine, the pack is safe, we need to focus on all the shit we’ve got on our plate right now,” I say as I take a deep breath. “We’ve spent the last two weeks focusing on this ceremony. Let’s go out there and do it. Today’s an important day, Ath.”
Athena lets out a small whimper.
“We shouldn’t be worrying about an enemy that isn’t there. We’ve been training and we’re getting stronger,” I say trying to soothe her.
“If Vik knew about the flames we could add it into training,” she tries.
“Athena.”
“I wouldn’t have to worry about keeping it from Flash and I could have more time with him. I worry about bursting into flames when I should be relaxing like you,” she pleads.
“I’m sorry you’ve been feeling this way, Ath. I don’t know what to say but we have to be careful with the flames. I don’t want to risk bringing them out and hurting them. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if we hurt anyone.”
I sigh.
“And after the woods… I don’t think we have to worry about protecting ourselves,” I tell her.
“It’s not us I’m worried about protecting,” she says. “We have a pack now, we have a family we need to protect. There are children under us.”
“And we can protect them,” I insist. “What does telling Viktor about the flames have to do with protecting them? We can still protect them Ath.”
She huffs and I hope she’s dropped it for now.
“I don’t like keeping things from them. I don’t want to go into this ceremony with a huge lie!” She says angrily, proving me wrong.
Damn it.
“Athena, Can we please drop this for now?” I plead.
“For the rest of the day,” She starts, “But I’m not giving up on this.”
“I know. I promise we can talk about it later,” I sigh.