Blood Floweret

« Chapter Thirty-Eight »

She stood on the same porch, as if it was just yesterday, watching as Reeve and the rest of the Radburn family loaded their jeeps. She couldn't believe where the time had gone. Sure, it had only been a week, which was their usual visit, but it felt like it flew by in the blink of an eye. She figured it was all the more reason to visit them in Canada as soon as possible. 

Though, she still had to visit Harrow Pack, too, because she promised Alvarez that he could teach her his best defense moves. She would love to visit the pack where her healing had begun, whether she had felt it in the moment or not. A tragedy had followed her there but something much greater followed her out. She smiled at Deikota, this woman was all fire and still her sister. She had gained so much family, her heart was just brimming with love. 

These people had earned a permanent spot in her heart and she loved each and every one of them equally. When it was time to say goodbye, she felt like crying. Not because goodbye was forever but because it was simply a farewell until the next time they meet--and her tears were of joy for having the honor to call them family. 

They weren't related by blood but it didn't matter because their love was powerful enough to conquer it all. Blood wasn't always family. Her blood was scentless but it was red, just like theirs, and that was enough. Sometimes, family is the only thing that can heal a broken soul, and that family can be friends who never turned their back on someone. The true definition of family, it cannot be obscured by the way of the world, because whatever is meant to be will be. 

She made sure to say goodbye to each of Mikica's wolves, each of them licking her hand, and then General and Amigo. She took turns with everyone else giving hugs to Remi, Lee, Kian, Fox, Kiwi, and eventually she stood in front of Reeve. All jokes aside, she would miss Reeve the most. They had grown impossibly close, sharing small moments that lived in her heart forever, and she just wanted to spend every moment of her day learning Reeve's ways.

Those silver eyes were a storm of emotion, watching her with the same expression as when they first met, and then she pulled Reeve into a hug. They stood together for a good time before they finally broke apart with teary smiles. 

"Come visit, okay?" Reeve said, "You are always welcome at Radburn." 

"I will," She smiled in return, "Thank you for everything." 

Reeve's eyes were soft, "Take care of that idiot and keep him out of trouble, okay?" 

"Always." 

Cassius scoffed, he had been standing beside her, and then he engulfed Reeve in a bone-crushing hug. 

"No more surprises," Reeve muttered. 

He laughed, "I can't promise that and you know it." 

Reeve sighed but pulled back with a smile anyway and looked between them before saying, "I love you guys." 

"We love you, too." Cassius pulled her into a group hug with Reeve. She relished in the warmth that radiated from them, thoroughly enjoying this moment for everything its worth, and fresh tears trickled down her cheeks from all the emotion she was feeling. 

She stepped back when Leo, Calvin, and Andy rushed in to form another group hug--or rather a tackle--with Reeve. She laughed, watching their exchange, and then she went to stand with Cassius who had moved back a few feet to give them space. His green eyes were glistening but his grin was wide and happy. She wrapped her arms around his waist. This moment was so bittersweet and she would miss her sisters in Canada but that only meant she could visit more often. 

When the final goodbyes were said and hugs were given, Aloysius stood together and waved as the jeeps left the yard on their journey back to Radburn. And that was the thing about family, it didn't matter if they were miles apart, they were always close at heart. No distance could separate them, no goodbye was forever, and no soul was left in the dark. 

Family was forever. 

She didn't even have time to recover from her feelings because later that afternoon, Deikota and Jasper with Calvin and Alvarez were leaving to head back to their pack, too. It was time for everyone to go home and continue to make their place in the world a special one. Because as much as it was incredible to have everyone in one place, family wasn't a place. It was the people and wherever they were...that was home. 

She hugged Deikota a little longer and smiled at the feisty woman who had helped her stay afloat after tragedy. She knew it wasn't that far to visit Harrow pack but she would miss them during the mornings. Deikota always brought a certain air around with her, a true character of spontaneous words. She gave Jasper a hug and then Alvarez, they both teased her about coming to visit, and she promised she would. 

Finally, she hugged Calvin and told him to listen to his mother. Andy was all kinds of talkative about visiting and seeing the rest of his friends, that made her smile even more. 

And then, she stood alone with Cassius. 

"Well, that's it," He said. 

"Yeah," She replied. 

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This chapter is all kinds of emotional...I'm sobbing and laughing and I don't know what to feel anymore! This just gets me in the feels... it's so real and so perfect...and the song I was listening to while writing this kept singing 'let's go home... I don't want to miss you.' *feelings intensify*