Miakoda

Rejection

The ambience at the cabin was just as leaden with the weight of the world as the Blue Lake's pack.

The only contrast to all the emotions filling the air was the view of the lake. It was unburdened, untouched and just as breath taking as ever.

The banks holding the crystalline waters was now a place of solitude and peace. A place to reflect. A place that still held hope and mirrored it at night, when Selene sent down her magical and comforting light.

Every night, Tom and Madison found themselves sitting side by side on those banks. Not saying anything but just taking in the sight. Letting the view absorb all their burdens and worries.

Their nights would end with Tom wrapping his arms around his little girl, after her head had dropped onto his shoulder and her body had curled up into his side. Madison could no longer find sleep in her bed. She needed both her mother and father to be there with her before she would feel secure enough to close her eyes and drift off.

As Tom, yet again gathers up his little girl into his arms to take her inside. He pauses. Takes one last look at the moon's rays reflecting off the surface of the lake. Then turns upward to look directly at the moon.

"She needs you, Selene. I don't know if she can take much more." Tom whispers up to the heavens.

He turns away from the moon and the lake and stalks inside.

After laying Madison down and tucking her into her bed. He heads back down stairs to make some coffee. It's been days since he's been able to sleep too.

As he's pouring a cup of freshly made coffee, there's a light knock on the back door. He turns and looks out the back to see the tear stained face of Brooklyn. He immediately puts his mug down and dashes for the back door to collect his mate in his arms.

As he swaddles her, her emotions pour out onto his t-shirt. Creating a darker patch of green on his chest. He tightens his hold around her and let's her unburden her shoulders.

"Ryder is back." Brook stammers between her sobs. He doesn't say anything but she feels the nod of his head in response.

He scoops her up off her feet. She limply clings to him, closing her eyes. She feels as he moves to close the back door, flicks off lights and carries her up the stairs.

He lays her down too and tucks her in and heads to the bathroom. She lays there, eyes still closed but unsleeping. Waiting for him to come to bed. When he returns, he slides himself under the covers and shifts closer to her. The warmth of his body easing her pain. She closes all the gaps between them bringing her body flush to his. They curl up into each other and he places a kiss on the top of her head as she slowly drifts off to sleep. Having her in his arms once again finally allows him to close his eyes too and he too finally finds sleep taking him.

Madison's POV

The sun leaks in through my bedroom windows, warming the blankets that cover me. I shift a bit, testing the muscles that have been so tense for the passed few days to see if this morning would be any different from the previous ones.

Nope, I guess not.

I force myself to stretch out, feeling the strain as my body straightens out.

"Let's go for a run." Miakoda chimes in my head, just as I loosen the last of my muscles. I agree with her, but first I needed a human moment. Once my morning routine was done, I head down the stairs as if I had just received urgent news and flew out the back doors, not stopping to see if anyone else was awake. This run was a need, not a want. Both Miakoda and I needed to stretch properly and be alone for a bit.