Lunar Distance

5 - Sunflowers and Daisies

—

That night, the Avramidis sisters went to bed with heavy hearts. Their mom making her rounds visiting Avem's room first.

The door creaked and the light cautiously creeped in, but Avem didn't stir under her covers. She was angry and upset, but she couldn't blame her mother or sister or even father at the end of the day.

Her sister was completely innocent in all this, merely a toddler when their dad was kicked out of their pack.

Her mother thinks she has to make up for her mistake all those years ago but the truth is if her father's actions proved anything, it was that he was an emotionally abusive son of a bitch, and all Sol Avramidis wanted was someone to lean on, someone to trust. And she couldn't be blamed for wanting that, even if it was with someone other than her husband.

And Leonardo Bernadi? His hate runs deep. Avem represents his stolen future and family. So the only person Avem could be angry and upset with was herself. It was all her fault.

"Avem?" Her mom whispered.

Whem Avem didn't respond Sol sighed and gently closed the door.

She made her way across the hall to her other daughter's room. She knocked twice then entered. The lights were on, but Maris had fallen asleep with a book in her hands, her mouth slightly parted as the smallest bit of drool threatened to leak out.

Sol grabbed the book and placed it on her side table, then she went to tuck Maris' hair behind her ear when the girl suddenly jerked awake.

"Mom?" Maris opened her eyes to see a figure beside her bed.

"I'm sorry sweetie, go back to sleep. I just came to say good night." But before Sol could take another step her daughter called out for her.

"Mom, wait." She perched herself up into a sitting position.

She spent a few moments picking at her fingers before looking up and asking. "Was—has dad always been like that?"

Sol Avramidis didn't know how to answer. The truth would sting, but lying would only cause more pain in the future.

"Your father darling, has always had to fight for control with his wolf, more so than others. I had to act like that was fine, but it wasn't, I knew that. But leaving—breaking what we had was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But I would do it again, for you and your sister." That didn't explain much.

Maris wanted to know who Avem's biological father was. Was he a wolf? Did he live in town? Does he even know Avem exists? Did dad ever hurt his mom or sister. And why did mom stay with dad long enough to have her? She could assume what the answers were, but she wanted to hear them.

"Please don't stress over it too much, love. Get some rest." Sol gave the young girl a kiss on the forehead, but she felt a tug on her sleeve before she could get too far. She was pulled back into a tight hug. The kind that cures incurable diseases if only for a moment.

"Please mom. If he comes back, don't let him in." Sol heard her scared whispers.

And suddenly Sol's heart shattered, she felt like a failure. Why did she let him in. What did he say to her to make it seem like it was okay? Did she suddenly forget everything that happened eight years ago?

Because you're weak. Her subconscious stated.

She was weak, but she could only get stronger. And she will do whatever it took for her daughters to never have to go through what she did.

Their hugging turned into cuddling until eventually they were both fast asleep under Maris' white and blue floral duvet.

Avem, however, couldn't get a minute of shuteye before hearing the slightest creak—it could be a squirrel stepping on a small stick in the woods and she'd jerk awake in fear; her fight or flight reflexes ready to act. The power of the unknown was overwhelming, and there was a nocturnal spider in her mind weaving a web so intricate it only caught the things Avem didn't want to digest.

So hours after lying in bed, she exited her bedroom then the cabin and took off running to her favourite field of daisies.

—

It was probably around six thirty in the morning, the sun wouldn't come up for another hour, but the peace of the forest in the dark was intoxicating. Avem in her wolf's coat felt strong, ready to act at any moment. Her father's scent led a trail up north, opposite of where the field of daisies was.

She was back on her cliff, huddled into her thick fur, recounting the interaction that happened here only two days ago. Her wolf let out a breathy huff that was supposed to imitate an unimpressed laugh.

That cute, innocent wolf, her wolf lazed dreamily. That—however—was an understatement; He was more than cute, when he wasn't trying he could be see as handsome from some angles. But there was no doubt that he was kind and even flirty despite his reoccurring blush here and there.

If that first day was to say anything by, she'd say he was an alpha. A strong, protective person with a wolf equal in strength. He wasn't greedy or aggressive without reason and he had control which was impressive from what she heard of his old life.

The previous evening whatever animal his wolf had caught, he would nudge the kill in her direction with his snout, allowing her to take the first bite as he stood watch for danger. And when they ran, he'd shove her playfully enticing her to shove back harder, but his snips to her legs was anything but playful. Of course he didn't hurt her, but she got the idea if she asked for it to hurt, he would make it worthwhile.

Her wolf suddenly perked up in attention. The sun was beginning to rise over the field and it was a pretty sight. But sounds of paws on grass made her wolf turn to smell another wolf in her proximity. The fresh, salty breeze wafting over an ocean; Damaris.

Avem sat back down with a huff, as the white, blonde wolf came up to sit beside her, shifting back into the annoying, younger sister she was.

But right now, Maris only felt guilt. Her hands went over to Avem's wolf, afraid to touch her. But the blonde-brown wolf lifted her head to meet Maris' hand. Avem didn't shift back, feeling more safe in her fur if any danger presented itself.

The sun revealed more of itself, like it sensed it was okay now to shine light on the field of flowers and the two sisters.

"I'm sorry." Maris whispered.

Avem's wolf tilted her head in confusion and whined.

"I'm sorry I never saw what was going on." Her voice wavered. "The pain you were in, why you have always been so protective." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

Avem's wolf licked up her sister's face, not forgiving her but as if saying she had nothing to apologize for. She didn't stop poking her with her snout, not until Maris' soft laughter echoed past the cliff, navigated through the field and disappeared into the universe.

Moments later, Maris asked what had been on her mind for a while. "Avem..." her wolf huffed. "what are mates?"

Avem took a moment and then decided to shift back.

—

Short chapter, sorry friends. History lesson coming up soon
:D