From the Ashes

From the Ashes: Chapter Twenty-Five

Present Day in the Warded Cabin

Stiles doesn't bother to stave off the tears slipping down his cheeks as the shadows whisper these excruciating truths in his mind over and over again. How did he not realize? Was he really so blind? Why couldn't he remember it all? When did everything go wrong? Who is the being the druids summoned that they thought they were summoning?

All these questions swirl in his mind and the shadows latch onto them with eagerness. It's strange to Stiles how helpful they're being when they didn't listen to–

"Alpha?"

Amber eyes blink heavily as if waking from a deep sleep the whispers of the shadows fading to the back of his mind. "Hm," he murmurs.

Allison and Kira are back in their human forms watching him in concern.

"Is everything all right?" Kira asks softly.

The alpha stretches his back popping and sighs. "Mhm. Why?"

They exchange a look but don't respond, their brows furrowing in both confusion and concern.

It's then that Stiles notices the light of the setting sun. He blinks confused. "Wait. How long was I asleep for?" he asks.

Kira tilts her head. "You weren't asleep, but as far as the passage of time goes, it's been almost two days."

"Oh." This doesn't really surprise him exactly though it is concerning. His focus was completely captured by the shadows who if he reaches for in his mind, eagerly begin to hiss although it is more purr like at least to him.

A soft purr sounds near his chest and he flicks his eyes towards the sound. His breath hitches. "Isaac?" he breathes.

Two blue eyes peer at him from the small head of a pure white fox.

Allison smiles. "Yeah. We were pretty shocked. Did you know this would happen, Arufa?"

Stiles is still gaping at his mate as he shakes his head dumbly. "No. I-I knew it would save him but I didn't expect a species change." He slowly sits up and can't help the oof he lets out when the white fox flops into his lap with a yip. "I guess you can't be too mad at me for it if you're content to use me as a cushion."

The fox yips again and Stiles feels a bump brush his thigh. His eyes glow crimson as his hand snakes under his shifted mate to palm the swollen belly. He sheds a few more tears at the sound of five steady heartbeats filling his senses. A whine sounds as a small tongue collects his tears.

Kira and Allison chitter at the white fox as they shift. Stiles watches as they all perk up and grins because he knows what comes next. So of course he shifts too.

Four kitsunes begin to dance: one golden, one orange and black, one ink black and one snow white.

They flick their tails, chitter and yip. They slide under their Arufa's belly and bare their throats to him. He bites to accept their submission and then they circle each other before leaping towards the center of the room. A golden fox collides playfully with an orange and black fox, while an ink black fox gently tackles a snow white fox. Their bonds snap into place and sing with joy and love.

As the four kits settle, four ink black tails flick back and forth while the alpha grooms his mate. One snow white tail flicks playfully at the four ink black tails. Purrs sound in the chest of the white fox, as it relishes in the affection and attention from its mate. The golden fox shyly circles the orange and black fox with soft inquiring sounds. Finally after a third circling, she's yanked down by her scruff and the orange and black fox starts to groom her. It is absolutely perfect.