Forever Luna

Regime

noun ~ a system or planned way of doing things

NOVA

It was the day of the full moon, and the tension through the pack line was palpable. It made my stomach hurt, my wolf on edge as much as I. Phoenix had assured me that there were only two ways to diffuse so much tension, and one being unspeakably adulterated. Even with the naughty twinkle in his eye, I couldn't deny the magnetic pull.

After spending a heated session in the bathroom, yes, you heard me, the bathroom this time, we went back to our daily routine. Phoenix went into the downstairs office, after hinting at me to go for a hike, ready for an arranged call with a 'contact'.

He has been trying extra hard this week to find out where the witch is, but so far, every lead has been a dead end. It was as though Selma was teasing him, leading him on just to disappear.

I wouldn't put it past her; witches were strange.

Today, however, I was training with Sean after lunch, and Rose would be babysitting. I decided early this morning that I would make the hike towards Gaia's cabin. She may not enjoy talking much anymore, but I was determined to find out something more. Anything that would give me an olive branch.

I fed, clothed and played with the twins all morning, and when they finally settled for a nap I moved onto housework. Despite being home alone with babies, there always seemed to be something to do. Usually, I would use this time to nap, or batch cook something, but I was too pent up. I had too much anxiety curling around my limbs to even contemplate lowering my heart rate enough for a nap.

So now I was organising the mounds of baby clothes. The twins were strained in their clothes. The past few weeks have been hectic in terms of growth. I never knew babies could grow so quickly, but Phoenix seemed unfazed, despite even my parents saying how big they are.

I blame him entirely. He was large, so large that he has passed on his gigantic genes to our children.

Emptying the wash basket of freshly clean baby clothes, I re-filled it with the smaller sizes, ready to be stored away. We had no plans for any more children yet, but I knew that there would be more in the future. Phoenix has said countless times how he wishes for a large family, and at first, it daunted me, but the more we grew, the more I wanted that too.

I hummed softly as I vacuum packed everything and stored it under the twins unused cots. Just a few more months and they would be in here alone. Another milestone I wasn't sure I wanted to see.

Why did they have to grow so quickly?

My eyes welled with unshed tears as I thought about all the baby clothes I just stowed away. At only thirteen weeks, it seemed that I could blink, and they'd turn one.

I was sitting on the toilet when I heard Belle cry. My wolf bristled, urging me to hurry.

One benefit of wolf's senses; I could keep tabs on every breath, movement, or cry.

Downside? I could keep tabs on every breath, movement, or cry. It made sleep so much harder when my entire soul ached with the protectiveness of a mother bear.

I have fully accepted my new nickname. I was a mother bear, as much as I tried to deny it. Bears, much like wolves, were fiercely protective, just with more body and strength than I had in one paw.

Hurrying with my business, I washed my hands and dried them as I walked down the hall. I called to my baby, reassuring her that everything was fine as I walked back upstairs. But then the tears stopped, and a sudden tension wrapped around my chest.

Something wasn't right.

A growl rumbled in my throat and I ran up the stairs and into the living space. But there, stood above my children, was a witch. My growl died in my throat when she looked up at me with amusement.