Forever Luna

Assiduous

adjective ~ showing great care and perseverance

NOVA

I was muttering below my breath as I pushed the twins in their stroller toward Rose and Sean's place. Living deep in the woods was a great idea until it came to pushing a damn tandem pushchair. These things were not built for multiple terrains.

The swivel wheel caught on yet another twig, and I almost screamed in frustration.

"Can't you guys just walk already?" I huffed, annoyed. "Stupid pushchair."

With Belle asleep, Freddy was too busy staring at the treetops to even contemplate growing a pair of working legs and making this easier for me.

I reached Sean and Rose's house in no time, and the door opened the moment the wheels touched their dirt path. Sean stood casually, leaning against the door frame with a cocky smirk.

"What's that face for?" I narrowed my eyes. "Shouldn't you be in a field waiting for me?"

He rolled his eyes, pushing away from the door frame to help me lift the pushchair over their front step.

"I finished early. You're my first session after lunch." He grinned.

"Oh, luck you." I mused, parking the pushchair by their front door.

I hated bringing it inside their house, because, you know, dirt, but Rose insisted. Sean hunched over the carrycots, peering down at the two of them.

"Hello Wolfie." He cooed.

Freddy gurgled, his hands swaying in the air as he connected his gaze with Sean's. Sean chuckled, giving into temptation and pulling my son from his blankets. For the briefest of moments, a pang of something started in my chest, but it fizzled as Sean held my son to his chest. Weeks ago, this would've set me off, but these people were my family, and my twins were safe with them.

Those baby steps have come a long way.

"We heard you half-way down the forest." Rose chimed from nearby.

I shifted my gaze from Sean to see her coming out of the kitchen, drying her hands on her skirt. I rolled my eyes as she embraced me, enjoying the scent of apples in her hair.

"I doubt it was that far away." I muttered.

She laughed softly, pulling away from me to eye Sean. "It definitely was loud. You should just carry them."

"Two babies plus a huge changing bag? I'll pass." I huffed.

Sean eyed me with humour, passing my son to Rose who instantly lit up like a fairytale character. It made my chest ache with happiness to see her joy for the twins, despite how difficult they must be. Everything was natural for Rose. The more we got out of her, the more we understood. Before she was taken from her pack, she would work in the nursery with the smaller pack members.

"You could call it a warm up." Sean mused.

I shrugged off my jacket, hanging it across the back of their pushchair. "What's the point when you'd just make me go through another when we train?"

He laughed, nodding. "True. Let's go start, anyway. You good, babe?"

Rose blushed softly, nodding her head as he kissed her temple. "I'm fine. Go, be...muscle."

I giggled softly at her flustered words. "Is Rose saying that you need to work out more?"

Sean grumbled softly. "No."

"Are you sure?" I teased.

He huffed, wrapping his hand around my head. I frowned as his fingers turned me, forcing me toward the door that he opened with his other hand. Nudging me forward, I scoffed at being handled like an arcade game, but stepped out onto the porch.