Forever Luna

Affect

verb ~ refers to the underlying experience of feeling, emotion, attachment, or mood

NOVA

I felt the ripple the moment it happened.

My knees buckled and if it wasn't for Leo's arm around my waist, I would've fallen to the ground. The bond in my chest rippled with loss and I instinctively reached out to it.

Charlie... I breathed, confused.

I felt his sorrow as he reacted to my sudden tension through our pack bond. 'Nova... I... I'm sorry.'

What's going on? Why is...

'I'm leaving, Nova.' He murmured. 'I can't let her go out there without me.'

Swallowing the lump in my throat, Leo gentle squeezed me. I shot him what I hoped was a reassuring smile before focusing back on Charlie.

She's gone?

'She has. I promised her I'd always be there.'

My heart ached, but his love, and sincerity was as raw as the rain during a thunderstorm. Loud, clear, and just as harsh.

Okay. I whispered. Take care of her, Charlie. Take care of yourself.

'I will.' He whispered.

The bond whispered with a soft caress before he was gone. The tension from my body heightened as he crossed the border, and that was when Leo seemed to understand something else happened.

"Who was that?"

"Charlie." I exhaled.

"Where's he gone?" He wondered.

"He's just gone, Leo." I answered softly. "He had to."

My brother nodded, turning his attention to before us. Silence wrapped around us, but I was thankful we weren't far from the pack house now. His hand remained around my waist, despite my legs being perfectly fine now. He used his t-shirt to wrap the cuts on my hand and stop the bleeding, and that was it.

Other than the emotional toll of loss, I was fine. Everything was fine.

For now.

***

"I can't believe he's gone." I whispered, staring at the cold tiles of the shower.

Phoenix sighed, resting his chin on my shoulder. "I didn't want to do it."

"How... How could he leave without my official approval?"

"He couldn't." Phoenix murmured. "However, you telling him to go was enough. I already did the official part of it."

"I wonder where he is."

Phoenix hummed in agreement, staying where he was. It had been a mere few hours since the disaster that was Calida's first shift. Leo escorted me home before helping me clean the wounds on my skin. Rose was in charge of putting the twins to bed in our home whilst I aided Calida, and oddly, I was glad my babies were asleep because I felt nothing but exhaustion. Our two helpers left when Phoenix arrived, and I assured everyone I was fine.

The water of the shower was a soft patter that soothed my body over the past few hours. The loss of friendship made my heart ache, and I realised that the familial bond with my pack members was rooted deeper than I had realized.

"Charlie will be okay. They both will." Phoenix murmured.

He leaned away from me with a soft sigh before grabbing the shower head from its holder and rinsing the conditioner from my hair. My eyes fluttered closed as his fingers wove through the strands of my hair. Goosebumps rose on my skin, the instinctual urge to shudder forced aside as I focused on his touch.