Forever Luna

Perceive

verb ~ become aware or conscious of

NOVA

Usually, I huffed and puffed at going on these pack visits with Phoenix. They were as tedious as they were awkward, and I always felt too nosey for my own good.

I was nosey.

I could be nosey.

But looking into every aspect of a pack was very repetitive. Most of them so far have been practically perfect. Only a few needed guidance, and that was for things that were way too simple to fix. Taxes, patrol routes, food supplies... They weren't challenging and didn't take away the niggling in my mind that I was away from my babies.

My hand curled around my stomach as we jerked in the car, and I gazed out of the window with a desperation to rid myself of the nausea.

Fifteen weeks pregnant and it was in full swing.

Funnily enough, it wasn't as bad as it was with the twins. I wasn't sure if that was because of fewer hormones carrying only one, but it was... just less.

Unless I have now jinxed myself.

Anyway, morning sickness was quickly turning into travel sickness. With a muffled groan, I reached into the door pocket and pulled out a sick bag. Before I could even unfurl the contents of my stomach into the bag, Phoenix's warm hand sprawled across my back, and it seemed to simmer.

If I wasn't about to hurl, I would smack his hand away for taking away the pain and soothing me with the bond.

It felt like cheating.

His thumb traced circled into my lower back and stayed there even when the moment passed. I noticed a breeze on my face and blinked away the burning tears to face the newly open window. I sighed heavily, wiping them away with the back of my hand. Phoenix nudged my fingers away, wiping them for me. I scowled at him, but he merely smiled, running his thumb across my cheek.

"Don't look at me like that."

"I can handle it." I murmured.

"I know you can," He mused. "But you should've eaten before we left."

"That makes it worse." I groaned. "If I ate, then one bump in this car would've had me hurling."

His eyes softened, his hand moving to cup my jaw. "Only five more minutes and then we've arrived."

I sighed, nodding and turning back to the open window. The weather was still warm, but it was finally cooling down. My heart ached with the loss of the summer, but a whole new excitement burned at the prospect of winter and cosy nights with my family.

It would be our first winter holidays, and I couldn't wait to decorate a tree with all the babies.

We had passed the pack border a while ago, and were now readily approaching a pack house. The pack house was large, and instead of the usual wood or brick, someone had painted it white. My lips pursed, eyeing the building with unease.

I didn't really want to be here. I felt like I was intruding on somebody else's secrets.

The car drifted to a stop, and I watched as the driver rushed to open the side door. It slid open with a metallic groan, and I sympathised with its effort. I, too, felt like a heavy piece of metal who just wanted to stay in one piece.

Sean and James were with us today; which meant Leo was in charge of the pack. I could still picture his face as Phoenix told him so.

He'd never turned so pale.

But cool and composed, he accepted his alpha's wish before scurrying from the room. Later that evening, I was invited to their home where he, and Molly, both gushed about being in power for a day.