Whispers of the Dove / R.L & S.B

🌼~°21°~🌼

<<<<Willow>>>>

That night was one of the worst I could remember. Sleep came in fragmented slivers, my restless mind spinning endlessly.

Soulmates? The word felt heavy, foreign, almost ridiculous in its implications. How could something like that be real? Yet, as the thought passed through my head, I pinched my arm to remind myself: This is a world of magic, unicorns, dragons, and far more incredible things than most could imagine. Why would the concept of soulmates sound any crazier than all the other impossible things that are undeniably real?

The difference was that I had no idea this applied to me. To us. Being a werewolf's soulmate? I didn't even know they had soulmates.

I knew Remus would never lie to me—his eyes had carried too much honesty, too much raw vulnerability for me to doubt his words. Still, the revelation left me reeling. I needed time to adjust, to let the reality sink in. Did I even want to be their soulmate?

The question made my stomach churn. I'd never been with anyone before. I'd never even gathered the courage to try dating after escaping from my father's clutches. The idea of being with someone—let alone two someones—felt daunting.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of my lips as a ridiculous thought flitted through my mind: Would it be easier if Remus and Sirius were dragons? Dragons were simple—fierce yet loving creatures. I'd kissed a few baby dragons over the years, after all. They were adorable, and they seemed to like me well enough.

But no. That was absurd.

Groaning softly, I turned over in bed, glancing at the clock on my nightstand. 6 a.m. Perfect. That meant I'd managed a grand total of three hours of sleep.

Resigned, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, my body aching from tossing and turning all night. Barefoot, I tiptoed across the room toward the bathroom, trying to be as quiet as possible. The last thing I wanted was to wake either of them.

The bathroom's cool tile floor grounded me slightly, the chill a welcome shock to my system. As I splashed cold water onto my face, I stared at my reflection, the weight of the night's revelations still heavy on my shoulders.

"Get it together," I whispered to myself, drying my face with a towel. But no matter how much I tried to steady myself, the reality of everything lingered, pressing down on me like a thick fog.

Soulmates. The word hung in the air like a promise—or maybe a challenge. And I wasn't sure yet if I was ready to embrace it.

The quietness of the morning was broken by the muffled sounds of voices as I made my way out of the bathroom. Padding down the hallway, I peeked into the living room, where Sirius and Remus were perched on the couch, leaning toward each other in animated conversation.

"I'm telling you, Moony, the dog collar was a bold look," Sirius said, gesturing emphatically.

Remus groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That was your idea, Padfoot. And a bad one. You're lucky I didn't hex you when you suggested it."

I stood in the doorway, biting back a grin. The two of them looked so at ease, even in their awkwardness. It was refreshing to see them like this, their interactions steeped in a warmth that seemed to thaw the tension lingering from their shared past.

"Good morning," I said, stepping into the room.

Both heads whipped around to face me, Sirius offering me a crooked smile and Remus giving a polite nod.