Chapter 7 (Blaze's POV)
Emily led me back toward her home, which was apparently only minutes away from her sanctuary. She was quite the curious creature, serving to intrigue not only myself, but also my wolf. I'm not certain why I agreed to stay with her pack, but something told me we needed each other right now. My pain seemed almost non-existent in her presence, which was unusual. I couldn't walk away without exploring this a little further.
The house she brought me to was definitely fitting for the daughter of an Alpha. It was lavish, but not so much that it looked overkill. It was one level, and branched out around a patio in the back. Beige siding with forest green shutters adorned the scattered windows, and a mosaic-like glass door served as her back entrance. Coming out of the woods and onto the property I felt a sense of peace radiate throughout my body.
"It's a lovely home, Emily. Very comforting, from the outside at least." She opened the door and waited for me to enter before following.
"It's been my home since my sister and her mate were killed a few years back. My niece and I are quite comfortable." She smiled, leading me down a lavender-colored hallway to the last room on the right.
Opening the door, sky-blue walls met my eyes. A queen-sized bed served as the centerpiece, adorned with a comforter matching the wall colors. A beige love seat sat in one corner, and a small desk in the one opposite. It was a very appeasing room, and I was instantly comfortable within it.
"This is the guest room. I hope you don't mind, but I figured while we sort you out you could stay here. Feel free to personalize it however you'd like. I'll leave you to get settled, then when you're ready we can go speak to my father." I had nothing but what I carried on my person, therefore had nothing to settle in.
"I'm quite sure I'll have more than enough time to get situated later. I would much rather meet your parents and make sure my presence in your territory is permissible."
Following her out the front door we walked across the street to a much more extravagant house. Upon entering, a set of small arms wrapped themselves around Emily's legs, and she lifted the tiny girl up. Walking down a long hallway we emerged in a kitchen, where a middle-aged couple sat with a cup of coffee and newspaper each. Looking up, they both seemed surprised by the sight of us, more so than they should have being wolves with heightened senses.
"Emily! I never expected to see you here so soon!" The woman leapt up, taking Emily into her arms, a warmth clearly existing between the two. I sensed her mother was exactly this way with all her pack members, precisely the qualities all good Luna's should possess.
"We'll, things have clearly taken a turn for the better. The Moon Goddess may just have a greater plan for me than I originally thought." She glanced back at me for a moment, with just the slightest hint of a smirk. "Mom, Dad, this is Blaze Smith. With your permission, he will be staying with our pack for a while.more specifically, with me, at least for the time being."
Her father carefully eyed me up and down, and I hesitantly maintained eye contact. It certainly wasn't in a threatening way, but my Alpha blood would not allow me to submit to anyone. This he seemed to notice and, much to my surprise, to understand and accept. He immediately rose and came toward me, extending his hand out, which I gladly took.
"Smith, as in some relation to Adonis Smith?" A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, Sir, he is my father. I was on my way to see him when I stumbled across your lovely daughter. She kindly offered me a place to stay until I decide how to deal with him." With a puzzled look he sat back down at the table and gestured for me to do the same.
His wife kindly placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of me and then sat herself. I waited to be spoken to again, certain their questions had not yet run dry. It was a comfortable silence, however, no trace of the tension that usually existed when I dealt with my father.
"What leads you to believe I will allow a stranger to reside with my daughter? Particularly after all she's been through in the last twenty-four hours or so?" Pushing my cup back a bit I folded my hands, contemplating what my response would be.
"Dad! Don't be rude!" I held up my hands in her direction.
"Emily, if you were my daughter I would ask the same thing." Re-folding my hands I looked seriously at her parents. "Your daughter and I seem to have a bit in common. I lost my mate a few years back, and while our circumstances differ, we both experience the same pain. She and I are simply new friends receiving a level of understanding from each other no one else can provide." They heard what I said, but I don't think they truly understood it for what it was. How could they? They'd been together since they'd found each other, you could see it in their eyes, they would never truly understand our pain. "The distance from my father in the meantime is a bonus. After he mated with Veronica and started his new family, he quickly forgot about me. Having some space while trying to sort out our many issues may prove beneficial for all parties involved." Hoping my reply was adequate, I awaited his response. Emily's presence afforded me such relief from the sadness that I didn't want to go back to feeling that way if avoidable. He studied me for a minute, then his daughter, and finally smiled at us both.
"Alright, I gather what you've said is nothing but truth. My daughter left this morning a mess and seems far more content now. That speaks volumes about your influence all on its own. You are welcome to stay with my pack for as long as you'd like. In fact, my Beta could use a right-hand man and you'd be perfect. It would, however, require you to officially join my pack for the meantime. Are you okay with that?"
It might just do me some good , being a normal pack member for a while. I had to re-learn how to live as a unit, and it would be a welcome change from the isolation I'd become so accustomed to. For two years I'd been running aimlessly and it was beyond exhausting. Whilst my father might not be too pleased with my choice, I had only my own interests to look out for, the same as he's always done for himself. If I couldn't find some purpose for my life after losing my mate what would I do? Run forever?
"And how will your father take to your decision?" He eyed me carefully, awaiting my reaction.
"My father has always looked after his own well-being, with little thought as to mine. I need to find some solid ground for myself, and any decisions I make are to help me move forward. I don't want to cause you any trouble, but his reaction is completely irrelevant."
He and his wife smiled at me, clearly admiring my ability to prioritize. It displayed the strength my father had unknowingly passed down to me.
"Then repeat after me..."
I proceeded to pledge myself, and whatever services I could offer, to Alpha Marcus and the Westmont Pack. Whether or not it would prove to be a wise decision remained to be seen. Yet the contentment I felt, knowing I was now part of this pack, was euphoric. I felt as though the scattered, chaotic pieces of my purposeless existence were starting to reform. Maybe one day I'd see the full picture clearly once more.
As for Emily, she would be a true friend, even if nothing more ever came of us. We had this deep level of understanding of both the pain and the sense of peace we seemed to bring each other. The chances of us finding another wolf with similar circumstances was near impossible amongst our kind. The Moon Goddess had something much greater in motion, and that I would not question. My father may not be all that pleased with the sudden turn of events, but this was about Emily and I, no one else.
