"We're back!" Novara sang from the entrance of the den.
Eli's face fell as she saw two unfamiliar people with the scent of bears tagging along with Novara, Calypso, Arios, and Duncan.
"Who are they?" he whispered uneasily to Aka.
"They're my grandparents." Aka mouthed back before her grandmother enveloped her in a surprisingly tight hug.
"I haven't seen you in ages!" She crooned over Aka.
"Who's this handsome fella?" Aka's grandfather asked her, thudding Eli on the shoulder with a massive hand.
"That's Eli, Pop." Aka clarified, "he's my-"
"Her mate." Aka's grandmother cut in, sniffing Eli.
"Well, I didn't expect a wolf in the family!" Pop laughed, "welcome! And you treat my granddaughter right." His voice got serious as he leaned in to look Eli in the eyes.
"Y-yes sir." Eli stammered, looking back into Pop's hard faded brown eyes.
Aka's Pop seemed satisfied with Eli's answer and turned his attention to Arios and Duncan, who were firmly gripping both of his legs and laughing.
Eli took to ducking behind Aka's large frame fairly often, only separating from Aka because both of her brothers gripped his arms and pulled him towards Calypso and Aka's grandmother, both of whom were stifling chuckles behind their hands at Eli's worried expression.
Aka soon joined Eli, her sister, her brothers, and her grandmother near a large half-eaten plate of cookies. (both Arios and Duncan had crumbs on their faces and were trying their best to look innocent)
Aka's grandmother simply grinned and shook her head at the boys before they scampered off to play outside in their cub forms.
"Elaka." Calypso pondered aloud once Aka's grandmother had walked off to greet the rest of the family.
"What?" Eli and Aka said in unison.
"Your ship name. Y'know, both of your names combined into one." Calypso said, pushing her palms together, "you and Eli make Elaka." She gestured to her sister and then swept her hand Eli's direction.
Aka heard Eli muttering to himself about how 'Elaka' might be a good name for one of the cubs. This earned him a swat to the back of his head from Aka and a gleeful chuckle from Calypso.
Calypso trotted off to help herself to what remained of her grandmother's cookies, leaving Aka and Eli to wonder what the hell they just witnessed.
••••••••••••••••••••
YOU ARE READING
Ursa's Cub
Werewolf"Get out! Get out! Never show your muzzle around here again, wolf!" Samantha Brooks is the last person you would expect to be a bear shifter. Sure, she was taller than most of her friends and a few of her teachers at her school, but at first glance...