Alpha Luke

Nineteen

It was like a calm before a storm.

We all walked home in silence.

Luke's bloodied hand hanging loosely down the side of my chest as his arm laid over my shoulder while he held me close.

We had destroyed my past and buried it six feet under and hopefully it would stay exactly where we left it.

I glanced at Brian and Darcy, her body cradled closely to him as he wandered a few feet away.

I wondered what would happen to her.

She did dishonour her pack.

But she was still part of it nonetheless.

Just as the thought popped up, Luke gave my shoulder a small squeeze as if to say he would take care of it.

The rest of the way, we just continued to walk silently.

Not saying a word the whole way back home had nerves feeding on me like leaches and I hated every single second.

After a couple of hours of walking we decided to cut our trip short by shifting and taking a sprint back home.

Half an hour later we found ourselves back on our familiar grand pack territory.

I welcomed every single bit of the now familiar scents and smells attacking my senses before noticing Brian wander off towards where I knew the meadow was and the rest of my people disperse hastily.

The smell of vanilla and strawberries pulling through the familiarity immediately caught my attention, leading me towards the pack house, up the front porch and into the kitchen.

Rounding the corner that lead from the foyer I heard people whispering before someone scolded the voices with a "Shhh." causing me to have myself stifle a giggle.

Walking into the kitchen, I pretended that I didn't just hear a whole lot of people and decided on a snack before walking over to the fridge on the far side of the room across from the door.

"SURPRISE!" voices, young, old, male and female exclaimed before my mother's familiar scent latched itself onto me as she engulfed me in her embrace.

Her warm skin brought me comfort, just like it had done countless times as a child. Suddenly tears started running down my face as I held onto my mother for dear life.

Her palm rubbing circles on my aching back had the pain fading as her soft whispers filled my ears. It was in that moment that I realised just how much I have missed her in the weeks that have passed.

The clearing of someone's throat had me pulling away from my mother to wipe my tears away.

Right there stood Kristina.

Her face full of flour and an awkward smile playing at her lips.

"This is for you." she said while holding out a pink cake, the words 'Happy Birthday Lexi' messily piped in white onto the pink icing.

"Thank you." was all I could manage.

In the past few weeks I haven't seen much of Kristina but this gesture made my heart warm and caused a lump to form in my throat.

"I know it's not the best. But it's the best I've ever-" I placed my hand on her shoulder before looking at her as a smile played at my lips.

"It's beautiful... Thank you." I whispered.

She moved towards the dining table in the dining room, placing the cake on the table next to a stack of plates before lighting the candles then nodding for me to come closer.